Malaysia is a true all-rounder. It’s just as perfect for family holidays as it is for honeymoons or romantic escapes, with gorgeous beaches, lots of culture to explore, fascinating wildlife, friendly locals, and fabulous food.
Added to that, from KL you can fly pretty much anywhere across the whole country. Even getting to Malaysian Borneo is pretty straightforward, with regular flights to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It’s an ideal destination for a multi-centre holiday, combining a few days in the city, some history and culture, a stint in the jungle, and finishing off on a tropical island.
Here’s our top pick of destinations to visit in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur: Skyscrapers, street food, and an excellent place to start your holiday.
Penang: Fascinating culture, food scene and street art in Georgetown.
Langkawi: Stunning coastlines, luxury resorts and a lovely, relaxed island vibe.
Kuching (Borneo): Orangutan spotting without the need for going into the deeper, remote part of Borneo.
Malacca: Small, historic town with great Peranakan food and architecture.
Cameron Highlands: Cool air, rolling tea plantations, and scenic walks.
Perhentian Islands: Classic tropical paradise with turquoise water, white sand, turtles, and excellent snorkelling.
Redang Island: Upmarket island with pristine beaches and protected marine parks.
Sabah & Sarawak (Borneo): The full Borneo experience with orangutans at Sepilok, wildlife on the Kinabatangan River, and stunning beaches.
Taman Negara: Ancient rainforest with jungle activities that’s accessible from KL.
Most people fly into KL, and it’s a great place to start. You’ll find skyscrapers next to street food stalls, beautiful hotels, and plenty of culture to explore. The Petronas Towers are the most iconic sight in the city. Wander across the Skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floors, then pop up to the observation deck on the 86th floor for fabulous views over the city. Thankfully, the lifts in the Petronas Twin Towers are impressively fast, and you can reach the ground floor to the 86th floor in under a minute. At the twin towers’ base, the Suria KLCC mall has shops, cafés, and restaurants all set around KLCC Park with its gardens, fountains and evening light shows.
For another panoramic perspective, visit the Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara KL), where you’ll be treated to a 360-degree view of the city and beyond. Batu Caves are another must-see, about half an hour’s drive north of the city. This huge limestone cave houses a Hindu temple, reached by climbing 272 steps. To get a taste for local life, head to the Central Market and Chinatown, while Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang is the perfect spot for trying out the city’s famous street food. When the sun sets, the city comes alive from bars with live music to dining in skyscrapers or sipping drinks at one of the sophisticated rooftop bars.
The main attraction in Penang is Georgetown. It’s a city full of culture, history and plenty of charm. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a wonderful mix of colonial British buildings, Chinese shophouses, and Indian temples. It’s also famous for its street art, and simply wandering past the colourful murals, cartoons, and clever metal sculptures is a true pleasure.
Must-see sightseeing spots include the huge Kek Lok Si Temple, which is perched on a hill above Georgetown with stunning panoramic views, and the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, where you can step into the lavish world of the wealthy Straits Chinese. When it comes to beaches, while Batu Ferringhi offers a pleasant stretch of sand, it’s far from the best that Malaysia has to offer, so if your main goal is a beach holiday, there are many better options elsewhere in the country.
For great food, head to Gurney Drive and New Lane hawker centres, the lively Chulia Street and Little India areas, and the local markets at Pulau Tikus.
If you are looking for beautiful beaches, pure relaxation, luxury hotels and a tropical island feel, Langkawi’s the place. Pantai Cenang is the main beach with its long stretch of sand, plenty of places to eat and drink, and gorgeous sunsets. For something a little more peaceful, Tanjung Rhu has a more remote feel with a gorgeous beach and crystal clear water. Or head to Datai Bay on the northwestern tip. It’s secluded, backed by ancient rainforest and boasts a gorgeous crescent of sand and calm, clear water.
The cable car up to Gunung Mat Cincang is one of the most scenic ways to see the island from above. From the summit, head to the curved sky bridge that juts out over the jungle canopy for more fabulous views. Nature is a major focus at many of the island’s resorts, and some have their own expert naturalists who organise nature walks through the island’s rainforest trails, spotting macaques, monitor lizards, and tropical birds amid waterfalls, mangroves, and lush jungle scenery.
Kuching is a lovely, laid-back city with the Sarawak River winding through its heart. It’s the perfect gateway to Borneo, with direct flights from KL making it easy to explore the region before continuing on to other destinations in Malaysia. The region offers a true taste of Borneo without the need for going deep into the jungle for multiple days of trekking, making it ideal if you have limited time or budget.
The best place to see orangutans is at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, about 20 minutes from the city centre. It’s a rehabilitation centre where orangutans live semi-wild and come down from the trees during feeding times. All in all, it’s a fantastic way to see these incredible animals without venturing too far into the jungle.
