Dynamic cities like Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Taiping, and George Town pepper the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, a country where Malays, Indians, Chinese, and indigenous groups have come together to create a unique cultural mélange. In these hives of urban humdrum, towering skyscrapers share spaces with traditional kampungs and Straits-style shop-houses. The street food is irresistible, and the street art scene is exploding with every passing day. In the heritage precincts of cities like George Town and Malacca, you are offered a glimpse of pre-war Malaya and beyond these ever-busy urban settlements, a rich natural tapestry of unspoilt rainforests, limestone karsts, and white sandy beaches. Spend 2 weeks in Malaysia exploring the best of what the west coast offers.
MALAYSIA
Two weeks aren’t enough to explore the rich historical heritage and culture of the west coast of peninsular Malaysia but we have full-time jobs and have to make do with whatever time we have. In our 2 weeks in Malaysia trip, we travelled north from Kuala Lumpur, up into the cool mountains of Cameron Highlands, then into Ipoh, then further north to Georgetown, and finally to Langkawi. This stretch along the west coast of peninsular Malaysia is the country’s most visited. The cities along the coast offer insights into the history of the country, into its colonial past and the lives of the Hakka migrants who came here to try their luck in the booming tin trade. The architecture– a mix of native Malay, European, and Chinese– is interesting and the food is both mouth-watering and abundant. The locals are friendly; strike up a conversation and you’ll be rewarded with many many recommendations.
For information on visas, currency, the best time to visit, and more, read our Malaysia Quick Guide.
Days 1-4: Kuala Lumpur
Start your 2 weeks in Malaysia trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s cosmopolitan capital, the city whose skyline is graced by the famous Petronas Twin Towers. Kuala Lumpur was recently voted as the second friendliest city in the world and not without reason! Centuries of migration have brought Hindu Tamils, local Malays, and migrants from China’s Hakka province to create a cultural melting pot where everyone comes together to celebrate life on the streets every day. In Kuala Lumpur’s night markets and bustling bazaars, you can find locals feasting on Malay, Chinese, and Indian delicacies regularly. It’s a city of many paradoxes: it’s incredibly busy yet surprisingly calm, modern yet traditional, and lively and vibrant and all that a good city should be. Post sundown, the city’s skyscraper-laden skyline puts on a dazzling show, but Kuala Lumpur is not all steel and concrete; large swathes of forests, gardens, and parks are a welcome relief for citizens and tourists alike. There are countless things to do here: urban hikes, food walks, exploring the city’s colonial past, visiting the many museums, cave temples, markets, and so much more. It’s very pedestrian-friendly which is always a plus! And if you love to lose yourself in bookstores, there’s Kinokuniya!
How to Reach Kuala Lumpur
BY AIR // Fly into KLIA or KLIA2 (if you’re flying Air Asia), then either ride the KLIA Ekspres train (RM 55 to KL Sentral, 30 min) or a bus (RM 12 to Pudu Sentral, 1 hr) to the city centre. From there, book a Grab to your hotel.
BY ROAD AND RAIL // From Singapore, you can ride the train or a bus to Kuala Lumpur.
Top Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur
- Marvel at the Petronas Twin Towers (!) and the KLCC gardens
- Go on neighbourhood walks
- Get a taste of old KL in Kampung Bharu
- Go shopping in Chinatown
- Eat at the banana-leaf restaurants of Brickfields
- Tour Kuala Lumpur’s marvellous museums
- Shop till you drop at Bukit Bintang
- Visit the Batu Caves
Day 5: Cameron Highlands
Rolling tea plantations, strawberry farms, and colonial-style buildings bring a distinctive European flavour to the country’s only hill station. Rent a motorbike and zip along the zig-zagging highways, past ancient rainforests, and farms. The main drag of Tanah Rata and Brinchang is choc-a-bloc with stores and restaurants but beyond the crowds and colourful shopfronts are numerous hiking trails that lead through the mossy forests to lovely waterfalls and viewpoints. The hills are quite a few degrees cooler than the sweltering plains, so don’t forget to pack some warm clothes.
How to Reach the Cameron Highlands
BY ROAD FROM KUALA LUMPUR // From Kuala Lumpur, board a bus from TBS. The fare for the 4-hour ride is between RM 30 and RM 35 depending on the bus. We travelled on a Unititi coach; the bus was on time and the seats had adequate legroom. Start early so you can reach by afternoon and enjoy a Nasi Kampur lunch at Orchid Food Corner.
NOTE: TBS, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, is the bus station from where most long-distance buses depart from. It’s around 14 km from the city centre. A Grab ride from Bukit Bintang cost us around RM 14. You can also take the LRT. From Bukit Bintang, board the train at Imbi or Bukit Bintang and change to the yellow line at Hang Tuah. If you are staying in Chinatown, board the train from Plaza Rakyat.
