9 of the best places to go in Malaysia: Big city culture, sandy beaches, and pristine jungles
-
Loading... - Sofia Chew
- 25 Feb 2022
- 410 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Good news: both sides of Malaysia have soft sandy beaches and snorkel-worthy coves, though Malaysian Borneo has superior access to marine life. Borneo is also the best pick for jungle trekking, though you can explore national parks and hilly hiking terrain across Peninsular Malaysia too – like Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands. Many parks and beauty spots are almost on top of the cities, making Peninsular Malaysia an excellent choice for families who want to spot hornbills by day, but bed down in modern comfort.
Peninsular Malaysia is also where you’ll find the buzz. Gastronomes, shoppers, and museum hounds can enjoy their fill in cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, food-forward Penang, and cultural jigsaw Melaka. Plot your own path with a little help from our list of the best places to go in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur is the best place to go for a whirlwind tour
If you have grand ambitions but limited time, head to Kuala Lumpur. Parts of KL feel like a quintessential capital city, with chic shopping malls (like Pavilion KL and Suria KLCC), a competitive cocktail scene, and a sci-fi skyline – the Petronas Towers rise up like twin rockets, while Menara KL glows like a futuristic lighthouse (head to the 300m-high sky deck for an expansive view). But KL offers more than fast-paced urban commotion.
KL’s city swagger comes accompanied by nature and history, courtesy of time-worn temples, kopitiam (traditional coffee houses), and rainforests almost side by side with high-rise buildings. Places of worship like scarlet, multi-storey Thean Hou Temple and ornate Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad force contemplation and wonder.
If you’re looking for places to visit in Malaysia in three days, KL has day-trip potential, too. Listen to birdsong at KL Forest Eco Park, picnic by a waterfall at the Forest Research Institute, and less than an hour’s drive away is Mah Meri Cultural Village, where you can immerse yourself in Orang Asli (indigenous) art and history.
Encounter pristine nature in Gunung Mulu National Park
Remarkably rocky, tremendously old, and a theater for eye-popping natural spectacles, Gunung Mulu is arguably Malaysia’s best national park. Between Gunung Mulu (2376m/7795ft) and Gunung Api (1710m/5610ft) are old-growth forests, limestone pinnacles, and deep caves, home to millions of bats that take flight every twilight – watch the drama unfold at Deer Cave.
Where to begin exploring this primeval place? DIY experiences include the Mulu canopy walk, a suspended ladder through the treetops; an easy ramble to Paku Waterfall; or the Botanical Heritage Loop Trail.
If you have tough hiking boots and even tougher endurance, book a guide and tackle the three-day Pinnacles trek. The climbs are steep but you’ll be rewarded by panoramic views of dense jungle spiked with fins of limestone.
Penang is the top destination for food, drink, and sensory pleasures
Penang’s foodie status is uncontested. Travelers flock from across Malaysia (and beyond) to ply Gurney Drive’s seafood restaurants, slurp Penang laksa at Lorong Baru Hawker Stalls, and follow their noses to barbecued seafood at the Chew Jetties. But even beyond the sizzle of char kway teow (rice noodles with prawns, eggs and more), Penang can tickle your senses.
Inhale the tang of 500 herbs and aromatics at Tropical Spice Garden. Listen to the chatter of macaques at Penang National Park, the country’s smallest. Gawp at the architectural splendor of Khoo Kongsi clubhouse and the intricately carved Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Alternatively, get bang up to date with contemporary art at Hin Bus Station.
Tip for timing your visit: Penang is one of the best places to visit in Malaysia in December, when the west coast enjoys good weather while winds batter the east.
Kuching is the perfect urban-jungle mash-up
We hear the dilemma: you want access to nature, but without committing to a tent in the jungle. And you want to experience the buzz of a Malaysian city, without the high-octane hubbub of KL. Kuching, the capital of Bornean state Sarawak, is your happy medium.
Kuching is a launchpad to Borneo’s glorious wilderness. From here, you can easily meet orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, or day-trip to Bako National Park to look for bearded pigs and proboscis monkeys.
But before stepping beyond the city limits, let Kuching work its charms. Stroll the waterfront promenade, where you can see views of Kuching’s architectural treasury: the Astana (palace) and its trim gardens, the State Assembly, and the swirling Darul Hana pedestrian bridge. Admire Chinese temples, browse the weekend market, and learn the history of Sarawak’s White Rajas at hilltop Fort Margherita.
Pulau Perhentian are the best islands for sunshine and snorkeling
Mentioning the Perhentians to Malaysian people elicits a longing smile. The Perhentian Islands are synonymous with brilliant beaches and marine life, plus there’s a party scene to keep beach bums dancing until the wee hours. The trick is to find your perfect beach.
Searching for spectacular sunsets? Head to Coral Bay. Green turtles? The turtle project on Main Beach. Late-night beach parties? Long Beach. There are numerous beaches where you can go sea kayaking, snorkel among parrotfish and giant clams, while hardened divers can go deeper to visit wrecks and commune with clownfish, reef sharks, and stingrays. Time your visit for dry season between March and October (but avoid July, when crowds reach their peak). Read More...
