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Best Things to Do in Malaysia

Soar through the blue skies of Kuala Lumpur while you feel surges of exhilaration. You can be an advanced skydiver or a beginner, various companies offer packages for either. It is one of the best things to do in Malaysia.

Tandem Skydiving harnesses you to an experienced skydiver, helpful if you’re a beginner. It is the amongst the most adventurous things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

Majority providers of this activity provide you with equipment and videos of your adrenaline pumping flight. Keep in mind that this activity is seasonal and depends majorly on weather conditions as well.

Price: Approximate price ranges from 800 MYR to 1500 MYR depending on the number of jumps.

If you are looking for a high-adrenaline activity in Kuala Lumpur, you can try out helicopter sightseeing tours at this place. Take a tour around the capital city of Malaysia in sophisticated helicopters and enjoy the panoramic view of the place. Minimum 4 passengers are required to take up this trip. It is a fun thing to do in Kuala Lumpur and is enjoyed by all those who go for it.

Highlights – The pilot who will steer your Robinson 44 or EC125 helicopter is highly proficient in English and trained for the job. He does the role of a tourist guide as well, sharing you some important information about the landmarks of Kuala Lumpur. Take amazing pictures while enjoying the scene from your air-conditioned choppers.

Location – 1500 feet above sea level from Kuala Lumpur.

Timings– From 10 AM to 5 PM all through the day, depending on weather conditions. The total ride takes up to 30 minutes.

Price – Approximate RM890 per person (same price for adults and kids).

If you love fun and adventure and ready to take up any challenges than Scuba Diving in Penang is the best option for you. Dive deep into the water and explore the sea life and dive among the turtles and sharks of these region. The fun part is that you will be seeing this in live.

Highlights: Explore the underwater flora and fauna and get a closer view of the coral reefs. The diving  in the clear blue  water is surely going to be one of the best experience for a lifetime you and your friends. If you are a beginner then there will be some professional diver who will help you dive better.

Location: Kota Kinabalu

Price: Approximately 120 - 400 MYR

Malaysia is one of the most-sought after destinations of adventure water sports activities. Though almost all beach resorts provide parasailing tours for their guests, this is best enjoyed in Langkawi Island.

Highlights – It is better to choose authorised tour operators for parasailing, because one may have to go through lots of risks when choosing illegal operators. Two to three people can travel in one ride and the ride usually takes ten minutes. The thrill that you get when you are lifted close to 500feet above sea level and when you land back safely on to the boat cannot be described in words.

Location– Langkawi Island.

Timing – One parasailing trip takes around 30 minutes to complete. 2 to 3 people are lifted at a time.

Price – RM80 per person on the beach for 3km; RM180 per person on the boat for 8km.

One of the best water sports activities that tourists enjoy when they come here is scuba doo, where one gets to enjoy the waters of the ocean,with the help of an underwater scooter.

Highlights – Here, you can breathe normally as you sit inside a dome in your scuba bike. You get to travel to a maximum depth of 10m under the sea and enjoy the rich marine life of Malaysian waters, as you feed the fishes here. This is one of the newest activities launched by many resorts in Malaysia to provide ultimate fun to tourists. No scuba diving or swimming experience is required to take up scuba doo rides.

Location – Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Timing – Underwater scooter rides are currently offered between 60 and 90 minutes.

Price – RM200 to RM275.

Do you want to go underwater but are apprehensive about your swimming or scuba diving skills? You don’t have to worry anymore, as now there is a new sport introduced in Malaysia and many parts of the world , known as sea –walking. Sea Walking is one of the best things to do in Malaysia.

Highlights – Now, you can remain dry above your neck by wearing a helmet, while walking under the sea, feeling awestruck at the marine life and coral reefs that are found here in plenty. Ideal for people of all age groups (minimum of 10 years) and for people who have absolutely no idea about swimming, snorkelling, diving and other related water sports. It is ideal to take up sea walking tours along with other water sports packages, so that you get a good deal on them.

