Round trip Malaysia: the ideal travel itinerary of 2 to 3 weeks

Malaysia is a beautiful but often underrated country in Asia. Many travelers quickly opt for more popular destinations such as neighboring Thailand or Indonesia, but in Malaysia you can still discover authentic Asia. It is a budget-friendly destination that is more off-the-beaten track and therefore well worth visiting. Explore metropolis Kuala Lumpur, trek into the Taman Negara jungle and relax on the pearly white beaches of Langkawi. Read on quickly for the ideal itinerary of two to three weeks Malaysia .

Everything you need to know for your round trip Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and often the starting point of a Malaysia tour. Flights depart daily flights from Brussels and Schiphol Airport that will take you to the capital in about 12 hours. If you have extra room in your travel planning, we recommend flying via Singapore. That way, you can also include this city-state in your tour. From Singapore, it is only a short bus ride to Malaysia and you have scored an extra stamp in your passport.

To travel to Malaysia, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. Upon arrival, you will receive a visa on arrival that is valid for 90 days. Also for Singapore as a Belgian or Dutch traveler, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance.

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How to get around in Malaysia

Public transportation is excellent in Malaysia, making it the best way to travel around the country quickly and inexpensively. Unlike many other countries in Asia, buses in Malaysia are cheap and also very comfortable. Several buses run daily between all the country’s highlights, and a ticket can easily be bought online or at the bus ticket office. Usually you won’t spend more than a few euros for a multi-hour bus ride.

Another way to get around is with the Grab cab system. This application works like Uber and is already operational in most Asian countries. In Kuala Lumpur this is an ideal way to get from A to B quickly, but in the more rural regions it is often difficult to find a driver smoothly. Alternatively, you can use traditional cab services, but be sure to agree on the price in advance. By the way, they are also well aware of the prices Grab charges, so you can certainly negotiate.

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Two week itinerary Malaysia

If you like a fast travel pace, you can travel Malaysia in two weeks. This seems to us the bare minimum and therefore a few extra days are not a luxury. This round trip Malaysia begins and ends in capital Kuala Lumpur. Of course, you can modify, shorten or extend this route as you wish.

Day 1 – 4: Kuala Lumpur

After your long flight, you land in Kuala Lumpur, the starting point of your Malaysia itinerary. To recover from possible jet lag, it is nice to spend a few days here. Malaysia’s capital city has an enormous amount to offer. It is a melting pot of cultures, making it the ideal base to spend your first days in Malaysia. From colorful mosques and Chinese temples to delicious street food and giant shopping malls. In a nutshell, these are the city’s must-sees:

• Petronas Twin Towers: the iconic towers known worldwide
• Batu Caves: a colorful Hindu temple with a giant golden statue that you reach via 272 colorful steps
• Federal Territory Mosque: one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the country, where a (free) guide takes you fully into the culture of Islam
• Perdana Botanical Garden: the green lung of Kuala Lumpur
• Thean Hou Temple: one of the largest and most colorful temples in Southeast Asia
• Bukit Bintang: also called the Times Square of Kuala Lumpur with giant shopping malls

In addition to these highlights, you can eat delicious street food in Kuala Lumpur. For this, grab a tasty bite to eat at the Jalon Street Food Market where you will find a wide range of Malaysian dishes. If you prefer something more luxurious, have a drink or snack at one of the many rooftops Kuala Lumpur has to offer.

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Day 4 – 6: Taman Negara jungle

After the city, it’s time to head into the jungle. About 4 hours away you will find Taman Negara National Park, the oldest rainforest in the world. It is home to ancient trees, exotic plants and lots of wildlife. An ideal place for a special jungle trek. From Kuala Lumpur, take a bus towards Kuala Tahan, which is an ideal base to stay and explore the jungle of Taman Negara. Alternatively, you can also do a day tour to the Taman Negara jungle from Kuala Lumpur.

