Highlights of Malaysia

Singapore - Johor Bahru (Malaysia) - Malacca. The tour starts in Singapore, where you’ll be collected from your independently booked hotel at 9:00. After crossing the border into Malaysia, we switch vehicles in Johor Bahru and head north through Malay and Chinese villages, where the buildings reflect each community’s traditional way of life. Our destination is Malacca, a coastal city on the Strait of Malacca, the channel separating Malaysia from Sumatra.

After a break to find some lunch, we set out on a guided tour of Malacca’s historic landmarks. We visit Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple still in use in Malaysia, as well as the Kapitan Kling Mosque and the Baba and Nyonya Museum, and walk along Jonker’s Street (Antique Row). We also see the Stadthuys, the Malacca Clock Tower, Christ Church and the Porta de Santiago gateway.

The evening is yours to explore the city.

Estimated driving time & distance: 4 hours / 260 kilometres.

Malacca - Kuala Lumpur. After breakfast, we leave at 9:00 for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, known locally as KL. Along the way, we pause to photograph traditional Malay houses and the surrounding countryside, and stop for lunch before reaching the city.

On arrival, we begin a guided tour of KL with a photo stop at the King’s Palace, Istana Negara, crowned by its golden dome. From here, we continue to the National Mosque and Independence Square (Merdeka Square), then on to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, whose Moorish design and clock tower make it one of the most photographed sights in the city. The Royal Selangor Club, St Mary’s Church and the world’s tallest free-standing flagpole follow, and the tour finishes with a drive past Chinatown.

Your evening is free to head out and see more of KL.

Estimated driving time & distance: 2.5 hours / 150 kilometres.

Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Selangor - Kuala Lumpur. You have the morning free in Kuala Lumpur, perhaps for some shopping, which the city is well known for, or a visit to the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers.

At 15:30, we regroup for the 90-minute drive to Kuala Selangor, a rural area that feels a world away from the capital. Most people here make a living from fishing or farming, and much of the land is planted with oil palm and rubber. Our first stop is a Chinese fishing village. Here, you can tuck into a Chinese seafood dinner at your own expense.

Once darkness falls, it’s time for the main event. We take to the river and are rowed upstream, where fireflies glitter in the mangrove trees along the banks. We arrive back at our hotel in Kuala Lumpur at around 23:00.

Estimated driving time & distance: 1.5 hours / 65 kilometres.

Kuala Lumpur - Cameron Highlands. At 8:30, we leave KL and head north for the Cameron Highlands, stopping first at the Batu Caves. Set within a limestone outcrop, the caves hold a shrine to the Hindu deity Lord Subramaniam and are a revered place of worship, drawing thousands of devotees each year for the festival of Thaipusam.

From here, we climb into the Cameron Highlands, a plateau 1,542 metres above sea level, known for its tea estates, fruit and vegetable farms and cooler air. We then check in to our accommodation.

You have the rest of the day free, perhaps for a stroll through the surrounding countryside or a visit to one of the local strawberry farms.

Estimated driving time & distance: 3 hours / 210 kilometres.

Cameron Highlands - Kuala Kangsar - George Town. We set off at 9:00 to explore the Cameron Highlands, visiting a tea plantation and a tea factory, followed by a vegetable farm. There’s also time to browse the market square for fresh produce and souvenirs.

Leaving the highlands behind, we stop in Kuala Kangsar to see Istana Kenangan, the Ubudiah Mosque and Iskandariah Palace. We then cross the Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, and arrive this evening in George Town, the capital of Penang state.

Estimated driving time & distance: 3 hours 45 minutes / 247 kilometres.

Please note: The tea plantation is closed on Mondays.

This morning, we head out on a half-day guided tour of George Town’s historic centre. We start at Wat Chayamangkalaram, home to a Reclining Buddha statue that ranks as the fourth longest in the world, then cross the road to the Dhammikarama Temple.

Next, we drive along the Street of Harmony, lined with Saint George’s Anglican Church, the Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple and Masjid Kapitan Keling. We stop to explore Khoo Kongsi, an elaborately decorated clan house, before stopping at a local coffee shop. The tour wraps up with a quick photo stop at Fort Cornwallis.

The rest of the day is yours, perhaps to sample George Town’s street food or wander its heritage lanes.

Today we cross the peninsula from west to east, leaving Penang at 9:00 and following the East-West Highway to Kota Bharu, near the Thai border. The route cuts through swathes of tropical rainforest, and with a little luck, we may have to pull over to let elephants cross the road. We reach Kota Bharu this evening.

Estimated driving time & distance: 5.5 hours / 342 kilometres.Please note: Some sites on the east coast close on Fridays and throughout Ramadan.

Kota Bharu - Kuala Terengganu. At 9:00, we start the day with a short guided look around Kota Bharu’s wet market. Most of the stallholders here are women, a distinctive feature of Kelantan culture, and the stalls are piled with batik clothing, brightly patterned fabrics, fruit and vegetables. The town is also known for its silverware and trinkets, as well as kite making, top spinning and songket weaving.

Next, we visit the Kelantan Match Factory. Founded in 1933, it is Malaysia’s oldest matchstick factory and the last one still operating, and it still makes the ‘Cap Lada’ (Chilli Brand) matches. Our final stop in Kota Bharu is Kraf Atap Singgora, which keeps alive the craft of making Singgora clay roof tiles. The clay comes only from Bachok, as its sodium content is essential to a good tile.

We then drive south to Kuala Terengganu, passing through Chinatown and seeing the Maziah Palace and State Mosque before checking in to our beachfront accommodation. The evening is free to relax.

Estimated driving time & distance: 3 hours / 167 kilometres.Please note: Some sites on the east coast close on Fridays and throughout Ramadan.

Kuala Terengganu - Kuantan. Following breakfast, we head out at 10:00 to Lambo Sari, a Malay traditional arts experience and interactive village. Here, you can try your hand at batik colouring and block printing, bake and taste Terengganu cakes, split coconuts, make kites and weave mengkuang leaves, then dress in traditional Malay costume for a photo alongside members of the community.

After a morning of hands-on activities, we make a short visit to a turtle sanctuary before continuing to Kuantan. We check in on arrival, and the evening is free to relax.

Estimated driving time & distance: 2.5 hours / 218 kilometres.

Please note: Some sites on the east coast close on Fridays and throughout Ramadan.

Kuantan - Kuala Lumpur. Your final morning in Kuantan is free after breakfast. Once you’ve checked out, you’re driven back to Kuala Lumpur and dropped at a hotel of your choice in the city centre, where the tour ends.

Estimated driving time & distance: 3 hours / 260 kilometres to Kuala Lumpur, or 5.5 hours / 352 kilometres to Singapore.