Great Asian Railway Journeys

Kowloon to Wan Chai

In Hong Kong, Michael Portillo investigates how Britain won the island and Kowloon from China after two drug wars. He st

Hong Kong University to Lantau Island

Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Hong Kong aboard the impressive MTR metro system, which handles six millio

Chiang Mai to Lampang

Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a four-part rail adventure through Thailand from the

Ayutthaya to River Kwai

Michael Portillo continues his rail journey through Thailand from Lampang, stopping to help at an elephant hospital, whe

Bangkok

Michael Portillo is in the Thai capital, Bangkok, midway through his rail tour of Thailand. He learns how the late 19th-

Bangkok to Hua Hin

Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Thailand by rail, steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s guide. He steps into th

Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet

Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo boards the Unification Railway for a thousand-mile journey from

Da Nang to Hoi An

Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey through Vietnam aboard the Unification Railway from Ho Chi Minh Cit

Hue to Ninh Binh

Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey aboard the Unification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City in the south t

Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael continues his thousand-mile journey through what was then French Indochi

Jakarta to Bogor

Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. His journey

Jakarta to Borobudur/Kutoarjo

Michael continues his journey across the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago, from the capital, Jakarta. His se

Yogyakarta to Ambarawa

Ambarawa to Surabaya

Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s guidebook on a 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia, Michael Portillo is in Indonesi

Penang to Kuala Kangsar

Michael Portillo’s 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia reaches Malaysia. On the island of Penang, Michael traces

Kuala Kangsar to Cameron Highlands

Michael Portillo’s rail exploration of south east Asia continues in Malaysia. His journey resumes in Kuala Kangsar, wh

Kuala Lumpur to Melaka

Michael Portillo continues his 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia. On this leg, he explores the phenomenal growth o

Melaka to Johor Bahru

Michael Portillo is in Malaysia on a 2,500-mile tour of south east Asia. His 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide takes him to Melaka

Raffles Place to Botanic Gardens

Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - the phenomenally successful island city stat

Chinatown to Gardens by the Bay

Michael Portillo is in the island city state of Singapore on the last leg of his 2,500-mile exploration of south east As