Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations

Experience the best of Peninsular Malaysia on this 10-day journey to must-see destinations. Explore the bustling, modern city of Kuala Lumpur, home to diverse cultures, ethnicities and lifestyles.  Enjoy crystal waters and white sand beaches, thick green jungles, cool highland tea plantations, unique landmarks, some of the world's best street foods, as well as traditional cultures thriving alongside modern times. Adventure and relaxation are yours as you embark on your journey through Peninsular Malaysia.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Highland Getaway: Cameron Highlands, originally a cool climate getaway from Kuala Lumpur, remains a scenic hill station retreat known for tea plantations, jungle trails, strawberry and flower farms, and quaint British colonial lodges serving scones and fresh tea.
  • Penang: An island just eight miles wide and 16 miles long, Penang is famous for many things from street art and street food to its illustrious history under British colonial times and melting-pot cultures — all of which makes this small island a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Island Living: Langkawi checks all the boxes of a tropical island holiday: pristine beaches, miles of sandy shores, ancient rainforest, secluded bungalows, and plentiful wildlife.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Kuala Lumpur

Begin your journey in the colorful capital of Kuala Lumpur. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel to check in and freshen up. This afternoon, begin with a visit to the Batu Caves, one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India. The series of caves are located at the top of a limestone hill, 272 stairs up. Return to the city and head to Petaling Street in Chinatown. This well-known shopping arcade turns into a vibrant night market in the evening with hundreds of cheap food and retail stalls. Sample an array of local favorite dishes, a fusion of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian flavors. While here, pay a visit to Chan See Shu Yuen Temple, affectionately and appropriately referred to as “the Green Temple” for its vibrant decor.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Health and Wellness: The Spa services at the Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur are second-to-none thanks to its aim of providing guests with a “Sanctuary for the Senses” (a nod to the sacred, tropical Banyan Tree that is the hotel’s namesake).
  • Customized Itineraries: The Banyan Tree offers guests the option to book a special three-day itinerary that’s perfectly suited to busy guests who wish to cut out the hassle of planning and get right down to experiencing the best of what KL and its surrounding areas have to offer.
  • Rooftop Oasis: The hotel’s open-air, rooftop facilities are sure to dazzle guests with expansive, 360-degree views stretching outward beyond the Golden Triangle area.
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Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Classic Four Seasons Service: A culture of putting guests’ needs first has been carried forth by the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts brand ever since its founder Isadore Sharp opened its first hotel in 1961, and the brand’s Kuala Lampur incarnation stays true to this original ideology.
  • Dining Options Abound: The Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur offers six in-house dining, cocktail, and lounge options, along with 24-hour in-room dining available.
  • Golden Triangle Location: The hotel’s ideal location in the center of the city is right next to Kuala Lumpur’s premier district for shopping and nightlife, the dazzling Petronas Twin Towers, and much more.
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Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Kuala Lumpur

Get a sense of Malaysia’s patriotism as you visit Merdeka Square or “Independence Square.” You will also see the Sultan Abdul Samad Building where the office of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture is located. See a traditional-style Malay neighborhood in Kampung Baru, an area that’s maintained its modest original build. Then, visit Royal Selangor's headquarters, and learn about this pewter manufacturer's roots and royal appointment. Here, have a hands-on experience of working with pewter; you can take your souvenir craft home. Round out your day with stops at the Petronas Towers and Sri Mahamariamman Temple, iconic sites.

Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur

Day 3

Cameron Highlands

Head for cooler climes as the British colonists did; a 3.5-hour drive takes you to the Cameron Highlands, a favorite getaway from the city and the heat. Here, you’ll check into the Cameron Highlands Resort which has been named one of the “five best tea plantation hotels in the world.” Take a private tour of the nearby Boh Tea Plantations’ grounds and facilities. Savor a cup of perfectly-made tea as you learn about the process of producing the popular beverage. That afternoon, enjoy a leisurely hike through the Highland’s rainforest. Stop by a rose garden or strawberry farm to enjoy highlands produce.

