A nature and cultural journey that lets you experience Malaysia’s biggest highlights: Kuala Lumpur, the rainforests of Bako and Taman Negara, the orange asli people, the Cameron Highlands and the peaceful paradise of the Perhentian Islands. See natural resources in Malaysia on indexdotcom.
The adventure begins in the vibrant and contrasting capital Kuala Lumpur, which combines modern architecture with ancient traditions. On to Borneos and Sarawak with a visit to the capital Kuching, the Bako National Park and an overnight stay in a longhouse with the Iban people. Orangutan exploration in Semenggoh’s Wildlife Center and then back to the mainland and the world’s oldest rainforest; Taman Negara National Park. In the picturesque and lush Cameron Highlands, you can learn English colonial history in a place surrounded by mountains and forests. You end with beautiful days on the Perhentian Islands with sun, sand and beach life.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
Day 2: Arrival in Kuala Lumpur
Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own disposal.
Day 3: Kuala Lumpur – city tour by public transport
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by your guide. You walk with the guide to the nearest train station, about 10-15 minutes from here. On the trip, you have some freedom to design the excursion together with your local guide. Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of religions, peoples and traditions, which is evident from the diversity of the different districts. Islamic and modern architecture, Indian temples and Bollywood posters fill the street scene in Little India – not to mention the Chinese culture in China Town. You will have a colorful experience today. Later in the afternoon, return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day on your own. ( F )
Day 4: Kuala Lumpur – Kuching
You will be picked up at your hotel and transported to the airport. From here you fly to the mythical state of Sarawak on Borneo. On arrival at Sandakan you will be driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( F )
Day 5: City tour of Kuching and riverboat tour of the rainforest
After breakfast you have some free time. The tour starts at the hotel at 13.30 and you will see all the attractions the historic city has to offer. You start at Padungan and can take some holiday pictures of the large statue depicting a cat. Through China Town, the journey of discovery continues to Tua Pek Kong, one of Sarawak’s oldest temples. Then you get to see traditional Malaysian houses built on stilts. Then board a riverboat that takes you past Fort Margherita, Astana, Square Tower and more, along the water. During the boat trip you have a panoramic view of the fast-growing city, where the old buildings are still in the middle of the new and modern ones. After the boat trip you return to the hotel. ( F )
Day 6: BakoNational Park
The morning starts with you being picked up at the hotel and going to the fishing village of Bako, about 45 minutes away. You continue by boat for about 30 minutes along the coast, before reaching Bako National Park. Visit the park’s information center and explore the park’s hiking trails. Here are nose monkeys, bearded pigs and many other species. After the excursion, have dinner and spend the night at Park Guesthouse. It is a simple place to stay in a wonderful environment ( F , L , M )
Day 7: BakoNational Park – the iban people
After breakfast you can check out and take a boat back to the park entrance. From here you drive for about five hours to reach Batang Ai, however, with breaks along the way. A visit is made, for example, to Serian, which is a trading town for the dayak people, as well as to a Chinese farm where peppers and cocoa are produced. After arriving at Batang Ai, the journey by local longboat continues the last stretch up the river, up to the Iban people’s longhouse. Here the iban people will show you around the houses and in the village. You get to see how the locals work with carpets, baskets, fishing nets and other crafts. After dinner, a wonderful evening awaits with the locals and you can enjoy traditional dancing and taste homemade rice wine called “tuak”. You spend the night in a dormitory one of the longhouses. ( F , L , M)
Day 8: The Iban people and the longhouses
After breakfast, the locals demonstrate how to use blowpipes (blowpipes). The morning also offers a guided walk in the jungle, which involves looking for plants used for medicine, crafts and cooking. Then it carries off down the river to Batang Ai, where you take another boat back to your resort. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( F )
Day 9: Batang Ai – Kuching via Semenggoh’s OrangutanCenter
The morning is spent on your own before driving back to Kuching. You get lunch on the way and visit Semenggoh’s orangutan center where the fantastic animals are fed around noon. 15.00 ( F , L )
Day 10: Kuching – Kuala Lumpur
You will be picked up at the hotel and transported to the airport. From here you fly to Kuala Lumpur and drive on to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( F )
Day 11: Kuala Lumpur – boat trip and evening walk in Taman Negara
You will have breakfast and head to Taman Negara, where some adventurous and eventful days in the jungle await you. The first stage takes three to four hours via the Malaysian highways. It is a beautiful drive and you pass several small villages. On arrival at the river town of Kuala Tembeling you can look forward to a boat trip along the picturesque river to Taman Negara National Park. You glide past the fabulous rainforest and see several small fishing villages. After a three-hour boat trip, you will arrive at your resort in the world’s oldest rainforest, which has existed for 130 million years. Here in the national park, more plant and animal species hide than anywhere else on earth. In the evening, your local guide arranges a few hours of night safari on foot through the jungle. We recommend that you bring a headlamp with you when you stroll along the park’s marked paths. With a little luck, you can experience the park’s exciting wildlife after sunset. You have a good chance of seeing snakes, lizards, monkeys, small deer and not least, a rich and varied bird life – maybe even a tapir. Evening walks are fantastic because the park’s nocturnal inhabitants are very different from those you see during the day. There are also wild elephants, tigers, leopards and Asian rhinos in the national park, but the latter animals are very rare and live far from humans. The evening walk ends back at your jungle resort. ( Evening walks are fantastic because the park’s nocturnal inhabitants are very different from those you see during the day. There are also wild elephants, tigers, leopards and Asian rhinos in the national park, but the latter animals are very rare and live far from humans. The evening walk ends back at your jungle resort. (F )