Location – Borneo Island; exactly between Manukan & Gaya Island near Kota Kinabalu.

Timing – Sea-walking tours usually takes around 15 minutes.

Price – RM250 per adult.

White water rafting is one of the most common water sports activities in Malaysia. The rivers in Malaysia are graded according to the water course and the challenges faced by rafters coming here. Some are easy and are apt for beginners, whereas some are apt for people with good rafting experience.

Highlights – The views across these rivers when you undertake rafting is something that you have to see to experience. Set at the backdrop of majestic hills, with this white water rafting, you can experience some unforgettable moments in your life. Choose a package tour, because you can get to enjoy few other activities as well with these.

Location – Kampar (safe for beginners), Ulu Slim (good for first timers), Selangor (medium challenges and most famous) and Singoh (highly challenging).

Timing – Most of these rafting tours can be completed within 1 to 3 days based on the complexity levels.

Price – starts from RM150 per person and goes up to RM1500 per person.

Stretch your legs and get ready to explore the tropical beaches by snorkeling in the clear water of Kota Kinabalu. The  stunning islands here are surrounded by coral reefs and a plenty of aqautic life, discover the amazing marine life by snorkeling in Kota Kinabalu. The vast ocean has so much hidden in its bosom and the best thing is that you get to feel that ultimate excitement while snorkelling underwater.

Highlights: The underwater life is something which is totally different from what we actually see. The green plants and the marine life will attract you as you snorkel deep into the water.Feel the difference as you float through the astonishing clarity of the water and the mesmerizing colours of the underwater life.

Location: Kota Kinabalu

Price: Approximately 120-135 MYR

Cruise tours are the best when it comes to enjoying beautiful places in a relaxed manner. As you cruise along beautiful waters to your desired destination, you can enjoy a sense of tranquillity that can only be felt. It is one of those things to do in Malaysia that you should not miss on your trip.

Highlights – It is recommended to book for your cruise tours quite early because the seats get filled up fast. When you book suites, you can enjoy the luxury of a 5-star hotel in your cruise. Ocean View tickets give you a panoramic view of the city where you want to travel to.

Location – There are five main ports from where you can take cruises to and from Malaysia. They are Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Malacca, Penang and Johar.

Timing – Cruise packages are available for 3 nights, 4 nights.5 nights or more from Singapore on a frequent basis.

Price – Close to RM1980 per person for a 3-night cruise tour in the Singapore – Penang – Port Klang – Singapore route.

When you come to Malaysia, be sure to take up island hopping tours. This is the best way to explore the best of both the islands at one price. There are lots of islands in Malaysia and tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to choose their ideal locations. A group of islands can be combined for this tour.

Highlights – Island hopping is highly recommended by travel experts, because this way, you will get to see many different islands and understand their cultures, thereby enriching your experience.

Location – Penang and Perhentian Island are the two most preferred choices by tourists.

Timing – When you start from Penang you can explore places like Pualu Aman, Pulau Gedung, Pulau Jerejak and Pulau Payar, When you start from Perhentian Island, you can hop between this and Lang Tengah. Ferries are used for this transport and there are 3 to 5 nights package.

Price – For a 5 night trip, it can cost around RM335 per person.

Has aeronautical engineering always mesmerized you? Did you have a passion to become a pilot but couldn’t pursue it for practical reasons?

Give wings (literally) to your dreams when you visit Malaysia, as you get the chance to be pilot for a day here.

Highlights – You get to ride the airplane of your choice after getting enough instructions on the ground. Upon completion of your activity, you will get a certificate of excellence. Cessna, Robinson, and Eurocopter are some of the common designs of aircraft that are available here.

Location – Kuala Lumpur.

Timing – There are 20, 30 and 60 minutes driving programs available for you to choose from. Totally it takes about 3 hours which includes the ground briefing, theory lessons, and flying sessions.

Price – RM250per person for 20-minute flying experience on Cessna and around RM2250 per aircraft for group booking (maximum 4 guests) on an EC120B helicopter, for a 30-minute flying experience.

