Tour overview

Start in Kuala Lumpur and end in Penang! With the private tour Gems of Malaysia, Private Tour, you have a 8 day tour package taking you through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and 3 other destinations in Malaysia. Gems of Malaysia, Private Tour includes accommodation in a hotel as well as meals, transport and more.

  • Discover a blend of cultures in charming Melaka
  • Feel like an ant next to the towering Petronas Towers
  • Admire the lush landscapes of the Cameron Highlands
  • Discover the wonderful street scene of Penang

Included

  • English-speaking driver-guide
  • Inbound airport transfers from Kuala Lumpur Airport
  • Air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour
  • Outbound airport transfers to Penang Airport
  • All entrance fees as indicated: Melaka River cruise (shared basis with other passengers) and trishaw ride, Villa Sentosa, Gua Tempurung cave, Rose Garden and Strawberry Farm.  Meet & Greet on arrival at Kuala Lumpur Airport

Not Included

  • Flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price. You can organize your flights separately at any point.
  • Travel insurance is not covered in the tour price. You can organize travel insurance with your preferred insurance company.
  • Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
  • Gratuity for the driver
  • Optional tours and activities during free time
  • Tourism tax is payable directly to the hotels
  • International or domestic flight tickets and airport taxes or visa fees

Introduction

During this eight-day trip of Malaysia, learn all about the interesting history, culture, nature and modern amenities that Malaysia has to offer. From big cities to the countryside and ending in a tropical setting, explore the treasures of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Cameron Highlands and Penang Island.

Day 1: ARRIVAL KUALA LUMPUR

Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you will be met at the arrivals hall by a representative and transferred to your hotel in the capital city of Malaysia for check-in. The rest of time is for you to spend at leisure. Take to the streets to explore the vibrant city that is Kuala Lampur and marvel at its colonial architecture and numerous landmarks such as the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Towers; or simply indulge in the gastronomic delights that the city has to offer. Overnight in Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2: KUALA LUMPUR – MELAKA (152 km - 2hr 20m)

After breakfast it’s time to go to Melaka. Arrive at your new destination by lunch time or early afternoon. Upon arrival, check in at your new hotel before enjoying a tour of historical Melaka on the south-west coast of the Indian Ocean. The city was founded by the Portuguese and later settled by the Dutch and English. Visit St. John's Port for a panoramic view of Melaka. See Bandar Hilir, the oldest part of the city; climb St. Paul's Hill where St. Francis Xavier was interned; and then see the well-known Fort De Santiago. Grab something to eat (lunch not included) before visiting Antique Row, locally called Jonker Street. Complete this tour with stops at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Tranquerah Mosque, St. Peter's Church and Bukit Cina, an ancient Chinese burial site. Spend the evening at leisure or ask your guide which are the best places in which to dine and experience Baba Nyonya cooking. Overnight in Melaka.

Day 3: MELAKA - KUALA LUMPUR (152 km - 2hrs 20min)

Take to the road after breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a river cruise of the Melaka River from Parameswara Jetty, followed by a beca (trishaw) ride to Villa Sentosa. Villa Sentosa is a house built during the first quarter of the century in the style fashionable during that time. It has now has been converted by its owner into a private museum. Located in Kampong Morten in the heart of Melaka city, the house has a history that dates to the British Land Reform Act of 1920. Visitors can view intriguing collections of costumes, Malay embroidery, furniture, muskets and an array of interesting relics. As for a curator, the owner would be glad to play the role and he is more than happy to answer any questions you may have. After the tour, transfer to Kuala Lumpur. Overnight in Kuala Lumpur.

