Top 10 things to do in Malaysia

If you love adventure, food and culture then Malaysia is for you. Malaysia is truly a country of great variety and many superlatives (the best, biggest, oldest and tastiest!). If you are planning a visit this top 10 should inspire you.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia there are lots of Things you must know before you visit Malaysia. It is a beautiful country in every way, you just have to know how to go. If you take a little to get to grips with our Travel Guide for Malaysia you will know all the best places, how to get to them and what the real local price is.

1. Snorkel in crystal clear waters

There is something truly magical about weightlessly exploring the otherworldly underwater landscape of a tropical reef. You may see fish that look like they could head butt their way through the hull of a ship. There are fish that look like small Zebras, huge parrot fish and I even found Nemo! The biggest highlight was actually getting super close to a rather sweet sea turtle when we were snorkeling.  

The perhentian islands are off the West Coast of peninsular Malaysia. These lovely islands are an amazing place to relax on the beach, enjoy a cocktail and make the most of the crystal clear waters. The Perhentian islands can be accessed by taking a boat from Kuala Besut. Kacil is a small and relaxed island to aim for and has places to stay, eat and drink. You can also book snorkelling tours and private boat trips on the island.  You can stay on some REALLY beautiful islands with lots of dreamy rustick beach accomadtion.

Another amazing Island to check out is Langkawi. There is so much to do on Langkawi that you might want to consider a tour, here is a great break of tours in Langkawi.

2. Soak up the history

Malaysia is infused with a rich mix of cultures, each with its own unique history, heritage and architecture. Visit Penang and take a stroll around the streets of George Town to see the rich history come to life. Homes, temples, mansions and hotels are interspersed with new buildings. The old buildings are wonderfully quirky and some decorated with street art. Cross a single road (Jalan Chulia) to step from the heart of India to the heart of China. You can also see St. George’s church and Fort Cornwallis, both remnants of the British colonial era. The whole area is fascinating and you can actually book accommodation right in the heart George Town, just be sure to double check the map to make sure it’s where you want to be! 

 3. Visit an orangutan sanctuary 

There aren’t many things cuter than a little fluffy orange ball of baby orangutans enjoying a group cuddle. The name orangutan is derived from the name “Orange Man”. When you get up close to these impressive primates you can see why this is a fitting name. If you get a chance to visit an Orangutan sanctuary, it is wonderful to see that the animals really are at home in an open spacious habitat. But they do choose to come and sit on the walkways to watch the strange human bipeds with their glowing slates. Get up close and you realise that Orangutans are pretty scary. An adult orangutan is around seven times stronger than an average adult human- I certainly wouldn’t want to get into fisty-cuffs with one of these impressive creatures.

Location: 45 minute bus journey from Sandakan in Sabah, Borneo Malaysia

Price: 30RM + 10RM camera fee

Times: 9am-4pm and feeding at 10am and 3pm

It’s not the prettiest, but you may want to stay in Sandakan, as it is a pretty good hub.

Its always worth checking out sanctuaries latest information.  Click here for sepilok Sanctuary website with the latest info.

4. Explore the world’s oldest rainforest 

Taman Negara is the oldest rainforest in the world. This huge ancient jungle occupies an area of 4,343 square kilometers. Intrepid paths lead deep into the jungle and it takes experienced local guides days to trek across this national park. Taman Negara is also ridiculously biodiverse. It is home to all manner of wild animals; snakes, monkeys, tigers and even bears. There is lots to do here. Don’t miss out on the amazing canopy walkway.

If you want to visit Taman Negara head to Kuala Tahan and take a boat across the river. There is a small entrance fee for the park. Remember to dress appropriately- lightweight, breathable clothing. Long sleeves and trousers for the evening. Bring plenty of mozzie repellant. Read about our night in Taman Negara…

There are quite a few nice places to book around Tamen Negara.  …If reading A TERRIFYING night in Taman Negara jungle isn’t enough to convince you to book ahead of time, nothing will! eeek!!

