MALAYSIA from KUL to Thai Border - The Shortest Itinerary & Travel Tips

Do not miss in this part of Malaysia:
1) Kuala Lumpur so called “Golden Triangle” – the very heart of city with Petronas Twin Towers and Menara Tower. Deer park and Bird park (I DO NOT REMEMBER THEIR EXACT NAMES - CHECK GUIDES) right in the city centre.
2) Cameron Highlands
3) Langkawi or Penang (I prefer Lankawi Island)

General notes from own experience:

1) You do not need a car in KUL itself.

2) There are 2 options to drive to the north – By main North-South Highway or by side roads. Highway is just perfect and impressive. You drive very fast but there are always places to stop and rest. It is very picturesque as it do not pass through the settlements. All the way you see either Rainforests or agricultural landscapes with banana, palm or other plantations. There are impressive limestone rock formations and caves just along the highway. Side roads give you experience of local life but slow down the speed to 40-50 km per hour in average. They are of good quality but narrow with jams in some places especially in townships.

You can drive partly via highway and side roads to experience both.

Shortest itinerary from KUL to Thai:

DAY 1 Arrive KUL

Take a taxi to the city (no need to rent-a-car upon arrival as you do not need it in city and taxi is a comfortable limotaxi costs 20-30 usd)

Walk around the city. I like KUL in the night. The Golden Triangle is full of lights.

DAY 2
Sightseeing in KUL
so called “Golden Triangle” – the very heart of city with Petronas Twin Towers and Menara Tower. Deer park and Bird park right in the city centre.

DAY3
Pick-up a car and go to Cameron Highlands

This is must see in Malaysia inspite only some people visit it. The road there is amazing thrilling winding mountain serpentine through the jungles to the strawberry fields, tea plantations and cool mountain air of Cameron Highlands. Stop enroute to see how tea is grown and to make nice pictures of tea plantations. I recommend you to stay in Strawberry Park hotel. It is not the most expensive but very picturesque. Play tennis in Strawberry Park even if you stay somewhere else. They have an amazing tennis court with stunning views of mountains and valleys covered by rainforest canopy. We enjoyed it very much.

DAY 4 leave Cameron Highlands and move to the north. I do not think that you’ll be able to reach Langkawi that day especially if you take in account that you need to take a ferry to go to Langkawi. It is more realistic than you reach Penang late evening if you take toll highway. Island is connected to the mainland by the long bridge so you do not depend on ferry schedules. Penang is less attractive for me than Langkawi. Just one more resort. But it was interesting to visit butterfly farm and we swimmed there and had fun. You may stay for one or two nights at Penang to relax its up to you.

DAY 5 leave Penang.

As an option you may drop a car in Penang and then take a train from Butterworth to Bangkok. Butterworth is a big train station and all trains including express stop there.

If you move by car further north you may go to Langkawi. I like this island it is not too crowded. There are some unforgettable luxurious resorts. Absolutely amazing golf course with tropical exotic greenery. Visit it even if you do not play golf. We went their to make pictures. A lot of small coves and bays and the main advantage is that we fellt ourselves absolutely alone there. May be it depends on season. But we were there in august and this is one of high seasons. Go to 7 Wells Waterfall, but climb there only early in the morning to be alone. We did it at 6 am just upon sunrise. Sunsets are stunning on Langkawi. Mangroves along the coast. Monitor lizards etc. Crocodile farm is the most tourist attraction there but it was curious for me as I so all the types of crocs who inhabit Malaysian waters and bought croc’s egg there.

You cannot take car to Langkawi as it is not allowed normally. So you park it near ferry departure point on mainland and then hire a car on Langkawi. We did like this. Car is obligate on the island as there is nothing to do without car.

Day 6 go back to the mainland and move to the border or take a train to Thailand.