Malaysia Beach & Adventure Self Drive - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Malaysia, you'll be met by your private guide, who will drive you to your hotel in Kuala Lumpur. 

The rest of your day will be at leisure to explore the city.

Take to the streets for a walking tour of KL’s unsung heroes. Accompanied by your expert local guide, wander past colonial buildings and take inspiration from the varied architectural styles and mix of cultures that have shaped the city over the years. Stop at Jamek Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city; buy everything from traditional remedies to everyday clothes in Malay Street; and enjoy a cup of local Tarik ‘pulled’ tea alongside sweet roti canai on Indian Mosque Street. Wander on to the historic Colonial Core city centre, Medan Pasar’s Old Market Square, the Central Market, Sin Sze Si Ya Taoist temple, and the highly ornate Sri Maha Mariamman temple. Pause for lunch in Chinatown, and take a look around the beautifully preserved Chan She Shu Yuen clan house, before returning to your hotel where the rest of your day will be at leisure.

This morning your hire car will be delivered to your hotel for the start of your self-drive journey to the Belum-Temengor Rainforest. Driving in Kuala Lumpur can be a little hectic, but streets are well signposted and once out of the city the roads become quieter. It’s a straightforward drive north along the country’s main highway, driving on the left, at manageable speeds, with signposts in English as well as Malay. Once you arrive at the chic and secluded Belum Rainforest Resort the rest of your day will at leisure to soak in the serene surroundings.

Set out, first by boat then on foot, in search of the unique Rafflesias: huge plants with broad, other-worldly looking flowers that, rather unsettlingly, smell like rotting flesh (hence its alternative name of 'corpse flower'). Go on the Orang Asli Village to observe the lifestyle of the Jahai tribe, and buy locally-made souvenirs such as blow pipes, bracelets and necklaces all made from materials sustainably gathered in the rainforest. Continue to the wet salt lick at Sg. Jenut, where you can see some of the forest’s animals, such as tapirs, deers and even tigers, come to gather essential minerals and nutrients. The final stop of the day is at the Sg.Ruok waterfalls to take a dip in the cool pools.

Drive west from Belum-Temengor Rainforest towards Penang. At the coast, leave the Malay Peninsula and cross one of the world's longest bridges onto Penang Island. Once you’ve dropped off your hire car, the rest of your day will be at leisure to take in your historic Georgetown surroundings.

Georgetown’s melting pot of culture and historic architecture is home to a burgeoning street art scene. Murals by Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic are dotted throughout the streets, and over the course of your tour your guide will point out key examples. Visit a morning wet market at Chowrasta that sells everything from fresh fruit, to sweets, spices and second hand books, and take a tea break in a local dim sum restaurant. Continue through Georgetown’s maze of streets, stopping to observe the famous murals along Armenian Street, where many of the traditional shop houses have been renovated and now house art galleries and cafes. Wander down Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, known as the ‘Street of Harmony’, to see the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mahamariamman Temple (the oldest Hindu temple on the island), the Goddess of Mercy Temple, and the first Anglican church in South-East Asia.

Get up bright and early to meet your cycling guide and transfer by shared vehicle to Balik Pulau in the southwest of Penang. In contrast to the busy streets of Georgetown, Balik Pulau is a rural idyll of rice fields and fruit plantations where local life continues much as it has done for generations. The area produces nutmeg, cloves and a variety of fruit, but is particularly well known for its durians, which locals swear are the best in the country. The best way to explore is by bike, and having swapped four wheels for two in Balik Pulau town, follow your guide along quiet roads and pathways into the countryside, glimpsing the day to day lives of the local people. After a couple of hours leisurely cycling, your guide will drive you and your fellow cyclists back to Georgetown where the rest of your day will be at leisure.

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Langkawi, where you’ll meet your driver on arrival and head straight to your hotel.

Start in the foothills of Mount Machinchang where you’ll board the ‘SkyCab’ for a 20-minute ride over the jungle-clad mountainside. This is the steepest cable car ride in Asia, covering 1.3 miles and rising 2,320 feet above sea level, affording you fantastic views of the forest and waterfalls, and glimpses of birds and wildlife, as you slowly ascend. Pause at a viewing platform to take in the scenery before continuing to the top. Once there, take a short walk up to the peak for 360-degree views over the forested slopes and surrounding islands. On a clear day, you can see as far as Thailand to the north and Indonesia to the south-west. Take some time to appreciate the scene below, before heading back to the base and being driven to your hotel where the rest of your day will be at leisure.

Kick back for some blissful r&r in Langkawi.

Your day will be at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.