Best Malaysia Tour Package

Today, your driver guide will stay with you all day long to dive into Kuala Lumpur. The first stop is the 452-meter-high (1483-foot-high) Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. Viewed from a distance, the 88-story landmark looks like two imposing ears of corn. Upon entering, board an express lift to the 41st-floor Sky Bridge, linking the two structures, for a broad view of the concrete jungle of modern high-rises. Continue up to the 86th-floor circular observation deck to enjoy a superb panorama of the metropolis through a free telescope. 

After driving past white Kuala Lumpur Tower, the world’s fourth-tallest communication tower, and Jamek Mosque with a faint echo of Taj Mahal Mausoleum in India, let’s pause at Independence Square, also known as Dataran Merdeka. It witnessed the stirring moment when the Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time after the lowering of the British flag on Aug. 31, 1957. As you look around the eclectic nearby architecture, from the British-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building to Islamic structures and the Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral, get to know the country’s colonial history from your guide.

Next up is the 140-year-old Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s well-known Chinatown. Stroll through the bustling street and discover lots of longstanding stores and Chinese food stalls, many of which have been passed down through generations for 50-plus years. What may impress you most is Kim Soya Bean, an inconspicuous cart offering smooth soya milk and soybean-scented pudding with ginger, white, or brown sugar for more than 80 years. If you like, treat yourself to a self-paid portion of RM 2.5 (USD 0.6).

In the afternoon, let’s proceed to National Mosque of Malaysia, a gorgeous Islamic masterpiece in the downtown area. At first glance, you’ll marvel at its 73-meter-high (240-foot-high) minaret similar to a folded umbrella, while the blue roof of the main hall resembles an open umbrella. After taking off your shoes and entering the roomy hall, feast your eyes on a lofty intricately detailed dome as well as stained glass and triangular blue windows casting a kaleidoscopic glow in the sun. 
► Note: Your attire should cover your shoulders and knees when visiting the mosque. If not, you can rent a free Islamic gown with hoods at the entrance. Females should wear the hood to cover their heads, but it’s not required for males. 

We’ll then drive outside the city to King’s Palace, aka Istana Negara, the office and dwelling of the Malaysian monarch. Despite its closure to the public, you’ll have a chance to appreciate its magnificent exterior through the black railings, take memorable pictures with on-duty royal guards, and overlook the whole Kuala Lumpur. 

Eventually, your driver guide will escort you on a 2-hour drive to your hotel in Malacca, Malaysia’s oldest city. After check-in, have a good night.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Melaka (4 stars)

After meeting you at your hotel lobby, your driver guide will accompany you to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malaysia’s oldest Chinese temple, entirely built of valuable Chinese hardwood. Take a moment at the gate to appreciate its resplendent rooftop, enhanced by motifs of mythical figures and animals made out of cemented tile and porcelain fragments. As you step into the opulent hall, deep red walls painted in raw lacquer and exquisite wooden carvings will almost transport you back to 15th-century China. 

Let’s then visit Stadthuys, rising from Dutch Red Square in the mid-17th century. Here, you can tick off this oldest extant Dutch architecture in Southeast Asia characterized by classic red-brick walls, broad windows, and heavy wooden doors, as well as the centuries-old Queen Victoria Fountain and the colonial church now housing a museum, in one go.

Stroll through the path behind the square for roughly 5 minutes and you’ll reach the St. Paul’s Church atop St. Paul’s Hill. While wandering around the ruins with only damaged outer walls left through relentless hails of gunfire, you’ll come to realize the strategic trade hub status of the town for the Strait of Malacca. Also, hit the platform beside the church, which offers wonderful photo ops of the Malacca city. 

Descending the hill, we’ll pass by a Portuguese fortress, A Famosa, one of the oldest European buildings in Asia, currently with a single weathered city gate remaining. Then, let’s get lost in Chinese-steeped Jonker Street at the lively heart of Malacca. Weaving through the crowds on the street, behold rows of heritage shophouses laden with local antiques, distinctive Peranakan clothes, tantalizing traditional Peranakan cakes, and specialty chicken rice balls served with white sliced chicken and secret chili sauce. If you’d like to have lunch here at your own expense, Hoe Kee Chicken Rice comes highly recommended for RM 20-40 (USD 5-10) per person.

