Highlights of our Malaysia holiday:
Our tailor-made Malaysia vacation includes Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands and Penang.
Our Malaysia holidays begin with ...
Arriving at Singapore, you will be met by your guide and driven through the Johor causeway linking Singapore to Malaysia, entering Johor Bharu, Malaysia's southernmost state en route to Malacca for check-in to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day for some familiarisation with the city.
Malacca has a long history as a major hub of world trade from the fourteenth century attracting traders from all over Asia and Arabia, until the arrival of European cultures, and it is a measure of its importance as a trading centre, that Malacca has been successively and violently passed between the Portugese, Dutch, French, Japanese and British prior to Malaysia's independence in 1957. Malacca therfore has a wealth of historical sights from a wide mix of cultural influences, and your first day's tour will take in the major sites, including St. Pauls hill, Porta de Santiago, Cheng Hoon Teng temple, Baba Nyonya museum and a visit to the famous Jonkers Street, popular for its antique and craft shops. From late afternoon, you will be free to explore at your leisure or maybe sit in one of the canal-side cafes taking in the atmosphere.
High rise Malaysia
Next day, we travel to Malaysia's high-rise Capital Kuala Lumpur, whose visibly stunning modern architecture hides a wealth of older colonial and and cultural buildings from the many peoples who have settled and spread their influence here. You will visit the National monument, the Sultan Abdul Samad building, the National mosque, Independence square, the Selangor club, the KL Tower, Petronas twin-towers, Thean Hou temple and the Kings palace. In the afternoon, you will have time to yourself to explore in your own style.
On the following day, your guide and driver will take you to the splendid Batu caves, within which an impressive Hindu shrine resides at the top of 272 step walkway. Afterwards, we will visit the renowned Royal Selangor Pewter centre, the world's leading pewter manufacturer for over 200 years, where you can watch the manufacturing process taking place around you. Upon our return to Kuala Lumpur, you will be free to continue your explorations of the city's many attractions.
A nice cup of Tea
Today's trip will take you back to the British colonial past when everything stopped for Tea. The Cameron highlands seduced the British with its cool relief from the tropical lowland heat and some of the buildings reflect the ambience of English country life so authentically, that you may wonder if you have wandered into some space-time anomaly. On the way up to the mountain resort, passing the tea plantations, we will stop at an aboriginal village and teahouse.
Of course, no visit to the countryside is complete without a good cup of tea, and you will have ample opportunity to try several varieties next day, when we visit a tea plantation to observe the timeless processes that got the British so hooked on this refreshing leaf. Complete the picture with a walk in the Rose garden and a visit to the butterfly farm, before we head back to your hotel, with a stop at a fruit and vegetable market on the way.
Empire building
Leaving the highlands behind, we travel toward the island of Penang, with stops at the Cave temple, the golden dome of Ubudiah mosque, and the former palace of the Sultan of Perak with its ornate carving. We will visit the Orang Utan island at Bukit Laketown resort, before crossing Asia's largest bridge to Georgetown, Penang. After check-in, you will be free to wander the remainder of the day.
Your trip in Penang , the first British colonial settlement in Malaysia, will take in the intricate adornments of the Khoo Kongsi (dragon mountain hall) clan house, Fort Cornwallis, the Thai temple Wat Chayamangkalaram and a visit to the British built 'lost' fortress, dug into Bukit Batu Maung hill with the intention of repelling Japanese naval invasion. Unfortunately, when the attack came, the fortress was overwhelmed by land forces.The fortress now houses a fascinating museum.
Every trip comes to an end, and sadly, today we will ensure you are delivered to Penang airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur for your flight home or onward connection.
Meals: eight breakfasts and 6 lunches
Escort/guide: Airport transfers, and tours as detailed