Explore Malaysia

Over View

This journey through the tropical peninsular takes us from the gleaming metropolis of Kuala Lumpur to the idyllic beaches of Langkawi. We discover colonial buildings in Malacca, stay overnight in a forest homestay and learn how tea is picked in the Cameron Highlands.
Malacca – Stroll through this charming Dutch colonial trading port. Take an evening river cruise
Cameron Highlands – Walk through the mossy forest and try tea picked from plantations
Penang – Sample fresh and tasty street food and take in the views from atop Penang Hill

Itinerary

Day 1 Join trip in Kuala Lumpur

Arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital. East and West rub shoulders in this eclectic and energetic city. KL (as it is known locally) has a hugely varied population, comprising mainly of Malays, Sikhs, Chinese, Indians, Tamils (many in local dress), and the odd splash of saffron from a robed Buddhist monk, adding colour to the vibrant street scenes.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 4:30pm for the welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), which is one hour and 15 minutes from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information over breakfast on day 2.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to visit the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and clock tower, which are located along Jalan Raja. These late-nineteenth century buildings show Kuala Lumpur’s colonial occupation, and are a stunning contrast to the modern skyscrapers.

Day 2 Discover Kuala Lumpur’s varied sights on a walking tour of the city

This morning we embark on a walking tour to uncover some of the cultural diversity of this lively and modern city. The tour starts at the colourfully decorated Guan Yin Temple, an ornate Buddhist temple dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Compassion. We then venture into Chinatown and onto Petaling Street, a pedestrianised lane lined with traditional Chinese lanterns and where anything from sunglasses to Bonsai trees can be bought. We move next onto the Hindu temple of Sri Maha Mariamman, a towering temple that is South Indian in style, and is said to be the oldest Hindu temple in all of Malaysia. On our way out of Chinatown we stop via the Central Market before crossing the Gombak River and onto the city’s birthplace. This area offers a stark contrast from Chinatown and is full of historic buildings such as the Cathedral of Saint Mary and the Tudor-styled Royal Selangor club, from Malaysia’s colonial days.

The rest of the day is free at leisure. If you would prefer to explore, you may wish to visit ‘KLCC’ , the area in which the magnificent Petronas Towers lie. For wonderful views of the Towers along with a choice of Asian-inspired cocktails, head for the ‘Sky Bar’, residing on the 33rd floor of the Traders Hotel, directly opposite the towers.

Day 3 Morning visit to Batu Caves, afternoon drive to Malacca. Evening river cruise

This morning we head out of the city and on to the iconic Batu Caves. Some 272 steps lead up to the sacred Hindu temple that lies inside the cave, and wonderful views of the city and beyond can be had from the entrance. The temple is a shrine to a Hindu deity, Lord Murugah and the complex consists of three caves full of colourful Hindu murals and artwork. After some time spent exploring, and perhaps witnessing a puja if we are lucky (a Hindu ceremony of worship where often an offering to the gods or deity will be made), we will continue south and drive onto the colonial city of Malacca.
This afternoon we will then visit Villa Sentosa, a traditional house offering an interesting insight into the daily lives of a typical middle-class Malaysian family at the turn of the 20th century. This house-come-museum has been kept almost entirely as it was 100 years ago, and is located within the sleepy settlement of Kampong Morten, a village community hidden within the confines of the city.
This evening we include a river cruise, offering an interesting vantage point to watch the sun set over the colonial cityscape.

Day 4 Walking tour of the old town and visit to Villa Sentosa

Malacca is one of the oldest towns in Malaysia, and certainly the most cosmopolitan. In its time it has been ruled by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and the Japanese, finally becoming Malay in 1957. Old Malacca is a fascinating area to wander around by yourself, and we include a walking tour of some of the major sights such as the tomb of Hang Kasturi, one of Malacca’s five great 15th century warriors, and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore this charming city. Malacca is the place to pick up antiques along ‘antique row’, and there are plenty of open-air restaurants along the water front in which to try the local speciality ‘steamboat’ – satay sticks of all types cooked in a pot in the middle of your table and eaten communally

Day 5 Drive north to Chenderoh Lake and take an afternoon walk through rural countryside

This morning we set off for our drive north to Perak. Although a journey of 400 kilometres, the drive is comfortable and on a well-laid highway. We expect to make it to our homestay in Chenderoh Lake by the early afternoon.
The Suka Suka Lake Retreat is set on the banks of Chenderoh Lake and offers a great insight into daily life in rural Malaysia. It is set amongst tropical forests and working rubber plantations, and its accommodation comprises of a selection of traditional ‘Kampung’ style guesthouses with en-suite bathrooms and hot showers. Fans and mosquito nets are provided in all of the rooms.
After settling into our homestay we set off for an orientation walk around the local area. This area is home to many different plantations, and we will walk through active rubber and palm oil plantations to learn about how these crops are harvested, and why locals have chosen to make a living this way. We hope it offers a unique insight at a grassroots level into the realities of the oil palm trade, a multi-billion dollar industry for which Malaysia is the second-largest exporter in the world.
We will help to prepare dinner tonight alongside our hosts, which is likely to be a selection local fried fish, nasi goreng (tasty fried rice often served with egg and spices) and steamed vegetables. Sambal is another staple at dinner time – a kind of garnish paste made with chillies, herbs and spices. After dinner there is a chance to try your hand at Congkak – a popular Malaysian board game played with stones or beans.

