You identify it, Malaysia’s in all probability received it – seashores to lounge on, rain forests to trek and sweat by, 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’m fully in love with this place! It’s a shocking assortment of 99 islands nestled within the Andaman Sea within the West Coast of Malaysia. It’s a duty-free haven situated 30km off the mainland, and simply accessible by ferry or air from Thailand or the mainland.
Honeymooners and backpackers are all catered right here with magazine-perfect seashores, swaying palm bushes and tree-covered cliffs.
For the extra adventurous, I like to recommend testing your potential vertigo-issues at one among Langkawi’s most important points of interest: the 1,700-metre cable automotive or SkyCab ascending Machinchang Mountain.
From there I like to recommend you’re taking a stroll alongside the SkyBridge, head as much as elevated viewing platforms and watch the clouds roll in and over the slopes at implausible velocity.
If you’re feeling hungry ask the locals to let you know the next location of the roaming evening market, the road meals right here is scrumptious!
Some of my favourite seashores included Black Sand Beach (which had each black and white sands), the quiet Pantai Tengah, the luxurious resort-filled Datai Bay and Pantai Cenang which had some nice spots for backpackers.
Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the seashores and out of doors actions in nice climate).
Activities on provide: Beach actions, cable automotive rides, skybridge walks, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
Accommodation: The Datai Langkawi, The Andaman, and finances beachfront guesthouses.
Map Location and Directions
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2. Pulau Tioman
Since the Seventies, Pulau Tioman has been generally known as being one of the vital lovely islands on this unimaginable nation. Located simply off the east coast within the South China Sea, I personally suppose this place is an actual gem!
It has some gorgeous seashores, a wealthy and dense rainforest, and an expanse of wildlife. I cherished scuba diving, snorkeling, strolling by the jungle, and touring the island on motorbikes. The islands even have some attractive waterfalls, which I actually loved exploring and swimming in!
Location: East coast of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for clear waters and splendid snorkeling and diving circumstances).
Activities on provide: Snorkeling, scuba diving, jungle trekking, and exploring waterfalls.
Accommodation: Berjaya Tioman Resort, Japamala Resort, and finances chalets.
Map Location and Directions
3. George Town
I cherished 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 engaging vacation spot full of an attention-grabbing historical past, melting pot of various cultures, gorgeous seashores and a handful of luxurious resorts.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown is capital metropolis of the island and we actually loved staying right here for a couple of days. It’s a bustling locations full of retailers, markets, eating places and outdated colonial buildings.
We additionally cherished exploring and discovering all the previous crumbling mansions right here in addition to the gorgeous temples akin to Kek Lok Si, a really giant and necessary Buddhist temple.
Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to discover the cultural and historic websites in cooler climate).
Activities on provide: Sightseeing, visiting temples, exploring colonial structure, and having fun with native delicacies.
Accommodation: Eastern & Oriental Hotel, The Prestige Hotel, and heritage boutique lodges.
Map Location and Directions
4. Penang
The island state is situated off the northwestern coast it’s multiracial melting pot of numerous cultures, religions, and ethnicities which makes an excellent foodie vacation spot too.
We talked about the capital Georgetown above and wherever you wander, I promise it received’t be lengthy earlier than you’re drifting misplaced amongst the slim pastel streets, having your nostrils tugged and tempted by fried Nasi Kandar (a curry), and your eyes pop on the colourful sight of Ais Kacang (“bean ice” a Malaysian dessert).
The lengthy sandy seashores are beautiful (though be careful for the jellyfish!) and the protected rainforests however I personally suppose the meals right here is without doubt one of the greatest components of the journey, and it received’t be lengthy earlier than you’re misplaced in a sea of tempting dishes.
Location: Northwest a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the meals, festivals, and discover the island in nice circumstances).
Activities on provide: Beach actions, visiting the Butterfly Farm, taking the funicular practice to Penang Hill, and exploring meals markets.
Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort, Lone Pine Hotel, and seafront guesthouses.
Map Location and Directions
My favourite highlights…
Visiting the Butterfly Farm, which has a collection of masterful, must-see brief animated instructional movies.
Dining on the Tropical Spice Garden on the island’s northern edge had been we dined within the treetops alongside Silver Leaf monkeys swinging amongst the branches.
Taking the funicular practice to the highest of the Penang Hill which was a cool (as in temperature) and fairly spot with superior nature trails.
5. The Petronas Towers
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the chaotic capital, magnificence presents itself in an surprising type.
If you grasp 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, elevate shafts, and plane warning lights illuminate the 88 tales in a halogen-fuelled twilight haze.
