Day and Overnight Trips from KL

Like most major cities, KL has some really great attractions, which can be seen in 3-4 days.  So people that are in Malaysia for longer than that have asked me if there are interesting day and overnight trips from KL. The answer in short is yes!  With great public transportation and infrastructure in Malaysia, you can see the entire country using KL as the starting-off point. Below, I have noted a few of the best options, along with information on if a car is required, how much time you need there, and must-see’s while you are there.

Day Trips

Batu Caves

o  Overview: Batu Caves is a Hindu cave-temple located about 13 KM from KL, which contains the largest Lord Murugan statue in the world. As it’s so close, it makes for a popular half-day excursion from KL. In addition to seeing the temple, you can also watch monkey swinging in the trees and do some cave exploring of your own.

o  Things to See: Definitely see the Temple Cave and Art Gallery Cave. You can also explore the surrounding nature, and drink cool-down with a fresh coconut from one of the local vendors.

o  How to Get There: You can take the KTM Komuter train to the Batu Caves stop. You can also take the LRT to Titiwangsa, and then take the U6 bus to the caves. If you take the bus, tell the bus driver of your intention so you won’t miss your stop. Alternatively you can take a 30-45 min taxi from KL.

Putra Jaya (taxi hire is recommended, but can use public transport)

o  Overview: Putra Jaya is the futuristic government hub of Malaysia. The entire city was masterminded by the ex- Prime Minster of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad.  Under his 22 year rule, Mahathir is credited with bringing Malaysia into the modern-age, overseeing infrastructure, educational and economic gains for the country. One piece of his plan was to develop an entirely new city which would function as the governmental nucleus of the country. This city became Putra Jaya, and houses the Prime Minister’s office, Palace of Justice (which looks like the sultan’s palace in the Disney movie Aladdin), convention center, and countless other architectural wonders. 

o  Things to See: Definitely check out the Palace of Justice, Prime Minister’s office, Putra Mosque (Pink Mosque) and Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque (Crystal Mosque). Putra Jaya is splendid both by day and night, and can be visited at either time. Also consider taking a river cruise to see, among others, the Prince’s Palace and surrounding landscape. Don’t forget to notice the different street light designs that decorate the wide streets.

o  How to Get There: The best thing to do in Putra Jaya is drive around to see all the buildings. You can take the Komuter train from KL Sentral to Putra Jaya (look for KILA ticket counter, as they run an express train to Putra Jaya). One you arrive, you can solicit a taxi driver for an hour to take you around. Otherwise, you can connect with the local busses, which stop at all the major locations.

§  If you take the train, one the way back you can stop at the Serdang Komuter stop and check out the Mines Shopping Mall, which is an indoor mall that was developed over an abandoned mine. Its design is to mimic Venice, and you can even take a boat ride from the train station to the mall for RM1.

 Malacca

o  Overview: Malacca is a historic port town with Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. From the 1300s to post-colonial times, Malacca was used as a strategic port along the spice route from Indonesia, as well as the silk trade from China. From the crumbling colonial church to the oldest Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim temples in Malaysia (located all on the same street), there is something for everyone to enjoy

o  Things to See: The center of Malacca is quite small and most attractions are in short walking distance, and can be divided into two distinct areas: Colonial Center and Chinatown. The top places to experience in the Colonial Center are Fort A Famosa (the remnants of a Portuguese fort) and St. Peter’s Church (a Dutch Fort from the early 1700’s that contains a small internal graveyard and all-encompassing views of the port and city). In Chinatown, definitely experience Jonker Street (Chinatown street with great antiques), and the first-in-Malaysia places of worship for Bhudism (Cheng Hoon Teng), Hinduism (Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple), and Islam (Tranquerah Mosque) – which conveliently are all located in the same street in Chinatown. In addition to these sites, Malacca is famous for its Nyona food (a blend of Chinese and Malaysian cuisines). You can go to the Visitor Center for more information on sites and food in the area.  However, as a heads up, the Visitor Center charges RM5 for a walking map. If you would like a free map instead, you can print one from this site.

o  How to Get There: The easiest way to get to Malacca is via bus.  Busses run every 30 minutes from Terminal Bersepadu Selantan (TBS) TBS is a bus station that services southern-bound journies, so no reservations are needed. You can just show up at the bus station to purchase a ticket. Once you arrive in Malacca, you can either take a taxi to city-center or choose the public buss, which only costs RM1, but takes significantly longer than the taxi. If you prefer the city bus, follow a majority of the bus passengers who will also be taking the bus.  Once you arrive in the city-center, you will see the red brick buildings Malacca is famous for and a water fountain. You can then exit the bus at this stop.