While you’re in Kuching, the Sarawak Cultural Village features traditional longhouses from different ethnic groups, allowing you to learn more about the region’s indigenous people. The Bako National Park is also doable as a day trip, where you’ll spot proboscis monkeys with their distinctive long noses and pot bellies.
Malacca is just a couple of hours from KL, making it perfect for a day trip, but if you can stay overnight, the experience is even better, as when the sun sets, the historic centre lights up with a warm glow and is much cooler for exploring.
Malacca has been shaped by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and is a fascinating mix of European colonial buildings and Asian influences. The Stadthuys (an iconic red Dutch building) and Christ Church are the highlights, but the real pleasure is simply wandering along Jonker Street and along the riverside.
At the weekend, Jonker Street Night Market comes alive with people, street food, antiques, and all sorts of quirky finds, while during the day it’s lined with cafes and shops selling antiques. The A Famosa fort ruins are also worth a visit, and for a great view over the city, walk up St. Paul’s Hill. The local food scene is excellent too, with Peranakan cuisine being a highlight, offering a mix of Chinese and Malay influences.
After the heat and humidity of Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands make a wonderful change for a few days – and you might even need a jumper in the evening!
With rolling green hills as far as the eye can see, there are tea plantations everywhere. The Boh Tea Plantation is the biggest, and its tea centre has a cafe where you can enjoy a good cuppa while taking in the stunning views. Strawberry farms, butterfly gardens, and scenic forest trails are everywhere, with the Mossy Forest walks offering a magical experience.
Tanah Rata is the main town and makes a convenient base for exploring, with everything you need, including some good restaurants. The night market is also worth a wander for inexpensive local food and clothes.
If you are looking for the classic tropical island experience with white sand, turquoise water, and coral reefs, the Perhentians deliver. There are two islands: Perhentian Besar (the bigger, slightly quieter one) and Perhentian Kecil (smaller, more backpacker-y, and livelier).
There are no roads, no cars, just beaches, jungle, and boat taxis to get around – which is perfect for pure relaxation. The snorkelling and diving here is excellent, with opportunities to swim directly off the beach and spot turtles, reef sharks, and a variety of tropical fish. Most resorts and dive shops also offer trips to other snorkelling locations around the islands.
For a bit of mainland activity, head to Long Beach on Perhentian Kecil, which has beach bars and restaurants, while Perhentian Besar and the quieter beaches on Kecil offer a more serene experience. To get here, you need to travel via ferry from Kuala Besut on the mainland; however, bear in mind that the islands are closed from November to February due to the monsoon and rough seas.
Redang lies south of the Perhentian Islands and is reached via Kuala Terenggan. It has a more upmarket feel than the Perhentians, with higher-end resorts and a calmer overall atmosphere. The beaches here are simply stunning. Pasir Panjang is the main stretch with a long sweep of white sand edged by ridiculously clear water.
The surrounding marine park is protected, and the coral reefs are in excellent condition, making snorkelling and diving the main draws. Turtles are a common sight here, as the islands are an important nesting area, and seeing them glide through the water is a wonderfully magical experience. As with nearby islands, Redang closes during the monsoon season from November to February.
If you’ve got the time and budget, the northern part of Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) is genuinely spectacular. It’s wild and remote in places and offers experiences you simply can’t get anywhere else.
Sepilok is famous for its Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre offers viewing platforms where you can watch the feeding sessions and see these gentle giants up close, all while learning about the conservation efforts the centre has put in place to protect their habitat. It’s also ideally located next door to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where you can watch the cute bears climb trees and forage for food with their distinct chest markings and long tongues (perfect for extracting honey!).
The region is also home to the Kinabatangan River, which delivers one of the best wildlife experiences in the country. Staying in riverside lodges, you can take boat trips at dawn and dusk in search of orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and an impressive array of birdlife. Also, if you fancy a challenge, Mount Kinabalu is Southeast Asia’s highest mountain at 4,095 metres. You can stay overnight at Laban Rata (about halfway up), then head to the summit for sunrise.
Sabah’s beaches are another highlight, with islands off the coast near Kota Kinabalu offering excellent snorkelling and diving.
Located in central Malaysia, about 3-4 hours from KL, the Taman Negara rainforest is believed to be 130 million years old and provides a great way to experience the jungle if you don’t have the time to travel to Borneo.
The canopy walkway is the main attraction, suspended about 40 metres above the ground and offering an impressive view of the forest from above. It sways slightly, which can be thrilling or terrifying, depending on your adventure-level! We recommend organising a guided jungle trek for the best opportunity of spotting monkeys, tapirs and a huge variety of insects and birds. Other outdoor activities on offer include river trips, night jungle walks and visits to indigenous Orang Asli villages.
Whether you want to explore Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyscrapers, wander the historic streets of Penang and Malacca, sip tea in the cool highlands, snorkel in the Perhentians and Redang, or experience Borneo’s wonderful wilderness, give our team a call and let us help you create the perfect holiday to Malaysia.