What It’s Like To Travel On The Eastern & Oriental Express (Everything You Need To Know) – Hand Luggage Only

Ever thought of booking the Eastern & Oriental Express? Well, if that’s you, then make sure to read our full lowdown on what it’s like to travel on the Eastern & Oriental Express on a trip through Malaysia, from Singapore. The Eastern & Oriental Express is an absolutely amazing train to experience and perfect for a trip around Malaysia.

Not only will you experience the beauty of places within Malaysia, but you’ll also get to experience the world-class service and beauty of the train’s carriages. It is honestly incredible. 

So, if you’re thinking of booking a place on board this incredible train, read on! We want to give you the full lowdown on what to expect, when to book, what to do and elements we hadn’t thought about before booking our travel on the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Okay, so let’s start with destinations. We took the train from Singapore. This is the starting point for any travel on the Eastern & Oriental Express. You actually board at the border station between Singapore and Malaysia at Woodlands Train Station (and checkpoint). This is where you will undertake immigration checks before boarding your journey on this iconic train. 

Pre-departure logistics for the Eastern & Oriental Express

Now, one of the great things about Belmond, in our experience, is that they think of everything for you. Every detail is considered, easy and seamless.

This is even true before we boarded the train. For instance, the onboard concierge called us about a month before our trip to organise specific excursions and book any Dior Spa services onboard. We did all this in advance, and it helped as certain experiences (especially the Spa) have limited availability.

Where do you board the Eastern & Oriental Express?

Also, as we were staying in Singapore (after flying from London) a few days before our trip, the team organised a private pickup from our hotel to Woodlands Train checkpoint (Google Maps link), where the Eastern and Oriental Express departs. It was amazing and so easy. 

Of course, you do pay a premium for all of this, but it’s honestly worth it.

The transfer was around 25 minutes from downtown Singapore, and within no time at all, we were whisked through Malaysian immigration and onto the station platform. Here, we were greeted by the amazing Eastern & Oriental Express team – all waiting for us to arrive. It…