MEDIA TOURS

To allow our media guests the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of Singapore while in town, we have specially put together 17 half-day tours for you to delight in.

Whether exploring our colourful multi-culticultural traditions and colonial past through ethnic trails, visiting our vibrant, world-accalimed attractions, or simply indulging in an idyllic day amidst the Garden City's lush greenery, there is definitely something for everyone.

These tours are extended to all accredited media on a first-come-first-served basis, with our compliments!

Please book your seats in advance to avoid disappointment.

Tours Available on:

Sunday, 3rd July 2005
Monday, 4th July 2005
Tuesday, 5th July 2005
Thursday, 7th July 2005
Friday, 8th July 2005

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Sunday, 3rd July 2005

Unique Sights, Sounds & Smells  – A Tour of Little India and Arab Street

Date: Sunday, 3rd July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5 hrs Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Leave the gleaming and modern island city behind and explore the older  ethnic districts of Singapore where the architecture and customs of myriad cultures still thrive. The first stop is a passage to India, or Little India to be precise. As guests step out from the coach, they will be “assailed” by burning incense, freshly ground spices, rich cinnamon and the perfume of jasmine garlands, an experience that is a feast to all the senses. Souvenir hunters can find shimmering silk saris, bangles, bracelets, handbags and almost anything and everything Indian. The next stop is Arab Street, the historic focal point of Muslim life in Singapore. Amidst rows of old shophouses selling traditional specialties such as batiks, basket-ware, hand-beaten brass, spangles and dress trimming, looms the regal Sultan Mosque. Stroll through the grounds of the Malay Heritage Centre and be treated to a special cultural performance.

Wild Green Singapore

Date: Sunday, 3rd July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Start the day in a cool, interesting part of Singapore that is at present, relatively unexplored by the locals themselves. The HSBC Treetop walk, located in the northern part of Singapore, is the highlight of several long hiking routes at the MacRitchie Reservoir.  Next, proceed on to the Cool House located at the National Orchid Gardens, where a variety of unique species of Orchids have been cultivated and displayed. Some breeds have even been named after famous personalities like Princess Diana, and Ricky Martin! The Cool House provides a respite from the tropical heat while you wander around the lush gardens.

A piece of Colonial Heritage – A tour of the Civic District

Date: Sunday, 3rd July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: An Orientation tour of Singapore that begins in the heart of the Civic district where you will get to see the historical Padang, the Parliament House, Supreme Court and City Hall. A quick stop at the Raffles landing site makes for a great photo opportunity with the Singapore River and the Central Business District in the background. Walk the banks of the Singapore River as Raffles did when he first landed in Singapore and hop onto one of our quaint little bumboats and let it take you to the mouth of the river. The tour ends with a stop at the Raffles Hotel, our historical Grand old Dame, for a Singapore Sling and some retail therapy at its exquisite shopping arcade.

Singapore after Dark - A tour of the Night Safari & late night shopping

Date: Sunday, 3rd July 2005 Time: 7.30om – 12 midnight Duration: 4.5 hrs Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Visit the World’s First Night Safari, set in 40 hectare of secondary jungle adjoining the Singapore Zoo.  Unfold the mystery and drama of the tropical jungle which comes alive after dusk with stunning effect. See a myriad of nocturnal animals, from fierce predators to timid forest dwellers, in their natural habitat under subtle moonglow lighting. Enjoy the experience in the complete safety of a tram as it takes you through the East and West Loop passing by a large reservoir and weaving through selected habitats designed specially to replicate the natural environment from the Himalayan foothills to the Southeast Asian Rainforest and Indian Subcontinent. Next, we head towards the 24-hour Mustafa Centre for late night shopping.  You can expect to find anything from jewellery to clothes and even cars!