Hot Air Ballooning is one of the key activities in Malaysia and provides unlimited fun and excitement for tourists of all age groups. Apart from the annual Putra Jaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, you can also enjoy generic balloon rides any time during the year, when you come to this part of the world. It is one of the best things to do in Malaysia.

Highlights - As you travel through the skies during early mornings, you will get a remarkable view of sun-rise, which is a truly majestic sight.

Location – Putra Jaya.

Timing – The average flying time is one hour. It takes around 4 to 5 hours for you to start form your hotel, finish the trip and then go back to your hotel safely.

Price – Around RM850 per person for a base package (complimentary food, 1 hour flight and certificate), RM1000 per person for 2nd package (additional services of in-flight photo, time-lapsed video, hotel transfers etc.) and RM1150 per person for 3rd package (additional services of premium gift box etc.)

If you have a keen eye for nature and love to study about ecology and biodiversity, Mangrove Boat Safari is one of the best tours for you. This is a one day tour from the beautiful island of Langkawi and you will learn a lot during this tour, thanks to your knowledgeable and supportive guides.

Highlights – This is not just boat safari, you will get to do a lot of activities like exploring deep into the mangroves of Kilim & Batu Gajah, Eagle Watching at Tanjung Rha, feeding fishes and fly-fox watching at Dangli Island, visiting the local fish farm, trekking on the bat caves, Swimming at the beach and understanding the rich natural ecology all around.

Location – Tanjhung Rha.

Timings – Boat safari takes around 5 to 6 hours. Starts at 9AM in the morning and tourists are dropped back by 3PM.

Price – Starts from RM160 per person and RM110 per child. Boat can carry maximum 6 people.

Malaysia is home to many adventurous water sports activities. Wakeboarding is one of them. Here you can try a few tricks in water when you go up along with your wakeboard, to which you are connected to.

It can be scary at first; however in Malaysia, the guides are very helpful and they take out all inhibitions from you.

Highlights – All wakeboards used by hotels & resorts in Malaysia are 100% safe. If you want to cut some costs and bring you own wakeboards here, you are allowed to do that too.

Location – Almost all the beaches are apt for wakeboarding in Malaysia. You can choose the one that is convenient for you.

Timing – Usually wakeboarding is allowed for one hour only. You can extend the same if you want by paying additional costs.

Price – RM400 per boat for an hour on week days and RM480 per boat for an hour on weekends.

One of the most adventurous activities that you can try out when you come to Malaysia is Bungee Jumping. Lots of tourists from all over the globe come here to try this.

Highlights – Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is the most famous and permanent Bungee jumping locations in Malaysia. The jump is from 22m above sea level, which might not be too much when compared to other destinations of the world.

However it can be intimidating and exciting for first-time jumpers. You need to choose reputed bungee jumping agencies for this. You will be given a certificate once you complete the jump, which you can proudly flaunt with your family.

Location –Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, Kuala Lumpur.

Timing – The jump actually takes about 5 to 6 seconds only ; suitable for kids aged 10 years and above. Jumps available from 10AM to 6PM.

Price – RM 90 per kid and per senior citizen; RM130 per adult.

If you love adventure and are not scared of insects, caving is one of the primary activities that you can enjoy in Malaysia. There are lots of caves here with excessive growth of stalagmites and stalactites, a complete haven for people who are interested to study about ecology and natural biodiversity.

Higlights – The caves are completely dark; hence you need to be careful while coming here. Worms, spiders, cockroaches, centipedes and a lot of other insects are found on the cave-floors in plenty. Every evening, a large number of bats come out of the caves and leave their droppings on the floors, which forms the food for these insects. Easy, pilgrimage and adventure types caves are found here.

Location – Batu Caves, Gua Kelam, Gunung Reng, Perak Tong Cave Temple, Gua Tempurung Cave, Gua Charas and many more.

Timing – Caving can be done all through the year, as long as the weather is favourable.