§  LRT: take Ampang line towards Sri Petaling, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

§  KTM: take Seremban line, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

§  ERL: take KLIA transit, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

·      From the train station there is a bridge that directly connects to the bus terminal

 Port Dickson

o  Overview: Port Dickson is a sleeping beach town, popular with locals.  Although the beach is pretty ordinary, especially compared to Langkawi and Perhentian, it is close enough to be enjoyed in a day-trip from KL (as it’s only a 1 ½ hour bus ride from KL).

o  Things to See: The beach is a must.  In addition, check out the Cape Rachardo Lighthouse (built in the 16^th century). Check out wikitravel for more information.

o  How to Get There: You can take the KTM Komuter train to the Seremban stop. From there you can catch a bus to Port Dickson. You can also take a bus from Malacca to Port Dickson, so can combine Malacca and Port Dickson into a 2-day trip.

Overnight Trips

Cameron Highlands (car or tour group recommended)

o  Overview: The Cameron Highlands contain awe-inspiring tea and strawberry plantations located a short drive away from KL. The Cameron Highlands are a popular local destination, as an escape from the heat of KL (the highlands offer temperatures must cooler than KL) to the serenity of the relaxing countryside.

o  Things to See: It is essential to see the tea plantations where you can learn how tea is grown, walk among the tea fields and of course, enjoy a cup of tea with lunch or a snack. BOH tea plantation is the most famous in Malaysia, as their tea is sold everywhere in the country. Also check out the strawberry farms and vegetable farms, and pick up some goodies at the local farmer’s market.

o  How to Get There: You can take a bus from Puduraya Bus Station. The easiest way to get to Puduraya is via the Plaza Rakyat LRT station (located right at the stop). Alternatively, you can take a 5 minute walk from Chinatown (Pasar Seni stop on the LRT) or 10min walk Bukit Bintang. As the plantations are far apart, consider either renting a car or going in a bus tour from KL.

 Ipoh

o  Overview: Much like Malacca, Ipoh is a historic town with colonial roots dating back to the 1600’s. Compared to Malacca, Ipoh has a distinctly Chinese feel, and is famous for its’ many local eateries.  The city-center is easily walkable, and the visitor’s information center provides amazing maps and materials for free. (I enjoyed Ipoh a lot more than Malacca, as the town was less commercialized, and seemed to be a real-living city and not just a tourist trap).

o Things to See:  In addition to completing the free walking tour (maps are at the visitor center), and eating at the local eateries, consider strolling the winding streets to discover antique stores. You can even watch a local artisan create bamboo furniture (which is quite affordable). If you are adventurous, consider taking a taxi to the Three Buddhist cave temples located on the edge of town. These temples are really unique to Ipoh – finding creative ways to juxtapose temples right into the limestome caves.  One temple even includes a rather-strenous treck deep inside the cave à from which at the top you can see an impressive view of downtown Ipoh.

o  How to Get There: You can take a train from KL Sentral to Ipoh. These tickets can be purchased on the day of departure or in advance, which can be done online. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands). The bus is faster than the train, as long as you are traveling during off-peak times. It takes between 2-4 hours to get to Ipoh, depending on traffic.

Penang

o  Overview: Like Malacca, Penang is also a colonial town with European roots. In Malaysia when people mention Penang their mouths begin to water – people actually go on eating tours of the city. So if you venture to Penang, eating is a MUST! In addition to all that wonderful food, Penang has a well-preserved historical center, and is even considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an honor shared with Malacca).

o  Things to See: Other than eating, check out Chinatown, the Clock Tower and Esplanade (a seafront walkway that contains many hawker stalls, as well as exquisite colonial buildings)

o  How to Get There: Like Ipoh, you can take a train from KL Sentral. These tickets can be purchased on the day of departure or in advance, which can be done online. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands). The bus is faster than the train, as long as you are traveling during off-peak times. It takes between 5-7 hours to get to Penang, depending on traffic.

