Family Fun from Singapore to Langkawi

Arrive in Singapore and meet your private guide in the arrivals hall for your private transfer to your hotel on Sentosa island, a manmade recreation island known for its theme and water parks, beaches, shopping malls, and Singapore’s first casino. Check in to the Capella, a blend of understated luxurious colonial and luxurious buildings spread across 30 acres of land. In the late afternoon, take the kids on a giant ferris wheel ride and point out the prominent landmarks. The Singapore Flyer is a massive observation wheel with 28 air-conditioned capsules, an iconic structure of Singapore’s skyline offering sky high views of the city. Head to the Gardens by the Bay, a 101 hectare futuristic nature park, home to plants from around the world. Enter a world of perpetual spring at the Flower Dome and see thousand-year-old olive trees from the Mediterranean, baobab trees from Africa, and an impressive landscape of colorful flowers of stunning variety. Daredevils will love traversing the mist-veiled Cloud Walk around the central Highlands mountain cloaked in orchids, pitcher plants and ferns with man-made waterfall. After the sun sets, head to the heart of the towering Supertree Grove and be awed by the magical light and music spectacle overhead.

This morning, opt for breakfast at Slappy Cakes where kids can make their own pancakes at the table before kids build their own world at the ArtScience Museum. The Future World exhibit engages children with digital media to create fantastic colorful flora and fauna, people, cars, planes, and buildings that come to life and fill up the whole room. Every creation is interactive and become more animated the more objects are introduced into the world. Return to Sentosa where grown-ups can unwind on the beach with cold drinks while the kids make sandcastles.  

Depart the Lion City for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s bustling capital and largest city in the country, just a short flight north. Check in to the Shangri-La or Mandarin Oriental, both luxury hotels located in the heart of the city with convenient access to prime retail, dining options, and cultural attractions. Begin with a hands-on lesson in pewtersmithing at Royal Selangor’s School of Hard Knocks where everyone will craft a take-home engravable pewter dish using traditional tools. The Foundry course is recommended for older kids to learn the fundamental pewter crafting processes of casting and polishing, and freehand crafting take-home pewter trinkets. Round out the day with a visit to the Batu Caves, a system of caverns and grottoes filled with colorful painted sculptures of Hindu gods and home to mischievous monkeys. Pass the giant spear-toting gold statue of a Hindu deity and mount the steep 272 steps to the cave where you will be rewarded with a stunning skyline of the city centre at sunset. Families with adventurous eaters will want to take the evening food tour through Kuala Lumpur’s Heritage Zone and get to know the city’s people and cultures through its street food. Sample the delicious and diverse on this kid-friendly tour with egg tarts, steamed char siu buns, and a huge helping of stories of local quotidian life.

Head to the energetic Petaling Street, Chinatown, one of the oldest parts of the city packed with food carts and shopping stalls. Begin the day the way locals do with the quintessential roti canai, a flaky layered flatbread dipped in dhal curry, and a cup of teh tarik, “pulled tea” which is as delicious as it is fun to watch being made. Down the street is the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, originally a wet market turned modern market where the cultures of the major enclaves are represented through the fabrics and handicrafts. Also next door is Sri Mahamariamman Temple, a Hindu temple that dates back to 1873 and a vital part of the city’s culture and heritage. Engage the kids in an afternoon of science at Petrosain, The Discovery Center. Enter by riding on a drop of oil through an environment featuring Malaysia’s rainforests mountains and underwater sceneries, ending with a depiction of modern day. Discover the world on a molecular level with experiments and chemistry lessons, test the laws of physics and energy by throwing, cranking, and chopping in the Speed gallery, challenge your family in a Robo Soccer match, step in a hurricane on Jupiter, and much more.

