Perfect 2-Week Malaysia Itinerary
Our perfect 2-week Malaysia itinerary will help you plan your next trip to this amazing South-East Asian country. We'll explore all the must-visit places in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Perhentian Islands, Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Penang on a budget, and much more in only 14 days.
Malaysia is one of the most diverse exotic countries which has so much to offer for adventure travelers, but also regular tourists looking for an exciting destination to spice up their every day lives.
Malaysia has everything from bustling modern cities, tea plantations, cave temples, rainforests, wildlife, to amazing beaches, great snorkeling, and scuba diving opportunities. Combine all that with fantastic cuisine, and you have a top travel destination in Southeast Asia.
We've visited Malaysia twice already, and we hope we will return one day again, at least to taste the authentic delicious food one more time.
Traveling in the country is still incredibly affordable even for budget tourists and backpackers, but it can cater to needs even for luxury travelers, which is great.
We think Malaysia is still a bit overshadowed by neighboring more popular countries like Thailand and Indonesia, and the country is still not on the top of the South East Asia list first-time travelers to this region decide to visit, and we think, that's a bit shame.
In this post, we would like to show you the best Malaysia has to offer, and we will share with you our recommended detailed two-week Malaysia itinerary featuring must-visit places, travel tips, and information on how to get there and how to get around.
PERFECT MALAYSIA ITINERARY
Having visited Malaysia a few times already, planning the perfect Malaysia itinerary is for us a pretty straightforward job.
But it is true, that for the first time, when we were trying to find some relevant information and when we were looking into the map, we felt quite lost.
Not only the country is pretty large, it has so much to offer, and it has a handful of beautiful islands around, but also we were not sure how the transport is reliable, and in general, we did not know how the situation in the country will be travel-wise, because at that time we had not had that many experiences with getting around South East Asian countries.
That's why we decided to create this ultimate Malaysia travel itinerary to make your journey as smooth as possible.
We think that two or three weeks are optimal for the first trip to Malaysia, but we also understand, that not everyone can afford to travel three weeks in a row, so we decided to create a 2-week Malaysia itinerary for a start, and we might create the 3-week version in the future.
In our opinion, one week in Malaysia is just not enough. You can call this version the best of Malaysia, as in mere 14 days, you will see all the top attractions and highlights Malaysia possesses.
In this travel guide, we focus on the central and northern parts of the country, leaving the south part for the extended itinerary.
When creating a travel itinerary, we always keep in mind that the plan should make sense and be convenient for travelers, and that's what is so great about this itinerary, because it's a loop. Yeah, except a small 2-hour one-way detour to Melaka, you don't have to retreat your steps, which saves time and energy.
The adventure starts in the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and our Malaysia itinerary suggests you travel along the west coast, then to the east coast, and through a central part returning to Kuala Lumpur.
DAY 1: KUALA LUMPUR
For most of the travelers, Kuala Lumpur is the entry and exit point on their Malaysia itinerary, and it surely was for us as well, so we will start our journey here. Flights to Kuala Lumpur are plentiful, not only from Asia, but also from Europe.
The city is a mix of old and new, and despite the fact, that it can be extremely hectic at times, Kuala Lumpur is worth your time.
And what are the must-visit places in Kuala Lumpur?
With a total height of 452 meters, Petronas Twin Towers are probably our favorite attraction in Kuala Lumpur, and the highlight you cannot miss when in the city. You can take an elevator to the viewing deck and observe the sprawling city from high above, although the towers are very impressive even from the ground.
Other top things to do and see in Kuala Lumpur are Menara KL Tower, China Town and Little India, Merdeka Square, Masjid Jamek, and other mosques, and we can't fail to mention food markets.
Our Tip: You can visit a foodie town Melaka, which is the next stop on the itinerary on a day trip for Kuala Lumpur, though we might convince you to spend there a little bit more time than that. See our arguments below.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur: Budget: Comfort Cabin | Mid-range: Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur | Luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
DAY 2-3: MELAKA
Melaka is Malaysia's food capital, and a place no foodie traveler should dare to miss. And you know what? No one should miss it, because there is not a better destination to get an introduction to Asian smells and flavors.
The variety of food here is marvelous, and the selection draws foodies and food lovers from all over the world to this city. But there are more reasons to visit this fascinating coastal town other than food.
Melaka used to have a strategic position in colonial times, and this fact changed the course of history for the next five centuries. First Chinese, then Portuguese, Dutch, and British all brought, their culture, architecture, customs, and influenced the Malay town forever.
The town is famous for its Red Square and Stadthuys building, which you can see on every postcard from Melaka, but you will find in the city also structures built by Portuguese, or Chinese temples.
Only a short stroll around the famous Jonker street will make you realize one thing, that Melaka has a vibrant street food scene, which is perfect for backpackers, and the food tasting in the streets is a breathtaking experience.
Melaka is only a 2-hour drive by bus from Kuala Lumpur, so it can easily be your first stop on your itinerary after landing in the capital.
