You identify it, Malaysia’s in all probability obtained it – seashores to lounge on, rain forests to trek and sweat via, unique wildlife to hunt out, unbeatable delicacies, deep-seated traditions, and wealthy cultural historical past. From my many visits to this attention-grabbing nation, listed here are my favourite locations…
1. Langkawi
I fell utterly in love with this beautiful archipelago! I assumed it was a very beautiful spot with journey journal good seashores, from the golden sands to the secluded shores, abundance of coconut palms, charming Malay-style buildings, thick rainforests, and dramatic limestone formations. Although it had a energetic tourism scene attracting everybody from honeymooners to backpackers nevertheless it nonetheless retained its relaxed vibe which I beloved.
- Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the seashores and out of doors actions in nice climate).
- Actions on supply: Seashore actions, cable automobile rides, skybridge walks, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
- Lodging: The Datai Langkawi, The Andaman, and funds beachfront guesthouses.
- Map Location and Instructions
My private highlights…
- Discovering my favourite seashores which was the extraordinary Black Sand Seashore (which had each black and white sands), the quiet Pantai Tengah, the luxurious resort-filled Datai Bay and Pantai Cenang which attracted the backpackers.
- Exploring the SkyBridge and elevated platforms and watching the clouds roll over the slopes!
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2. Pulau Tioman
That is typically considered one of the crucial lovely islands in Malaysia! I’ve to agree I assumed it was a completely stunner with untouched seashores, clear, shallow aquamarine waters, charming village-style buildings, jungle-covered mountains and attention-grabbing coral reefs. It had a relaxed, laid-back vibe which mixed nature with a touch of journey!
Positioned off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, within the South China Sea; it grew to become a preferred vacationer vacation spot after being featured within the 1958 movie South Pacific. It has a inhabitants of round 3,000 residents, principally residing in small villages.
I took a one hour flight Tioman Airport from Kuala Lumpur and stayed for 4 days and toured the island on a rented motorcycle which was an superior technique to discover. I additionally relaxed on the quiet seashores of Salang and ABC Seashore, went diving and snorkeling to find the coral reefs, treked via the jungle to see the Asah Waterfall, visited the normal villages of Tekek and Paya, and took a snorkeling boat journey to Renggis Island and noticed stingrays and blacktip reef sharks!
- Location: East coast of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for clear waters and ideally suited snorkeling and diving situations).
- Actions on supply: Snorkeling, scuba diving, jungle trekking, and exploring waterfalls.
- Lodging: Berjaya Tioman Resort, Japamala Resort, and funds chalets.
- Map Location and Instructions
3. George City
I beloved the island state Penang which is situated off the northwestern coast and thought it was such a novel journey vacation spot. It’s a diversified and enticing vacation spot crammed with an attention-grabbing historical past, melting pot of various cultures, beautiful seashores and a handful of luxurious resorts.
The UNESCO World Heritage Website of Georgetown is capital metropolis of the island and we actually loved staying right here for a number of days. It’s a bustling locations crammed with retailers, markets, eating places and outdated colonial buildings.
We additionally beloved exploring and discovering all the previous crumbling mansions right here in addition to the beautiful temples akin to Kek Lok Si, a really giant and essential Buddhist temple.
- Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to discover the cultural and historic websites in cooler climate).
- Actions on supply: Sightseeing, visiting temples, exploring colonial structure, and having fun with native delicacies.
- Lodging: Jap & Oriental Lodge, The Status Lodge, and heritage boutique inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
4. Penang
I assumed this vibrant state was so distinctive! mix of pastel-colored colonial-era buildings in George City, UNESCO-listed structure, lengthy seashores with delicate sands, clear waters, and a backdrop of lush hills. One among my favorite features although, was that it was a multiracial melting pot of various cultures, religions, and ethnicities which made an excellent foodie vacation spot too. It felt energetic but relaxed on the similar time nevertheless it was undoubtedly very intriguing!
- Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the meals, festivals, and discover the island in nice situations).
- Actions on supply: Seashore actions, visiting the Butterfly Farm, taking the funicular prepare to Penang Hill, and exploring meals markets.
- Lodging: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort, Lone Pine Lodge, and seafront guesthouses.
- Map Location and Instructions
My favourite highlights…
- Visiting the Butterfly Farm, which has a sequence of masterful, must-see quick animated academic movies.