Price – Varies as per complexity of caves

Taman Negara National Park is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Malaysia. Located at about 240km from Kuala Lumpur, this national park is rich in cultural diversity and has a tropical climate that attracts local and international tourists.

Highlights – If you are an adventure enthusiast, you should not miss trekking at this 130 year old virgin rain forest. Apart from trekking, you can enjoy various other activities like nature trails and rock climbing, when you come here. The trekking trails in this national park are very dangerous and can be undertaken by experienced trekkers only.

Location – Taman Negara National Park, at about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Timing – Trekking can be done all through the year due to the tropical climate.

Price – Entry fee into the park is RM1 and from there, you can take individual tours or packages. Packages start at an average of RM300 per person.

If you want to witness history and cultural tradition in its fullest form, you have to come to Melaka Historic City.

Highlights – It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city is filled with historic cathedrals, museums, rivers, monuments, temples, heritage centres, spas, architectural wonders and many intricately built places that are hard to miss. Do not miss top attractions like Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum, Jonker Street, Cheng Hoong Teng Temple, St. Paul’s Hill, Malacca River and Red Square when you come here, as they are top attractions.

Location – Just about 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur and a 4-hour bus ride from Singapore.

Timing – The historic city is blessed with many top tourist sites which operate at different timings. Have a guide or Melaka attractions map with you, so that you know about the timings of various places.

Price – Entry fee of various tourist spots in Melaka are different.

Redang Island is becoming one of the hot destinations for beach lovers visiting Malaysia in large numbers over the years. It is known as Pulau Redang or simply Redang in the local dialect.

Highlights – Replete with pristine waters, palm groves, sandy beaches, tropical climate and a rich marine life, Redang Island is a haven for water sports activities. There are totally 9 small islands in this area. Do not miss the rich coral reefs here. This is one of the most beautiful and scenic islands in Peninsular Malaysia.

Location – 45km from the Terengganu coast and one hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. The island can be reached by boat ferries that are available at Kuala Terrengganu.

Timing – Due to the pleasant climate available here, the island can be visited all through the year.

Price - Redang Island Marine Park is the entry point into this island. RM5 is the entry fee for this park.

Penang Hill is one of the famous hill stations in Malaysia and a favourite tourist destination for honeymooners.

Highlights – Do not miss Bukit Bendara, a peak which is at a height of 830m above sea level. Due to its altitude, the climate in Penang Hill is very cool, apt for tourists all through the year. Lush green plantations, colonial style bungalows, blue peaks all around and a pleasant climate all through, Penang Hill is an absolute delight for nature lovers. Some of the rare species of flora and fauna are found here in plenty.

Location – Air Itam, about 6km from the main city centre of George Town.

Timing – One can visit Penang Hill, all through the day; however the sceneries are best during early morning hours.

Price – Train fare from Air Itam costs around RM4.50 for one way.

Established during 1964, Kinabalu National Park is a major landmark in Malaysia as it houses the majestic Mount Kinabalu, one of the tallest mountains in South East Asia.

Highlights – This NationalPark houses close to 5000 different species of plants and 90 rare and endangered species of mammals. In 2000, UNESCO, recognised this park as a World Heritage Site, the first site in Malaysia to get this honour. Do not miss to see the world’s largest pitcher plant, Nepenthes Rajah and one of the rarest orchids in the entire world, Rothschild slipper orchid, in this park. You can undertake various activities like trekking, rock climbing, bird-watching, farm tours, golfing, photography, nature trails, canopy walks and others when you come here.

Location – Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Timing - Can be visited all through the year.  

Price – RM3 and RM1 per adult and kid respectively (locals); RM15 and RM10 per adult and kid respectively (foreigners).

Are you looking for scenic hill stations in Malaysia? Cameron Highlands is the apt place for you. This place is inhabited by a diverse group of people, which has its impact on its culture as well.

Highlights – This hill station is among the oldest Malaysia tourist places, as it was established during the 1930s. Sprawling tea estates, natural vegetation, pleasant climate, orchards, waterfalls, dense forests, pilgrimage & heritage centres, strawberry farms, lavender gardens, mossy forests, time tunnel gallery, museums and green farmlands are some of the highlights of this place.

