The Contrasts of Malaysia Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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This holiday covers Malaysia's striking contrasts and diverse land and cityscapes. You’ll take in the highlights of Peninsular Malaysia before visiting both states of Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak).

Get up close and personal with exotic wildlife and traverse the jungle in Borneo, experience big city thrills in Kuala Lumpur and witness a melting pot of culture, food and architecture like no other in Malacca and Penang. This tour is a colourful combination of the country’s most striking contrasts featuring a well-balanced mix of nature, hiking, relaxing, city sightseeing, island relaxation, vibrant culture and spectacular food.

Highlights include:

Soaking up the colourful ethnic mix in beautiful Malacca
Biking through the countryside with the wind in your hair
Marvelling at the old and the new in dynamic Kuala Lumpur
Colourful street art and terrific food in cultural Penang
Exploring Mulu’s most sensational caves at dusk by torchlight (watch out for bats!)
Experiencing typical Borneo village life
Getting up close and personal with Borneo’s orangutans, primates and pygmy elephants
Snorkelling, sun-soaking and sea turtle spotting on tropical Gaya Island

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

Day 1 Fly to Malaysia

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Malaysia.

Days 2 & 3 Malacca

You’ll be met in Kuala Lumpur for the drive you to Malacca, a colourful UNESCO World Heritage site. After an evening to recover from the flight you’ll have a full day to explore. You’ll enjoy a morning bike ride through scenic countryside which will be tailored to your ability. Whiz past rubber plantations and watch Malay village life go by. The rest of the time in Malacca will be spent exploring this cultural melting pot at your leisure: marvel at the Dutch, Indian, British and Portuguese legacies that permeate the architecture and street life of the vibrant historic centre.

Days 4 & 5 Kuala Lumpur

You’ll transfer to Kuala Lumpur for a two-night stay. During your stay in this incredible city you’ll take in the sweeping contemporary buildings, colonial charm and age-old mosques and religious centres. There will be a fascinating and comprehensive guided tour of some well-known and unexpected highlights: the morning market, the old centre, the grand old Indian mosque, the colonial centre and of course, Chinatown. Leave plenty of time for sampling Malay, Chinese and Indian culinary specialties - there is no shortage of fabulous food here.

Days 6 & 7 Penang

Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Penang, a thriving hub for culture, art, architecture and food. The Evening Street Food tour is a real highlight: an al fresco dining experience under the stars in the balmy evening among locals and visitors and a trip to the market for a run-down on the best snacks and dishes Penang has to offer. Early on Day 7, embark on a half-day “Dim Sum and Street Art” adventure in Georgetown before visiting the Chow Rasta morning Wet Market and marvelling at the interactive street art murals commissioned by the city.

Days 8 & 9 Kuching

Depart Peninsular Malaysia on a direct flight to Kuching in Malaysian Borneo’s Sarawak state. On arrival your guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel for a two-night stay. Time will be spend exploring Kuching itself and taking a thrilling trip to Bako National Park, with a stop at a quintessential Malaysian fishing village on the way. Complete the journey to Bako National Park by boat. Right at the top of the Muara Tebas Peninsula, this enormous and verdant forest area is home to fascinating carnivorous plant life and cheeky (yet elusive) proboscis monkeys.

Days 10 & 11 Mulu National Park

It's a short flight from Kuching to Mulu and within minutes you’ll be in your resort near the Mulu National Park headquarters. Highlights of a visit here include a sensational Tree Top Walk, wonderful Nature Heritage Trails, Pukau Waterfall, and of course, the caves. Wait for the thrill of seeing thousands of bats emerge from the caves at dusk, and experience nocturnal life in the forest by torchlight in the evening. Day 11 is a day for detailed cave exploration, with the two most popular caves, Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave, at the top of the agenda.

Day 12-14 Sepilok & Kinabatangan

Today you’ll fly to Sandakan to begin your adventures in Borneo’s rainforest.

Over 3 days you’ll explore Kabili-Sepilok Forest, renowned for its orchids, ancient trees, and of course, it's orangutan community before heading to the Kinabatangan River where you’ll pass mangroves, wetlands and lush rainforests with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. Your stay will be split between two lodges both of which have boardwalks extending into the jungle interiors, offering a way to explore this fantastic part of the world with ease.