- Eating on the Tropical Spice Backyard on the island’s northern edge have been we dined within the treetops alongside Silver Leaf monkeys swinging amongst the branches.
- Taking the funicular prepare to the highest of the Penang Hill which was a cool (as in temperature) and fairly spot with superior nature trails
- Making an attempt the native delicacies – I particularly beloved the very tasty fried Nasi Kandar (a curry), and the very colourful Ais Kacang (“bean ice” a Malaysian dessert).
5. The Petronas Towers
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the chaotic capital, magnificence presents itself in an sudden type.
For those who hold across the base of the Petronas Towers between sundown and moonrise, the world’s tallest twin buildings endure a magical transformation as day turns to nighttime and the workplace lights, raise shafts, and plane warning lights illuminate the 88 tales in a halogen-fuelled twilight haze.
- Customer Middle Deal with: Petronas Twin Tower, Decrease Floor (Concourse) Degree, Kuala Lumpur Metropolis Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to profit from sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur’s iconic spots).
- Actions on supply: Sightseeing, visiting the skybridge, exploring close by parks, and purchasing on the Suria KLCC mall.
- Lodging: Merchants Lodge, Mandarin Oriental, and close by luxurious inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
6. Pangkor Island
It is a dreamy tropical island situated off the west coast of the mainland. It’s an unspoilt place crammed with pristine white sandy seashores, turquoise waters, diversified marine life and many alternatives for water actions.
I beloved snorkeling right here and likewise mountaineering the jungle trails to expertise the character shut up.
Our favourite seashores on the island inluded Pasir Bogak which has clear shallow waters, the superior snorkeling spot of Coral Bay, and the unique resort of Emerald Bay.
- Location: West coast of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for water sports activities, snorkeling, and seaside rest).
- Actions on supply: Snorkeling, seaside actions, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
- Lodging: Pangkor Laut Resort, funds beachfront chalets, and small boutique inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
7. Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital metropolis of Sabah. Though it would appear to be a typical metropolis at first look, with its strains of malls and buildings, you’ll encounter magnificent stretches of orange-sand shoreline and islands whenever you enterprise deeper into town.
Probably the most widespread points of interest is the floating mosque, however there are a number of different locations to go to, like Tanj and Ung Aru Seashore. For my part, it has one of the crucial lovely sunsets. You could possibly additionally stroll alongside Likas Bay and benefit from the day enjoying within the sand or the water.
The 5 islands listed here are collectively generally known as Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a popular spot for snorkeling and stress-free by foreigners and locals alike. Just some miles from town, there’s additionally an amazing jungle.
- Location: North a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for the most effective seaside and mountaineering climate, and to benefit from the islands close by).
- Actions on supply: Seashore actions, snorkeling, visiting the floating mosque, and mountaineering in close by jungles.
- Lodging: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort, Gaya Island Resort, and metropolis inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
8. Malacca
Malacca Metropolis is a wonderful selection if you’re in search of a richly endowed with historical past and tradition.
For tons of of years, Malacca was one of the crucial strategically important cities on the Malay Peninsular. Its possession modified fingers between the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, amongst others, as they fought for management of this key buying and selling put up.
Quick ahead to modern-day Malacca, and also you get the impression the place hasn’t modified a lot.
Many streets are one-way, winding, and cramped, whereas the rickety buildings are poky and ooze historic character. Like Penang, Malacca is without doubt one of the nation’s smallest states and proudly possesses UNESCO World Heritage Website standing.
For those who go to Malacca metropolis, I like to recommend visiting the well-known Jonker Road Night time Market, A Famosa Fort, and St. Paul’s Church.
- Location: Southwest a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for exploring historic websites and markets in cooler temperatures).
- Actions on supply: Sightseeing, visiting historic websites, strolling excursions, and exploring night time markets.
- Lodging: The Majestic Malacca, Casa del Rio, and heritage boutique inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
9. Cameron Highlands
Guests are interested in this enchanting area of Pehang to expertise the novelty and the respite of a cooler tropical highland local weather the place temperatures are sometimes within the low 20s.
The rolling hills are populated by tea plantations and flower nurseries, making the realm the main producer of tea and flowers in Malaysia.
