21 days in Malaysia: culture, nature & relax

Kuala Lumpur Airport - Malacca

Day 1: Welcome To Kuala Lumpur!

Welcome To Kuala Lumpur!

Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur Airport, your driver will transport you to your hotel where you can relax after your flight or start exploring the area! 

Malacca

Day 2: Enjoy The Highlights Of Malacca

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before heading to Malacca, which is full of rich heritage and is located between the China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Did you know throughout history, the city has attracted Portuguese, Dutch, and English colonial rulers and has maintained a unique cultural mix in Asia?

Stroll through Chinatown or visit the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Other highlights of the city, include the ruins of St. Paul's Church and the beautiful Kampong Kling Mosque.

Malacca - Kuala Lumpur

Day 3: Explore Kuala Lumpar's Capital City, Putrajaya

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before heading to the capital, Putrajaya, which is located about 25km south of Kuala Lumpur and sits on a magnificent 4581-hectare spread. Lush greenery and botanical gardens spread across the landscape enhanced by large bodies of water and wetlands. 

On the way, pass by the government office complex, a man-made lake of 400 hectares. Also, visit the Putra Mosque, Putra Square, and a photo stop at Putra Bridge. 

In the evening, you'll have some free time to explore Kuala Lumpur! Don't forget to try the famous KL street food or dine in one of the many restaurants in the city. Visit the city's oldest mosque, Masjid Jamek, and stroll the streets of Little India and Chinatown, as well as, the lighted Petronas Towers at dusk.

In the afternoon, take a stroll in Independence Square or Merdeka Square. At the end of the day, climb the Menara Tower, which is 421 meters high.

Kuala Lumpur - Taman Negara

Day 4: Explore Taman Negara National Park, One Of The Oldest Rain Forests In The World

In the morning, you'll leave the big city of Kuala Lumpur and stop at the Batu Caves, a famous Indian temple.

Afterward, drive to Taman Negara National Park, which is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world! Take a boat to reach your hotel.

In the evening, go on a hike through the jungle with your guide.

Taman Negara

Day 5: Boat Tour In Taman Negara

After breakfast, trek into the jungle up to Teresek Hill and onto the Canopy Walkway, a suspending walkway that twists through the jungle treetops.

From 30 feet up, you’ll get a completely different perspective of the rainforest around you. Afterward, return to your resort for lunch and a fun boat tour and rapids shooting! Also, visit the Orang Asli Village (Batek Tribe) and learn how these nomadic people live their lives in the jungle.

Afterward, return to the resort and enjoy some free time before bedtime.

Taman Negara - Cameron Highlands

Day 6: Explore The Cameron Highlands

Enjoy breakfast, before separating from Taman Negara to Cameron Highlands.

In the morning, leave Taman Negara for the Cameron Highlands. By the early afternoon, you'll reach the Cameron Highlands at 1,600 meters above sea level. Enjoy the peace and the fresh mountain air!

Before reaching your hotel, visit the Barat Tea Estate.

Cameron Highlands

Day 7: Visit A Famous Tea Factory In Cameron Highlands

In the morning, discover the "mossy forest" in the Cameron Highlands. Go to an altitude of 2000 meters, enjoy a spectacular view of greenery surrounded by tea plantations! 

Accompanied by your guide, you'll discover the forest and its tropical plants. Finally, end the morning with a visit to the Sungei Palas "BOH" Tea Factory, a famous tea factory.

In the afternoon, return back to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day as you wish. 

Cameron Highlands - Penang

Day 8: Discover The Culture & Nightlife Of Penang

After breakfast, you'll be picked up by your private driver and transported to Penang.

Your first stop of the day is in Ipoh to discover the Kek Lok Tong Temple and Kuala Kangsar for the Ubudiah Mosque and The Royal Palace.

Next, your journey continues to Penang. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the day at your leisure or explore the city that's full of surprises! 

Later in the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner. 

Penang

Day 9: Visit Georgetown, A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Today, discover the capital of the island: Georgetown, a truly multicultural mosaic that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Did you know that Penang was an important port on Asia's trade routes? Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, Thais, Burmese, English, and Middle Eastern traders make up a mixed population.

Visit city landmarks, such as Fort Cornwallis by the sea, Blue House, The Blue Mansion, Leith Street, or the magnificent Khoo Kongsi Chinese House.

Afterward, stroll the streets to witness street art that's part of its cultural heritage and enjoy lunch at one of the city's many restaurants or cafés. 

Penang - Kuching

Day 10: Catch A Flight From Penang To Kuching

Depending on your flight schedule, your private driver will pick you up at your hotel to transfer you to Penang Airport.