 Langkawi (See my separate post on Langkawi for more details)

o  Overview: Langkawi is a stunning beach resort located in the Northwest corner of Malaysia, right at the border with Thailand. Langkawi consists of a series of 99 islands, stunning aquamarine waters, white sand, and lush tropical forests.

o  Things to See: Beaches, cable car and walking bridge, hiking, 3-Island Hopping Tour

o  How to Get There:

§  A train from KL Sentral leaves every night at 11 PM (discussed in separate post). 

§  Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands).

 Perhentian (3+ day trip is best)

o  Overview: Beach, beach and more beach! Perhentian is voted one of the best beaches in the world and locals and foreigners alike flock to its many pristine shores where you can rest in the powdery white sand sitting under the shade of majestic palm trees, trek through the jungle paths that connect secretive coves, and discover tropical coral and fish through snorkeling and scuba diving the shimmering waters.

o  Things to See: Perhentian’s one and only objective is to help you relax. There are two islands of Perhentian: Kecil and Besar. Kecil is the smaller of the two and is set-up for the backpacker and budget traveler. It also contains a small by lively nightlife.  Lodging on Kecil is pretty basic à where fans and 24 hour electricity are a luxury and air conditioning and hot water are pretty much unheard of. On the plus side, a rom can run as low as RM30 a night. Besar is the bigger of the two and boosts more luxurious accomodations (which can range from simple chalets on the beach to full-fledged resorts). Besar is also the quieter of the two, and thus, a bit more family-friendly.

o  How to Get There: You can take an overnight bus from KL that leaves from the Putra Bus Station (a.k.a. Hentian Putra) heading towards Kuala Besut. (The Putra Bus Station is close to either the PWTC stop on the LRT or the Putra station on the KTM Komuter.) From Juala Besut, walk to the jetty and take a ferry to Perhentian.  The ferry will stop at both islands.

Singapore (can see a lot in a 2 day trip)

o  Overview: Singapore needs little explanation.  As a financial hub in Southeast Asia, its many attractions lure visitors from around the world. (I will have a separate post on Singapore at a later date).

o  Things to See: Check out Little India, Chinatown and Arab Square for some local flavor. Also go to the observation deck of the Marina Sands Hotel (looks like a floating surfboard from the Marina Bay) and Sentosa Island to check out the ever-popular Universal Studios, and aquarium, among other attractions.

o  How to Get There:

§  You can take a bus from TBS bus station (See Malacca above for more information on TBS). The bus is shorter than the train, but may be slightly more expensive, depending on the type of bus taken. However, as busses leave regularly, you usually do not need to reserve in advance, unless you are going over a holiday weekend or leaving on a Friday night.

§  Alternatively, you can take an overnight train from KL Sentral.  The train departs at 11:30PM.  Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter in KL Sentral.  However, since this is a popular option, consider purchasing tickets in advance, which can be done online.

§  As a note, if you are purchasing transportation in Singapore, the prices will be significantly higher than Malaysia (as Singapore would charge the same price in Singapore Dollars, as it would be in Malaysian Ringgit (for example, the train price would be RM50 if purchased in Malaysia and SGD50 if purchased in Singapore – for the same train ride)). Therefore, it is strongly encouraged to purchase a round-trip while you are in Malaysia, to avoid the increased cost in Singapore.

All Aboard the Langkawi Express

A weekend trip from KL to Langkawi island is not only easy and affordable, but a definite must for anyone who likes beaches, relaxation, good food, and fun.

Langkawi is a collection of around 99 islands off the Northwest coast of Malaysia (right on the border between Malaysia and Thailand). On top of powdery soft white sand beaches and clear aquamarine water, Langkawi has stunning mountains – which make for great hiking and waterfalls.

Getting There

There are three options to consider when determining how to get from KL to Langkawi: plane, bus and train.

Plane: AirAsia is the best bet, and routinely offers promotional fares to Langkawi. However, if you don’t book well ahead, the price is usually 3-4 times the price of the bus or train, so it’s by far the most expensive option. With that said, it is also the fastest, with a flight only taking about 45 minutes from KL.  As Langkawi has an airport, this also saves you from the less-than-comfortable ferry ride to mainland Malaysia.

