Malaysia always rings the bell of a place with a sky gleaming with city lights and high-rise buildings, and it does rightly so. But Malaysia has a lot more to offer—so much to offer that it is difficult to explore it even within seven days. We, as well, are inflected with the pain of corporate bosses, and thus, we have made due efforts to prepare an ultimate travel itinerary for Malaysia that can be planned in seven days.
First things first, booking flights in advance…
You can take a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Delhi or Bangalore. We took a midnight flight on Malaysian Airlines, from Bengaluru to Kuala Lumpur which cost us around 14k INR (with return). There is not much difference in the prices with a stop added, so I would suggest going ahead with a direct one. You should pre-book your meals. It is a 4hrs 20 mins direct flight, with food served at your service.
(Tip: Malaysian Airlines sometimes does not provide an option to pre-book meals at the time of check-in. You may have to log in post-web check-in and then select your preferred meals)
Day 1 -2 in Kuala Lumpur
Touchdown in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. It is a beautiful city with a mix of landscapes and cuisines, with well-structured and planned infrastructure. The two sides of the roads are covered with towering buildings and a clear blue sky. You can enjoy many things in Kuala Lumpur, mostly the city lights. I slept straight for two days, just glaring at the luminous buildings right from the hotel window.
Day 3 Penang
Penang is a mini island on the north-western coast of Malaysia. While Kuala Lumpur is a full-on city vibe, Penang is where you can stretch your feet and relax. The roads are quite narrow but the ease of commute in this small island will amaze you. There are a lot of places to explore in Penang, but we planned it for a single day only. However, the beauty of this island certainly will force me to visit this place separately and immerse much more in its culture.
How to reach
Take an early morning flight to Penang and spend the entire day on this beautiful island. If you are running low on time, flight is the best option. It costs INR 2k per person and you will reach in 2 hrs 30 mins. If you are traveling by pocket, taking a car ferry or bus would cost INR 600-1000 and take approximately 6 hours.
Day 4 -5 – Langkawi
Forested hills, mangrove trees, serene beaches, self-reflecting waters, Eagles, Manatana fish. “Welcome to Langkawi”. This place has my heart. Langkawi, an archipelago and the largest of the 99 islands is located 35km off the coast of northwestern Malaysia. You will not realize where the time flies on the island. It has so much to do from island hopping to mangrove tours, and enchanted forests (not literally). The best part is you will get a sense of what to expect from the island just after coming out of the airport. It has airstrips on one side and endless oceans with mesmerizing sunsets on the other.
Tip: Langkawi is your place to shop. It will not disappoint you 😛
How to reach
The next day, take an evening flight from Penang and land in Langkawi in less than an hour. You can also choose to take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi depending on your plan/itinerary. I would recommend taking flight here over the other alternatives as there is a lot of hopping in the other cases and can make your trip tiresome. You may have to take a train upto Alor Setar or Arau, then take a Grab (taxi) from the station to the ferry terminal and then hop on the ferry and reach Langkawi.
Day 6-7 – Borneo
Okay!! Drumroll….here comes the highlight of the entire trip. Borneo.
Before I start using a lot of adjectives to describe this place, you may only visit this place if you are into biodiversity, if you love animals or find them amusing, or if sharing tents with crawling pedes doesn’t scare you (jk). But honestly, I am someone who can travel miles just to see a proboscis monkey, and get too excited to see an Orangutan.
Borneo is one of the oldest rainforests in the world, and the third largest island. It is politically divided into territories by three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. While you are traveling to Malaysia, I would strongly recommend you give a visit to Sabah and Sarawak.
Sabah and Sarawak are two Malaysian states where you can witness rare wildlife, and endangered species and cherish the beauty of nature at its best. If it becomes too difficult to cover both, you can travel to either as well. If your clock is ticking, you may cover Sarawak or else take a complete trip to Sabah as well.
How to reach
Travelling to Sabah and Sarawak can be tricky and hence, I have taken note of it in a separate blog. Find out about all the exciting things you can do in Sarawak, along with how to get there.
Day 7 – Kuala Lumpur
We kept the last day for strolling in the streets and for one thing that Malaysia is known for, Genting Highlands. What an AMUSEment park - The roller coasters take you in full speed into the clouds. You may almost see yourself thrashing in these clouds, enjoying intermittent rain showers, and getting mesmerized by the themes this park has to offer. Just by looking at the pictures, I am sure you can guess how Genting can be one of the most exciting ways to end your trip.
By the time you reach the end of this 7-day trip, I can bet you have had the best of your time in Malaysia. I am aware that planning a trip can become overwhelming, and that’s why I have tried my best to put down everything in one place. Get to know more about things to do in Malaysia that should not be a miss.
While an itinerary surely helps you in planning your trip better, reading about the travel experience surely uplifts the mood and turns your travel plans from “Maybe” to “Definitely”
Comentarios