Malaysia's west coast self-drive adventure

Transfer from Kuala Lumpur airport to hotel in Malacca - Transfer from Kuala Lumpur airport to hotel in Malacca - At leisure in Malacca

Day 1: Malacca

Transfer from Kuala Lumpur airport to hotel in Malacca
Other Transfer: Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) we will meet you and transfer you to the coastal town of Malacca. Estimated travel time: approximately 2 hours


At leisure in Malacca
Excursion: Malacca was once one of the great trading ports of Asia, and a critical staging post for the exploratory voyages of Zheng He (China's greatest traveller). Wandering the backstreets now is a step back in time to the colonial era and beyond, a world preserved in the historic centre of the city. While you're here be sure to see Paul’s Hill and the renowned Porta De Santiago. Built as a fortress by the Portuguese in 1511 the historic landmark is one of the oldest surviving European architectural remains in all of Asia, today it is admired by travellers from all over the world. For a sense of the spiritual and cultural richness of the city visit the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malaysia’s oldest traditional Chinese Temple. The dark timber beams and beautifully carved woodwork of the saddled roof enclose the tranquil ambiance of the central prayer hall, where a gold and red robed statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin, watches over. Then amble along Jonkers Street, where you can hunt for antique souvenirs. If you have time you can also visit the Baba Nyonya Museum for an interesting insight into the lifestyle and traditions of the unique Peranakans. The museum takes you on a journey into late 19th century and early 20th century Malaysia as you wander through the home of Baba Chan Cheng Siew (1865-1919), whose distinctive taste reflects the opulence that was fashionable in many Peranakan homes of this era.

Transfer from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur - Transfer from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur - At leisure in Kuala Lumpur

Day 2: Kuala Lumpur

Transfer from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur
Other Transfer: You will be picked up and will head along the highway passing Seremban to Kuala Lumpur - the capital city of Malaysia. Estimated travel time: 2 hours


At leisure in Kuala Lumpur
Excursion: Malaysia’s buzzing capital is regarded as the centre of the country, with its futuristic skyline of steel-clad skyscrapers and renowned Petronas Twin Towers this vibrant hub of culture and technology is where it all happens. Nonetheless, it is the people that give the city its flavour. Here, a mixture of Chinese, Malay and Indian communities live together harmoniously, making the city an exciting stopover or short-stay location. To get a true taste of the city you’ll find that, despite the heat, taking to the streets is your best option. You’ll get in amongst the action of everyday life, whilst avoiding the frustration of being caught in the daily traffic jams that trail in and out of the city. Live as the locals do by indulging in two of their favourite pastimes: eating and shopping. Take your pick of one of the many modern shopping malls in the city’s entertainment district, Bukit Bintang, for some retail therapy, or if you’re looking for a bargain you may want to check out Chinatown and join in the excitement of haggling. With the variety of cultural influences it’s no surprise that the city’s major attraction is mouth-watering food. Along Kimberly Road, street chefs set up their food carts and you can enjoy cooked-to-order bowls of Char koay teow (stir-fried rice noodles) or steaming hokkien mee (noodles stir-fried with egg, pork, prawn, and spicy sambal sauce). On Penang Road seek out the ‘Penang Road Famous Laksa’ to try the state’s most famous dish, Penang Asam Laksa, a spicy-sour tamarind fish soup filled with rice noodles, a dollop of prawn paste, garlic, ginger, and chilli paste.

Further time at leisure in Kuala Lumpur

Day 3: Kuala Lumpur

Further time at leisure in Kuala Lumpur
Excursion: For another day in the vibrant city continue to explore on foot. You could visit the nearby Central Market for a shopping experience that's a little different to the modern malls found in the huge retail centres. This market is the focus of the city’s artistic community and here you can browse the boutiques and souvenir stalls selling local merchandise. To experience the eclectic mixture of Asian culinary traditions make your way to the Imbi Market for a breakfast of fresh popiah, or for a taste of authentic Indian style dishes visit Little India in Brickfields.

