Malaysia
Malaysia, in a few days
From Kuala Lumpur to the murals of George Town, the tea estates of the Cameron Highlands and the orangutans of Borneo: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Kuala Lumpur Days 1-2
- 2 Cameron Highlands Days 3-4
- 3 Penang (George Town) Days 5-7
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Kuala Lumpur
A vertical capital, from the twin Petronas Towers to the limestone Batu Caves, where Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking share the same streets.
- Petronas Towers and the Skybridge1h · from €25The bridge slung between the two towers at the 41st floor, then the observation deck higher up, on the 86th.
- Batu Caves and the city, guidedHalf day · from €20The 272 painted steps up to the Hindu cave temple, then the old quarters of the city.
- The Petronas Towers lit up at night
- Bukit Bintang
- Chinatown and Petaling Street
- KLCC Park
Cameron Highlands
Cool hill country around 1,500 metres up, covered in tea estates and strawberry farms. The British came here to escape the heat, and Malaysians still do.
- Tea estates and picking, guidedHalf day · from €20A walk through the terraced rows, how the leaves are picked and processed, and a cup at the end.
- The Mossy Forest and the summitHalf day · from €25Cloud forest near the top of Gunung Brinchang, where moss hangs from every branch and the mist rarely lifts.
- Tea fields as far as you can see
- The strawberry farms
- The cool mountain air
- The local markets
Penang (George Town)
A British trading port founded in 1786 and UNESCO-listed since 2008, known for its shophouses, its street art and some of the best street food in Asia.
- Street art and heritage walk, guidedHalf day · from €15The murals and wrought-iron caricatures of George Town, and the clan houses and temples behind them.
- Penang Hill and Kek Lok SiHalf day · from €20The funicular up Penang Hill, then Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.
- The George Town murals
- The temples and the clan jetties
- The hawker stalls
- Fort Cornwallis
Worth sorting before you go
Road on the peninsula, a flight to Borneo · Buses or a hire car cover the mainland, and the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah takes about two and a half hours. Keep your passport to hand: Sabah runs its own immigration check.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Nasi lemak: rice cooked in coconut milk, with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and egg. The national breakfast.
- Laksa: spicy noodle soup, creamy with coconut curry, or sour with tamarind in Penang.
- Char kway teow: flat rice noodles stir-fried over a fierce flame, a Penang speciality.
- Roti canai: flaky flatbread, torn by hand and dipped in curry.
- Satay, and durian for the brave: a fruit so pungent that many hotels ban it.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Cover shoulders and legs in mosques. The larger ones lend robes at the door.
- Book rides through Grab rather than hailing taxis in the street.
- Drink bottled water, and more of it than you think.
- Eat and pass things with your right hand, and take your shoes off before entering a home.
Words that help
English ↔ Malay
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Hello | Selamat pagi / Helo |
| Thank you | Terima kasih |
| Please | Tolong |
| Yes | Ya |
| No | Tidak |
| Excuse me | Maaf |
| Goodbye | Selamat tinggal |
| Do you speak English? | Boleh cakap Bahasa Inggeris? |
| I don't understand | Saya tidak faham |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya? |
| Where are the toilets? | Di mana tandas? |
| The bill, please | Bil, tolong |
| Help! | Tolong! |
| Cheers! | Minum! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/malaysia
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.