It’s clever to test the climate within the monsoon season (November – February) and name forward or ask your transport operator earlier than touring, because the heavy rainfall can result in landslides, which have an inconvenient tendency to dam many roads.
- Location: Central a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Summer season (to benefit from the cool highland local weather and go to tea plantations).
- Actions on supply: Visiting tea plantations, mountaineering, exploring flower nurseries, and visiting strawberry farms.
- Lodging: The Cameron Highlands Resort, Strawberry Park Resort, and native guesthouses.
- Map Location and Instructions
10. Pulau Pangkor
I beloved this beautiful gem! A tiny island off the Malay Peninsular with broad, sweeping seashores that match Langkawi, it’s only accessible by ferry from the connecting city of Lumut.
Lumut is roughly three hours north of Kuala Lumpur by street, and for these wishing to stay to the tracks, Ipoh (85km away) will sate your prepare station wants.
- Location: West coast of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for snorkeling, seaside actions, and exploring the island).
- Actions on supply: Snorkeling, jungle trekking, seaside actions, and wildlife recognizing.
- Lodging: Pangkor Sandy Seashore Resort, funds chalets, and beachfront resorts.
- Map Location and Instructions
11. Pulau Redang
This picturesque group of islands is a shocking sight. Positioned alongside the east coast, they rise from the South China Sea.
Redang sits inside protected waters, generally known as the Terengganu Marine Park, and preserves the crystal clear waters and reef methods, making a flourishing scuba-tourism trade.
With crystal clear waters, the islands sit inside protected waters (the Terengganu Marine Park), so their magnificence is maintained at a premium. It has not too long ago change into a great place for scuba diving and vacationer actions.
The waters are normally too tough for boats to maneuver on throughout these instances, so I counsel researching the finest time to go to. As with some central areas akin to Cameron Highlands and far of the East Coast, the monsoons dictate when and when to not go.
Between November and February, the waters are sometimes too tough for boats to move keen sun-seekers to the island; many resorts take a vacation, so it’s at all times finest to cellphone forward for availability or plan your travels away from the off-season.
- Location: East coast of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for ideally suited situations for snorkeling and scuba diving).
- Actions on supply: Scuba diving, snorkeling, seaside actions, and marine life viewing.
- Lodging: The Taaras Seashore & Spa Resort, Laguna Redang Island Resort, and funds lodges.
- Map Location and Instructions
12. Sabah, Borneo
Malaysia appears to be a unending supply of reverential snorkel and scuba websites, and Sabah doesn’t buck any developments. For those who’re serious about latitudes, Sabah ranks because the nation’s northernmost state, and other people flock to Sabah to benefit from the seas. I had an enormous delicate spot for this place!
Sabah is fantastically lovely, with lengthy, complete, and sandy seashores. It additionally has many unique onshore and offshore species, together with civet cats, snakes, clouded leopards, and pygmy elephants.
These are among the many 222 mammals (44 endemics), 420 birds (37 endemics), 100 amphibians, and 394 fish (19 endemics) discovered!
- Location: North a part of the nation
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the seashores, wildlife, and diving alternatives).
- Actions on supply: Seashore actions, snorkeling, diving, and wildlife viewing.
- Lodging: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, eco-lodges, and beachfront inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
13. Gunung Mulu Nationwide Park
What seems like a stone’s throw away from Brunei on the map, Gunung Mulu represents yet one more of this nation’s UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
It’s a well-documented, visited, and filmed world, as achieved by the BBC’s Planet Earth group, however with eye-catching, otherworldly options such because the Pinnacles at Mount Api, it’s simple to see why. Gunung Mulu Nationwide Park is the most important of Sarawak’s parks.
- Location: North a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for trekking and exploring caves in ideally suited situations).
- Actions on supply: Trekking, caving, wildlife viewing, and exploring limestone formations.
- Lodging: Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa, park lodges, and eco-friendly stays.
- Map Location and Instructions
14. Ipoh, Perak
Ipoh, the capital of Perak, is nothing in need of magnificent. Nicknamed rightly ‘The Metropolis of Bougainvillea,’ I’m an enormous fan of its classic magnificence!
It’s surrounded by rocky limestone hills that add to town’s full visible aesthetic centered round its colonial historical past. Town contains a number of Hindu and Buddhist cave temples, and it’s shortly changing into one of many high vacationer locations on the planet!