You can visit Melaka same as us at the beginning of your trip, but you can also leave it to the end of your journey and head directly to Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur instead and get to Melaka later. That's entirely up to you. Last option is to visit Melaka on full-day tour if short on time.
No matter how you decide, read our post: Melaka: Travel Guide to Foodie Destination in Malaysia.
Where to stay in Melaka: Budget: Modern Cave Boutique Stay | Mid-range: Timez Hotel Melaka | Luxury: The Majestic Malacca Hotel
DAY 4: IPOH
Probably the least known and visited destination among foreign visitors on our itinerary is the capital city of Perak state, Ipoh.
Nestled between white limestones cliffs, Ipoh is the third-largest city in Malaysia, and the incredible cave temples and colonial city center are one of the main reasons, why to visit Ipoh.
Ipoh is very popular with locals, but western tourists usually skip it for Cameron Highlands, or use it only as a transit city. But to our surprise, we found Ipoh's cave temples very interesting, and we spent in the city a pleasant day. And to no one's surprise, the food is great in Ipoh.
It is easy to get to Ipoh by bus from either Melaka or Kuala Lumpur.
Extra Tip: If you are traveling light and arrived at Ipoh early, you can visit the caves and temples during the day, and in the afternoon leave to Cameron Highlands. This way, you will have an extra day in Cameron Highlands.
Where to stay in Ipoh: Budget: Edm Space | Mid-range: Meru Suites at Meru Valley Resort | Luxury: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
DAY 5-6: CAMERON HIGHLANDS
So far, we've visited the capital city, tasted lovely street food, learned about history, explored a few cave temples, and now it's time for something completely different. We will climb up to the Cameron Highlands to enjoy a cup of tea, eat strawberries, and to cool down a bit.
That's right, the extra warm layer of fleece jacket you've been lugging around since your arrival now comes extremely handy.
Cameron Highlands is a really popular destination among locals who love the cooler climate and fresh air. So what are the best things to do in Cameron Highlands?
We've actually revealed some of the main attractions and things to do in the area in our not spoiler-free introduction already, so the tea plantations are a must-visit place, you can visit one of the strawberry farms and pick this red delicious fruit (or just buy a basket full of already picked strawberries).
Cameron Highlands has a perfect climate for growing orchids and other plants, such as cacti or roses, you can hike in the area, explore Mossy Forest, or visit one of the indigenous settlements with a local guide.
To get to Cameron Highlands from Ipoh, take a direct bus to Tanah Rata, which is the base for exploring the area.
Where to stay in Cameron Highlands: Budget: Traveller Bunker Hostel 1 | Mid-range: The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant Cameron Highlands | Luxury: Cameron Highlands Resort
DAY 7-8: PENANG
Famous for street art, temples, jetties, beaches, and great food, Penang is high on the list of must-visit places in Malaysia.
Penang is actually a big island connected by two bridges with the mainland, but it doesn't have the laidback atmosphere you would expect, at least if you follow our steps and decide to stay in George Town, the crazy capital city of Penang.
We stayed on Penang for four days, but this itinerary is a little bit more packed, and two days should be enough. If you can't decide what to skip, we think the beaches are not somehow spectacular when compared to our next stop, Perhentian Islands.
You should, however, try the local street food, which is one of the best in Malaysia, and the traditional Nyonya cuisine (which you've probably already tasted in Melaka by now) is exceptional.
Penang is also super famous for its street art, and for many travelers, this is one of the main reasons to visit this area.
Though it's easier to look on the map or read a guide to find all the cool paintings, we think that exploring the area without it will bring you a more rewarding experience.
To get to Penang Island, take a direct bus from Tanah Rata to Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal or Butterworth Bus Terminal. We chose the latter, and from Butterworth took a ferry to make the trip more exciting.
Where to stay in Penang: Budget: The Frame Guesthouse | Mid-range: Jawi Peranakan Mansion | Luxury: 23 Love Lane Hotel
DAY 9-11: PERHENTIAN ISLANDS
After more than a week of traveling, it is time to slow down a little bit and enjoy yourself. Yeah, it's beach time.
Once a postcard paradise, now a popular tourist stop, the Perhentian Islands still is an outstanding beach getaway destination.
Forget about the hustle and bustle of the big cities, and relax on incredible white sandy beaches while sipping coconut juice in the South China Sea. Despite the fact, that the islands are getting increasing numbers of visitors every year, the Perhentians are still underdeveloped and have a very relaxed and laidback atmosphere.
We spent a few nights on Kecil Island and had a great time. The snorkeling boat trip around the crystal clear waters was the highlight, and we were even lucky to saw a blacktip reef shark, turtles, and stingrays.
Reading an in-depth Perhentian Islands guide may be more convincing than this short description, so here you go.
To get there, take a 7-hour long bus to Kota Bharu, where you can quickly visit a local market or a few museums, and then head to a port town Kuala Besut.
The islands are accessible only by a speed boat and closed during the monsoon season from December to January, so if you arrive between these months, you might want to visit Langkawi or Tioman Island instead.