Bus and Train: There are many busses, and one train (the Langkawi Express) that takes you from KL to Langkawi. Both the bus and the train can drop you off at one of two locations: either Alor Setar or Kuala Perlis (as both towns have ferries to Langkawi). Alor Setar is closer to KL, but the ferry ride is longer and more expensive. Kuala Perlis is right at the border with Thailand (so farther from KL), but the ferry ride is shorter (1 ½ hours).

From what I researched, the bus takes between 7-8 hours. There is a bathroom on the bus, and most busses provide a simple dinner or breakfast (usually a sandwich and drink). However, check with each individual bus, and bring your own food if necessary. The bus is nice in that it drops you directly at the jetty, so there is no need to take a taxi. 

The train leaves from KL Sentral around 10PM (if I can remember) and the ride takes around 10 hours. There are three levels of seating choices – upright seats, personal beds, or a private room (comes with 2 beds).  The upright seats are the cheapest of course, but are by far the most uncomfortable (which I will discuss in greater detail in my blog on Singapore). I think the seats are RM 35. For an overnight journey, I would highly recommend that you avoid this option, unless you purposely want to torture yourself with no sleep. The sleeping car has bunk beds, with the upper bunks being slightly cheaper than the bottom bunks.  If I remember correctly, the beds are around RM 45 for the upper bunk and RM 50 for the bottom bunk – only slightly cheaper than the chairs. I would recommend the sleeper car, as this will be your bed for the night. The third option, a private compartment, is of course the best option, but double the price of a bunk.  It’s around RM 100 per person, so about RM200 for the room.  For this, you get your own door, and may even get your own bathroom – which would be a plus, plus your own sink and large window. As a note, don’t worry about missing your stop because the train conductors come around yelling loudly the stops as they come.  They also turn on the lights, as most people get off at Kuala Perlis (if you choose Alor Setar it will be an earlier stop, and the lights do not go on, so set your alarm to make sure you don’t miss it). Once you arrive, the train station is about a RM25 ride to the jetty.  I would suggest talking to others getting off the train so you can share a taxi ride – since pretty much everyone on the train is heading to Langkawi anyway.

I decided to take the night train so I could sleep on the train Friday night and Sunday night – only requiring one night of hotel in Langkawi for 2 days on the island.  As such, I upgraded to the sleeper car, which allowed my husband and I to each have our own bed (less than RM50 each way per person). I definitely liked my choice, as with a bed, I was able to get a better sleep than on a bus. Plus, you get your own private curtain so you can change into more comfortable pyjamas, and the sheets are changed after every use, so it felt clean. As a note, it’s important to bring ear plugs, as some people on the train do not understand the concept of not making noise at night. Also, there are not any good food options on the train (rumour has it that there is a snack car with egg and sardine sandwiches) so it’s best to bring some snacks and drinks in case you get hungry on your journey. One HUGE DOWNSIDE is that the bathrooms are pretty much unusable.  Many people ‘miss’ when they use the toilet in the train, so walking into it pretty much feels like walking into a port-o-potty. So be advised, just don’t drink anything before you go onto the train, and try not to use the bathroom until you reach the jetty.

At the jetty: Once you arrive immediately go to buy ferry tickets, as the tickets are timed, and sell out fast on weekends and holidays.  When I was there, we had to wait 1 ½ hours for the next ferry because the time we wanted was already sold out (seats are assigned). After you purchase tickets, you can go across the street to get food at one of the many hawker stalls.  We had roti cani (flaky bread in the shape of a pancake served with curry sauce to dip) with teh tarik (sweetened milk tea –Malaysian specialty). My husband had mee goring (like lo mien or stir-fried noodles). There is also a KFC for those with more Western palates.

The ferry is not anything you would picture when you think of vacation, and is the least pleasant part of Langkawi.  There is no outer deck to feel the ocean breeze, and in some of the boats there are only tiny porthole windows that are so high on the wall and so far between that you can barely see out of them.  Additionally, on one of the ferries we took there were small coach roaches crawling up the walls.  Yes, it was pretty much disgusting!  In addition, if you are unlucky enough to get seats assigned in the bottom hull of the ship (which happened to me both ways) their air feels stifling until the boat starts moving (which can take up to 30 minutes while passengers are loaded) and it take forever to exit the ship, because hundreds of people are lined up to go out of one, and only one door (both the upstairs and downstairs passengers).  Honestly, I don’t know who designed these ships…. (In the first boat, to be honest, the windows were large and the air conditioning was fine – so these complaints only relate to my journey back).

