The Idea and the Secret
May 20, 2021
Malaysia’s Top 10 Destinations
September 9, 2021
Top Tourist Attractions in Malaysia
August 26, 2021
Malaysia is a multicultural country with much to offer visitors regardless of their budget or what their idea of fun might be. Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital, is a cosmopolitan city with amazing shopping and stunning architecture where you'll find a blend of both modern and historical buildings.
Malaysia is a popular destination for shopping, food and known for its beautiful islands, beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling and beautiful nature parks. Malaysia is very connected and nothing is more than a day’s drive away. For more ideas on how to spend your time, see our list of top tourist attractions in Malaysia.
1. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The tallest twin towers in the world stands 452 meters high, with 88 floors and an impressive 76 elevators. Locals and tourists alike visit to marvel at its beauty and impressive architecture.
Built using a mix of steel, reinforced concrete, and glass, the two towers are connected to each other by a double skybridge that offer stunning views of KL and the 6.9-hectare KLCC Park below which are particularly impressive at night.
While visiting KLCC, satisfy the shopaholic in you by visiting Suria KLCC, one of the largest shopping centers in Malaysia. With over 300 stores, an art gallery, a Philharmonic Hall, science center, this retail and entertainment space will keep visitors occupied for hours. Official site: https://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/en
2. Batu Caves, Selangor
Located in Gombak and less than an hour outside Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves complex consists of three main caves plus a series of smaller ones, most of them containing statues and 100-year-old ornate shrines dedicated to Hindu gods.
The main cave, known as Temple Cave, is at the top of a massive colorful 272 steps staircase, and you'll find a space decorated with statues, altars, and lights. At the bottom of the stairs, a 43-meter-tall gold statue of Lord Murugan welcomes visitors.
Visitors are allowed to explore the caves on their own or can join guided tours to learn more about the caves. During the Hindu festival of Thaipusam , thousands of people flock to the cave for the celebrations. It is a pilgrimage site for Hindus worldwide.
3. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
Part of Kinabalu Park, Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain in Malaysia at just over 4,000 meters high. Kinabalu Park is one of the oldest national parks in Malaysia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its unique ecosystem mixes alpine meadows, grasslands, and shrublands making it home to an impressive range of both plant and animal species, including the threatened orangutans.
Mount Kinabalu is a major destination for climbers and summiting here can be tricky. Climb permits are limited and only 185 climb permits are issued daily by the park. Visitors must make accommodation reservations and hire a mountain guide in advance in order to be allowed to hit the trails. Although people under 16 are allowed to join climbing groups, there are restrictions in place.
Climbers should plan a stay at the Kinabalu National Park before attempting the climb—since the park itself is already at an altitude of over 1,800 meters, this will allow for acclimatization before attempting to reach the peak. Official site: https://www.mountkinabalu.com/
4. Perhentian Islands, Terengganu
Just off the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the Perhentians are a pair of islands that boast brilliantly white sand beaches, thickly jungled interiors and crystalline waters where you can find some of the best snorkelling in the region. It was once a stopping point used by traders traveling around Southeast Asia, this group of small islands is part of a marine park and has become a major tourist destination in northeastern Malaysia.
Most of the islands can be accessed by either ferry or small motorized boats, although only the two larger islands offer accommodations, shops, and amenities—of these two, Pulau Perhentian Besar has more of a backpacking scene, while Pulau Perhentian Kecil is a little more upscale and family-oriented.
Getting around via water taxi is an option but the islands also offer walking trails where visitors can trek through jungle paths and take in the greenery at the same time. Perhentian Islands has many offerings from scuba diving to snorkeling and kayaking as well as more unique activities like volunteering in turtle conservation programs and get access to the areas where turtles come to lay eggs.
5. Sipadan Island, Sabah
Considered one of the best diving destinations in the world, Sipadan Island and its surrounding ocean waters are part of the world's richest marine habitat and home to endangered hawksbill turtles, whale sharks, monitor lizards, and hundreds of coral species.
Reaching the island requires an hour-long ride on a speed boat. Once here, the island can be easily explored on foot, with different beaches and reef sites within minutes of each other. But visiting the island requires a permit in advance and only 120 permits are given out per day.
Due to environmental protection laws, overnight stays are not allowed but the nearby Mabul Island does offer accommodations. Visitors usually come here early in the morning as part of snorkeling and diving tours and must leave the island by 3pm.
6. Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Important both for its high biodiversity and for its karst features, Gunung Mulu National Park is a sight to behold. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has at least 295 km of explored caves providing a spectacular sight and are home to millions of cave swiftlets and bats. The Sarawak Chamber, 600 m by 415 m and 80 m high, is the largest known cave chamber in the world. It also hosts the largest passage in the world.