Day 4: KUALA LUMPUR - CAMERON HIGHLANDS (245km - 4.5 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a trip to Cameron Highlands. En route, visit Gua Tempurung, a spectacular cave and former hideout of the communist guerrillas. Gua Tempurung is an impressive cave with beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, rim stone pools, curtains, straws, calcite crystals and pillars. There are also majestic columns of marble inside its huge cavern honeycombed with smaller caves of different dimensions. The cave contains mystery and intrigue that leave one curious about its deep, dark secrets dating back 400 million years. Stop for lunch (not included) at a local restaurant in Tapah and proceed to Cameron Highlands, 1,542m above sea level and famous for its world-renowned tea. After a photo stop at Iskandar waterfalls, meet aborigines at their homes and maybe witness a blow pipe demonstration. Check in at your hotel and spend the evening at leisure. For dinner (not included), perhaps ask the driver to take you to check out the many types of cuisine that can be found in Cameron Highlands. Choices range from local to Western to Southern Indian to Chinese and many more. Chinese restaurants are favoured by locals for steamboat, a novel 'do-it-yourself' style of cooking the food in a boiling pot of hot soup, perfect for a cool evening! Overnight in Cameron Highlands.

Day 5: CAMERON HIGHLANDS

After breakfast, your driver-guide will take you on a tour of Cameron Highlands covering the Rose Garden, a tea plantation and vegetable farms. Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in the state of Pahang. One of the wonders of Malaysia, it is the largest and most famous hill resort in the country. This highland paradise still retains much of the charm of an English village. Being a primarily agricultural domain, you will find an abundance of vegetables and fruit farms here. Cameron Highlands is also the leading producer of flowers and tea in Malaysia. Be prepared for a lovely sight of extraordinary flowers you won’t see flourishing anywhere else in Malaysia! Located on the Titiwangsa Range at about 1,500m above sea level, the temperature here can drop to 16˚C or lower at certain times. Please note that the tea plantation is closed on Mondays. The rest of the day is for you to spend at leisure, relaxing and enjoying the cool fresh air. Overnight in Cameron Highlands

Day 6: CAMERON HIGHLANDS - PENANG (263 km - 4.5hrs)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out and descend via Simpang Pulai to the Kuala Kangsar district and the royal town of Perak. Stop by the Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery, which was built from the ancient castle called Istana Ulu or Istana Kota. Completed in 1903, the former palace, which was first occupied by Sultan Idris I in 1903, was restored in 2003 and named after the present Sultan whose personal belongings, documents, mementos, family photographs, trophies and state regalia, among other items, are on display for public viewing. It is an experience not to be missed. The gallery is currently closed for two years, to facilitate maintenance work. However, one can still take photos of the beautiful gallery from outside. Next is a visit to the Ubudiah Mosque, probably the finest mosque in Malaysia; Istana Iskandariah; and Istana Kenangan, built in 1926 without the use of nails. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant on your own account. Whilst journeying towards Penang, cross the Penang Bridge, which spans 13.5km, before arriving to your hotel for check-in in the afternoon. Overnight in Penang.

Day 7: PENANG

Penang’s UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site in Georgetown is not simply the colonial era structures that make up the area. It’s also the confluence of people that go about their daily life and practice traditional crafts in this town. There is something precious and endearing about the handmade products that machines can never replace, the little imperfections that make them unique. Visit a wet market to meet a local legend who has been making hand-made popiah (spring roll) skin for decades and be amazed by his skills as he paces back and forth in a rhythmic motion between two hotplates with a wheat-flour dough ‘glove’ on his right hand. He whips the elastic dough ball like a yo-yo, slams it down on a hotplate and yanks it off, leaving a very thin pancake. Once the thin layer is cooked, his helper will scrape off the popiah skin. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour to see the age-old artisans labouring at their crafts: visit the shops of the artisan making ‘songkok’ (Muslim headgear), the one who makes joss sticks for special religious festivals, the Nyonya beaded shoe maker, the signboard engraver who makes his mark on wooden signboards and the Indian goldsmith who dazzles with his skills and creativity. Overnight in Penang.

Day 8: DEPART PENANG

Savour one last breakfast in the resort before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Breakfast included.