Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Singapore

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Singapore – In a Nutshell

This is the world’s only city-island-nation, just off the southern tip of Malaysia between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Though best known for its immaculate, modern character, it’s actually an extraordinary mix of old and new, with a diverse cultural population. Traditional districts (Little India, Chinatown and the Arab District) sit alongside glittering skyscrapers and huge modern shopping malls; there are ancient Buddhist temples and heritage shophouse restaurants, plus a wild contemporary nightlife scene. The food’s superb, the streets are immaculate (chewing gum is illegal) and as you’d expect from the one of the most expensive cities in the world, the shopping is world-class. For us, though, the biggest draw is the myriad green spaces, an amazing amount for a city, including the futuristic Gardens by the Bay and the elegant Chinese and Japanese Gardens. Families will adore the Singapore Zoo, with its world-famous nocturnal Night Safari, and the aquariums and amusement parks of tropical Sentosa Island. It’s a really easy place to travel with kids.

How to Get to Singapore

You can travel overland from Peninsular Malaysia, or across the water from nearby Indonesian islands. Most people arrive by plane, though. Changi Airport is one of the world’s busiest international hubs. There are direct flights from the UK (approx. 13 hours) and the US (18-20 hours). Once you’re here, the MRT is a traveller’s dream: zipping all over the city. The bus network is excellent too, and taxis are plentiful.

When & Weather – Singapore

The climate here is tropical, mostly warm, humid and sunny, with indistinct seasons. Rain falls almost daily but showers are short, falling in sharp bursts, and there are impressive thunderstorms throughout the year. November to January are the wettest months; February to April is the most popular time to visit, but it’s very much a year-round destination. Temperatures range between 24 °C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F).

Who will Singapore Appeal To?

Singapore’s cutting-edge urban attractions, colourful mix of religions and cultures, and imaginative outdoor spaces are particularly suited to:

Culture lovers
Families
Solo travellers
Keen photographers

Accommodation

We work with luxury city hotels, smaller boutique hotels, upmarket guesthouses and 5-star beach resorts on Sentosa Island.

Off The Beaten Path

Take a bumboat out to Pulau Ubin and step back in time; this virtually uninhabited island was abandoned in the 1970s when the granite quarries closed
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda at the BTRTM is breathtaking with a vast prayer wheel
Swap the National Gallery for the contemporary Gillman Barracks, with its pop-up galleries
Haw Par Villa is an ‘Asian cultural park’, designed to teach traditional values through its statues and murals. Colourful, fascinating, bizarre
Visit Thian Hock Keng, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, built without using a single nail
Visit Sri Mariamman Temple at sunrise
Mountain bike through the jungle at Bukit Timah
Eat local food: chilli crab and laksa from the hawker stalls around China Town

Wildlife

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is as wild as Singapore gets, its mudflats, mangroves and forests home to monitor lizards, otter and crocodile
Come face to face with tapirs, pangolins and clouded leopards on a Night Safari
Early mornings are the best time to spot the Malayan colugo and endangered Raffles banded langur in Central Catchment Nature Reserve
Pied oriental hornbill live in large numbers on Pulau Ubin
Scuba dive with Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins and hawksbill and green turtles in the Sister Islands Marine Park
Endangered small leopard cats live on Pulau Tekong
Spot flying lemurs and anteaters in the trails around Bukit Timah nature Reserve

Singapore Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

Exploring the space-age Gardens of the Bay, to admire the mechanical Supertree Grove and 114ft indoor waterfall
The UNESCO-listed Botanical Gardens are extraordinary, with tropical tunnels, black swans and the world’s largest collection of orchids
Book a seat on the Singapore Flyer, the world’s biggest Ferris Wheel, for outstanding views of the city centre
Wandering around the National Gallery and Asian Civilization Museums
Rattle around the Night Safari at Singapore Zoo on a tram; the world’s first nocturnal zoo, with everything from tigers to tarsiers
Eating noodles in one of the heritage shophouse restaurants on the East Coast Road
Exploring the colourful Kampong Glam quarter
Visiting the Merlion statue
Photographing the glorious white Neo-Gothic St Andrew’s Cathedral
Universal Studios and the Tiger Sky Tower observatory are the chief attractions on tropical Sentosa Island
Walking along the Southern Ridges trail, which includes the 256ft-tall Henderson Waves bridge. Don’t look down!
Bar-hop along the buzzy Clarke Quay
Catch a show on the Esplanade
Go shopping on Orchard Road

Giving back

Coming soon.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Singapore.

Consider visiting Singapore in combination with neighbouring countries Malaysia and Indonesia.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite. No matter how long you wish to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.