Top Things To Do in the Cameron Highlands
- Hike in the rainforests around town and/or in the mossy forest
- Visit a tea plantation and taste some great tea
- Tour a strawberry farm
Days 6-8: Ipoh
Once the bustling heart of Malaysia’s tin-mining industry, modern-day Ipoh is a sleepy town that is slowly making it on the discerning traveller’s map. With a gorgeous medley of colonial architecture and old Chinese shophouses, the streets and alleys of Ipoh with their interesting murals are unabashedly photogenic. Pretty boutiques, hipster cafes, and galleries draw millennials from around the globe. On a clear day, you can see the craggy peaks of the Brinchang range looming over the town. Ipoh has some of the best food in the country; while you are in, stuff yourself with Ipoh’s famous beansprout chicken, salted chicken, and creamy egg tarts. Oh, and don’t forget the white coffee!
How to Reach Ipoh
BY ROAD FROM CAMERON HIGHLANDS // A 2-hour bus ride from the bus terminal at Tanah Rata will cost you RM 12. The bus will, in most cases, will drop you at Ipoh’s Aman Jaya terminal, from where you can take a local bus for RM 1.70 to Medan Kidd or book a Grab ride.
BY ROAD FROM KUALA LUMPUR // Trains and buses to Ipoh are available.
Top Things To Do in Ipoh
- Visit the Concubine Lanes in old Ipoh
- Go on a mural walk around the neighbourhoods
- Eat and eat some more: try Ipoh’s famous white coffee and beansprout chicken; gorge on everything at Tong Sui Kai; eat Tauge Ayam and dim sums!
Days 9-11: George Town
Spend days 9-11 of your 2 weeks in Malaysia trip in George Town. One of two UNESCO heritage cities on Malaysia’s peninsular west coast, George Town has seen a steady increase in tourists since Ernest Zacharevic’s murals made splashes across social media. Today, Penang is a hub of digital nomads who flock here for the city’s countless charms. There’s something for everyone here: hiking trails that go up Penang hill, through rainforests to the uncrowded butterfly and monkey beaches; hawker stalls and markets overflowing with tropical produce, fresh seafood, and mouth-watering dishes; bustling bars and the happening nightlife at Batu Ferringhi; colonial architecture, Chinese temples, and restored Chinese shop-houses; and of course, the murals.
How to Reach George Town
BY ROAD AND FERRY FROM IPOH // A bus from Ipoh’s Aman Jaya terminal will drop you at Butterworth bus station. Board the ferry from the Pangalam Sultan Adbul Halim ferry terminal adjacent to the bus station to the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in George Town. The ferry takes around 15-20 min and tickets are RM 1.20.
BY ROAD FROM KUALA LUMPUR // You can take the train or ride a bus.
Top Things To Do in George Town
- Track down Ernest Zacharevic’s murals
- Ride the funicular or hike to Penang Hill
- Learn about Baba Nyonya culture and the city’s history
- Just eat because eating in George Town is a magnificent experience!
Days 12-14: Langkawi
Pulau Langkawi, the jewel of Kedah as the tourism banners say, is truly a jewel set in the turquoise waters of the Strait of Malacca. Think lush rainforests where birds sing all day, white sandy palm-lined beaches at the feet of which waves foam and froth relentlessly, dense forests of mangroves and stunning limestone formations, waterfalls and pools hidden in the depths of damp forests, and clear warm turquoise waters. For adventure lovers, there’s snorkelling, diving, ziplining, hiking, parasailing, and so much more! Plus, it’s duty-free.
How to Reach Langkawi
BY FERRY FROM LANGKAWI FROM GEORGE TOWN // Board the ferry from Swettenham pier in Georgetown for a 2 hr 45 min ride across the Strait of Malacca to Kuah in Langkawi. There are two departures, at 8:30 am and 2 pm. Tickets are RM 60 + RM 10 handling charges and can be bought from Super Fast Ferry Ventures near the pier.
BY ROAD AND FERRY FROM GEORGE TOWN // If you’d prefer a shorter ferry ride, ride the bus (book in advance as the buses are frequently booked) from Butterworth bus station to Kuala Perlis, from where a 1 hr 15 min ferry ride will bring you to the island of Langkawi. Ferries run hourly on this route.
Top Things To Do in Langkawi
- Swim at one of Langkawi’s many beaches
- Tour the Kilim Geoforest Park on a boat
- Hike Seven Wells waterfall
Other Things To Do on a 2 Weeks Malaysia Trip
If we had more than 2 weeks in Malaysia to explore the west coast, we’d do the following:
Visit Melaka
We had to skip Melaka (if you aren’t much of a beach bum, skip Langkawi and spend two days in Melaka), another UNESCO heritage city in this part of the country. Colonial buildings, a rich cultural heritage, great food, markets like the Jonker Walk, and a slow meandering river make this city especially attractive for us.
Visit Taiping
We’ve heard great things about Taiping, the capital of colonial Perak, where many fabulous buildings await us. Perak, with its many caves and rich history, need another visit.
Day Trips from Kuala Lumpur
There’s Port Dickson, Kuala Selangor (to see the fireflies!), Fraser’s Hill, and many other places that can be visited on day trips from Kuala Lumpur. We’d also like to take a Batik class, a cookery class, and explore the city more.
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