Location – Pahang state.

Timing - Climate is pleasant all through the year at Cameron Highlands.

Price – Entry fee differs according to various places.

Semenggoh Nature Reserve has been established to give ultimate care and protection to wildlife that have been abandoned, injured or orphaned.

Highlights – This nature reserve was established in 1975 and contains close to 10000 species of endangered wildlife in its premises. The animals are finally released into the forests to allow them to grow in a natural environment.

The place is known for its Orangutan preservation program. Hundreds of orang-utans have been sent back into the forest after being properly rehabilitated here.

Do not miss the orang-utans development cycle here – their rehabilitation process, feeding times (9 and 10 AM & 3 and 3.30PM) and other processes. Also, you can try out one or all of the 5 natural trekking trails, plant-walking tours, etc.

Location – Sarawak.

Timing – Open from 8 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Friday. Closed on weekends and public holidays.

Price – RM3 andRM1.50 per adult and per kid respectively.

The serenity and natural beauty of Perhentian Islands can blow the minds off any tourist who comes here. This is a group of small islands that have rich coral reefs and are part of a well-preserved marine park, which ensures that the exotic marine life is given due protection & preservation.

Highlights – There are 2 islands here - Small & Big. The small island is known as Pulau Perhentian Kecil. It is the busier of the two, as it offers great features at affordable prices. The bigger island is known as Pulau Perhentian Besar. Water taxis are the only modes of transport to get to different places in the island. Do not miss kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, sea-turtle watching, sunbathing and other water sports activities when you come here.

Location – 10 miles off the coast of Terengganu.

Timing – June to October is the best time to visit this island.

Price – Entry fee of RM5 fort the marine park.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill, located 13km north of Kuala Lumpur, famous for its temple and its crag for rock climbing. If you will ask locals about what to do in Kuala Lumpur? They will answer "visit Batu Caves". It is a place for adventure lovers. It offers residents, travellers, weekend adventures and seasoned ascensionists a pathway to explore enjoy and challenge every part of their body when climbing natural rock faces. 

Batu Caves is the hub of climbing in Kuala Lumpur and enthusiasts from all over head to Batu Caves for a taste of adventure.

You must keep in mind that this sport depends heavily on the weather conditions and should be avoided during rainy seasons which are April - May. Limestone rocks do dry up very quickly even after torrential storms, so avid rock climbers can access them.

How to Reach: Batu Caves are free to enter and wander around. The great news is that you can catch a train right to the door stop. Trains leave KL Sentral every half an hour and cost 4 MYR.

Langkawi Cable car is also known as the Sky Cab claims to be the steepest cable car ride in the world; that takes visitors at a height of 708 meters up in the sky, above the sea level. The cable car carries passengers to Mount Mat Cincang - Langkawi's second highest peak and thus is considered as one of the must-visit places to see in Langkawi.

On a visit here, tourists are advised to carry a jacket as the elevation in height invites chilled winds. The views from the top of this peak make getting onto this ride absolutely worth it and memorable.

Location: Jalan Telaga Tujuh, Kedah

Timings: 9:30 am to 7 pm on all days

Have you heard the concept of sky-trekking from tree to tree? If it sounds like a concept out of fantasy world for you, you should visit Skytrex Adventure Theme Park in Malaysia.

Highlights – You will get to enjoy various aerial adventure activities like flying, swinging, gliding, dangling and other forest adventure activities when you come here. Clear categorisation of activities based on difficulty levels – Little Adventure, Big Thrill and Extreme Challenge.

Location – Shah Alam, Selangor.

Activities – 23 not so easy challenges in the Little Adventure Club, which requires kids to be minimum 1.1m tall and a host of other sky trekking activities in the Big Thrill & Extreme Challenge Segments, which require participants be at least 1.4m tall. Kids who are younger than 12 years should definitely be accompanied by parents or relatives.