Deer Cave is particularly beautiful, with ceilings over 122 meters tall, waterfalls cascading through the rocks, and an opening over a sinkhole that's over one kilometer wide. Visitors to the park can also trek up to the Sarawak Chamber and Paku Waterfall or try a climb up on The Pinnacles Summit Trek, which takes three days and involves ropes, ladders, and an arduous walk through the jungle.
7. Penang Hill, Penang
The top of Penang Hill can be reached via the Penang Hill Railway, an air-conditioned funicular that makes the 2,007-meter-long climb up in less than 10 minutes. Although there are mid-stops between the base station and the highest point, these are done only on request and used by residents who live on the hill.
The top of Penang Hill offers beautiful green views over the city and is home to the Habitat Penang Hill, with a 1.6-kilometer nature trail cutting through the rain forest and a number of tropical gardens; a canopy walk 40 meters up in the sky; ziplines ; and the Skyway, which offers three viewing decks and a 360-degree view of the bay and islands.
8. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center was founded in 1964 to help orphaned orangutan babies rescued from the pet trade or illegal hunting. The center's main goal is to help these orangutans learn how to survive in the wild so they can be eventually released into the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, which is covered in virgin forest and extends for 4,300 hectares around the rescue center. Over 80 orangutans currently live free in the reserve.
Visitors are not allowed to interact with the animals or approach them, but they can come to the center to learn more about orangutans and the challenges they face today, see the nursery and the climbing area through a glass window, and attend feeding times (seen from a platform) twice a day.
The boardwalk that cuts through the center offers plenty of opportunities to explore and see the orangutans playing and jumping around on the trees nearby.
9. Kek Lok Si Temple, George Town
Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple sits on a hill, at the bottom of Air Itam mountain. While Kek Lok Si is relatively young for a temple in Asia but the massive seven-story Pagoda surrounded by 10,000 Buddha statues make this a striking destination that can't be missed.
Surrounded by gardens, fishponds, prayer halls, and a few stalls selling both religious and secular souvenirs, the pagoda is also home to a 36-meter-tall statue of Kwan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.
An important pilgrimage site for many around Southeast Asia, there are many other visitors who come here to make merits which is a key feature in Buddhism. Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly beautiful at the temple, as the entire space is decorated with thousands of lanterns. Official site: https://kekloksitemple.com
10. Langkawi SkyCab, Kedah
The Langkawi cable car is one of the most spectacular cable car rides in the world due to the stunning backdrop of the 450 million year old Machincang mountain range (the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia).
The Langkawi cable car makes a 2.2-kilometer 15 minute trip between the Base Station and the top of Gunung Machinchang mountain, where a number of attractions—including a pedestrian skybridge—are located. There's also a middle station, where travelers can get off to access a viewing platform.
The journey to the top, in glass-bottom gondolas, offers sweeping views of the bay, the Telaga Tujuh waterfall, and the turquoise waters surrounding Langkawi Island.
In addition to the skybridge, the top station also offers a number of amenities, two additional viewing platforms, and a trail that descends all the way to the middle station through the evergreen jungle.
11. Bako National Park, Sarawak
A National Park since 1957, Bako offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife. The park covers the northern tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula, an area of 27 sq km. It is accessible by a 20-minute boat ride.
Bako National Park sits right against the water, sandy beaches, and steep sandstone cliffs surrounding the beautiful mangroves and peat swamp forests.
Visitors can follow any of the 16 marked trails on the island and hopefully catch sight of the unusual local flora and fauna, which includes carnivorous plants, the endangered proboscis monkeys, and the rare and friendly bearded pig. Two of the best trails include the Lintang Loop for great sightseeing on relatively easy terrain, and the Tajor trail, which takes you to a waterfall and pools visitors can swim in.
To better appreciate the beauty of the park, consider staying overnight, as most animals only come out once the sun sets. There are bungalows for rent as well as a designated campsite at the park headquarters. Official site: https://www.bakonationalpark.com/
12. Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Cameron Highlands is one of the most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of 712km², about the size of Singapore. It is also the highest point in Malaysia accessible by road. During the day, the temperature seldom rises above 25°C; at night, it can drop to as low as 11°C.
The main attraction here is the tea estates, a legacy from British colonial times. The area also offers orchards, lavender farms, and plenty of opportunities to hike through the local mossy forest to reach aboriginal villages, waterfalls, and lakes.
Visitors head here to enjoy the cooler climate and experience a true high-tea experience in places like the
Boh Sungei Palas Tea Estate, where you can not only tour the plantation but also see the tea-making process, have a drink at the café, and stock up on goodies at the gift shop.
The Cameron Highlands area is also the native domain of the Rafflesia, the largest individual flower on Earth, which grows directly on the ground and can reach a diameter of over 100 centimeters.
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