The Contrasts of Malaysia
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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.

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.

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.