Self-drive: From Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara - Self-drive: From Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara

Day 4: Taman Negara National Park

Self-drive: From Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
Car Transfer: You can drive yourself into the mainland towards the east before turning north to Taman Negara. Estimated travel time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Taman Negara excursion

Day 5: Taman Negara National Park

Taman Negara excursion
Excursion: Taman Negara offers one the most rewarding locations for jungle trekking, its thick forest teeming with life. From wildlife HQ make your way deep into the jungle for 1.7 kilometers along the popular trail to Bukit Teresek (334 metres). You can reach its peak in 45 minutes, trekking under the dense canopy of the rainforest before it gives way to the magnificent panoramic view of Gunung Tahan and the forest below. Then, walk along the world’s longest canopy walkway, a 1500 feet of path that appears to float high above the treetops strung up nearly 100 feet above ground level. This must-do activity offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the wilderness from a high vantage point. You will also visit Lata Berkoh, a spectacular cascade that marks the limit of easy navigability on the river. The deep pool below the cascade demonstrates the force of the river with its strong undercurrents and ice cold water, but there is a rocky area where you can relax and the rapids - an ideal for a picnic lunch. Here you can swim in the clear waters of the fall and enjoy the best nature has to offer. On the journey back you can unwind and lose yourself in the tranquility of the forest as you drift downstream without the disturbance of the boat’s motors.

Self-drive: From Taman Negara to Cameron Highlands - Self-drive: From Taman Negara to Cameron Highlands

Day 6: Cameron Highlands

Self-drive: From Taman Negara to Cameron Highlands
Car Transfer: Pick up your car at Kuala Tahan and self-drive to Cameron Highlands from Kuala Tahan via the Gua Musang Highway, or the newly opened Kuala Lipis to Bertam Valley road. Continue to drive up the road passing through Brinchang and finally the main town – Tanah Rata. Settle in your hotel and enjoy the peace & serenity of Cameron Highlands. Estimated travel time: approximately 4 hours

Self-drive: From Cameron Highlands to Penang - Self-drive: From Cameron Highlands to Penang - Self-drive recommendation - Ipoh

Day 7: Ipoh - Penang

Self-drive: From Cameron Highlands to Penang
Other Transfer: Driving yourself you travel up through western Malaysia, crossing the Penang Bridge to the island of Penang. Estimated travel time: approximately 3 hours 30 minutes


Self-drive recommendation - Ipoh
Excursion: In the morning, visit the prehistoric Gua Tambun cave paintings. Here you will find 2,000 year-old paintings dating back to the Neolithic era depicting the life of early inhabitants of the peninsula - for such a significant historical site, it has remained rather obscure and relatively hard to locate. Then, you can stop at the famous Sam Poh Tong cave temple located in Ganung Rapat. The Chinese Buddhist temple is itself a work of art built within a limestone cave and is the oldest and most famous cave temples in Perak, Malaysia - legend has it that the cavern was discovered by a Chinese monk in 1890 who decided to make it his home, remaining there until his death 20 years later. Continue to visit Ipoh’s railway station, a superb example of colonial architecture completed in 1917 and designed by the prolific British architect, A.B Hubback, who also built Kuala Lumpur's famous station. The building houses the Majestic Station Hotel, which calls itself a 'Grandiose Moorish Colonial Hotel' and is sometimes referred to by the locals as the Taj Mahal of Ipoh. Standing in the small garden in front of the station is a specimen of the Ipoh tree, after which the town is named. The infamous Ipoh tree contains a poisonous sap which the ‘orang asli’ used to tip the darts of their blowpipes, due to its poisonous nature many of the trees have been cut down. Across the street is the stately, neo-classical Town Hall and Old Post Office building which recalls the colonial days of the past.

Self-drive - At leisure in Penang - Self-drive recommendation - Penang

Day 8: Penang

Self-drive - At leisure in Penang
Excursion: Explore the city at your own leisure by self-drive. Penang's history as a meeting point between East and West has provided it with an incredibly varied architectural and cultural style, which culminates undoubtedly in George Town, the island’s main city. Take a drive to see its eclectic mix of crumbling shophouses, ornate Chinese temples, decorated mosques and modern skyscrapers. The city's architecture is an impressive reflection of the island’s cosmopolitan and diverse culture, making it a rewarding destination for any explorer. Here, you can immerse yourself in the city's rich history along the British Colonial avenues of Georgetown the make your way to the gates of Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the largest and finest temples in Southeast Asia. You might also visit the appropriately named Blue Mansion - a magnificent 38-room mansion that blends Eastern and Western design, highlighted by its distinctive indigo blue exterior. To see the island from a different perspective take the funicular railway from Air Itam to the top of Penang Hill and enjoy the expansive views overlooking lush jungle, colonial-style George Town and the distant mainland - enjoy a traditional high tea with fresh scones at Dan Brown’s Restaurant and Tea Terrace Experience the island’s natural bounty by taking a drive to the Tropical Fruit Farm located in the hilly terrain of Teluk Behang, where you’ll be taken on a tour of the luscious orchards and given the chance to taste the unique flavours of each exotic fruit. Visit the eight-hectare butterfly sanctuary in the Battu Ferringhi district where you can inspect at close quarters the impressive colour of the creatures' delicate wings and watch them flit around their favourite nectar plants. After a day of exploring, drop off your vehicle/rental car at your hotel at 17:00.