Catch a domestic flight from Penang to Kuching.

Upon arrival at Kuching Airport, your private driver will pick you up and bring you to your hotel.

Kuching

Day 11: Explore Bako National Park

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before departing for Bako National Park located on a peninsula near the coast.

The starting point for excursions to the park is at Bako Village, a 35-minute drive from Kuching. From the village, you can take a boat to the park headquarters in around 25 minutes. You might spot crocodiles, sea eagles, and other waders along the way!

Explore the trails and look for wildlife. In the late afternoon, return to Kuching.

Kuching - Batang Ai Nationalpark

Day 12: Explore The Batang Ai Reservoir

In the morning your private driver will pick you up early (8 AM) from your hotel in Kuching and drive to Batang Ai Reservoir.

Along the way stop at Lachau Bazaar where you can stroll around the shops and the small native market and have an early lunch in a local coffee shop.

Next, continue your journey, where you'll arrive at Batang Ai Lake around 2 PM. Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa.

Settle in your lodge and enjoy your dinner. After dinner, visit Nanga Sumpa Longhouse where you can relax on the ruai (common verandah), spend time with the Iban, and enjoy some local rice wine.

Batang Ai Nationalpark

Day 13: Explore The Scenic Enseluai Waterfall By Longboat

After breakfast, start your hike along the river through the jungle and then continue upriver by longboat through the scenic Enseluai Waterfall.

Arrive at the waterfall and have time to swim, relax, and enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts.

Afterward, return to the lodge for dinner.

Batang Ai Nationalpark - Kuching

Day 14: Depart Batang Ai National Park For Kuching

Enjoy your breakfast in the lodge, before traveling downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty.

Arrival is around 10:30-11:00am. Afterward, the journey continues to Kuching, where you'll arrive in the afternoon and will be dropped off at your hotel.

On the way to Kuching, stop to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Kuching - Kota Kinabalu

Day 15: Visit A Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

At 8:15 AM, your private driver will take you to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre which is located 24 kilometers from the center of Kuching. 

This orangutan rehabilitation center trains orphaned or rescued orangutans how to survive in the wild. Over 20 orangutans live in the forest within the nature reserve and often return to the center at feeding times. After a brief talk from the rangers, take a short walk along a trail to the feeding area to watch the orangutans come down from the trees for a free meal!

Observe the feeding of orangutans requiring rehabilitation. Afterward, return to your hotel and check out and transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel for check-in and spend the day at your leisure. 

Kota Kinabalu

Day 16: Embark On A Guided Nature Walk In Kinabalu Park

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before being picked from your hotel in the city to depart in the early morning for a 2-hour journey through breath-taking scenery to Kinabalu Park.

Take a guided nature walk with a park naturalist and then explore the park’s botanical garden, which showcases some of the many species of plants that can be found in the park.

Have lunch at a local restaurant in the afternoon and visit a gallery on the park’s botanic diversity before returning to Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan - Kinabatangan

Day 17: Take A Boat Ride Along Kinabatangan River

Catch an early domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. Take a boat trip for bird and wildlife viewing near Pitas Lake. Don't forget your camera! 

Afterward, return back to your lodge for breakfast. Later in the morning, visit Abai Village and enjoy a local-style lunch prepared and served by the villagers. Alternatively, you can return back to your lodge for lunch. Afterward, relax or explore the boardwalk and look for wildlife. 

In the afternoon, take another boat ride along the Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife. Dinner will be served at the lodge and you'll have time to spend the evening at your leisure. 

Kinabatangan

Day 18: Bird & Wildlife Watching Near Ox Bow Lake

In the morning, take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake.

Trek the lush forest along the lake and then return back to your lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River and Kinabatangan River.

Return back to your lodge and spend the evening as you wish. 

Kinabatangan - Sandakan - Langkawi

Day 19: Free Day On Langkawi Island

After breakfast, depart your lodge and return to Sandakan.

Afterward, have lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the Sandakan Airport for your domestic flight to Langkawi. 

Selamat Datang!

Upon arrival, your driver will transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy a free day in Langkawi - explore the sea and enjoy water sports, such as jet-ski, parasailing, mostly on Cenang Beach.

Langkawi

Day 20: Explore More Of Langkawi Island

Today, you can enjoy another free day in Langkawi!

Explore the island by zipline for the jungle,  mangroves by boat, or by foot. 

Langkawi - Langkawi Airport

Day 21: Farewell, Malaysia!

Depending on your flight schedule, your private driver will transfer you to Langkawi International Airport to catch your flight back home or to continue your travels!

We hope you had an amazing experience in Malaysia!