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Monday, 4th July 2005

The Double B Tour - A Peranakan Tour

Date: Monday, 4th July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Start the Double B tour – The Babas and Bibiks Tour with a visit to a museum that showcases and highlights the intricacies of this unique culture.  The Peranakans, or the Straits Chinese, were the earliest immigrants to Singapore who had inter-married the local Malays and assimilated some of their traditional customs and language. Their lifestyle is an interesting adaptation - women devoted much of their time to intricate craftwork like beading and embroidery, while meal preparations occupied most of their time. Then proceed to the east side of Singapore – where an easy walking tour of Katong awaits.  Katong is the traditional stronghold of the Peranakan culture, architecture and food. End the tour with a hands-on session for making rice dumplings – a favourite Peranakan dish that is popular among the locals.

Fun and Adventurous Singapore - A tour of the Zoo and Orchid Garden

Date: Monday, 4th July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Ever tried feeding bananas to elephants? What about doing breakfast with the monkeys? Have fun at the Jungle Breakfast at the zoo at the Singapore Zoological Gardens - rated among the world’s top 10 zoos.  Its landscaped parks and open-zoo concept of natural barriers make you feel almost as if you are in the wild. Set in 28 hectares of lush, landscaped gardens; let us take you on a wild and exciting tour where you’ll find over 2,000 animals from all over the world residing in their spacious landscaped enclosures, which resemble habitats similar to their own.  You can choose to walk or hop onto the tram to see these animals. After departing from the zoo, pay a quick visit to the Mandai Orchid Garden.

A Tale of Two Cultures - A tour of the Peranakan and Chinese Districts

Date: Monday, 4th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Start the Tale tour with a easy walking tour of Katong, the traditional stronghold of the Peranakan culture will get your acquainted with the architecture and feel of the culture. End the tour with a hands-on session for making rice dumplings – a favourite Peranakan dish that is popular among locals.  Next, proceed to the hub of the majority race of Singapore – Chinatown.  The Chinatown Heritage Centre is a place visitors must see. It’s the one place that will give you a quick insight into and overview of the area’s history, as well as the people whose hard labour helped build Singapore into the success it is today. Last stop of the tour is the Thian Hock Keng Temple, built in 1821.

Maritime Singapore - A Singapore River tour and Maritime-themed Exhibitions

Date: Monday, 4th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: An Orientation tour of Singapore that begins in the heart of the Civic district where you will get to see the historical Padang, the Parliament House, Supreme Court and City Hall. A quick stop at the Raffles landing site makes for a great photo opportunity with the Singapore River and the Central Business District in the background. Then explore 600 years of history at the 1421 Exhibition – a chronology of Admiral Zheng He’s seven epic voyages to over 30 countries throughout Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and Africa.  End your afternoon of maritime tour at the Tang Cargo Treasures at the beautifully restored Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place. Discovered in 1998 in the West Java Sea, this fascinating treasure trove of East Asian antiquities was salvaged from a sunken 9th-century Arab ship. The cargo comprises the most important group of Tang artifacts to have been found outside China.

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Tuesday, 5th July 2005

The Real Singapore - A Heartland tour

Date: Tuesday, 5th July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Start the tour with a visit to the Toa Payoh Hub and also see the Housing and Development Board (HDB)’s Gallery, which also houses the Fabric of a Nation display – a collaborative effort from Singaporeans to knit their identity as Singaporeans together on fabric. Visit our housing estates and get a feel of how 90% of Singaporeans live and interact in these sky-scraper like buildings where they call home. In the neighbourhood, you’ll find shops and bargains a-plenty. Be sure to dig up a bargain or two of your own! A wide array of local hawker food can also be found here. Also includes a tour of the wet market – a place where the locals shop for fresh food!