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About

The Cameron Highlands Resort is situated amid the lush environs of Malaysia’s largest hill station, named after William Cameron, a British Government surveyor who discovered the area in 1885 while on a mapping expedition. The resort, which looks out on the Cameron Highlands golf course, has won numerous awards from the travel industry and consumers alike, including recognition as one of the five best tea plantation hotels in the world by the U.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Penang

Continue your journey onward to Penang with a coastal drive. En route, break up the drive with a stop at Ubudiah Royal Mosque to admire the stunning traditional Malaysian architecture style topped with gilded domes. Upon arrival on Penang island, check into your hotel and relax for the afternoon. In the evening, as the day cools down and food vendors emerge to line the streets, it is time to go on a street food tour. Malaysia has world-class food culture and Penanag is one of the country's top foodie destinations. Discover legendary stalls that have been serving specialties passed down from generation to generation. Fall in love with aromatic rich broths, wok-charred smoky noodles, flaky rotis dipped in luscious curries, bouncy fresh fish cakes, and more.

Hotel Options
About

A historical property, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel is reminiscent of British elegance during the colonial era while representing present-day Penang. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, the hotel boasts a stellar location, close to downtown Georgetown and the cultural, financial and historical districts are located.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Penang
Penang

Day 5

Penang

Enjoy the colonial architecture of UNESCO-designated Georgetown by traditional trishaw ride. The multi-cultural old town also features Chinese shophouses and mosques. In the Little India section of the town, enjoy a spicy masala samosa and pay a visit to Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion to get a taste of the good life back in the late 1800's. This striking indigo-colored mansion, built in the Straits Eclectic style, is now a museum and popular movie set. Head to the jetties to learn the history of early Chinese settlers on the island and how they set up a support system by clan. There are seven jetties in total, named after the dominant clans and residents remain living there today. Other notable sites around town today include the auspicious Snake Temple, which does indeed have snakes slithering freely, and the Khoo Kongsi Chinese clan house.

Day 6

Penang

Explore more of the island today, beginning with the hilltop Buddhist Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the largest and finest temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Then continue north to the tropical spice garden to learn about spices and plants and their role in Malaysian culture, history, and cuisine. If you wish, you can take a cooking class or buy exotic spices to take home. Head to the coastline to Batu Ferringhi to enjoy the beach scenes with a fresh seafood lunch. Snap a picture of the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque before continuing to Penang National Park. Although small in size, the park offers exciting trails and walks. Make your way through the forest and emerge at Kerachut Beach where you can see baby turtles at the Turtle Conservation Center. Take a boat back to the park entrance and return to your hotel for the evening.

Penang
Penang

Day 7

Langkawi

Fly to Langkawi, part of a cluster of 99 islands off the mainland of Malaysia. After a busy week exploring Peninsular Malaysia, this is the perfect place to wind down your holiday. Spend the rest of the day blissfully in paradise as you lounge seaside and soak up the sun’s warm rays.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Four Seasons is based in Jalan Tanjung Rhu, with its beautiful crystal blue water and the whitest of white powdery sand, making it the ideal tropical retreat. Behind the resort itself are the most stunning mountaintop landscapes Malaysia has to offer, blanketed by tropical jungle.

History: Langkawi is often referred to as the Jewel of the Kedah, being the largest island of the eponymous Pulau Langkawi. The mangroves that surround the resort have also been protected by UNESCO.

Service: The Four Seasons is a welcoming place for families, allowing guests to bring along their children under 18 years of age at no extra charge, a family pool separate from the adults pool, and providing a multitude of child-friendly activities.

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Four Seasons Langkawi Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Location: The hotel is located in an ancient virgin rainforest on the tropical island of Langkawi, which is known as the Jewel of Kedah, denoting its incredible beauty.
  • History: The island began to see an influx of tourism starting around the end of the 80s, when the island was granted tax-free status.
  • Service: Many guests to the Datai highlight is as the most memorable part of their trip, describing the service as sublime.
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The Datai Langkawi Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Location: The resort is set on Langkawi, also referred to as the Jewel of Kedah, a part of Malaysia home to magnificent views of the surrounding nature and ocean, and a perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway.
  • Comfort: From 600-thread count linens to the magnificent infinity pool to the on-site boutique spa, the Ritz-Carlton Langkawi provides guests with unparalleled comfort.
  • Intimacy: The resort is a perfect place for couples to spend quality time together. Couples massages are available at the spa, and excursions to explore the surrounding nature facilitate ample opportunities for couples to connect and share time together.
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The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi Preferred Hotel

Day 8

Langkawi

Kick off your shoes and dive into island living. Spend the day snorkeling, swimming and sunning. If you’re feeling active, explore one of the island’s many lovely beaches or take the sky tram to the peak for island-views. Take a ride along the coast - the island is only 193-square-miles and is easily-navigated.