★ Savor Enchanting Cityscapes on a Malacca River Cruise

Later, let’s make our way to Taman Rempah Jetty for a scenic Malacca River Cruise. In the next 40 minutes, revel in the ever-changing riverside scenery of old Malay stilt houses with red galvanized steel roofs and low buildings covered in colorful murals, both studded with thriving flowers and greenery. Fancy some photography hacks? Keep the camera lens near the calm water surface so that you can capture both the scenes on the shore and their reflections in the same frame.

After the visit, your driver guide will escort you back to your Kuala Lumpur hotel in 2 hours.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur (5 stars)

After breakfast, your driver guide will see you off to the airport for a short hour-long flight to Penang, a vintage relaxing island resort. Upon your arrival, your local driver guide will welcome you at the exit, before escorting you to your hotel in George Town, a World Heritage Site that boasts the most pre-war Southeast Asian structures in Malaysia. 
► Tip: Mural lovers remember to get a “Marking George Town” map at the airport’s baggage claim. It shows the exact locations and brief introductions of 20+ murals and 52 wrought iron artworks. You can look for them during your free time in Penang.

► Free-time Recommendations (at your own cost)
Consider strolling east for 15 minutes from your hotel to Kapitan Keling Mosque, Penang’s oldest and largest mosque. Except for the Muslim prayer room, all other areas are open to the public for free. Besides exploring religious culture through multilingual guidebooks and rich lectures, you may encounter a free professional guide who will introduce you to Islamic rituals, gender interaction and customs. After that, consider walking northeast for 5 minutes to dine at the highly-rated Indian restaurant D’Sakra, which costs RM 20-40 (USD 5-10) per person.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La (4 stars)

This morning, let’s start with a car tour around George Town, going past the following iconic landmarks: Fort Cornwallis, regarded as the starting point of the town’s development; British-style Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower with an Islamic Moorish dome; Clan Jetty, a waterfront Chinese community comprising several wooden villages named after their family names; and Street of Harmony, where British, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian religious cultures shine together. If you’re interested in certain spots, ask your driver guide to stop anytime for photography and a close-up visit.  

Afterward, we’ll proceed to the Thai-style Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, erected in 1845 and enshrining a 33-meter-long (108-foot-long) statue of the world’s third-largest indoor reclining Buddha. Once inside, the magnificent colossus of the Buddha, clad in a golden cassock and leaning his head on his right hand, will immediately strike your eyes. Gazing at his peaceful facial expression, you’ll gradually find inner equilibrium.

★ Special Inclusion: A Funicular Train Ride up to Penang Hill

Our journey will climax with a funicular train trip up to Penang Hill, a local-favorite cool resort and nice sunset viewpoint. Let’s ride the region’s fastest, steepest, and longest train, passing through verdant farms and dipterocarp forests, and reach the highest point of Penang. Shutterbugs can try to sit at the front or rear of the vehicle during the ride.

Atop the hill, head to the observation decks for breathtaking aerial views of the entire island and even the Strait of Malacca if the weather permits. Beyond historic sites like the century-old British red pillar box and the 32-pound ancient cannon, rare Francois' leaf monkey, greater racket-tailed drongos, and black giant squirrels will also await your discovery. No matter how cute they are, it’s better not to tease or feed them. 

At the end of the tour, we’ll drive back to your hotel. Or, if you’re still in the mood to check out street murals, consider saying goodbye to your driver guide at Penang Street Art District for funny photos with those immersive murals like the “Sibling on a Swing”, and finally walk 15 minutes or take a 5-minute taxi trip back to your hotel by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La (4 stars)

In the morning, your driver guide will see you off to Penang International Airport based on your scheduled onward flight. Thank you for traveling with us, and look forward to seeing you again!

► FYI: If your flight departs later, you may walk west for under 10 minutes from your hotel to explore the Penang Nagarathar Sivan Temple, a South Indian temple featuring a colorful five-story pagoda with intricate sculptures, which is frequently visited by locals. Above all, it’s best to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance.

Meals: Breakfast