Fun & Adventurous Singapore Too! - A BirdPark tour

Date: Tuesday, 5th July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Jurong Bird Park, located on 20 hectares of lush greenery in Singapore’s model industrial estate, is home to over 8000 birds from more than 600 species.  It is the largest bird park in the Asia Pacific and the Park specializes in birds from Southeast Asia and the more exotic and colourful tropical birds. Take a ride on the air-conditioned Panorail for a panoramic view of the Park and venture into a tropical world of jungle mists at the Waterfall Aviary, the world’s largest walk-in aviary with the tallest man-made waterfall where you can enjoy a close-up view of free-flying birds from Africa and South America in a tropical setting. Enjoy the spectacular Penguin Exhibit with an underwater viewing gallery and do not miss the All Star Bird Show, reputed as world class.

Unique Sights, Sounds & Smells – A Tour of Little India and Arab Street

Date: Tuesday, 5th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5 hrs Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Leave the gleaming and modern island city behind and explore the older  ethnic districts of Singapore where the architecture and customs of myriad cultures still thrive. The first stop is a passage to India, or Little India to be precise. As guests step out from the coach, they will be “assailed” by burning incense, freshly ground spices, rich cinnamon and the perfume of jasmine garlands, an experience that is a feast to all the senses. Souvenir hunters can find shimmering silk saris, bangles, bracelets, handbags and almost anything and everything Indian. The next stop is Arab Street, the historic focal point of Muslim life in Singapore. Amidst rows of old shophouses selling traditional specialties such as batiks, basket-ware, hand-beaten brass, spangles and dress trimming, looms the regal Sultan Mosque. Stroll through the grounds of the Malay Heritage Centre and be treated to a special cultural performance.

Nurturing the Future of Singapore Sports - We make Sporting Dreams Come True!

Date: Tuesday, 5th July 2005 Time: 3pm – 5.30pm Duration: 2.5 hrs Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Established in 2004, the Singapore Sports School is an ambitious and visionary  S$75million project by the Singapore Government to groom Singapore’s future sporting champions. Dedicated to producing a new generation of world-class sporting heroes, by giving them the best academic and sports training environments, the 7-hectare Singapore Sports School’s grounds includes top-notch sports facilities such as 2 all-weather Olympic-sized pools, a 10-court badminton training centre, a 32-table table tennis centre, an 8-lane synthetic rubber running track, netball courts, a Fifa-approved synthetic soccer field, a two-storeyed gym and strength and conditioning centre and a 700-seater indoor multi-sports auditorium. Catch our local students and dedicated coaches in action and observe how our team of Sports Scientists enhance sports performance as they support student-athletes in the areas of Sports biomechanics, Sports Nutrition, Sports Physiotherapy, Sports Physiology, Sports Psychology and Strength & Conditioning.

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Thursday, 7th July 2005

Shop & Eat – The Heartlander’s Trail

Date: Thursday, 7th July 2005 Time: 8.30am – 12.30pm Duration: 4hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: The trail brings you right into the pulse of the typical Singaporean’s lifestyle and be introduced to the neighbourhood shops where we get to see and indulge in local fare and delicious foods that are unique to Singapore. Tuck into fried carrot cake or chwee kuay – a tasty breakfast item made of rice flour and eaten with radish and wash it down with a cup of warm soya bean. The Toa Payoh neighbourhood is one of the more mature HDB estates in Singapore and it’s a beautiful way to assimilate into the culture of Singapore.  The neighbourhood shops also offer a variety of goods and services that are often a bargain. Watch out for discounts on anything from electronic goods to fashion accessories as they can make very affordable and interesting souvenirs!

Shop & Eat – The Ethnic Trail

Date: Thursday, 7th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6.30pm Duration: 4hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: The Gourmet trail picks on the very different foods that is unique in each culture and brings you around to sample tidbits from each culture. Highlights include a roti prata (an Indian pancake) demonstration and tasting, Tau Sar Pia (Chinese cake) sampling and Chinese tea appreciation and more! A trail designed for those with adventurous taste buds and a flexible stomach capacity! The tour starts with a local breakfast in the heart of the Central Business District Area – where you’ll be served freshly brewed coffee and hand-made breakfast that is deliciously simple but very popular with visitors and busy executives alike! Drive pass the civic district and Boat Quay on the way to the next destination. Next we head towards Little India, where one will visit the wet markets and see, smell and taste firsthand, spices and food unique to this culture but have become everyday items to the residents of this small isle. Visit the spice scented walkways and the tiny shops laden with gold while here. A visit to Chinatown completes the gourmet run of the Gourmet Trail. Your guide will take you through the local medicine shop and highlight the ingredient that is used in our daily cooking to revitalize and maintain general well-being.  End the Chinatown tour with a tea appreciation session!