Self-drive recommendation - Penang
Excursion: Today you explore Penang - the Pearl of the Orient and the oldest British settlement in Malaysia. You can visit the Khoo Kongsi (Dragon Mountain Hall) clan house with its ancient design constructed to capture the splendour of an imperial palace. Wander the walls of the historical Fort Cornwallis and admire the Thai temple of Wat Chayamangkalaram, which houses a 32 metre reclining Buddha. In the afternoon, visit the legendary Snake Temple. The temple was built around 1850 in memory of Chor Soo Kong, a Buddhist monk with healing powers who moved to Penang. According to legend, he gave shelter to the snakes of the jungle and so when the temple was completed the snakes came of their own accord. Today, the temple is filled with the smoke of burning incense and a variety of pit vipers. The vipers are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but it is advisable to avoid touching the snakes nonetheless. Returning to the city, you can visit the Penang Peranakan Mansion, a recreation of a typical home of a rich Baba from over a century ago. A tour of the mansion offers a glimpse into these families opulent lifestyle and numerous customs and traditions. With over 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectibles of the era on display, this Baba-Nyonya museum is housed in one of Penang’s heritage mansions, an excellent example of eclectic design and architecture. The Peranakans, also known as the Babas and Nyonyas, were a prominent community of acculturated Chinese unique to this part of the world, especially in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) - hence its other name, the Straits Chinese. Adopting selected ways of the local Malays and later, the colonial British, the Peranakans had created a unique lifestyle which has not only left behind a rich legacy of antiques, but its cultural influences like cuisine and language are still evident in Penang today.

Transfer from Penang Hotel to Jetty - Transfer from Penang Hotel to Jetty - Transfer from Penang to Langkawi by ferry

Day 9: Langkawi

Transfer from Penang Hotel to Jetty
Boat Transfer: You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Georgetown’s Fort Swettenham Pier to board your ferry to Langkawi. Estimated travel time: approximately 10 minutes.


Transfer from Penang to Langkawi by ferry
Boat Transfer: You will travel from Penang to Langkawi by ferry, travelling up the west coast of Malaysia. Estimated travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes.


Transfer from Langkawi Jetty to your hotel
Other Transfer: Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your resort. Estimated travel time: 40 minutes

At leisure in Langkawi

Day 10: Langkawi

At leisure in Langkawi
Excursion: Langkawi is the epitome of tropical paradise. Its sparkling turquoise waters, white sand beaches and emerald jungle are undoubtedly the inspiration for the island’s official title: Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah. A thousand years ago it was a haven for pirates, and although the legendary bounty hunters are long gone the archipelago of 99 tropical islands retains its natural treasures. Langkawi boasts some of the best beaches on the West coast of Malaysia, such as Cenang beach, the longest on the island. It’s fine white sand and intermittent beach bars, restaurants and watersports area make it the most popular by far. Although Cenang is never crowded, if you prefer a quieter spot Tengah beach is an excellent alternative. A continuation of Cenang beach, Tengah offers a tranquil space where you can soak up the sun or snooze in the shade of a towering palm tree. Experience the panoramic vistas of the surrounding islands by catching a ride in the renowned SkyCab, one of the steepest cable car rides in the world. From the foothill of Manchincang mountain ascend the jungle clad peak to the viewing platforms where you can witness dramatic views of deep chasms, overhanging cliff walls and isolated pinnacles, as well as a 360 view of Langkwai and the neighbouring islands. Once at the top station you can not afford to miss the magnificent SkyBridge, the longest curved suspension bridge in the world. Offering visitors a unique spatial experience, the curvature of this ingenious structure provides a continuously changing perspective and spectacular views of the virgin jungle below.

Further time at leisure in Langkawi

Day 11: Langkawi

Further time at leisure in Langkawi
Excursion: Enjoy another day on this island paradise. Relax on the beach by soaking up the sun on the golden sand, chill out in the shade with a good book or marvel at the marine life amidst the coral by snorkelling in the clear, refreshing waters. For a change of scenery, take a cycle ride inland through the green paddy fields and rubber plantations where you’ll find the island has retained its idyllic rural beauty, with traditional villages and laidback living. If you’re looking to explore further you might wish to hire a car due to the island’s size, however, taxi busses will get around just as well.

Transfer from Langkawi to the airport - Transfer from Langkawi to the airport

Day 12:

Transfer from Langkawi to the airport
Other Transfer: We will ensure that you are transferred to Langkawi airport (LGK) in time for your departure flight. Estimated travel time: approximately 20 minutes