Price – RM35 per person (Little Adventure), RM45 per person (Big Thrill) and RM55 per person (Extreme Challenge).

Timings – Open on weekends from 8.30AM to 4.30PM.

The most popular tourist attractions in Kulala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin structures in the world. With a whopping 88-storeys, these feature Skybridge- the double-decker connecting structure between the towers along with the headquarters for Petronas Company and other offices. Other several attractions include Kuala Lumpur Convention centre and Suria KLCC Mall.

The towers have Islamic-inspired architecture and the area around them features the well-maintained KLCC Park. You can avail all these attractions and more, by exploring around with the help of a 170 meters elevator inside.

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday - 9:00 - 21:00 (CLOSED between 1.00  - 2.30 on Fridays)

Location: Near Concorde Hotel Monorail stop, in between Jalan Ampang and Jalan Raja Chulan

Take a hop on and hop off bus tour which traverses you across the island in just 3.5 to 4 hours of time. Taking you to places such as Batik Factory, Fort Cornwallis, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Wonderfood Museum, Little India - Street of Harmony, Chew Jetty, Armenian Street Art, Waterfront Village, Reclining Buddha and Burmese Temple etc.

The sunset tour offers a unique stitch of landmarks around the island such as The Top Komtar, the Observatory Deck, Rainbow Skywalk, the Red Garden Hawker Center, Street of Harmony, Trishaw Night Ride (Heritage Building), Penang City Hall, Penang Town Hall, Esplanade Park and Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. There is a various tour in a day, according to your convenience and time availability you can choose from morning, afternoon or evening tours.

Location: Starting point: Harriston Chocolate Boutique, Kelawei Street

Timings: Morning: 10 AM to 1:30 PM | Afternoon 2 PM to 5:30 PM | Sunset tour: 6:30 PM to 10 PM

The Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower is a 421m high broadcasting and telecommunication tower located amidst the city of Kuala Lumpur. The observation deck inside the Menara KL tower is the best places in Kuala Lumpur for sightseeing and it is also the highest in the city and gives a clear and elegant birds-eye view of the city of Kuala Lumpur.

The tower also houses the highest McDonald’s outlet in the world. One more amazing fact about the Menara KL tower is that it is ranked as the fourth highest telecommunication towers in the world. It is a famous Malaysia tourist places to visit.

Location: The Menara Kuala Lumpur tower is located majestically on the top of Bukit Nanas, also known as the Pineapple Hill

Price: The entry fees to the tower costs approximately 55 MYR for an adult and 45 MYR for a child.

A ride on a cable car takes tourists to Langkawi Sky Bridge - a true highlight of the region, elevated at a height of 2300 feet above sea level. From the top of this bridge, the mesmerising views of the rainforest along with the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls make sure to leave visitors spellbound.

It attracts nature lovers, photographers, and adventure enthusiasts alike. Here, tourists can also indulge in some shopping at the number of stalls that sell souvenirs, toys, drinks, and snacks. The bridge certainly is one of the top places to visit in Langkawi.

Location: At the end of the cable car, alan Telaga Tujuh Teluk Burau, Langkawi, Kedah

Timings: 10 am to 10 pm

If you are looking for an experience replete with fun and excitement, you must visit Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Malaysia. The place is apt for tourists of all age groups as it has a wide variety of attractions.

Highlights – There are over 80 attractions in this theme park, which is set up at a sprawling area of 88 acres. Park is divided into five areas based on adventure experience – Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, Extreme Park and Scream Park.

Location – Petaling Jaya, about 15km southwest of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Activities – Vuvuzela, Little Zimbabwe, Surf Beach, Captain Kids’ Candyland, Grand Canyon River Rapids, Colorado Splash, Wildlife Encounters, Go Kart, Bungee Jumping, Archery, Nights of Fright.

Price – Walk in rates for adults (12 years and above) are RM150, for kids & senior citizens it is RM120 per person. Rates of Bungee Jumping, G-Force and Go Kart are not included in this.

Timings – Open from 10AM to 6PM on all days of the week.