It’s unimaginable that Ipoh was a sleepy Malay village only a few years in the past. Now, it’s drawing consideration and recognition worldwide, with individuals eager to take pleasure in a few of its many lovely spots.
Just like the Ipoh Heritage Stroll, which is simply 6.5 kilometers lengthy, it’s lined with majestic structure that also harbors a magnificence and magnificence that just about sums up all the Ipoh expertise.
Another nice locations to go to in Ipoh are Kellie’s fortress, which isn’t for the faint of coronary heart, as there have been a number of supernatural reviews and sightings inside this cave, and the Tambun cave, which you’d definitely take pleasure in seeing among the Neolithic work, and the Geological Museum, which is filled with all types of lovely and thrilling tales and displays.
- Location: West a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to discover the colonial structure and benefit from the close by cave temples).
- Actions on supply: Sightseeing, exploring cave temples, strolling excursions, and visiting historic websites.
- Lodging: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, WEIL Lodge, and boutique inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
15. The Perhentians
Positioned within the South China Sea, this is a small archipelago off the coast of Terengganu, generally known as the “Perhentians.” The principle islands of the Perhentians are Besar and Kecil (Large and Small), two lovely coral-covered islands of white sand and crystal-clear shallow water.
You possibly can take up a number of actions on the Perhentians, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and canoeing. You’d have a pleasant stress-free day and gaze on the lovely water because it laps in opposition to the shore.
- Location: East coast of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for glorious snorkeling, diving, and seaside rest).
- Actions on supply: Snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and seaside actions.
- Lodging: Perhentian Island Resort, Coral View Island Resort, and funds chalets.
- Map Location and Instructions
16. Danum Valley
Danum Valley in Sabah is the most effective place to go to for a improbable jungle expertise. The conservation space is situated deep contained in the 130 million-year-old lowland forest.
It has range of crops and animals scattered over 438 sq. kilometers. Once you go to the Danum Valley, you may see orangutans, leopards, and even pygmy elephants.
The realm is solely wildlife and vegetation as there’s a lack of human settlement, making the expertise and setting even purer. The forest is lush, and you’ll partake in jungle treks with an skilled information and even go for an evening safari.
- Location: East a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for wildlife viewing and jungle trekking in good climate).
- Actions on supply: Jungle trekking, wildlife viewing, and night time safaris.
- Lodging: Borneo Rainforest Lodge and eco-friendly forest lodges.
- Map Location and Instructions
17. Alor Setar
Visiting Langkawi is normally the most well-liked exercise for many who go to Kedah. However for my part, they’re lacking out on an unexplored metropolis known as Alor Setar.
Town stands simply a few kilometers to the southeast of Langkawi, and it options some important buildings just like the Royal Corridor, the Large Clock Constructing, the Zahir Mosque, and the Sultan Museum.
You may also go to the imposing 250 million-year-old Gunung Keriang limestone hill. There are additionally some historic Seventeenth-century ruins you may see at Kuala Kedah.
- Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (to discover town’s cultural websites and close by points of interest).
- Actions on supply: Visiting historic websites, exploring limestone hills, and visiting museums.
- Lodging: Lodge Royale Signature, TH Lodge & Conference Centre, and funds metropolis inns.
- Map Location and Instructions
18. Pulau Sipadan
The island of Pulau Sipadan is situated within the state of Sabah and is without doubt one of the high diving locations on the planet.
The island stands about 600 meters above the ocean flooring and is residence to numerous marine life, together with satan rays, hammerhead sharks, dogtooth tuna, and barracudas.
It’s a excellent place for marine lovers and divers as a result of there’s a lot magnificence in and across the water. Nonetheless, restrictions have been applied to maintain the stability within the ecosystem, so you’ll solely be allowed day visits.
However if you wish to keep in a single day, I counsel arranging a spot on close by islands like Mabul, Mataking, or Kapalai.
- Location: Southeast a part of the nation.
- Greatest time to go to: Dry season (for the most effective diving situations and clear waters).
- Actions on supply: Scuba diving, snorkeling, and marine life viewing.
- Lodging: Day journeys solely, with stays on close by Mabul or Kapalai Islands at Sipadan Water Village Resort or funds lodges.
- Map Location and Instructions
Location of Malaysia
Malaysia is situated in Southeast Asia with the well-known international locations of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore and The Philippines.