Malaysia Day 1: Malacca.  Take the bus from Singapore to Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic city. It’s a very laidback,...

Nov 28-Dec13 Malaysia

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Malaysia

  • Day 1: Malacca. Take the bus from Singapore to Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic city. It’s a very laidback, Hemingway sort of town where you could easily spend a day or while away years soaking in the tropical sunshine and ocean spray. We spent just a day, which was long enough to get a taste of the town and see a few sights. Try to visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to catch the Jonker Street Night Market. Read more about Malacca here.
  • Day 2-4 or 5: Kuala Lumpur. Depart Malacca for the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. KL on the whole wasn’t really for us (you can read why here), but with a better plan than we had, you could spend a few pleasant days eating delicious food and gaining an understanding of Malaysia’s history and what makes it tick. If you only spend two full days, I highly recommend using this itinerary; it’s what I’d do if I could redo our visit to Kuala Lumpur. If you arrive late in the day on day 2, relax for your first evening (choose an “afternoon activity of your choice” from the KL itinerary above or just chill out), spend two days sightseeing, and leave either late on day 4 or early on day 5. 
  • Day 5-8: Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are a world away from the rest of Southeast Asia. This former colonial retreat is delightfully temperate in climate, and offers amazing scenery. We spent and recommend three nights in the Cameron Highlands, if only to make the winding, nauseating bus ride worth it. On the day you arrive, just relax and get acclimated, then do a day tour on the next day to get a complete overview of the forests and tea plantations. On your last day full day, play a round of golf, go hiking, or explore any of the handful of other sights that tickle your fancy. Depart early on day 8 for Penang. 
  • Day 8-10: George Town. George Town, Penang is the yin to Malacca’s yang. Though often spoken of in the same breath, I found the two to be very different. Penang is hip and trendy — filled with street art, live music venues, and coffee shops — while Malacca is beautifully decaying and relaxed (think: open-air bars and lazy river cruises). Architecturally, Penang looks like a warm-weather version of London or Paris, while Malacca feels thoroughly Mediterranean. It’s a bit of a hike to Penang, so I recommend giving it two nights, though the only sight of real note in George Town is the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, which you can easily cover in a morning. Spend the rest of the time spotting street art, cruising the bar scene, or drinking coffee in hipster cafes.

  • ADD: Jungles: Taman Negara (Malaysia’s national forest) is an ancient jungle that’s absolutely worth a visit, from what we’ve heard. Take a trek and try to spot the elephants, tigers, and leopards that live there.


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