West Coast Discover

Let's join with us to discover Malaysia's west coast within this 8 days/ 7 nights. Highlights include the charming city- Malacca, the grand colonial architecture of Ipoh, relaxing cruise around Banding Island, exploring the sights and beaches of Penang and learning of tea producting in the Cameron Highlands.

Duration: 8 days/7 nights

Tour Code: MMHL01

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Malacca - Ipoh - Pedu Lake - Penang - Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves - Kuala Lumper

• Day 1 - Malacca Arrival

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals:

  Arrive at Malacca. This charming city was founded some 590 years ago by a crown prince called Parameswara. From a humble beginning, Malacca rose to become a prosperous and powerful trading empire sought after by the powers of Europe. They came and they conquered and the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English respectively left behind their mark that stands till this day. Go around town and see some of the oldest relics in the country like the Dutch Square with the pink colored Stadthuys, Christ Church, Clock Tower and the Queen Victoria Fountain. You will also see the Cheng Hoon Teng which is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia founded in 1645, the Porta De Santiago- the Gate to the Portuguese fortress "La Formosa", was built in 1511, the St. Paul's Church where St. Francis Xavier was once buried and many more interesting sites would also be worth a look. Stay overnight in Malacca.

  Day 2 - Malacca - Ipoh

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Breakfast at the hotel.
  9.00: Check-out from your hotel and drive north towards Ipoh by passing the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
  10.30: Take the Gopeng exit which is about 30 km south of Ipoh and leave the Highway. Suggested visits are the Kellie's Castle- an amazing leftover from the colonial times and William Kellie Smith- a wealthy British plantation owner, planned to build this splendid mansion for his unborn son. Smith died in 1926 and the mansion was never finished. Next to the mansion is a Hindu temple, built in memory of the 70 artisans who were brought in from Madras to work on the mansion when a mysterious illness decimated the workforce. Make a right turn after the mansion to continue your journey and drive straight on the main road towards Ipoh.
  12.30: Have lunch in the local restaurants.
  14.00: In the afternoon, visit Ipoh town with its grand colonial architecture. Some of the highlights are the Moorish-Victorian train station, the St. Michael's Institute and the Birch Memorial Clock Tower that was erected in the memory of JWW Birch, Perak's first British Resident who was murdered by revolutionaries. Stay overnight in Ipoh.

  Day 3 - Ipoh - Pedu Lake

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Breakfast at the hotel.
  8.00: Time to continue the drive to Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak, which is 50 km North-west of Ipoh and just beside the highway.
  10.00: Visits the Ubadiah Mosque which is probably the finest mosque in Malaysia. Then visit the Istana Iskandariah (King's Palace) and the Istana Kenangan, which was built in 1926 entirely without the use of nails. Drive north and take the Changkat Jering exit to visit Taiping which is several kilometers off the highway and 88 km south of Butterworth.
  13.30: After lunch, another suggested visit is the beautiful Lake Garden. You will leave the North-South Highway and take the rural road up to Gerik. Enjoy the very scenic drive through Malaysia's Kampungs (villages). You will soon reach the state of Kedah which is known as the rice bowl of Malaysia. Arrive in the afternoon at Pedu Lake, one of Malaysia's jungle lakes, which is only 5 km away from the Thai border. This untouched area is about 1224 square kilometers and is home to millions of species of wildlife. There are numerous species of birds to start with - the White-bellied Sea-Eagle for example, which some people say is probably the most magnificent creature in Pedu. Stay overnight in Pedu.
  Special events to take note of : During February witness the traditional art of collecting honey made by the giant wild honeybee or Appis Dorsata as it is scientifically called. In a brave ritual, a male individual will recite a chant to ward off the bees as the others gather the honey from the unique Tualang trees.

  Day 4 - Pedu Lake - Penang

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure.
  13.00: After lunch, it's time for the drive to Penang. Continue the drive on the highway, head straight up toward Penang.
  15.30: Cross over to Penang using the Penang Bridge, which by the way is the third longest bridge in the world. Arrive in the evening. Head toward Tanjung Bungah which is the first stretch of beach after Georgetown as it is quite a distance before reaching another prominent beach, Batu Ferringhi. Stay overnight in Penang.

