Malaysia is so underrated! It is common to hear a lot about other countries in Southeast Asia where all the backpackers go. But nobody mentions Malaysia. We also had underestimated the country and we are sorry for that. There is so much to see here and we have been only to Peninsular Malaysia and not to Borneo.
This country is like many countries in one. You will feel like being in Southeast Asia, India and China all together. And sometimes also like in Europe, as the colonial buildings in Cameron Highlands remind so much about the Alps. Lush rain forests, hills full of tea plantations, colonial architecture in Melaka and modern architecture in Kuala Lumpur. The food is amazing, the prices are cheap and there are still not that many tourists. What else can you wish for?
Do you want to know the prices in Malaysia? Check out our Malaysia budget guide.
Places from the photo journey on the map
Did you know that the world's oldest rainforest is in Malaysia? Get to the village Kuala Tahan through Jerantut and you can walk in 130 million years old virgin rainforest. You can buy go for a trek with a guide, or you can make your own trip. Just cross the river from Kuala Tahan, pay the small entrance fee for a national park and you can start your own adventure.
Walk the world’s longest canopy walkway. Located a short walk from the entrance, it is 150m long and you will be able to watch the jungle 30m above ground level. It has been originally built for researchers to study flora and fauna, but it is open for public.
It is a real jungle that looks like a paradise, but when it is after rain it can change to a hell because of these little creatures that suck your blood. Leeches are not dangerous, the bite doesn't hurt, but believe us, you won't like them on your body.
Funny thing about these floating restaurants is that when it rains a lot, they can move to the opposite shore and you have to cross the river to have a lunch. When we were there, it rained so much that this road dissapeared.
The Indian-influenced flatbread represents the taste of Malaysia for us. Delicious, super cheap and addictive! We could eat them four times a day. Traditionally served with curry, but you can find them with many toppings. Best are cheese and egg :)
Cameron Highlands is the largest tea-growing region in Malaysia, located 1,500 meters above sea. The area is very fertile, so you can find here not only vast tea plantations, but also vegetable and fruit farms.
At BOH Tea Plantation you can visit the factory, museum and the cafe that serves their tea and green tea cakes.
When visiting the BOH Tea Factory, you can make a longer trip to the Mossy Forest. It is a nice half day trip.
Cameron Highlands are crazy about strawberries. The farms are everywhere and picking strawberries is so popular among locals that it costs more to pick yourself than to buy them on a market. It is also very hard to find a souvenir with no picture or shape of a strawberry.
This is one of the many farms and gardens you can visit in Cameron Highlands.
This nice and peaceful temple is located in Brinchang and it is worth visiting.
Cook your own food on the table.
Indian restaurants are found everywhere and the food is usually very tasty and incredibly cheap. Plus it is awesome to eat with your hands.
The historical city of Melaka has been listed in UNESCO. Melaka was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia in the 15th century. Stay in China Town, the small guest houses are amazing.
Don't miss the night market on Jonker street where you can taste pretty much anything you wish.
Wanna get on for a crazy ride? Hello Kitty and Pokemon are the most popular. They are hilarious during the night with all the flashing lights.
The church on the hill was built in 1521 and it is the oldest catholic church in Southeast Asia. It was the main church of Dutch and Portuguese.
Built in 2006 the Masjid Selat Mosque lies on an artifical island, so it looks like it's floating on the water. You can easily walk or bike there. Watching the sunset there is really spectacular.
You will love Kuala Lumpur! Clean, green, efficient. We don't usually enjoy big cities, but this one is really special.
The two tallest scyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur.
Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower is 421 metres tall and is the 7th tallest freestanding tower in the world. The view is incredible and it cost half than The Petronas Twins on the picture.
Batu caves, 13 km from KL are easily accesible by train. The complex is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India and a place of pilgrimage for Tamil Hindus. This is the Ramayana Cave.
The Ramayana cave shows the scenes from the epic.
You must walk the 272 steps to get to the entrance. The cave is guarded by gold-painted statue of Murugan and dozens of macaques. Some people feed them, some are robbed by them. They are cute until they steal everything you are not holding tight.
Places from the photo journey on the map
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