Once your trip to Perhentian Islands comes to end, head from Kuala Besut to Wakaf Bharu, where you can catch a jungle train to Jerantut, a getaway to Taman Negara National Park.
Where to stay on Perhentian Islands: Kecil Island: Alunan Resort | Long Beach: Mimpi Perhentian | Besar Island: Samudra Beach Chalet
DAY 12-13: TAMAN NEGARA NATIONAL PARK
You don't visit a place that is more than 130 million years old every day. Taman Negara is one of the oldest rainforests in the world, and the national park is home to abundant wildlife, from tigers, elephants, toucans, to smaller animals like tree frogs, venomous snakes, spiders, and scary insects.
To fully explore Taman Negara NP, you would need weeks, although an overnight trip will allow you to get at least a glimpse into the green heart of Malaysia.
When you stay in the park overnight, you can do a short hike to Bukit Teresek, traverse Canopy Walkway high up in the trees, join the Night Jungle Walk, and enjoy a three-hour-long cruise on a wooden boat to Kuala Tembeling (or vice versa).
If you can stretch your itinerary for a few more days, Taman Negara offers adventurous treks that can last up to seven days. Now that's an adventure.
If you are not interested in poisonous snakes, brown rivers, and dense jungle, you can skip Taman Negara completely and from Kota Bharu travel to Mersing and then by ferry to Tioman Island where you will find even more beaches and snorkeling activities, though we think, that Taman Negara is definitely worth travel destination in Malaysia.
However, if you are a beach bum, we fully understand that, and we wrote a few words about Tioman at the end of the article.
Where to stay in Taman Negara: Budget: Tebing Guest House | Mid-range: Balai Serama Guesthouse | Luxury: Mutiara Taman Negara Resort
DAY 14: KUALA LUMPUR
Back in Kuala Lumpur, now it's time to catch up on whatever you hadn’t time to do before you fly home, and in case your flight is in the evening, there are still quite many parks where you can chill.
You can do some last-minute shopping, one of the most popular places is Petaling Street (crowded counterfeit market), or visit Batu caves even alone or with a half-day tour.
WHAT WE SKIPPED
Although 14 days in Malaysia will give you plenty of time to visit many beautiful places in the country, there are a few destinations we had to skip due to lack of time.
In case you have one more week, you can consider including destinations below in your schedule.
SINGAPORE
One of the most tempting things to do when traveling around Malaysia is to visit Singapore.
That's actually what we did on our first visit to Malaysia, as we went to Johor Bharu first, and crossed the borders from there.
Mind you, Singapore is quite expensive compared to Malaysia, and especially backpackers will have a harder time to keep the low budget under control, but that's not a reason to skip this interesting island-city state entirely.
Singapore is a clean and modern developed city known for contemporary architecture, shopping, food, nightlife, and economic growth. It's also a city-state that has very strict rules and laws, which some people might not enjoy.
TIOMAN ISLAND
Roughly thirty kilometers off the Malaysian east coast lies Tioman Island.
Together with the Perhentian Islands, Pulau Tioman is a popular beach destination in the South China Sea. Tioman offers superb beaches, great snorkeling, and scuba diving opportunities, and a relaxing atmosphere.
Unlike Perhentians, Tioman is an all-year-round destination, which makes it a great alternative, if you arrive in December or January, though the monsoon season is very quiet and ferry service is limited, and some hotels might be closed.
To get to Tioman, you have to catch a ferry from a coastal town Mersing. It takes about two hours to get there, and the boat service is irregular, as it depends on the tide situation.
LANGKAWI
Langkawi is a developed island in the northwest of Malaysia, and it's a perfect travel destination for people, who want to do the island hopping, or sunbake on sandy beaches during the day, and hit the cinema, or nice restaurant in the evening.
Langkawi has one more ace up in the sleeve. It's a gateway to Thailand. That's right, you can cross borders from Malaysia to Thailand on a ferry to Koh Lipe in about thirty to forty minutes boat ride. You are going to need a passport, and don't forget to check your visa requirements before you go.
The only small caveat is that the ferry runs only from mid-October to Mid-June.
If you are backpacking around Southeast Asia and want to visit more countries on your trip, this is one of the best ways to travel from Malaysia to Thailand.
You can also check out our guide: Langkawi, Malaysia: The Perfect Guide for Your Vacation.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
THINGS TO KNOW & A FEW USEFUL TIPS
The weather is warm throughout the year, and except for Cameron Highlands, you don't need to carry extra warm layers.
Perhentian Islands is the only place you can't visit during the monsoon season, but you can swap it for Tioman Island or Langkawi.
Also, Taman Negara National Park in the rainy season might be a very different experience from what you would like to expect (floodings, fewer animals).
When it comes to safety, Malaysia is a safe country for tourists, look out for petty theft in crowded areas and big cities.
We hope that you've enjoyed our text, and we'll be more than happy to hear from you, about your trip to Malaysia, your thoughts, suggestions, or what places are you most excited to visit.
Safe Travels!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