Day 6 Optional Kayaking before driving into the Cameron Highlands

This morning has been left free to relax in our natural surroundings. There is the option to take a kayak and have a gentle paddle around the calm waters of Chendorah Lake, or perhaps take another short walk.
Waving goodbye to our hosts we set off for the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s hill-country. The highlands were discovered in the hey-days of the colonial era, with Victorian explorers sending home news of verdant slopes and mild climes which offered respite to Malaysia’s punishing summer swelter. The British soon moved in, and up popped country estate houses, vast swathes of lush tea plantations and curious traditions of tea, scones and strawberries.
Present-day Cameron Highlands still retains some of this nostalgic charm, and tea plantations still make up large parts of the landscape.
Dinner tonight serves up a contrast to all of this British influence, as we will be cooking our own Malaysian hot pot. A hearty meal often eaten during winter months, this traditional way of cooking allows for meat and fish to be fried, and vegetables and other ingredients to be boiled all together in one pot under an open flame.

Day 7 Visit a tea plantation for a tea tasting session. Afternoon drive to Ipoh to catch train to Penang

Travelling by 4WD this morning, we will drive out to the nearby ‘Mossy Forest’ for a short walk through this eerie landscape. The forest lies at the highest elevation of this range, and as such is enveloped in near-permanent cloud cover, covering the forest in mist and constant moisture. This provides the perfect environment for moss, ferns and other evergreen plants to flourish.
After the Mossy Forest we will continue onto BOH tea factory. Nestled within many hectares of lush tea plantations, BOH have been growing tea for nearly 100 years. We will take a walk through the rows of plantations to see how tea is grown, picked and harvested, before visiting the factory to learn how it is refined to create the different varieties we find in our brews. We end with tea tasting in BOH’s tea rooms, located high up with panoramic views of the plantations below.
After lunch, we leave the Cameron Highlands and drive to the provincial city of Ipoh. From here we board our high-speed train, a comfortable two hour journey to Butterworth, Penang Island.

Day 8 Orientation tour of eclectic Penang,with the afternoon free for further exploration

Often called the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ by the local people, Penang lies some 4km off the Malay mainland. Its deep-water harbour is ideal for trade and so the island has become a haven of commerce. This morning we take an excursion around the island by private bus; visiting the majestic Kek Lok Si Temple, located on top of a hill, giving us a good insight into local life as it takes us through rural villages. You can also ride on the funicular railway to the top of Penang Hill (optional) for far reaching views across the island. In the afternoon you are free to explore. The Botanical Gardens are beautiful and can be reached quite easily by local bus, and there are many other interesting mosques and Buddhist temples to see. Appreciators of art should search out the local batik work at the Penang Art Gallery. In the evening we will organise to eat at one of the many local food stalls that Penang is so famous for, whether Indian, Chinese or Malay, the choice is yours!

Day 9 Morning ferry to Langkawi island, free afternoon

We rise early this morning for our ferry to the idyllic island paradise of Langkawi, a journey of approximately three hours. Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands lying just off the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsular. Surrounded by turquoise waters, the interior of the main island is a mixture of jungle-clad hills and picturesque paddy fields. This lush interior is encapsulated by white-sand beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Andaman Sea; an ideal place to relax or explore for our last few days in Malaysia. We will be met on arrival on the island and transferred to our base for the next 3 nights, where the rest of the day has been left free at leisure.

Day 10 Free time in Langkawi – relax or optional island hopping

Today is a free day where you can choose to relax on the beautiful coconut palm-fringed beaches or perhaps snorkel amongst the tropical fish of the Andaman Sea. If you would prefer to remain more active, there are a number of optional excursions which can be arranged. Optional excursions include a cycling tour where you can explore some of the island’s towns and villages on two wheels, an island-hopping cruise where you can discover some of the lesser-visited islands of the archipelago, or a visit to the Northern Mangroves taking in the unique geology, flora and fauna of this area.

Day 11 Free to relax or optional cycling & exploration of mangrove forests

We have another free day to relax, unwind, or explore.

Day 12 Trip ends in Langkawi

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Langkawi.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Langkawi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Langkawi International Airport (LGK), which is 30 minutes from the hotel.