Langkawi
Langkawi

Day 9

Langkawi

Revel in the last day of your beach oasis before returning to the rest of the world. Those looking for adventure can choose from several treks, a hike to the Telaga Tujuh Waterfall and dolphin swimming excursions. But if you don’t care to move from your novel or the pristine cushion of white sand, we won’t force you to.

Day 10

Departure

Thus ends your cultural experience and time in paradise. Enjoy your final beach moments before a private transfer to the airport for your flight onward.

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–2

Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur
Preferred Hotel

Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur

Once a small tin mining outpost, in a mere 150 years Kuala Lumpur has blossomed into the capital and largest city of Malaysia with a thriving tourist industry and a multitude of other draws. Among these are one of the most lively nightlife scenes in all of Southeast Asia, some of the region’s best shopping, and abundant opportunities for unique culinary experiences. The Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur is situated in the heart of the city’s Golden Triangle district, placing it near some of KL’s (the city’s name is often shortened to “KL” by locals) most famous attractions. The awe-inspiring Petronas Towers can be seen stretching skyward within walking distance, and KLCC Park, with its well-manicured greenspaces and gushing fountains that glow multicolored at night, is also a short distance away. The Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur features 55 rooms and suites. Accommodations and facilities are styled with contemporary flair paired with a good measure of class and sophistication, as shades of cream and taupe complement elegant furnishings and hardwood or marble floors. The hotel also shines as a couples destination, with a number of available activities tailored toward lovebirds like a session at the couples’ spa treatment room or an arranged candlelit bath complete with rose petals and champagne.

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Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur

A bustling metropolis with a name that translates to “muddy river confluence” in Malay, Kuala Lumpur is a capital city bearing wide international appeal and a healthy bit of flair. “KL,” as locals often call it, is an urban sightseer’s dream with its numerous shopping malls, museums, and architectural marvels. Those seeking an escape from the city, however, will be delighted to find several forest reserves nearby and other greenspace areas even within Kuala Lumpur that bring an opportunity to hike, see animals in their natural habitat, and find some tranquility. For luxury travelers seeking a five-star base from which to explore this fascinating city, the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur exemplifies the height of panache lodgings with an ideal location in the midst of the Golden Triangle neighborhood, a shopping and entertainment hub located in the heart of the city. Within the Four Seasons, guests will find a wide array of rooms, suites, and even serviced apartments for extended-stay visitors. The hotel’s six on-site restaurants, lounges, and bars promise enough variety that guests may be tempted to never leave the hotel during their stay (despite the plethora of exotic and fine dining options surrounding the Four Seasons), and a full-service salon and spa is located on-site to serve all hair care and beauty needs.

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Suggested Hotel For Day 3

Cameron Highlands Resort

Cameron Highlands Resort

The Cameron Highlands Resort is situated amid the lush environs of Malaysia’s largest hill station, named after William Cameron, a British Government surveyor who discovered the area in 1885 while on a mapping expedition. The resort, which looks out on the Cameron Highlands golf course, has won numerous awards from the travel industry and consumers alike, including recognition as one of the five best tea plantation hotels in the world by the U.K.’s Independent.

Its 56 rooms and suites are appointed with bespoke teak furniture in both traditional Malay and colonial styles, as well as silk accoutrements by the house of Jim Thompson, the American ex-C.I.A. officer who revitalized the Thai silk industry (and mysteriously disappeared in the highlands in 1967). All rooms have flat-screen TV with satellite channels and Internet. The Spa Village offers a customary variety of pampering health and beauty treatments, while guests can avail themselves of a modern fitness center as well as the aforementioned 18-hole professional golf course. Dining options include The Dining Room, offering a variety of all-day dining options with ingredients sourced from nearby farms; Gonbei, the only Japanese restaurant in the Highlands, which serves sashimi, soba, tempura and more and has an adjoining Sake Bar; and the Jim Thompson Tea Room. The Cameron Highlands Resort is a 3.5-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, or a 90-minute drive from Sultan Azlan Shah airport.

