The Original Singapore Walks

The Original Singapore Walks

The Original Singapore Walks
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursWalking ToursPrivate Tours
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About
The walks work on a simple principle: to bring people into places most other tours don't. Graveyards, smoke houses, wet markets, gun batteries, the city’s best-kept secret places. You name it, we have it. Since 2003, the Walks led by an eclectic bunch of researcher-guides have taken locals and travellers alike off the beaten track, and entertained with an endless store of anecdotes that reveal the true heart of the city. Pre-booking not necessary!
Singapore, Singapore

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Tours and Tickets by The Original Singapore Walks

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles746 reviews
Excellent
631
Very good
83
Average
17
Poor
5
Terrible
10

Sue S
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We originally wanted to do just the Battlebox tour but it was booked out so we chose the 2.5 hour tour of Fort Canning and Battlebox. I am glad we did as it was very interesting to learn the history of Singapore as well as the Battlebox history. I would highly recommend visiting Singapore Museum first as it gives you a good background of what went on. Our tour guide Helena was very engaging and amusing at times but was excellent at explaining the history of all areas we visited without being boring. I have already recommended this tour to friends as highly worthwhile and very interesting.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dasc0
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
I took two walks-the Changi tour, and the Time of Empire. Both were well organised, and all you would expect. What I didn't expect, and really appreciated and valued, was the Guides' passion for their home, their willingness to answer lots of questions, and their way of making me feel very welcome-as though a local friend, with pride in their country and a freakish amount of knowledge, had offered to show me around.
I can't recommend the tours highly enough.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

39felicityb
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Helena was extremely knowledgeable and explained the history of the surrender clearly and sysinctly. I was so enthralled by Helena's tour I followed up exploring the next phase at the Old Ford Factory the following day. Thank you Helena for opening my eyes to this phase of Singapore's history.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Has
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
My partner and I decided to go on the tour as we thought it would expound on the various sculptures in the park, explaining the myths, folklores and beliefs behind them. We knew the tour would also touch on the founding brothers, as it had stated in the description, but we imagined that would be a smaller part. Especially with a title like 'Journey to hell'.

Unfortunately, it seemed like 4/5 was on the family and the last part was on the Hell exhibition. We passed by various of sculptures that were interesting without one word on them. The ones that were talked about were generally the ones that already have descriptions, and I could have easily read the descriptions in less than half of the time it had taken the guide to explain to us.

The guide herself was full of long, unnecessary pauses and didn't seem to know how to hold the attention of her group. A quarter of the tour group left after the first 10 minutes of the tour, as most of us were very interested in the fascinating sculptures dotted along the entrance but she chose to talk intensively about the founding family's history, the 'view' and the gate. I, myself, had a very similar urge to leave and just explore the place myself but having paid $20 for the tour, being that the park itself is free and even exhibition prices at the Art Science museum is cheaper than this, I was desperately hoping she would change the topic.

