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Spend 2 weeks in Malaysia exploring the peninsula with our self-drive journey. Travelling at your own pace, we'll help you head off the beaten track; tuck into tasty Malay street food or shop for stylish local craft stores in Melaka, stroll along treetop walkways through the forest canopy in Taman Nagara - the world's oldest tropical rain forest; take a break from the heat and enjoy the cool serenity of the Cameron Highlands and the rolling green slopes of the tea plantations. Visit an orangutan sanctuary on your way to historic Penang (famously home to great street food), before taking a boat to Langkawi Island - your idyllic spot for some beach relaxation!
Depart the UK from your chosen airport.
Your private driver will meet you at Kuala Lumpur airport and drive you to Melaka, where you can check in to your hotel.
The remainder of your day is free for you to wander through the narrow streets lined with shops and local restaurants. We recommend heading to Jonker Street where you'll find beautiful local crafts, boutique shops and antiques, or visit the Baba Nyonya museum for a fascinating insight into the lifestyle and traditions of the unique Peranakans.
You have the morning to continue exploring this historic town, so perhaps you could visit St. Paul’s Hill and the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest active temple in Malaysia.
After lunch, your driver will take you north, back to Kuala Lumpur. Your afternoon is free for you to explore the sites, including the National Monument and Merdeka Square, which is where Malaysia declared its independence. Located nearby is the Central Market, which is worth a visit.
Your full-day in Kuala Lumpur is free for you to fill however you please.
Some of our favourite things to do in Kuala Lumpur include visiting the Petronas Towers, where you get a stunning view of the city skyline, spending time at the Central Market – perfect for picking up local art and crafts. Why not visit Batu Caves – a fantastic place with a stunning Hindu sacred shrine and breath-taking caves, accessed by 272 steps and surrounded by monkeys!
Today you'll pick up your car and begin your exciting self-drive experience!
You’ll be heading towards Jerantut and then to Kuala Tahan through plantations and secondary forest. Once you arrive in Kuala Tahan, park up and take the river crossing boat out to one of the floating restaurants. It costs RM1.00 (to be paid locally) and takes just a few minutes.
You can now check-in and spend the remainder of the day relaxing, until your exciting evening Jungle Walk.
After breakfast, you'll head out for a full day excursion to Bukit Teresek, a canopy walk and Lata Berkoh.
Bukit Teresek can be reached in about 45 minutes, and once you reached the top, you'll be rewarded with breath-taking views of Gunung Tahan and the forest canopy.
The canopy walkway stretches about 500 metres at a height of 30 metres and offers a unique opportunity to experience the wilderness from a wholly new and fascinating vantage point.
Following your canopy walk you will head to Lata Berkoh; a spectacular cascade with a deep pool below. There is a rocky area overlooking the rapids, which offers an ideal place to observe the natural beauty, relax and take in your surroundings.
Continuing your journey, you'll travel back across the river to make your way into the Cameron Highlands.
Your drive will take you up through Brinchang and finally to the main town – Tanah Rata. Once here, you can settle into your hotel and spend the day enjoying your new environment and the peace the Cameron Highlands provides.
Your drive today will take you from the Cameron Highlands to Penang; along the way, there is plenty to see. The route towards Ipoh is overshadowed by towering, scenic rocky landscapes and is very enjoyable. Before reaching Penang, we recommend stopping at the famous Bukit Merah Orang Utan Islands.
Here, you'll take a short boat ride to the sanctuary where Orang Utans roam freely, located in the middle of the Bukit Merah Lake. You'll be see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat and may have the chance to watch them being fed or to see some babies!
Back on the road you will cross the Penang Bridge (the longest bridge in Asia) and enter the island of Penang where you can check into your hotel for your two night stay.
This is your last day with your car and we have left it free for you to explore Penang at your own pace.
We recommend visiting Kek Lok Si – the largest Buddhist/Taoist monastery and temple complex in Malaysia. It has an imposing Buddha Pagoda and a wonderful tortoise Pond of Longevity. Another option is ascending the Penang Hill via the Swiss funicular railway, where you get to travel through hill farms and lush tropical jungles and witness the jaw-dropping panoramic view of the Island and mainland.
After your day of exploring, it is time to drop your rental car off, as tomorrow you travel to Langkawi.
An early start awaits you today, your driver will pick you up and take you to the jetty to meet the boat to Langkawi.
The boat journey takes approximately two and a half hours and you will be met in Langkawi and taken to your hotel where you can check in for your three night stay.
We have left your time in Langkawi free, as this is your time to rest and relax in this stunning island setting.
Your second day of island life. Why not visit the Langkawi Sky Bridge for magnificent views over the whole island, or make the most of Langkawi's tax-free status and go shopping?
Sadly your Malaysian adventure has drawn to a close – your driver will collect you and take you to meet your onward flight.
If you would like to adapt this itinerary at all, or have any questions, feel free to get in touch with one of our experienced travel consultants.
Malaysia is a year round destination. Rainfall is fairly even throughout the year with the rainy season (October to April) and the rest of the year showing no marked difference. The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia receives heavy rain from November to mid-February with the Sabah region experiencing the heaviest rainfall October to March.
All of our itineraries are tailor-made to give you an idea of just some of what is possible; this means we can adjust as necessary to completely suit your needs! Let your travel consultant know how long you plan to spend away, what you like to do, what properties you like to stay in and an idea of your budget and we will do the rest!