Twin towers and a temple in a cave, the food capital of Asia, and a river in Borneo where orangutans swing wild, three Malaysias in one trip.
Into the gleaming, multicultural capital, where mosques, temples and the Petronas Towers share a skyline. After the flight we keep it easy, a first nasi lemak, the towers lit up at night, an early evening.
The Petronas Towers and the colonial heart of Merdeka Square, the rainbow steps and limestone shrines of the Batu Caves, and a food crawl through Chinatown and the Jalan Alor night market, Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours on one street.
A short hop to Penang and George Town, a UNESCO old quarter of clan jetties, shophouses and famous street art. The Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, and a first taste of why this island is called the food capital of Asia.
The hawker stalls in earnest, char kuey teow, assam laksa, cendol, with a guide who knows which stall, which hour. Penang Hill by funicular and the rainforest canopy of The Habitat, then the vast Kek Lok Si temple lit at dusk.
A gentler day, the Tropical Spice Garden, a Peranakan cooking class, a trishaw through the heritage lanes, or the beach at Batu Ferringhi. One more round of street food, because you will want it.
East across the South China Sea to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where orphaned apes are taught to be wild again, and the neighbouring sun bear sanctuary. A canopy walk among 130 million year old forest.
To the Kinabatangan, Borneo's great wildlife river. Dawn and dusk cruises through the jungle, wild orangutans in the canopy, comic proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and if luck holds, a herd of Bornean pygmy elephants on the bank. A jungle lodge night to the sound of the forest.
The Gomantong caves, where swiftlet nests are gathered for soup beneath a ceiling of a million bats, then one last river safari for whatever you missed. A final rainforest night, the jungle louder after dark than any city.
A last forest morning before the transfer to the airport. Malaysia hands you three different worlds in a week and somehow makes them feel like one country, which, gloriously, they are.
Three ways to do the same route: Comfort, Premium or Luxe. Breakfasts in. Mix tiers city by city if you like, it is your trip.
Priced to your dates, your hotel tier and how the two of you like to travel. Ask, the first answer usually lands within minutes.
Plan this trip on WhatsApp → Send to the group chat