If this tour was titled accordingly to the content, maybe 'The tragedies and drama of the Haw Par Villa family' or whatever their real name is, and I paid for the tour knowing that was what I was going to get, I'd have been immensely satisfied. Unfortunately, I feel like the description is more of a bait for people to pay for the tour and the stories that were shared of the founding family were dull.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dot_
Norway37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
Hmm
The park was interesting but strange. Not quite what I expected.
The guide told us about the history of the family who built the park and about Chinese beliefs. She was competent og informative.
Visiting after dark is a good idea, you can feel the atmosphere of 10 Courts of Hell.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jodie S
Glasgow6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
My partner and I went on the Journey to Hell tour with Nancy and it was great! We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into but it was a lot of fun. Nancy was warm, friendly and her storytelling was a lot of fun, everything you want in a tour guide! We only wish that we had more time to take pictures as we went around the park. Also more time to spend in the 10 Courts of Hell would also be good. We would definitely recommend this tour and can't wait to take more tours when we visit Singapore next time.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Valerie E
Palm Coast, FL6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
What a wonderful way to learn about the history and culture of Chinatown and how it relates to the Singapore of today. Helena is so very informative. It was a small group on our morning which made it very personal. Helena knows her history and is excellent at making it interesting to you. She also helps guide you with other things to check out in the area. I would do this again when we return and suggest this to everyone, as this is a large population of Singapore
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jurong_lady
Sentosa Island, Singapore26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2012
My 11 year old son and I took part in the Changi Prison and Chapel tour and it was exceptionally well done. The guide was personable and had many stories to share about Japanese occupied Singapore. The bus picked us up at the MRT station and took us first to the Changi Museum and our guide walked us through the chapel and museum pointing out interesting artifacts and putting the whole experience into historical context. We then went by bus to see a "recreated" gun battlement (not particularly interesting) and then visited Changi Beach which was the sight of a massacre of Chinese men by Japanese forces during the occupation. The focus of the tour and the museum itself is in fact the plight of foreign soldiers and civilians (Australian, British and Indian) but I was glad to see that the tour also gave a local perspective as well. A very informative and interesting morning!
Written April 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Silverlucky
Amsterdam84 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2012 • Couples
We visit Singapore many times, each time we plan to do a couple of Original Walks. We do this during the early days of our arrival, so we can go back to explore, see, shop and eat on our own.
Our memorable Walks are to: (1) Little India - to experience the Indian community way of doing business, life style, temples of worship, their cuisine and culture (2) Chinatown - day and night walks -for the different ethnic groups of Chinese way of life, their culture, history and worship places , various chinese cooking styles and dishes and (3) Arab Street.- to sample Arab community way of doing business, places of worship and their life style.
We had very experienced and qualified local guides, who do their research, thus are knowledgeable, are approachable (for our questions) and friendly, sometimes entertaining and funny, making our tours fun, informative and very interesting. The guides - from our experience - do not pressure us to buy (unlike tours in other countries where guides bring you to shops where they earn a commission or get monetary tips from the shop-keepers).
For us it is a wonderful way to learn local cultures, the way of life of the different races of people, their religious practices, their kinds of foods and how they go about their daily business.
After our guided tours, we select the places that we like to go back to explore further on our own for the remaing days of our stay. This way with each visit, we get more in-depth knowledge of amazing Singapore, which is more than just a shopping paradise.
Strongly recommend Original Walks to those visiting Singapore island for the first time.
TIPS:
1) Do plan ahead if you want to do the tours. Ask your concierge about booking for the tours, unless you want to do it on your own (TIME OUT can have useful information).
2) Some can be long - lasting 2 to 3 hours - and may not be so much fun, after a while for kids.
3) Prepare for it - walking shoes, umbrellas (is it rainy season ?), sun hat and drinking water (hot and sweaty under the sun), bring favourite snacks for the kids if tour is not going pass 7-11 and eateries.
4) Other ways to see the island on your own - do the hop-on-hop-off bus trip (use your Singapore Airlines boarding pass), or ride the MRT (underground train) - it is a cheap and easy mode of travel, as the MRT practically goes round the island. Or go on your own walk.
Am very sure you will discover your "own" favourite Singapore places !! Just do it !!
Many thanks to the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board for so many wonderful programmes and plans to showcase their island !
Written April 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Suz003
Hunter Valley NSW Australia520 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We were lucky enough to squeeze 3 walks into our 3 days in Singapore. The Little India walk, End of Empire (which is a small bus and walking tour) and Sultans of Spice. The walks are an excellent way of visiting Singapore. You get to see a lot of normal everyday life in action (you visit markets, temples and local shops and side streets).

You are provided with some historical information and explanations about all the different cultures that make up Singapore and how they all manage to live together. This is really interesting.

The tours are lively, personal and varied. This is due to the guides that run each tour. They all love their job and their country and this shows, but it also makes for a brilliant and informative couple of hours.

They are great value for money, particularly if you do several. I was impressed from the first email I sent to the company. I had booked for a 3 day pass at just $65Singapore. They asked which tours I was planning on selecting and I replied but also asked did they know if we’d be better off catching a cab to the meeting points or metro? I said we were staying at the Quincy. I received a very detailed email, telling me exactly where to catch the metro, which colour line to take, when to change lines and where to meet the guide. It was brilliant (and we followed it successfully).

They are a fun interesting company (check out there website and you’ll understand what I mean, I also booked and paid online – www.journeys.com.sg)

If I hadn’t gone on these walks I would have missed having my hand painted with henna, not discovered the hidden graves of the Singapore Royal family, and not learnt that Muslims cannot buy perfume (as it has alcohol in it) instead they buy oils infused with scents and they smell just like real perfume. I have a little bottle of one that smells like chanel number 5 and it cost $5. (I bought 5 different kinds) Do the Sultans of spice tour to get taken to this wonderful spot.

If you really want to see Singapore properly, from the ground rather than out of a tour bus window, this is the tour for you.

I will definitely be doing more tours when we next visit Singapore. And the walk is leisurely, so don’t worry about not being able to keep up.
Written July 10, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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