Day 6 – 8: Cameron Highlands

After your jungle trek, travel west and stop for two nights in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands is a unique area full of green landscapes, many types of plants, beautiful hiking trails and vast tea plantations. As such, it is the largest tea region in all of Malaysia. Be sure to visit BOH Tea Plantation (Best Of Highlands), founded by a Briton in 1929. If you haven’t finished hiking yet, walk along one of the many jungle trails nearby that will take you to the Mossy Forest. Thanks to its humid and cool climate, this is a unique forest where you have to be careful not to sink through the moss up to your knees.

We recommend combining the visit to the tea plantations and the Mossy Forest in an organized day tour. You can book these locally at your hotel or homestay and accompanied by a guide you will get some interesting information! For exploring the Cameron Highlands, it is best to stay in Tanah Rata, where the bus terminal is also located.

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Day 8 – 10: George Town (Penang)

The bus will take you in 4 hours from Tanah Rata to your next stop: George Town. A bustling and colonial city on the island of Penang off the west coast of Malaysia. For many, Malaysia’s nicest city, possibly because it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. George Town can be easily explored on foot and is especially known for its beautiful artwork on the walls. This street art is scattered throughout the city and you can easily visit on your own. Ask in your ho(s)tel for a walking map of George Town and discover the beautiful works of art for yourself!

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Day 10 – 13: Langkawi

The last days of your trip can be spent relaxing on the island of Langkawi. This island is known for its white beaches, turquoise bays and pleasant climate for relaxing. In addition, it is a tax-free island, which makes (alcoholic) consumption cheaper. If you prefer a little more action, visit the world’s steepest cable car that takes you to the Skybridge.

Take note, it can be challenging to reach Langkawi smoothly. Since the pandemic, ferry services are no longer operational between Penang (George Town) and Langkawi. An internal flight from Penang to Langkawi is the smoothest way to reach the island. Alternatively, you can take the bus via the mainland.

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Day 14: Return trip

Your two-week Malaysia tour is over. Time to return home with great memories! Langkawi has an international airport, so several connections are possible where you can fly back home via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Langkawi is near Thailand, so if you have time you can also travel further to this country.

Three-week travel itinerary Malaysia

If you wish to travel through Malaysia for three weeks, we recommend spending more time in the south of the country and crossing the border towards Singapore. From Langkawi, fly back to Kuala Lumpur where you can spend some extra days if you wish.

Day 14 – 17: Malacca

From Kuala Lumpur, you can take a bus that will take you to Malacca, also written as Melaka, in 3 hours. This colorful art city located in the south is, like Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Weekends are especially special to spend here with its bustling night market on Jonker Street. If you don’t get here on weekends, it remains a fine addition to your trip. Some highlights not to miss are:

• The red square with the Dutch-influenced buildings Stadthuys and Christchurch
• Several colorful murals throughout the city
• Malacca Straits Mosque: a mosque that appears to float above the water
• Jonker street: A long street with nice stores and restaurants. On weekends, here is the bustling night market.

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Day 17 – 21: Singapore

Depending on your itinerary, you can begin and end your Malaysia tour in the capital city Kuala Lumpur . As a nice alternative, you can also end your tour in Singapore, which is just a 3-hour drive from Malacca. This city-state borders Malaysia and is a veritable melting pot of cultures. Unlike its neighbor, this city is state-of-the-art and you feel like you have stepped into the future. The airport alone is worth a visit with its famous indoor waterfall. Allow about three days for Singapore.

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Best travel time Malaysia

Like most countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has a tropical climate. This makes it pleasantly warm year-round with temperatures between 25° and 35°C, but it can also rain a lot. Malaysia has two distinct rainy seasons, with some parts of the country sometimes not travelable. So the best period to visit Malaysia depends on the part where you are staying.

On the west coast of Malaysia, most rain falls during the months of September through December. These are often intense but brief rain showers interspersed with sunshine. So travel on the west coast of Malaysia can basically be done year-round, but the best travel period for the west coast of Malaysia is from January through August. The rainy season on Malaysia’s east coast begins two months later, lasting roughly from November through March. Here, then, many accommodations are closed and most boats do not sail. Therefore, the best travel time for the East Coast is from April through October. Borneo is never really dry, but the best time to visit this island is from April through September.

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Do you have any questions about the above Malaysia tour? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com