Where to Stay

We decided to go to Langkawi at last minute. In looking online everything cheap was booked, and all that was left was expensive options. I read on blogs that you can arrive in Langkawi and walk from hotel to hotel to find a place at much better rates that those online, so we decided to take a chance and do it that way. What a great idea!

Don’t stay in Kuah because there are not any beaches there are you are far from all the attractions (unless the only thing you want to do is shop, then Kuah is fine). We arrived in Langkawi and took a taxi to Pantai Chenang (a.k.a. Chenang Beach).  There are so many options there.  We literally walked from place to place and ended up finding a motel (ABC Motel) right on the beach for RM100! Super-good deal! Plus, there was a travel agent right across the street that was selling different tours for great prices – including Island Hopping Tour which is a must (discussed below).

Lesson learned – book ahead if you really want to stay at a particular place or if it’s a holiday weekend (like Chinese New Year) and you know it will be full.  Otherwise, try your luck and you can definitely get a good deal.

Must-See Attractions

My favourite thing was the Island Hopping Tour which was over $100 USD online, but only RM 25 if you buy it in Langkawi.  This tour really made me feel like I was on holiday. The eagle feeding was something I’ve never seen before, and we even got to ride on a paddle boat in the fresh water lake on one of the islands.  (See attached pictures).  Totally worth the money and a MUST do!

The other must do attraction is the cable car.  My husband loved it way more than I did, because I’m scared of heights. The view was so amazing, and you really get to appreciate how great Langkawi is from up that high.  It’s totally worth the money as you get to walk on the highest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world and even can see Thailand on a clear day. After you get back onto lower ground, look out for the yummy ice cream vendor that is near the entrance.  Their prices were really good and the ice cream was delicious. The cable car is located in the Oriental Village.  There really isn’t anything special to see here, so again, unless you really want to shop, don’t waste your time in the shops and head back to the beach.

The Seven Wells waterfall is also really nice. We actually did the 45 minute hike up to the top, where we found that the top waterfall had already dried up (hike was still nice, but ask people coming down if the waterfall is active before going, unless you just want a hike).  However the lower falls were still running so it was really cooling to put our feet in the water and watch other swim (we would have to if we had more time).  This is a great place to relax mid-day and have a picnic (local restaurants are at the entrance).  Also, do take both hikes (the short and long) as the short shows you the base of the falls and the long takes you up the falls.

The beach is a must do in the morning or evening – during the day the sand burns your feet and is only tolerable for the most avid beachgoer. I read online that some people complain about the jellyfish there. But, when I was there in mid-February there were not any jellyfish to be found (so I guess it’s seasonal).

Eating

We had a hard time finding anything open for breakfast. It seems that everyone sleeps in late there. So if you need to be up early (like for the 9AM Island Hopping Tour) then don’t waste your time roaming around. Instead, go to the restaurant right next to the ABC motel, as it was the only one open.

For lunch and dinner just walk up and down Jalan Pantai Chenang. There you will find everything from western to Indian and Malay.  We found this great place at the end of the street (on the right-hand side if the beach is on your left) that served fresh seafood. I ordered a recently caught tuna fish that was grilled over a fire.  It was simply to die for an only RM 3!  What a deal.

If You Have the Money

You can also take ferries from Langkawi to the popular Thailand islands such as Phi Phi and Phuket (passport permitting). So if you have the time and money, consider adding that to your journey as the ferries are all less than RM 200 and take you direct.

Things You Can Miss

Although I haven’t been there myself, a friend told me that the volcanic black sand beaches on the northern tip of the island are definitely not worth the trek. Apparently, the beach is covered in trash, debris and driftwood.  As it’s not maintained, and it’s well out of the way from all other attractions, I would skip it unless you are in the area.

As usual, if you have any questions on heading to Langkawi, send me a comment and I can try my best to answer your questions.