Set off for the emerald hills and cooler climes of Cameron Highlands, a getaway for English colonists and the biggest tea region in the country. Just three hours drive from Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands remains a popular respite for locals for its lush natural scenery, rounds of golf and invigorating hiking paths. Check in to Cameron Highlands Resort, a charming cottage evoking grand colonial heritage with tall French doors, timber-beamed ceilings and plantation shutters. Settle in leisurely with a cup of fragrant tea and light, fluffy scones smothered in clotted cream. In the afternoon, stroll through a nearby rose farm with over 100 varieties of all colors even black and green. Head to the strawberry farm where kids can handpick and snack on the fresh sweet fruits. Due to the high altitude, strawberries can be grown year round and are used to make delicious local waffles, milkshakes, shortcakes, and jam.

Have a cup of morning tea then go to a plantation to see where the tea came from and how it is processed. Adventurous families will want to hike through the Mossy Forest or Cloud Forest, dense and muddy forests covered in white mist and home to pitcher plants and white orchids. There are other hiking trails suited to all levels of difficulty that take travelers through the green hills and past beautiful waterfalls. During the day’s outing, make a stop at Multicrops Central Market which offers a selection of teas, honey, jam and other locally produced food items. White water rafting along the Geruntum River is an option for those wanting to take on challenging rapids and vortexes in the scenic valley.

This morning, drive onward to Penang. On the way, stop at the Bat’s Cave Temple, a small hidden gem with hanging bats overhead, a Chinese symbol of happiness and joy. Also visit the Ubudiah Mosque, architectural eye-candy with golden domes, black and white striped minarets, and Moorish arches. Cross the bridge and arrive on the island of Penang by the afternoon. Check in to the historical Eastern & Oriental Hotel, an icon of British colonial times. Famous guests of the property include Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin, and W. Somerset Maugham.

Did you know ginger can relieve nausea and motion sickness and pineapple can help remove warts and bunions? Expand your knowledge on common fruits and vegetables and learn about their medicinal uses by visiting the Tropical Spice Garden which houses over 500 varieties of tropical spices and herbs. Apply this knowledge in a hands-on cooking class that utilizes the spices and herbs found in the garden. Have your creations for lunch before visiting the nearby Entopia Butterfly Farm, a learning center for budding nature enthusiasts. The kids will delight in being surrounded by thousands of colorful fluttering butterflies and will receive a lesson in the importance of living in harmony with nature. Learn about another of Penang’s animals, sea turtles, at the Turtle Sanctuary. Set up to help protect and preserve the dwindling populations of visiting turtles, the Turtle Sanctuary raises baby turtles until they are old enough to survive in the wild before they are released. To reach the Turtle Sanctuary located along Kerachut Beach, there is a shuttle boat. Families with older kids may choose to take the one-hour hike through the national park and experience real jungle tracks.

Explore Georgetown, a UNESCO designated city, by trishaw ride. Kids and parents alike will enjoy getting a close-up look at the eclectic assortment of colonial and Asian architectural styles and Penang’s famed street art while sitting on this unique three-wheeler local transport that is often colorfully bedecked with flowers. Visit the Clan Jetties, a centuries-old waterfront society of houses on stilts belonging to various Chinese clans, and a significant part of Penang’s history. Besides colonial heritage, modern day Penang has become known for its distinct and ubiquitous street food. For lunch, sample signature street food dishes like tamarind prawn soup and curry egg noodles at a hawker center. For a break from the sunny streets and fun family photos, stop at the 3D Trick Art Museum or Upside Down Museum.

Depart Penang and hop to the nearby island of Langkawi, just a one hour flight north. Check in to the Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton resorts, two of the island’s finest beachfront properties with world-class service and a host of facilities and amenities. For a bird’s eye view of the gorgeous island, take a VIP private gondola on the Sky Cab, a steep cable car ride to the peak of a mountaintop where the SkyBridge is located. This curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge is 2,170 feet above sea level and rewards brave travelers with stunning views of mountains, rainforests, valleys, the Andaman sea and its islands.

Spend the final day at leisure with the family, whether relaxing at the beach or keeping active. Besides its postcard-perfect sunny beaches and tropical turquoise waters prime for swimming and sunbathing, Langkawi offers a host of activities such as wildlife treks, dolphin spotting, kayaking through mangrove forests, and sailing to isolated islands.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Kuala Lumpur to connect onward.