Day 12: Taman Negara – hiking among the treetops at 30-40 meters altitude, and boat trip
This morning you will see the impressive jungle in daylight. You start by walking two kilometers to the lookout point Teresek Hill at 334 meters altitude. From here you can admire the magnificent panoramic view of Mount Gunung Tahan (can only be seen in clear weather) and enjoy the stunning views of the rainforest and its lush valleys. You also have the opportunity to participate in an excursion up among the treetops, 30-40 meters above ground level. The road up the trees is 530 meters long, which makes it the longest in the world. Wander among the old trees and admire the rainforest’s varied flora and fauna from a bird’s eye view. You’re back at your resort at noon. Here you eat your lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat up the Sungai Tahan River to Lata Berkoh, where the river flows into small waterfalls that flow out at different levels. It is definitely worth bringing swimwear and taking a refreshing dip in the beautiful water. From the boat you can see the river’s big, red fish – so-called “mahseer” before you go back to your resort. You spend the rest of the day on your own. Activities are sometimes affected by the weather and in case of heavy rain, the bridges in the treetops can be closed. It rains most from December to February, but the park has a high amount of rainfall all year round. ( but the park has a high amount of rainfall all year round. ( but the park has a high amount of rainfall all year round. (F )
Day 13: Taman Negara – rafting in Taman Negara, and a visit to the orange asli people
After breakfast you will be picked up and go to “Shooting Rapids” in Taman Negara, where you by traditional boat must get past seven “rapids” at high speed. A fun day awaits and your clothes will most likely get wet. Depending on the time, it may be possible to visit one of the villages of the orange asli people (check with your travel consultant). This is the indigenous people of the jungle who really care about their culture and lifestyle. There are two ethnic groups with orange Asli people in Taman Negara, who speak their own language. During the visit to their small village, you will see, among other things, when the tribal people demonstrate their traditional hunting with bamboo pipes and tell their story. You can take a self-snap with one of their blowpipes and see how they make fire. The Orang asli people are a group of friendly and welcoming people, with great respect for his fellow human beings and his nature. Most of the tribe lives inside the jungle and has very little contact with the outside world. After visiting the small village by the river, take the boat back to your resort. You spend the rest of the day on your own. (F )
Day 14: Taman Negara – Cameron Highlands
After breakfast you will be picked up and take the boat back through the rainforest, to the river community Tembiling. You then drive to the Cameron Highlands in the state of Pahang, about 1,542 meters above sea level. It’s a great trip to Malaysia’s premier and famous tea plantations. Along the way you have the opportunity to have lunch (at your own expense). You drive through charming villages and can take unforgettable photographs. Once at Cameron Higlands, you will be accommodated in the old English village which is located in the middle of the green tea plantations. You spend the rest of the day on your own. ( F )
Day 15: Cameron Highlands
After breakfast, you will be picked up in a Land Rover and driven to the fascinating tea plantations. The journey takes you past the forest “Mossy Forest” which is located near the top of Gunung Brin Chang, 2,000 meters above sea level. Here you can see rare flora, including the carnivorous king jug vine, which is a very unusual plant species. You can also enjoy the view of the hilly landscape, among lush tea plantations. After a short drive from the mountain, you reach Sungei Palace and the area’s tea factory. Please note that the tea factory is closed on Mondays. Then you drive to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own disposal in the Cameron Highlands. ( F )
Day 16: CameronHighlands – PerhentianIslands
Today, a beautiful, five-hour drive through rural surroundings awaits, towards the port of Kuala Besut on the northeast coast of Malaysia. From here you have to go by boat for an hour to reach the Perhentian Islands. On arrival you will be welcomed by the island’s fabulous nature and exotic beaches. ( F )
Day 17-21: PerhentianIslands
In the Perhentian Islands, a paradise experience awaits among the most beautiful islands in Malaysia. The archipelago consists of Perhentian Besaro, which is the largest of the islands. Here you will find the best resorts for families and therefore the island is a favorite among travelers with children. The smaller of the islands is called Perhentian Kecil and is perfectly adapted for backpacker life. You have the opportunity to combine beautiful beach experiences with jungle tours, which are offered on both islands. With a little luck, you get to see both macaques and large bears in the rainforests. We can also recommend kayaking, and that you explore the islands’ colorful coral reefs through diving and snorkeling. The coral reefs around the islands are among the finest on the Malaysian Peninsula. ( F )
Day 22: PerhentianIslands – Scandinavia
It’s time to say goodbye to the exotic archipelago after a wonderful and eventful holiday. You take a boat back to Kuala Besut after breakfast. Upon arrival in the Malaysian Peninsula, you can expect a 1.5-hour drive to Kota Bahru Airport. ( F )
Day 23: Arrival in Scandinavia
When you land in Scandinavia, you have unforgettable experiences and memories in your luggage.
Overnight stays
Three nights in Kuala Lumpur
Three nights in Kuching
One night in Bako National Park
One night in the longhouse of the Iband people
One night in Batang Ai
Three nights in Taman Negara
Two nights in Cameron Higlands
Six nights in the Perhentian Islands