Visitor Center Address: Petronas Twin Tower, Lower Ground (Concourse) Level, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur’s iconic spots).
Activities on provide: Sightseeing, visiting the skybridge, exploring close by parks, and procuring on the Suria KLCC mall.
Accommodation: Traders Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, and close by luxurious lodges.
Map Location and Directions
6. Pangkor Island
This is a dreamy tropical island situated off the west coast of the mainland. It’s an unspoilt place full of pristine white sandy seashores, turquoise waters, diversified marine life and many alternatives for water actions.
I cherished snorkeling right here and in addition mountain climbing 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.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for water sports activities, snorkeling, and seaside rest).
Activities on provide: Snorkeling, seaside actions, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
Accommodation: Pangkor Laut Resort, finances beachfront chalets, and small boutique lodges.
Map Location and Directions
7. Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital metropolis of Sabah. Although it would appear to be a typical metropolis at first look, with its traces of malls and buildings, you’ll encounter magnificent stretches of orange-sand shoreline and islands once you enterprise deeper into town.
One of the preferred points of interest is the floating mosque, however there are a number of different locations to go to, like Tanj and Ung Aru Beach. In my opinion, it has one of the vital lovely sunsets. You may 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 well-liked spot for snorkeling and enjoyable by foreigners and locals alike. Just a couple of miles from town, there’s additionally an incredible jungle.
Location: North a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for the very best seaside and mountain climbing climate, and to benefit from the islands close by).
Activities on provide: Beach actions, snorkeling, visiting the floating mosque, and mountain climbing in close by jungles.
Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort, Gaya Island Resort, and metropolis lodges.
Map Location and Directions
8. Malacca
Malacca City is a wonderful selection in case you are on the lookout for a richly endowed with historical past and tradition.
For lots of of years, Malacca was one of the vital strategically vital 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.
Fast 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 Site standing.
If you go to Malacca metropolis, I like to recommend visiting the well-known Jonker Street Night Market, A Famosa Fort, and St. Paul’s Church.
Location: Southwest a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for exploring historic websites and markets in cooler temperatures).
Activities on provide: Sightseeing, visiting historic websites, strolling excursions, and exploring evening markets.
Accommodation: The Majestic Malacca, Casa del Rio, and heritage boutique lodges.
Map Location and Directions
9. Cameron Highlands
Visitors are drawn to 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 world 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.
Best time to go to: Summer (to benefit from the cool highland local weather and go to tea plantations).
Activities on provide: Visiting tea plantations, mountain climbing, exploring flower nurseries, and visiting strawberry farms.
Accommodation: The Cameron Highlands Resort, Strawberry Park Resort, and native guesthouses.
Map Location and Directions
10. Pulau Pangkor
I cherished this gorgeous gem! A tiny island off the Malay Peninsular with broad, sweeping seashores that match Langkawi, it is just 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 practice station wants.
Location: West coast of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for snorkeling, seaside actions, and exploring the island).
Activities on provide: Snorkeling, jungle trekking, seaside actions, and wildlife recognizing.
Accommodation: Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort, finances chalets, and beachfront resorts.
Map Location and Directions
11. Pulau Redang
This picturesque group of islands is a shocking sight. Located 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 techniques, making a flourishing scuba-tourism business.
With crystal clear waters, the islands sit inside protected waters (the Terengganu Marine Park), so their magnificence is maintained at a premium. It has just lately turn out to be a great spot for scuba diving and vacationer actions.
The waters are normally too tough for boats to maneuver on throughout these instances, so I recommend researching the greatest 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 greatest to telephone forward for availability or plan your travels away from the off-season.
Location: East coast of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for splendid circumstances for snorkeling and scuba diving).
Activities on provide: Scuba diving, snorkeling, seaside actions, and marine life viewing.
Accommodation: The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, Laguna Redang Island Resort, and finances lodges.
Map Location and Directions
12. Sabah, Borneo
Malaysia appears to be a endless supply of reverential snorkel and scuba websites, and Sabah doesn’t buck any tendencies. If you’re thinking 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 tender 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
Best time to go to: Dry season (to benefit from the seashores, wildlife, and diving alternatives).
Activities on provide: Beach actions, snorkeling, diving, and wildlife viewing.
Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, eco-lodges, and beachfront lodges.
Map Location and Directions
13. Gunung Mulu National Park
What appears like a stone’s throw away from Brunei on the map, Gunung Mulu represents yet one more of this nation’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It’s a well-documented, visited, and filmed world, as accomplished by the BBC’s Planet Earth workforce, however with eye-catching, otherworldly options such because the Pinnacles at Mount Api, it’s straightforward to see why. Gunung Mulu National Park is the most important of Sarawak’s parks.