Sensational Sentosa

Date: Thursday, 7th July 2005 Time: 9am – 12.30pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: A coach ride will take you across to the idyllic isle of Tranquility, the literal name translation for Sentosa, situated at the southern tip of Singapore. Upon arrival, visit the Underwater World, Asia’s largest tropical Oceanarium housing over 3,000 marine specimens. Traveling on a moving walkway through a Perspex tunnel, visitors can see a large variety of marine species swimming within touching distance. You will also get to check out the Carlsberg Skytower where you'll get a fantastic view of the island and Singapore. On a clear day, you'll even get to see our neigbouring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Pay a visit to Fort Siloso which was built in the 1880s by the British to protect the Singapore harbour and today stands as a reminder of our colonial past. Catch up with famous historical figures and be sure to watch the new docu-dramas about the war years in Singapore. Complete your visit to the newly completed Images of Singapore – a museum where visitors can learn the different facets of Singapore history from the 14th to 21st century.

Uniquely Artsy & Historical Singapore - An Arts, Architecture & Heritage Tour

Date: Thursday, 7th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Visit the Singapore Art Museum followed by a guided walk on the inside of the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, located on 6 hectares of prime waterfront land and one of the most talked about buildings in Singapore, thanks to its peculiar twin shell shape that has won it the nickname of ‘The Durians”, a pungent but delicious tropical fruit that bears a close resemblance to the shape of the Esplanade. Last but not least, visit the Tang Cargo Exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place. Discovered in 1998 in the West Java Sea, this fascinating treasure trove of East Asian antiquities was salvaged from a sunken 9th-century Arab ship. The cargo comprises the most important group of Tang artifacts to have been found outside China.

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Friday, 8th July 2005

Shop & Eat – The Ethnic Trail

Date: Friday, 8th July 2005 Time: 8.30am – 12.30pm Duration: 4hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: The tour starts with a local breakfast in the heart of the Central Business District Area – where you’ll be served freshly brewed coffee and hand-made breakfast that is deliciously simple but very popular with visitors and busy executives alike! Drive pass the civic district and Boat Quay on the way to the next destination. Next we head towards Little India, where one will visit the wet markets and see, smell and taste firsthand, spices and food unique to this culture but have become everyday items to the residents of this small isle. Visit the spice scented walkways and the tiny shops laden with gold while here. A visit to Chinatown completes the gourmet run of the Gourmet Trail. Your guide will take you through the local medicine shop and highlight the ingredient that is used in our daily cooking to revitalize and maintain general well-being.  End the Chinatown tour with a tea appreciation session!

A Tale of Two Cultures - A tour of the Peranakan and Chinese Districts

Date: Friday, 8th July 2005 Time: 2.30 – 6pm Duration: 3.5hr Pickup Point: Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Details: Start the Tale tour with a easy walking tour of Katong, the traditional stronghold of the Peranakan culture will get your acquainted with the architecture and feel of the culture. End the tour with a hands-on session for making rice dumplings – a favourite Peranakan dish that is popular among locals.  Next, proceed to the hub of the majority race of Singapore – Chinatown.  The Chinatown Heritage Centre is a place visitors must see. It’s the one place that will give you a quick insight into and overview of the area’s history, as well as the people whose hard labour helped build Singapore into the success it is today. Last stop of the tour is the Thian Hock Keng Temple, built in 1821.