If you are planning a trip to Malaysia then you want to read this article. In January 2024, I’ve visited Malaysia for a month. During this trip I wrote everything you need to know about the country as a traveller. In this article you will find a 2 weeks itinerary as well as alternatives to this itinerary. In addition I also share with you which are the best activities, where to stay and which restaurants I recommend you to try. Ready to dive in?
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Table of Contents
Useful informations
Tourism in Malaysia has been growing fast as everywhere else in South East Asia. Even if the country is less touristy than his neighbours Thailand it is still attracting a lot of people. In addition the development of the country is fast and you will find lots of new constructions around. In fact the economical growth is changing Malaysia rapidly and that’s why Malaysia is not the cheapest country of South East Asia. Nevertheless it stays relatively affordable.
Before planning a trip to Malaysia check if you need a visa. The EU countries and Switzerland doesn’t need one but make sure to keep an eye on the lasts updates. For other passport I prefer not giving any false informations so I’ll let you check by yourself.
What to pack?
Keep this checklist with you so you won’t forget anything important.
- The plugs are the same as in the UK. Take a adaptor with you if needed.
- Appropriate clothes. The country is Muslim in its majority and you want to respect the people that are welcoming you. You will see tourists with tank top and mini shorts. Nobody will tell them anything but it doesn’t mean that it is appreciated by the locals. I always advise to be respectful on that matter.
- Camera
- Swimsuit (a one piece is always a good idea)
- Hiking shoes if you want to go hike.
- Mosquito repellant.
Money
- The official currency is the ringgit. You can count that 1€ is 5 ringgit. It’s important to take out some cash for your shopping and some restaurants. However more and more places accept cash.
- You can count 40€ per day per person if you are a mid/budget traveller as I am.
Transportations
There are several options of transportations in Malaysia. The cheapest option is the bus. In fact they very are reliable, frequent and they deserve a lot of cities and towns around the country. Typically you’d pay from 2-8€ for one ticket. You can check the bus schedules through this website.
Another popular option is to rent a car. The roads are very well maintained and connect most of the country’s places. This option is more expensive but gives you more freedom. Keep in mind that you should be comfortable to drive on the left side of the road and accommodate to the locals driving rules.
Itinerary
There is a big chance that you will land in Kuala Lumpur. That’s why this 2 weeks itinerary starts in KL. However if like us you are coming from Singapore you can take a bus from the city center and cross the Malaysian boarder by land. We chose to take a 4h bus from Singapore to Melaka but there are some bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur as well.
4 days in Kuala Lumpur
As you enter in the capital you will realise how big it is. Surrounded by skyscraper and shopping malls, the city is the economical center of the country. Nevertheless it has a lot to offer in term of cultures, history and food.
My favourite sights in KL
- Masjid Wilayah Persekutan
- Then Hou Temple
- Islamic arts museum
Find all the best spot in Kuala Lumpur : The Ultimate Guide to see the essential of Kuala Lumpur.
Where to stay
You can find several accommodations recommendations in this article. We stayed at the Ceylonz Suites and we liked it. The flat was in a skyscraper with a rooftop pool and a gym. Also it had a great location and was near everything.
Day trip from Kuala Lumpur
- Melaka
This beautiful colonial town is worth a visit. It has a lot of history as it pass from the hands of the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British before being taken back by the Malays. Daily buses leaves from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka and it takes around 2h to get there.
- Taman Negara National Park
If you like hiking then this national park is a great spot. It is one of the oldest forest / jungle in the world which is quite impressive to think that you can actually witness that. It is quite expensive to go for one day but if you have the budget then a day trip seems like a really good option. I let you the link of the tours I hesitated to take just below.
- From Kuala Lumpur : Day trip to Taman Negara
- From Kuala Lumpur : Taman Negara National Park
- Taman Negara Day Tour National Park
2 days in Cameron Highlands
From Kuala Lumpur drive or take a bus to your next destination : Cameron Highlands. Keep in mind that the bus stop is in the town of Tanah Rata, Cameron Highland is the region. Indeed the town is surround by mountains that are famous for their tea plantations. The scenery is beautiful and you will find peace in this area. It’s the typical weekend trip for the locals to relax and walk around the plantations.
What to do
My favourite activities in Cameron Highlands are:
- Visiting the tea plantations
- Experiencing a British tea set
- Walking around the region
In addition if you are searching for all the activities to do in Cameron Highlands then have a look at 10 awesome things to do in Cameron Highlands blog post.
Where to stay
We chose to stay in the Cameron Highland Resort for my birthday. Honestly I think it was worth every penny ! The place is gorgeous and the service is amazing. I cannot dream enough to go back. Furthermore you can find some hotels recommendations in the blog post I just mentioned before.
3 days in Georgetown
Next on your journey is Georgetown. From the town Tanah Rata take a bus or drive until Penang. The city center of Penang is called George Town and it is a well preserved colonial town. This town is well known for the diversity of the food. In other words you can enjoy a lot of cute cafes and local places to eat. Another fun thing to do is to take a day trip to the beach. As you can see there are many activities to do in and around Georgetown. As I got sick while I was in Georgetown I cannot recommend many places. However there are a few must see that I saved.
What to see
- Street Art Boy on a motorbike
- Chulia St
- Temple Kuan Yin Teng
- The Blue Mansion
- The View point of Georgetown.
Where to stay
There are options for every budget in Gerogetown. You can find a lot of cheap airbnbs as well as nice boutique hotels or big hotels with a pool at the seafront. Here are some recommendations.
Luxury
Mid budget
Budget
4 days in Peretian island or Langkawi island
Last but not least take a boat or a short flight from Georgetown to one of the Malaysian islands. Unfortunately we didn’t take the time to do it. Honestly this is my biggest regret and my biggest mistake from planning this trip. Don’t do like me and enjoy some snorkelling or just a nice hotel at the beach for a few days before leaving the country. I let you some popular attractions around Langkawi Island in case you want to know more.
Going back home
Lastly to go back home you will probably transfer in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Take this opportunity to stay a bit longer and visit for a few more days. I especially recommend stopping by Singapore if you have the chance. Personally I really loved it. In these blog post below you can find free things to do in Singapore and some other useful informations about Malaysia.
Budget
Let’s talk a bit about the budget. After some research about Malaysia I expected it to be cheap. Don’t get me wrong it is quite cheap but it is more expensive than other South East Asian countries. Except Singapore, Malaysia is the second most expensive country in the region in my opinion. Let’s break it down.
We spent an average of 40€ per day per person excluding the flight.
- The expenses for hotels or airbnbs was 35€ per night or 17.5€ night/person.
- We spent around 4€ per person per day for transportation.
- We ate for 10€ per day per person
- Finally it is hard to say for a daily average for activities but we had some expensive days with a 30€ activity and some other day were completely free.
our daily budget was 35-40€/pax and we didn’t spend less than that. We really had to count our spendings every day to make sure we didn’t go over the budget which didn’t happened to us in some other countries.
I hope this blog post will help you plan your trip in Malaysia! If you have any question do not hesitate to reach me via Instagram or in the comments.