Location: North a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for trekking and exploring caves in splendid circumstances).
Activities on provide: Trekking, caving, wildlife viewing, and exploring limestone formations.
Accommodation: Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa, park lodges, and eco-friendly stays.
Map Location and Directions
14. Ipoh, Perak
Ipoh, the capital of Perak, is nothing in need of magnificent. Nicknamed rightly ‘The City of Bougainvillea,’ I’m a giant fan of its classic magnificence!
It is surrounded by rocky limestone hills that add to town’s full visible aesthetic centered round its colonial historical past. The metropolis contains a number of Hindu and Buddhist cave temples, and it’s rapidly turning into one of many prime vacationer locations on this planet!
It is 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 desirous to take pleasure in a few of its many lovely spots.
Like the Ipoh Heritage Walk, which is barely 6.5 kilometers lengthy, it’s lined with majestic structure that also harbors a magnificence and magnificence that just about sums up the whole Ipoh expertise.
Some different nice locations to go to in Ipoh are Kellie’s fort, 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 actually take pleasure in seeing a few of the Neolithic work, and the Geological Museum, which is stuffed with all types of gorgeous and thrilling tales and reveals.
Location: West a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to discover the colonial structure and benefit from the close by cave temples).
Activities on provide: Sightseeing, exploring cave temples, strolling excursions, and visiting historic websites.
Accommodation: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, WEIL Hotel, and boutique lodges.
Map Location and Directions
15. The Perhentians
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Located within the South China Sea, this is a small archipelago off the coast of Terengganu, generally known as the “Perhentians.” The most important islands of the Perhentians are Besar and Kecil (Big and Small), two lovely coral-covered islands of white sand and crystal-clear shallow water.
You can take up a number of actions on the Perhentians, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and canoeing. You would have a pleasant enjoyable day and gaze on the lovely water because it laps in opposition to the shore.
Location: East coast of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for wonderful snorkeling, diving, and seaside rest).
Activities on provide: Snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and seaside actions.
Accommodation: Perhentian Island Resort, Coral View Island Resort, and finances chalets.
Map Location and Directions
16. Danum Valley
Danum Valley in Sabah is the very best place to go to for a implausible jungle expertise. The conservation space is situated deep contained in the 130 million-year-old lowland forest.
It has a superb range of crops and animals scattered over 438 sq. kilometers. When you go to the Danum Valley, you may see orangutans, leopards, and even pygmy elephants.
The space is only wildlife and plants as there’s a lack of human settlement, making the expertise and atmosphere even purer. The forest is lush, and you may partake in jungle treks with an skilled information and even go for an evening safari.
Location: East a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for wildlife viewing and jungle trekking in good climate).
Activities on provide: Jungle trekking, wildlife viewing, and evening safaris.
Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge and eco-friendly forest lodges.
Map Location and Directions
17. Alor Setar
Visiting Langkawi is normally the preferred exercise for individuals who go to Kedah. But for my part, they’re lacking out on an unexplored metropolis referred to as Alor Setar.
The metropolis stands simply a few kilometers to the southeast of Langkawi, and it options some vital buildings just like the Royal Hall, the Big Clock Building, the Zahir Mosque, and the Sultan Museum.
You may 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.
Best time to go to: Dry season (to discover town’s cultural websites and close by points of interest).
Activities on provide: Visiting historic websites, exploring limestone hills, and visiting museums.
Accommodation: Hotel Royale Signature, TH Hotel & Convention Centre, and finances metropolis lodges.
Map Location and Directions
18. Pulau Sipadan
The island of Pulau Sipadan is situated within the state of Sabah and is without doubt one of the prime diving locations on this 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 is a superb place for marine fanatics and divers as a result of there’s a lot magnificence in and across the water. However, restrictions have been applied to maintain the stability within the ecosystem, so you’ll solely be allowed day visits.
But if you wish to keep in a single day, I recommend arranging a spot on close by islands like Mabul, Mataking, or Kapalai.
Location: Southeast a part of the nation.
Best time to go to: Dry season (for the very best diving circumstances and clear waters).
Activities on provide: Scuba diving, snorkeling, and marine life viewing.
Accommodation: Day journeys solely, with stays on close by Mabul or Kapalai Islands at Sipadan Water Village Resort or finances lodges.
Map Location and Directions
Location of Malaysia
Malaysia is situated in Southeast Asia with the well-known nations of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore and The Philippines.