  Day 5 - Penang

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Have breakfast at the hotel.
  8.00: Explore Georgetown or the entire island. It is about 70 km all the way round, but only the north coast road runs right on the coast, so you are not beside the beach all the way. Georgetown is a compact city and most places can easily be reached by foot or by trishaw.
  9.00: Suggested visits in Georgetown are Fort Cornwallis, build by the British East India Company in 1808, the Khoo Kongsi Clan House which is a magnificent building with intricate carvings worked by master craftsman from China, the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) Temple, Kapitan Keling Masjid, the Wat Chayamangkalaram with its' 33 meters long reclining Buddha/'sleeping Buddha statue, the Dharmmikarama Burmese Temple and Penang's Millionaires Row with many beautiful colonial mansions. Stay overnight in Penang.

  Day 6 - Penang - Cameron Highlands

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  9.00: Depart from your hotel in Penang to Cameron Highlands. The Highlands, which is 1542 meters above sea level, is famous for its world-renowned tea and sprawling tea plantations. To get there, drive southwards to Ipoh on the North-South Highway. Take the Tapah exit and leave the Highway. We suggest for you to have lunch at Tapah Resthouse (simple but clean local restaurant). Continue your journey to Cameron Highlands for another 65 kms. It's a long, gradual and often scenic climb from Tapah to the Highlands with plenty of corners on the way, one visitor reported 653 bends! Suggested visit en route is the Lata Iskandar Waterfall which is about 25 km from Tapah on the way to the Highlands. Cameron Highlands consists of three towns namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang in that order when you are on your way up.
  15.00: Suggested visits at Cameron Highlands are the vegetable and strawberry farms, the Butterfly Garden, the local market, the tea plantations and the tea factory. The easiest estate to visit is BOH's Sungai Palas Estate, north of Brinchang off the road to Gunung Brinchang. Free tours are conducted regularly, except on Mondays when the estate is closed. Stay overnight at hotel in Tanah Rata which is the second of the three towns.
  Optional Tour: The Village and Nature Tour, which will give you an insight of Cameron Highlands. Visit the Cloud Forest, the peak of Gunung Brinchang, view the rolling tea hills, and tour of tea factory. The tour is conducted by local guide driving a Land Rover.

  Day 7 - Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Breakfast will be at the hotel. Then it's time for a scenic drive to Kuala Lumpur via Tapah.
  12.00: A suggested visit at this point would be the Batu Caves, which is only 13 kilometers from the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur. After a walk up the 272 steps of stairs that leads to the wide opening of the cave's mouth, you'll see that this marvelous limestone formation holds a Hindu Temple within - definitely a must see. Continue your drive to Kuala Lumpur and check-in your hotel before embarking on a city tour on your own free time. Drive around town to take in the sights, sounds and smells. Visit the Jamek Mosque which is the oldest mosque in KL, the War Memorial and Chinatown. You must also not miss the Moorish-styled Federal Court, the Railway station, a striking piece of Mohammedan architecture, the Tudor-styled Cricket Club and the King's Palace. Certainly, the most spectacular new sight in Malaysia is the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world, which just recently opened its doors to the public.
  In the evening, try the local delights at the many food stalls all over town and try your hand at bargaining at the night market in Chinatown. Stay overnight in Kuala Lumpur.

  Day 8 - Kuala Lumpur Departure

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  After breakfast, you are free at leisure and then transfer to the airport for your departure.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 07 Nights accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily breakfast.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.

  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program.

  - Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - Visas on arrival

  - International flight tickets and airport tax.

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  
  

  
  

  - Travel insurance 

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & other not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note
  - The itinerary is just a sample of our Malaysia tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.
  
  What to bring?
  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...
  
  How to start?
  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.
  - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Malaysia Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).