Hundreds of colorful steps lead to the cavernous entrance to this deep cave complex that while beautiful in itself, is made even more intriguing by the Hindu shrines and statues that have turned this into a place of worship too. For more information, take a look at our guide to visiting the Batu Caves. On day 3, make the two-hour journey to the coastal city of Malacca.
Explore the old ruined churches and forts before spending the afternoon wandering through the UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers many of the old streets of the city, including the famous Jonker Street.
Spend the evening along the river, take a cruise and then sit back at one of the many restaurants overlooking the water to enjoy some of the local Malaccan specialties. Early on your 4th day in Malaysia, make the journey north towards the Cameron Highlands. This is a stunning area of natural beauty that, due to its higher elevation, is always much cooler than the coast.
Spend the next two days hiking through the jungle, climbing mountains and visiting tea plantations and strawberry farms. On day 6, travel from the Cameron Highlands to the island of Penang. This is one of the most diverse and interesting destinations in Malaysia, with a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western cultures merging beautifully to create a unique and historical location.
Visit the Clan Jetties to see the authentic Chinese culture firsthand and to learn more about the multicultural influences that made Penang the place it is today.
Wake up early on day 7, and spend the morning walking to the top of Penang Hill for expansive views over the island. If you are feeling lazy, you can even take the funicular to the summit.
After visiting the hill, use the rest of the morning to travel to Kek Lok Si , which can claim to be one of the largest Buddhist temples in Malaysia. Delve into the Chinese culture before heading back to Georgetown to take the ferry across to the nearby island of Langkawi, a journey of around three hours. Langkawi is a tropical, duty-free island that makes the perfect destination to relax and unwind at the end of your packed Malaysia itinerary. Spend your first day enjoying the white sands of Cenang Beach , relax by the ocean, enjoy a few well-earned drinks at the rustic beachside bars and chill out in the sunshine.
In the morning, take an island hopping tour around Langkawi, exploring the many spectacular tropical islets and remote beaches found in the area. When you get back, spend the afternoon visiting Langkawi Sky Bridge. This remarkable feat of engineering offers the best views of Langkawi and as far out to sea as the nearby Thai islands too. The silver lining is that you now have longer to plan the perfect trip, from curating must-visit destinations to deciding practical matters, such as how long to spend in Malaysia.
My favorite thing about Kuala Lumpur is how eclectic it is, whether you explore ethnic neighborhoods like Petaling Street Chinatown or Little India , make exotic day trips to stunning Batu Caves , colonial Malacca or regal Putrajaya , revel at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers or look onto them from the greenery of the KL Bird Park or majestic Merdeka Square. George Town embodies the same sort of eclecticism as KL, and while there are a few skyscrapers, its claim to fame is less about tall buildings and more about old ones.
Meanwhile, enjoy a stunning panorama of George Town from Penang Hill. The tea plantations here are beautiful and idyllic, and proved to be among the most scenic photo spots in all of my two weeks in Malaysia. The furthest east portion of Malaysian Borneo, Sabah consists of the city of Kota Kinabalu , Mount Kinabalu and a number of jungle and beach destinations of dazzling beauty. To be sure, while the group of islands near the town of Semporna are absolutely stunning, the mechanics of traveling there are chaotic, a fact compounded by the incompetence of the governmental authority that controls permitting for the region.
On the other hand, Sarawak was probably my single favorite destination in Malaysia. This began and ended with the awesomeness of Kuching , a charming, clean and green city nestled along the banks of the Sarawak River , but also had a great deal to do with the other attractions of the state, not to mention the proximity to Kuching. For example, while the day trips I took in Sabah required expensive taxi rides and even flights, I was able to take Uber to visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve , home to a population of wild orangutans that are being rehabilitated, and to Bako National Park , where you can take half- and full-day hikes that feel way farther from the city than they are.
For these reasons, Sarawak is not only a great place to visit, but the perfect destination to end your two weeks in Malaysia itinerary. Or, look back at your planned Malaysia itinerary and add some other places in. Other places to visit if you want to discover more of Malaysia include Langkawi island which is near Penang, and even closer to Thailand , the very rural parts of Sarawak including Bario where my dear friend Lilian is from and even an excursion to the controversial sultanate of Brunei.
Note that while it took me about two weeks to string together these Malaysia destinations, I moved at a much faster pace than the average traveler.
With a week in Malaysia, you can see the following highlights:. The city most of all is famous for the Petronas Towers , the highest twin towers m in the world. We were especially amazed by them at night, when the towers were illuminated.
Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur is much more than its famous towers, in this city you will find a bustling and very authentic Chinatown , colonial architecture on Merdaka Square , Little India with its smells, which will transport you to the India itself, and so much more. This holy place is the most important Hindu sanctuary outside India, and is the destination for many pilgrims around the world. Full of beautiful Chinese houses, Christian churches, Hindu temples and mosques, George Town is one of the symbols of the ethnical and cultural diversity in Malaysia.
The city is also known as the gastronomic capital of the country , and if you love Asian cuisine, one thing you must do in Malaysia without doubt is to pick up a brochure from the tourist office in George Town, in which all the different local specialities are shown. The brochure includes a map that indicates where you can try then each of these delicacies.
Another tag has been added to the city since the renovation projects were finished, the street has become to be known also for the spectacular street art that you can find there. In all the city you will found creative paintings and sculptures, which will make your visit even more pleasant. Very close to George Town, you will find another must see place in Malaysia, the Kek Lok Si temple you can get there in a public bus , the largest Buddhist temple in the country.
Langkawi Island is found in the Andaman Sea, and if you go North from the island, you will already be in Thailand. Langkawi is a nice island, although the beaches there are not as amazing as those you can find on the nearby Thai islands. If you travel like we did, and come to Langkawi from the close island of Koh Lipe in Thailand, the beaches on Langkawi might not impress you.
Moreover, some of the nicest beaches on the island, like the Datai Beaches, are closed to the public, since they are private property of the hotel built on them. Nevertheless, the island has beautiful things to offer, especially landscape -wise. There are lush green tropical rainforests, waterfalls and monkeys everywhere on the road amongst other things. We really recommend you to rent a motorbike to explore the island.
We also would like to warn you that if you choose to take a bath, in certain months of the year, there are quite a lot of jellyfish there, so be aware of that! Malaysia is a country where you will sweat most of the time because of the heat and the humidity, and you often would like to be in a place with cooler temperatures. This region with its moderate temperatures is the most important agricultural area in the country.
Exploring these highlands, you will see huge farms where they cultivate strawberry and other kinds of fruits. Nevertheless, the most spectacular sights are the beautiful tea plantations that look like if someone had painted them. There are tours available to visit the most important sights in the area, but we recommend you to use the public transport and explore the highlands on your own. In addition, there are several nice trails in the forests of the Cameron Highlands.
The immense jungle of Taman Negara is known to be the oldest tropical rainforest on the planet with more than million years. From the small riverside village of Kuala Tanah , you can explore the dense jungle full of wildlife.
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