 5. Trek through tea plantations

The Cameron Highlands are a high altitude hilly area carpeted in lush green tea plantations. The cool climate is ideal for growing tea which was introduced to the area by the tea drinking brits in the colonial era. You can visit a strawberry farm in Brinchang village, learn about tea production at the BOH plantation, and explore the beautiful high altitude rainforest around Gunung Brinchang peak. The mild wet conditions at around 6,000ft altitude lead to very slow growth and very old crooked trees which are covered in moss and vines. It is like stepping into the Avatar forest.

The Cameron Highlands are located around 200km north of Kuala Lumpur. You can book tours and find accommodation in Tanah Rata. Good walking shoes and a slightly warmer layer are recommended. It’s not a particularly cheap place to stay for backpackers, but is stunning and you can always find good accomadtion deals on this section of Agoda. Top 10 things to do in Malaysia

6. See the biggest flower in the world

When you imagine the world’s largest flower you may picture a big, colourful, fragrant flower that would make your girlfriend swoon on valentine’s day. But you’d be wrong. The world’s largest flower is a giant stinky parasite! The flower Rafflesia Arnoldii can grow up to around 1 metre across and when in bloom it smells a bit like rotting flesh. The pungent odour attracts pollinating insects and repels animals that might otherwise want a floral feast. The Rafflesia Arnoldii is a parasite because it attaches itself to other plants and steals their water and precious nutrients. Perhaps not your best choice of flowers for valentine’s day!

If you’re keen to see one of these botanical beasts here are some fast facts:

The Rafflesia Arnoldii flowers are very rare and only bloom for a few days.

The best places to see them are: Cameron highlands in peninsular Malaysia, Gunung Gading National park in Sarawak Borneo Malaysia and the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo Malaysia.

7. Camp on turtle beach

This is a great adventure for the intrepid backpacker. To get to turtle beach you trek for around one hour through beautiful tropical rainforest of the world’s smallest national park. Keep your eyes open, the national park is home to all manner of beasties. Flying lizards, monkeys, komodo dragons, tortoises, sea turtles and much more. Turtle beach is a beautiful west facing beach with a meromictic lake. This is a unique lake that contains a salt water layer covered by a layer of fresh water, the two do not mix well. There is also a free place to pitch your tent close to the beach.  

Bring food and plenty of water. The trek takes around 1 – 1.5 hours one way and you can Rent a tent at the entrance to the National Park. It is a bit tricky to find out how to get to turtle beach in Penang and what to expect but totally worth it.

8. Visit the twin towers

The twin towers (or petronas towers) are an iconic landmark in Kuala Lumpur. There is a nice park and shopping mall at the bottom of the towers. In the mall and the surrounding area there are plenty of places to eat or just enjoy a coffee. If you fancy a western fix pop in to Chili’s for a burger. You can also find a delightful range of decadent treats. Personally I am not a city person, but I have to admit these are an impressive landmark and definitely worth a look if you are already in Kuala Lumpur. The Petronas towers can be accessed by the LRT train system KLCC stop.  As you may imagine there are endless places to stay, just decide what you want from the capital and check the map before booking your bed in the BIG KL!

 9. Climb Borneo’s highest mountain: Mt. Kinabalu

Kinabalu is a stunning mountain situated in Borneo Malaysia. Climbing Kinabalu is a fantastic experience if you have the time and money. The steep path winds up the mountain to the summit at a dizzying 4,092m above sea level. Be aware that the summit is often cloudy and cold. Kinabalu is one of the most biodiverse mountains in the world with many species of plant which are found nowhere else on the planet. One of my favourite parts of the experience was watching the flora and fauna change as we climbed higher and the temperature gets lower.

You don’t need to be an elite athlete to climb Kinabalu. As long as you are reasonably fit and set a steady pace you should be fine. You may experience altitude by the time you reach the lodge at Laban Rata around 3,200m above sea level. Many climbers spend a night here before completing the ascent very early to reach the summit by sunrise. One way to avoid altitude sickness is to stay very hydrated. There are plenty of taps to fill your water bottle on the way up. 2 days round trip. Porters are available to help with bags.

