Malaysia is one of our favorite destinations and one of the most complete we visited ever! This country, the logistic heart of Southeast Asia, is perfect for any type of traveler: in Malaysia, among other things, you can enjoy beautiful islands, do trekkings in the jungle, visit one modern capital and avant-garde, immerse yourself in a incredibly curious cultural mix and fall in love with a immense and delicious gastronomy.
- Malaysia is made up of two very different parts: the Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. In this article we will recommend you visit places in both areas ...
- Traveling in Malaysia is safe, easy and cheap. There is an extensive network of buses and trains, and here is also the Airasia hub, the cheapest (and good) low cost company in all of Asia.
- It is not necessary to apply for a visa to enter Malaysia: upon arrival we will seal the passport with a 3 month free visa (at least for Spaniards and Italians). For South Americans, it will depend on the country. You can check it on this map.
- We recommend travel to Malaysia (and in general to Asia) with travel insurance with health care. We never had problems of any kind but we do know people who got sick and had to be hospitalized. Take a look before leaving your home, an interesting option is Iati travel insurance, with which you have a 5% discount If you hire from this link.
- Malaysia is a melting pot of very different cultures and traditions: under the same sky they live together Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists and Christians. It will be like traveling through different places in the world without crossing borders!
- And as difficult as it may seem, they live in true peace and harmony. Malaysia is a safe country to which we recommend you arrive with your mind wide open and with a smile stamped on your face ... people are the most hospitable we have ever met (even when I traveled alone)!
- We recommend a minimum of 15 days In order to visit Malaysia, if you have less time you will have to rethink your wishlist and start the strikethrough process.
Now, let's tell you what are the 10 best things to see and do in Malaysia:
There are travelers who do not finish finding the point, although for us the capital of Malaysia seems to us one of the most complete in all of Southeast Asia: on the same day you can have breakfast in an Indian market, take a selfie in front of the Petronas towers (and climb them, of course!), get lost in a tropical jungle and visit a mosque or a Chinese temple. We personally love it! Together with Bangkok and Tokyo it is our favorite city in all of Asia, so we advise you to spend about 2 or 3 days here.
More info: If you want to know everything there is to see and do in Kuala Lumpur you can take a look at this article
Georgetown (Penang) is the perfect place for urban art lovers: its streets are full of murals, iron sculptures and street art that mixes graffiti and everyday objects such as bikes, motorcycles or swings. Vamos, a city of the most original, which has managed to transform art into its main attraction and sign of identity.
More info: Here you can find a map of the city with the main works of art and don't miss our article about Penang.
The National Park of Taman Negara is one of the oldest jungles in the entire planet: with its 130 million years it does not have much competition! The most typical here is to hire a trekking, one or several days, and explore its ecosystem thoroughly. These excursions usually include boat rides on the river to enter the jungle, hiking on hanging bridges (canopy), night in one of the shelters strategically placed to observe nocturnal animals, etc. Although if you are an adventurer there are options to visit this jungle for free, but think twice, the same thing could happen to Rubén and Lucy who had to spend 11 hours on a tree. (Don't miss his story, he has no waste!)
Reaching the top of the highest point in all of Southeast Asia is a must on a trip to Malaysia. From its top you can see one of those sunrises that are never forgotten. Nor will it be easy to forget the laces of the following days. The problem is not only in your physical state, Climbing Mount Kinabalu costs a lot: calculates about 500-600 ringgit, in exchange about € 125-150 for the accommodation package, entrance to the park, ascent and guide. Using this fact as an excuse, many travelers are left wanting to ascend to the sky of Southeast Asia. However, if you are passionate about the mountain and do not mind spending this money ... we totally recommend it.
From the famous satay (grilled meat skewers dipped in peanut sauce) to the most exotic dishes such as hokkien mee (noodles prepared with soy sauce, meat, cabbage and pork rind) and delicious rotis... mmm Malaysian food is spectacular, the secret is that the 3 main ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians) have known how to create unique and delicious flavors.
More info: 10 dishes you should try in Malaysia
The Borneo is one of the best areas in the world to learn more about orangutants and their surroundings. These beautiful animals, in danger of extinction, are in a situation of constant danger because of the massive felling of forests in favor of palm plantations (to obtain palm oil). Luckily not all is bad news and on a trip to Borneo you can visit several orangutan recovery centers, which do an excellent job. We introduce you to two of them: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center Y Semenggoh Wildlife Center. Here, the wounded, disoriented and sick orangutans find a new house where they can recover and gradually return to integrate into wildlife. You can book the visit here.
More info: Carme and Tony are an example of responsible tourism, take a tour of their blog and learn more about these two centers.
If there is something that is not missing in Malaysia they are beaches, and what beaches! They are one of those dreamy ones bathed by turquoise waters where to splash for hours and hours and where to put on the snorkel goggles and go in search of thousands of goldfish. Our favorite islands are located on the east coast: Perenthian, Redang and Tioman (We really want to Pulau Kapas, a small island near Redang which we have been told very very well).
We cannot forget the part of Borneo, which has Some of the best diving destinations in the world like Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.
The Batu Caves, a short distance from Kuala Lumpur, are one of the most emblematic and culturally interesting corners of Malaysia. It's about a complex of natural caves and Hindu temples They receive more than 1 million pilgrims every year. We will receive a 42 meter high statue of the Hindu God Muruguan, son of Shiva and Parvati, to which the main cave is dedicated. To access it we will first have to ascend the 272 steps carved into the rocky slope. But rest assured that you will be more aware that monkeys do not steal your ice cream than die of suffocation.
Going for free from Kuala Lumpur is simple, but if you prefer you can take a guided tour for about € 12. More info here.
The highlands of Malaysia (Cameron Highlands) are the perfect place to take a few days of total disconnection. Here between tea plantations, fresh air and trails, you will discover the greenest face of Malaysia.
There are even comfortable tours from Kuala Lumpur, like this one, that will take you to know this idyllic corner (we went by minivan from Penang!).
More info: our experience circling the Cameron Highlands
Melaka was one of the most important ports in all of Asia thanks to its strategic location in the Strait of Malacca (between Malaysia and Indonesia). Chinese, Indians, Arabs and Europeans went through it, and it wasPortuguese, Dutch and British colony. From this colonial past there is a very striking architectural trail: walking through Melaka is like transporting to a different place, far from Malaysia. Another reason to approach Melaka is to visit her famous weekend market, where you will end up buying some souvenir (and you may also end up on a stage singing karaoke!).
More info: we leave you a tour to visit the best of Melaka
So far our recommendations. We hope that the 10 things to see and do in Malaysia You liked them and, above all, they encourage you to travel to this beautiful country.