You’ll enjoy guided nature walks, a river-boat cruise to Pitas oxbow lake to look out for pygmy elephants and a lunch prepared by local Abai villagers.

Days 15-18 Gaya Island

Head back to Kota Kinabalu and take a short speedboat to glorious Gaya Island for a refreshing four-night stay. Your time here is to free to spend at your leisure: spot sea turtles and spectacular coral on snorkelling expeditions, wander with a guide through the rainforest, take a cooking course, soak up the sun or indulge in a spa treatment.

Day 19 Transfer Home

Today you take the speedboat back to Kota Kinabalu for your flight back to the UK.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
Meals as described
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Anggun Hotel, Kuala Lumpur , Kuala Lumpur

In the heart of Kuala Lumpur's shopping and entertainment district, Anggun offers classic rooms with antique furnishings and breakfast on the rooftop.

[email protected] Hereen Boutique Hotel, Malacca

Homely boutique hotel, ideally located in the heart of Malacca's old town on Heeren Street â a fantastic place from which to explore.

Gaya Island Resort, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

Luxurious and relaxing beach spot on the stunning shores of Pulau Gaya, off Kota Kinabalu.

Hotel Penaga, Georgetown, Penang , Penang

Fifteen abandoned double storey shop houses and terrace houses painstakingly lovingly restored as an art deco boutique hotel in Georgetown.

Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, Kinabatangan River

Tranquil off-the-beaten track resort is wonderful for wildlife spotting and relaxing.

Mulu Park HQ, Gunung Mulu National Park

A comfortable complex of long houses and bungalows in Mulu National Park. A relaxing place to stay whilst experiencing Borneoâs natural riches.

Ranee Kuching, Kuching

A boutique hotel situated in the heart of old town, Kuching, The Ranee is a renovated 19th century shop converted into a modern and stylish hotel.

Sepilok Nature Resort, Kabili-Sepilok Forest , Sepilok

In the Kabili-Sepilok Jungle, lodge style accommodation, good food, and a very special atmosphere.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Bako National Park, Bako National Park

A must-see if you wish to experience the wildlife of Borneo without venturing too far from civilisation.

Dim Sum and Street Art, Penang

Great food and great art: what better way to enjoy Penang? This morning tour leads you to the finest Dim Sum Penang has to offer.

Explore Gomantong Caves, Kinabatangan River

Whilst Mulu's great caves may be more famous, Sabah's Gomantong Caves offer an alternative; with huge chasms and wildlife inside.

Explore Mulu's Deer and Lang Caves, Gunung Mulu National Park

Explore one of the world' biggest famous caves first-hand on a walk through the Deer and Lang Caves.

Exploring Georgetown , Penang

Chinese shop houses, sweeping mosques and colonial facades exist side by side in this colourful and culturally rich city.

Gunung Mulu National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park

Sarawaks largest national park with excellent wildlife and geology.

Indian Culture and Heritage , Kuala Lumpur

Explore Malaysia's Indian heritage in colourful detail. Places of worship, cultural pursuits, architectural influences, and of course, food.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari, Kinabatangan River

One of South East Asia's best wildlife viewing locations, a great place to see Orangutans in the wild.

Kuching City Tour, Kuching

A chance to explore the highlights of Sarawak state's capital city: the Sarawak Museum, and colonial icons of the British occupation.

Penang Heritage Highlights, Penang

A tour full of surprises. In Penang, modern street art initiatives meet 18th century monuments and people still practise age-old artisan trades.

Street Food at Sundown , Penang

Enjoy a culinary adventure under the stars in the balmy Penang evening.

The Chow Kit Morning Markets, Kuala Lumpur

Colourful spices and tasty snacks, exotic fruits and fresh vegetables: the Malaysian morning markets are a feast for the senses.

The iconic Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

We can arrange a day or night-time tour of the Petronas Towers in tandem with a guided tour of other sights in Kuala Lumpur.

Customer Feedback

We are normally very independant travellers, but for various reasons decided in this instance to use a travel company, and what a good idea that turned out to be.

- John

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Malaysia & Borneo Holiday Ideas