Luxtripper Travel Editor
Go off the beaten path and discover the best of Malayasia!
Begin your trip in the vibrant, hectic city of Kuala Lumpur. The colourful food-stalls serving up an array of Malaysian cuisines, teamed with the impressive sky scrapers and banyan tree lined streets, make it a particularly special location to visit. Kuala Lumpur is a great place to do some shopping.
Explore the streets of the Little India of Malaysia, Brickfields, and feast on Indian banana leaf food and let loose on the busy Bukit Bintang street; where you can shop, eat and party by night. Chinatown is a buzzing area in Kuala Lumpur that is full of traditional markets where you can buy a variety of souvenirs and food. The colonial buildings that surround this area also make it an interesting place to wander around.
If you head 13km North of Kuala Lumpur you will find one of Malaysia’s national treasures, the Batu Caves, a complex of vast limestone caves that have been attracting visitors for years and years. The caves are holy Hindu Sites and are a good way to learn about the natural history of the area.
After exploring the Batu Caves you can head north of Malaysia to the Cameron Highlands. These breath-taking plains are rolling hills of tea plantations which allow you to hike through the trails and venture through the unexplored forests and historic temples surrounding the area.
Not too far from the Cameron Highlands is the Taman Negara rainforest. It is 130 million years old and is ideal for the adventurer who loves to trek and be outdoors. It is home to the world’s largest canopy walkway and offers visitors the opportunity to climb the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia. Amongst the tropical forest there are tigers, elephants, rhinos and leopards, although these are hidden deep within the dense foliage and not on the public trekking trails.
Langkawi should definitely be on your Malaysia itinerary. This beautiful archipelago of islands houses a number of stunning beaches in Langkawi, from the Tanjung Rhu on the Northern tip, surrounded by scenic limestones to the popular tourist beach, Pantai Cenang. If you want something a little quieter then Tengah Beach is the place to go, located more south, this is a slower beach without overcrowding and is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of tourist areas.
Another scenic beach island you should schedule into your trip is the island of Penang. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers an extensive list of things to do. This beautiful location is a melting pot of Malaysian culture; visit one of the many museums and explore the beautiful architecture. From the urban city centre, George Town, to the islands perfect, pristine, palm-dotted beaches, Penang is the perfect destination to immerse yourself in Malaysian culture combined with relaxing, lazy beach days.
Borneo is the heart and soul of Malaysian nature and is a breath of fresh air from some of the more built up areas. See the endangered orangutans and trek through the dense, tropical rainforest. You can even dive in some of the best spots in the world; Borneo really does have it all.
Malaysia is a diverse country that can offer you a trip-of-a-lifetime. The beautiful, built up city of Kuala Lumpur combined with the slow island beach life, Malaysia is certainly one for the bucket list.