Suggested Hotel For Days 4–6

Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Eastern & Oriental Hotel

A historical property, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel is reminiscent of British elegance during the colonial era while representing present-day Penang. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, the hotel boasts a stellar location, close to downtown Georgetown and the cultural, financial and historical districts are located. With 100 suites, the E&O boasts a 750-foot seafront promenade and facilities including a swimming pool, 24-hour room service, a fitness center, sauna, meeting rooms, a business center and fitness center. Dining options include The Starkles Corner, a casual restaurant serving international cuisine and 1885, a Western-style restaurant serving dinner and traditional English tea. The E&O Hotel is located approximately 20 minutes from the Penang International Airport.

Suggested Hotels For Days 7–9

Four Seasons Langkawi
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Langkawi

Set on blissful Tanjung Rhu, one of the island’s finest beaches, the Four Seasons Langkawi brings the brand’s trademark luxury to the island. The resort comprises pavilions and villas incorporating recently redesigned by designer Bill Bensley and team. All feature DVD/CD players, satellite televisions, Internet access, tea/coffee maker, in-room safe, and telephones. The Four Seasons hosts a series of first-class restaurants, including Serai, an open-air restaurant which serves Italian delicacies made from fresh, local produce; Ikan-Ikan, a Malay restaurant modeled after a traditional Malaysian home; and Kelapa Grill, an eclectic, beach-side eatery serving wood-fired pizza, stir-fries, and barbecue. Amenities include an all-day business center, a fitness center, two outdoor swimming pools, and a comprehensive spa offering an assortment of treatments. The Four Seasons lies twenty-two minutes from Kuah, the main town of Langkawi, and approximately twenty-five minutes from Langkawi International Airport (LGK).

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The Datai Langkawi
Preferred Hotel

The Datai Langkawi

Perhaps the most luxurious resort on Langkawi, the Datai Langkawi is surrounded by dense rainforest, its sleek architecture blending seamlessly into its surroundings. Each of the Datai’s 124 rooms, villas, and suites features satellite television, DVD player, hairdryers, telephones, air-conditioning, and in-room safes. All accommodations are decorated in rich colors, with deep brown timber, cream-colored walls and plenty of windows for views of the verdant surroundings.

The Datai’s restaurants include the Pavilion, which serves authentic Thai cuisine in the canopy of the rainforest; the Dining Room, which offers western specialties and Malaysian dishes; the Beach Club, which offers a dining venue with unobstructed views of the aquamarine waters of the Andaman Sea. There are a wealth of amenities available, including a world-class spa in an open-air pavilion, two swimming pools, two tennis courts, mountain biking facilities, water sports facilities, a well-equipped fitness center and an 18-hole championship golf course. There is no business center, although Internet access is available in the hotel’s library. The Datai is 30 minutes from Langkawi International Airport (LGK).

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The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi
Preferred Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi

An archipelago of 104 islands off of mainland Malaysia, Langkawi showcases beautiful landscapes of limestone ridges, forest-covered mountains, and stunning ocean views. This beautiful region can now be enjoyed from the comfort synonymous with the Ritz-Carlton brand name. A variety of rooms and villas provide luxurious living spaces and some villas are even equipped with their own private pools. Several dining options are available, such as Langkawi Kitchen, which serves an international assortment of flavors, and the water-adjacent Hai Yan where guests can dine over Chinese seafood dishes as prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Yoga spaces, a fitness center, and even a tennis court set among the surrounding rainforest are available for guests looking to stay active while a boutique spa and adult-only infinity swimming pool provide prime real-estate for relaxation.  

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Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

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A couple from Alabama

A couple from Alabama

It was a fantastic trip. The coordination of everything was very well done.

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A Couple from New York

We must express our many, many thanks to Remote Lands for all of the help and for planning such a wonderful, successful trip!

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Brothers from Russia

The overall experience turned out to be exceptional and unforgettable - so many thanks to the entire team at Remote Lands.

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