There are lots of places to stay in Kota Kinabalu and you should be able to book everything on arrival.

10. Eat eat eat!!!  

Malaysia has some of the BEST food in the world. A few MUST TRY foods in Malaysia: assam laksa, Durian, char koay teow, nasi lemak, nasi champur, satay, chengdul, banana leaf curry and rice, roti chanai and bakwa. The sheer variety of Malaysian street food will leave you drooling for more, and if you go up market be prepared to experience true culinary decadence. My main advice is plan your meals and take time to enjoy lots of new things. If you’re on a tight budget- see this as part of your travel experience. It’s hard to do Malaysian food justice in a short top 10, so we have done several blogs on food in Malaysia.

The best food in Penang and where to find it

Learning to cook with all your senses

Fine dining at the Eastern and Oriental

A few more amazing experience in Malaysia

Take your Yoga to the next level

Malaysia is one of the lesser known but most amazing places to develop your yoga practice. From jungle retreats to yoga cruises, Malaysia’s best yoga retreats are really special and worth looking into. Whether you are trying it for the first time or want to take your practice to the next level, there are some amazing schools.

Learn to dive

There are many diving schools around Malaysia offering a range of courses for everyone from beginners through to seasoned divers. Some of the top diving spots in Malaysia are the Perhentian islands, Tioman Island and Kuching in Sarawak.

Go to a water park

There are many super fun water parks around Malaysia. Most major towns and beach areas will have something. If you are in Kuala Lumpur Sunway Lagoon is a great water park.

Exploring Caves

Malaysia also has an impressive collection of caves. The world’s largest cave chamber by area is in Gua Nasib Bagus cave in the Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak. The Batu Caves are in North Kuala Lumpur. The Perak cave temple is in Ipoh. There many more

Relax with shisha on the beach

Malaysia has many beautiful beaches with places to relax with a drink or enjoy shisha. Because alcholo is less of a thing in Malaysia, the shisha culture is huge. BBQ nights in Batu Ferringhi Penang is one of my favourite sunset shisha spots.

Chasing Waterfalls

Wherever you go in Malaysia, you are probably not too far from a waterfall. Langkawi has some pretty impressive waterfalls. Thompson falls in Cameron highlands. There are also waterfalls in Penang on the way into Balik Pulau.

What are the top 10 adventurous things to do in Malaysia?

• Snorkel in the Perhentians
• Soak up the history by bike
• See Orangutangs 
• Explore the worlds oldest rainforest
• Trek through tea plantations
• See the giant Rafflesia flower
• Camp at turtle beach
• Visit the Petronas Towers
• Climb Mt. Kinabalu  
• Try unusual local foods

Malaysia is full of Adventurous things to do for travellers. From solo backpackers to couples to families, Malaysia has something for everyone to do and see. In summary this is the short list of top ten fun and adventurous things to do in Malaysia. There is however always more to every country!

Good Accommodation can be tricky to find in Malaysia 

It’s definitely there, it’s just tricky to find in some places and often booked up in popular places.  Even if you don’t book you can use Agoda to check out the areas you are most likely to find it in.  We’ve made a list of the most likely places you will visit with a link to accommodation, sometimes it is nice to just get somewhere booked and know its done….

Book your bed in Kuala Lumpur HERE (See the Petrona Twin Towers )

Book your bed in Penang HERE (See the George Town and Turtle Beach)

Book your bed in Langkawi HERE (Swim, snorkel and explore the Island)

Book your bed in The Perhentian Islands HERE (To learn to dive and snorkel)

Book your bed in Taman Negara HERE (See the worlds oldest rainforest)

Book your bed in The Cameron Highlands HERE (See Tea plantations and the strawberry farm)

Book your bed in Kinabalu HERE (To climb Mount Kinabalu)