A two-week loop from Kuala Lumpur: Malacca, the east coast at Cherating, the Taman Negara jungle, the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, then Penang across its bridge. You drive on the left, on cashless toll motorways and narrow, slow mountain roads.
| Days | Stop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Kuala Lumpur | Start |
| Days 3 to 4 | Malacca | 159 km · 2h15 |
| Days 5 to 6 | Cherating | 316 km · 3h55 |
| Days 7 to 8 | Kuala Tahan (Taman Negara) | 237 km · 4h |
| Days 9 to 10 | Tanah Rata (Cameron Highlands) | 222 km · 4h05 |
| Day 11 | Ipoh | 113 km · 1h50 |
| Days 12 to 13 | George Town (Penang) | 168 km · 2h20 |
| Day 14 | Back to Kuala Lumpur | 354 km · 4h25 |
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
From April to September for the full loop: the north-east monsoon soaks the east coast from October to March, and many hotels in Cherating close. From October to February, floods and landslides sometimes cut roads; stick to the west coast then.
🚗 159 km · 2h15 of driving from Kuala Lumpur
Detour via Putrajaya, then the E2 motorway south and Lebuh AMJ. Tolls only by Touch 'n Go card or tag.
🚗 316 km · 3h55 of driving from Malacca
E2 motorway to Muar, route 23 via Segamat, then route 12 to Kuantan, with no motorway. Bypass Kuantan on route 3.
🚗 237 km · 4h of driving from Cherating
E8 motorway west, route 64 via Jerantut, then route 1508 for 68 km to Kuala Tahan, at the end of the road.
🚗 222 km · 4h05 of driving from Kuala Tahan
Route 8 via Kuala Lipis, then route 102 via Pos Betau to Ringlet: 79 km of mountain road, steep in places.
🚗 113 km · 1h50 of driving from Tanah Rata
Route 59 via Brinchang and Kampung Raja, then route 185 down to Simpang Pulai. Detour via Batu Gajah.
🚗 168 km · 2h20 of driving from Ipoh
E1 motorway north, detour via Kuala Kangsar, then the Penang Bridge (13.5 km): RM5.74 towards the island, by Touch 'n Go.
🚗 354 km · 4h25 of driving from George Town
Keep to the west coast: Kuala Lumpur (1 night), Cameron Highlands (2), Ipoh (1), George Town (2), then back on the E1 motorway. Malacca, Cherating and Taman Negara need another week.
| Small car, KL airport, annual average | ≈ €20 a day |
|---|---|
| All categories, May (cheapest month) | ≈ €26 a day |
| All categories, February (most expensive month) | ≈ €33 a day |
| SUV, annual average | ≈ €54 a day (Kayak, Sept. 2026) |
| Vehicle | City car or compact (a Proton Saga, for example): the whole loop is paved, route 102 included. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | At KL airport or in town on the day you leave for Malacca: no use in Kuala Lumpur, which is heavily congested. |
| Insurance | Excess of RM5,000 (≈ €1,070) at Hawk; half that with CDW, zero with super CDW. |
| Age and licence | Ages 23 to 75 at Hawk, licence held for 2 years, International Driving Permit with your national licence. |
| Card | Credit card required at Hawk: no debit cards or cash. |
| Borders | Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are off limits in a Hawk hire car. |
⚠️ Cashless tolls: without a topped-up Touch 'n Go card, no motorway. If the rental company does not supply one, buy it for RM10 at Petronas or 7-Eleven.
Both required together by Malaysian law (French Foreign Ministry). A certified English translation is only tolerated, with no guarantee.
Right-hand drive, roundabouts clockwise.
80 km/h on roads during the festive season (Hari Raya). 80 to 90 on the E1 between Kuala Kangsar and Ipoh.
50 mg per 100 ml of blood, 22 µg per 100 ml of breath, since October 2020.
No cash at the barriers. Card for RM10 at Petronas, 7-Eleven or at machines, to be topped up.
RON95 at RM1.99 (BUDI95) is reserved for Malaysians: you pay the market price, RM4.57.
Narrow, prone to landslides, with jams between Tanah Rata and Kea Farm. Go up or down via Simpang Pulai.
A car licence (B) does not allow you to ride a two-wheeler in Malaysia; without a motorcycle licence, the insurance does not cover you.
Leaving the scene before the police arrive is illegal. Emergencies: 999.
In the back too since 2009. Automatic speed cameras (AES) on motorways and federal roads.
≈ €0.98 per litre of RON95 (RM4.57), €1.16 for diesel (RM5.42)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,569 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €110 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Prices set every week, here from 24 to 30 September 2026, up sharply over the past year. RON97 at RM5.05.
| North-South motorways (E1, E2) | Tap in at the entrance and out at the exit, rate based on distance |
|---|---|
| Other motorways (E8 to Kuantan) | Electronic toll, Touch 'n Go or tag |
| Penang Bridge or Second Bridge | RM5.74 towards the island, free towards the mainland |
| Touch 'n Go card | RM10 with no credit, rechargeable |
| Taman Negara | Entry RM1, camera RM5, canopy walkway RM5 |
| Route 59 Tapah-Cameron Highlands | Landslides in the rainy season; access via Simpang Pulai |
|---|---|
| East coast (Cherating, Kuantan) | North-east monsoon from October to March, many hotels closed |
| Low-lying roads and valleys | Floods possible from October to February |
| Gunung Tahan climb | Closed from November to January; guide compulsory |
| Penang Hill funicular | Every day; maintenance stoppages announced on the website |
Allow 13 nights for this loop of 7 stages from Kuala Lumpur, including the east coast and Taman Negara. In one week, stick to the west coast: Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands, Ipoh and Penang. No stage takes more than 5 hours of driving, but the climbs to the Camerons are slow.
Yes: Malaysian law requires the International Driving Permit together with your original national licence, both valid (French Foreign Ministry). A certified English translation is tolerated for a short stay, with no guarantee. Rental companies such as Hawk also require drivers to be 23 with 2 years of licence. A car licence (B) does not cover scooters.
Car hire: about €34 a day on average at KL airport (Kayak), so about €440 for 13 days. Petrol: RM4.57 per litre (≈ €0.98), about €100 at September 2026 prices for a loop of about 1,500 km. Add electronic tolls, including the Penang Bridge at RM5.74, and the optional excess waiver.
No barrier accepts cash. You need a Touch 'n Go card (RM10, rechargeable at Petronas, 7-Eleven or at machines), a SmartTAG device or an RFID sticker. On the North-South motorway, you tap in at the entrance and out at the exit and pay by distance. The Penang Bridge is only paid towards the island.
From April to September if you take in the east coast: the north-east monsoon blows there from October to March and many hotels in Cherating close. Turtles lay their eggs at Cherating in July and August. From October to February, floods and landslides sometimes cut roads, especially in the mountains.
The peninsula's motorways are modern, but accidents are frequent and the big cities heavily congested. You drive on the left. The trickiest is route 59 in the Cameron Highlands, narrow, limited to 40 km/h and prone to landslides: the Simpang Pulai access is preferable, or route 102 from the east.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/malaysia · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
