Malaysia Food Heaven Tour - 7 Days

Highlights

• See the highlights of Kuala Lumpur, like the Petronas Towers, on a city tour
• Visit incredible landmarks like the Batu Caves during a guided day trip
• Explore the architecture and hawker food stalls in UNESCO-listed George Town
• Spend a free day in Penang bike riding and sampling the country's best cuisine

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur, City Tour

Welcome to Malaysia! This Southeast Asian country of around 33 million people is a melting pot of cultures with various ethnic groups practicing all manner of religions, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Naturally, the country reveals itself in a variety of ways, particularly in its delicious cuisine. Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, a driver will be waiting to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in the city.

After settling in, you'll take a guided tour of the city. Among other highlights, you'll visit landmarks like the Moorish Jamek Mosque and the rural enclave of Kampung Baru with its traditional stilt houses. Your guide will also take you to bustling marketplaces like Chow Kit and Central Market, where you can shop for fresh produce and sample Malaysia's famous street food. And no tour of Kuala Lumpur is complete without a trip to the 88-story Petronas Towers, the largest twin towers in the world. 

Day 2: Day Trip to the Batu Caves

After breakfast at your hotel, hop in a car with your guide and visit some of the highlights just outside of Kuala Lumpur on a day trip. First up is Ah Ma House, a traditional bakery that is famous for its kuih kapit, a type of egg waffle often served during festivals and holidays. You'll get to sample this delicious treat plus other freshly baked snacks and desserts.

Then you're off to the Sekinchan Wishing Tree. Located at Pantai Redang Beach, this banyan tree sits next to a Chinese temple and is a popular spot to make a wish. Visitors write their wish on a red ribbon, tie it to a coin, and toss it over the branches. Supposedly, the higher the ribbon on the tree, the more likely the wish is to come true. The tree is such a tourist hotspot that its branches are now shrouded in flowing red ribbons.

Your last stop of the day is the jaw-dropping Batu Caves, Malaysia's most popular tourist attraction. On a three-hour tour, you'll visit a series of limestone caverns that are home to Hindu cave temples. The area is an important pilgrimage site for Indigenous Tamil Hindus, as is evident by the 140-foot (42 m) gold-painted statue of the deity Murugan guarding the entrance. Climb the 272 stairs, with monkey sightings along the way, and inside, you'll be treated to religious dioramas sitting beneath hanging stalactites. 

Day 3: Transfer to Ipoh, City Tour

Wake up early and leave Kuala Lumpur on a 2.5-hour drive to the city of Ipoh, the gateway to Malaysia's Cameron Highlands, which is famous for its beautiful rolling hills blanketed in tea fields. However, the city of Ipoh has a lot going for it, too, which you'll see when you arrive and embark on a full-day tour.

First head to the historic center of the city, which is a walkable enclave. This scenic part of downtown abounds with white-washed buildings from the British colonial period and includes the Railway Station, High Court, and Town Hall. The heritage buildings you'll see in the city center popped up during the tin-mining boom in the 1920s. Rather than being allowed to fall into disrepair after the closure of those mines, many have been refurbished and converted into boutiques, hotels, and kitsch cafés.

Another highlight of Ipoh that you'll discover is its food. People from all over Malaysia and even Singapore flock here in droves to enjoy Ipoh's famous dim sum dumplings and dishes like tauge ayam (chicken bean sprouts). You'll also overhear plenty of arguments over who serves the best kopi putih (white coffee), the town's signature drink. Try a few options for yourself and find out.

Day 4: Transfer to George Town, City Tour & Peranakan Museum

After breakfast, you'll leave Ipoh on a two-hour drive up the coast to the Malaysian state of Penang. When you reach the city of Bukit Mertajam, you'll cross over the bridge to the island of Penang and the capital of the province, George Town. Malaysia's second-largest city has a lot going for it. Not only is George Town regarded as the culinary capital of the country, but its historic center is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After checking into your hotel, you'll meet a guide and experience George Town's highlights yourself.

Founded in 1786, this port city was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia. Over the centuries, George Town was settled by various nationalities and ethnic subgroups, turning the city into one of the country's great melting pots. During this three-hour tour, you'll visit landmark colonial-era buildings like the Town Hall, St. George's Anglican Church, and the Penang High Court, the birthplace of the judicial system in Malaysia. Penang is also the epicenter of Malaysia's legendary street food, and here you can indulge in must-try regional dishes like char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles).

Day 5: Visit Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang Hill & Durian Farm

In the morning, meet your driver for the ride to Kek Lok Si. Located in the town of Air Itam, this is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and a pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over Southeast Asia. The complex was built between 1890 to 1930, and the result is a veritable metropolis of pagodas, temples, shrines, pavilions, and gardens. The main draw is the seven-story main pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The name derives from the 10,000 alabaster and bronze statues of Buddha, complimented by the 118-foot (36 m) statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy.

Then you'll head to nearby Penang Hill. Comprised of six forested hills, this area was once a vacation retreat during the British colonial period. A ride on Southeast Asia's longest funicular elevator leads to the top, where you'll enjoy panoramic views at 2,693 feet (821 m) above sea level. Afterward, you'll visit a working durian farm. This large, exotic fruit can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and is notorious for its strong odor. It's a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine, and some of the best such fruits grow in this region. You'll get to sample fresh durian before returning to George Town.

Day 6: Free Day in Penang

Today is a free day to enjoy Penang however you like. This Malaysian state is known for having the best food in the country, so when hunger strikes, be sure to sample the local fare on offer from street-food hawkers. One of the best places to find them is along the waterfront promenade Gurney Drive. Must-try dishes include asam laksa (sweet and sour fish soup), white curry mee (coconut prawn curry), and mee jawa (egg noodles with fritters). For delectable desserts, try muah chi (rice cakes covered in peanut brittle) and tau sar peah (flaky biscuits).

For something active, you can head just outside the city for a bicycle tour around the countryside. Perhaps pedal to the northwest end of the island and visit Penang National Park. This massive park protects 2,997 acres (1,213 ha) of native forest, coastline, and mangroves, which are home to a biodiverse ecosystem. Within the park are several trails and canopy boardwalks that offer great hiking opportunities.

Day 7: Depart Penang

Alas, your tasty tour of Malaysia has come to an end. At the appropriate time, your driver will transfer you to Penang Airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Farewell!

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