When people plan their big Southeast Asia backpacking trip it is almost always the typical “Banana Pancake Trail” of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia meaning Malaysia and other incredible countries in the region are completely missed.
Here you’ll find everything from a budget guide, travel tips, a suggested route and more to show you exactly why you should include Peninsular Malaysia in your Southeast Asia route.
Practically, Malaysia is easy to add on the start or end of the typical route. You can cross directly from Malaysia’s popular island of Langkawi to Thailand’s gorgeous Koh Lipe or the other way around via a 90 minute ferry. The immigration is handled effectively on both ends.
Malaysia is a foodies dream. As a cultural melting pot of Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, the food scene is completely unmatched. Hawker centres (stationary local stalls) are the perfect places to get large, local meals at great prices of around RM8 to RM15 ($2 – $3.50).
Malaysia’s nature is absolutely wild. From the stunning islands on the East coast to the rugged jungles and central highlands in the centre of the country, Malaysia is undeniably naturally impressive. Not to mention Malaysian Borneo which is a whole other entity.
Beyond the wonderfully beautiful nature of Malaysia, there are cities and towns which are incredibly colourful with impressive street-art scenes and impressive colonial architecture.
Malaysia sees a huge number of international visitors, however, most of these only visit Kuala Lumpur for a day during transit or come from the small neighbouring country of Singapore. The backpacker crowd is tiny and limited to a few places meaning you’ll skip the scams in long-running tourist destinations you really do get an authentic experience of the country.
Arrive from Koh Lipe, Thailand. Ride the Langkawi SkyCab up Mount Machinchang and walk on the SkyBridge for fantastic views across the island and ocean.
Take the ferry over and explore this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its food and colonial charm. Enjoy the exciting food scene, interactive street art, the gorgeous Lok Si Temple, sunset on Penang Hill and even explore the wonderful Penang National Park.
Relax on these quiet islands, go snorkelling and hike to other beaches. These islands are home to some of the most beautiful waters I’ve ever seen.
As the waters aren’t over-touristed near the islands, they’re full of the most incredible sites. I was super lucky and got to see a huge turtle in the clearest waters as well as hundreds of beautiful fish and coral whilst snorkelling.
A 130-million-year old jungle home to an array of nature and wildlife. Head on a guided night safari as well as a long day trek through this magical jungle to see so much wildlife and nature.
I’ll be completely honest, the night trek was terrifying. Every step was accompanied by fear as every other step there was a new little friend somewhere in a tree, on the floor or in the distance. Fears aside, it was such a cool experience to see snakes, tarantulas, lizards, scorpions and so much more incredible wildlife living in their natural habitat.
Take a tour of the gorgeous tea plantations, Mossy Forest and stunning landscapes or head on a wild hike through some of the jungle trails.
A short journey away is the small city of Ipoh. Visited for it’s limestone cave temples, colonial architecture and great cafe scene, it’s perfect for a short stop.
A few days in the wonderful, bustling capital. Explore everything from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves to the night markets and bustling streets. Choose from the many possible day trips to elevate your stay.
Finish your Malaysia loop in this important port city with a long history of colonisation from the Dutch, Portuguese and British. Enjoy the colourful streets lined with street art and colonial buildings as well historical spots like the Portuguese fort. Line up your stay with the weekend to experience the huge Jonker Street Night Market.
From here head back to KL to fly elsewhere or further south into the wonderful little nation of Singapore.
Malaysia is often given this view of being crazily more expensive than other Southeast Asian countries but it really isn’t – unless you want it to be. Here is a breakdown of how much different things cost in Malaysia from the budget end to the luxury end based on my own experience travelling the country:
Good to Know: Malaysia is a predominately muslim country so alcohol isn’t commonly drank and there isn’t really a party scene here like Thailand or Vietnam. Alcohol is heavily taxed and for a bottle of beer will cost anything from RM 15 – RM 25 ($3 – $6).
| Travel Style | Accommodation | Food & Drink | Transport & Sightseeing | Total Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | RM 30 - 85 (Dorms / Basic Private) | RM 30 - 70 (Hawker Centres & Local Cafes) | RM 10 - 50 (MRT & Occasional Grab) | RM 70 - 205 ($17 - $50) |
| Mid-Range | RM 85 - 400 (Boutique Hotels / AirBnB) | RM 70 - 150 (Casual Cafes & Restaurants) | RM 50 - 80 (Frequent Grabs & Paid Activities) | RM 205 - 630 ($50 - $155) |
| Luxury | RM 400 - 1200+ (High-End Stays) | RM 150 - 400+ (Fine Dining & Rooftop Bars) | RM 80 - 200+ (Private Drivers & Tours) | RM 630 - 1800+ ($155 - $410+) |
1 – The Thailand to Malaysia Border: Crossing the border by island hopping is only seasonally possible, typically October to May. Also, be aware you do have to hand your passport over to boat operators but you get them back before arriving in Langkawi.
2 – Cultural & Religious Differences: Malaysia is more conservative than other Southeast Asian countries. While they’re understanding of tourists, it’s respectful to wear modest clothing and cover shoulders and knees for religious sites.
3 – Cameron Highlands Elevation: As the highlands sit at around 1500m above sea level, temperatures can drop to 15 can drop to 15°c so be sure to pack a jumper and light rain jacket.
4 – Grab App: Grab is used all over Southeast Asia and Malaysia is no exception. It’s effective and well-priced so make sure you download it before heading there.
5 – Cash or Card: Malaysia uses mostly card or QR code but may have a 3% surcharge. Cash is widely accepted too and essential for night markets and remote places like Taman Negara and the Perhentian Islands.
6 – Langauge Bonus: English is widely spoken in Malaysia to a high standard making it easier to navigate and talk to locals.
7 – Plug Change: Malaysia uses the Type G (typical British plug) so if you aren’t from the UK then you’ll need a universal adapter to use across the different Southeast Asian countries.
Adding Peninsular Malaysia onto to the typical Southeast Asia route was an absolute no-brainer for me and I had the most incredible time in the country. So much so that it’s one of my favourite countries I’ve ever been to.
It’s easy to add to an existing trip in the region, it’s full of incredible nature, it’s not over-touristed, it’s architecturally beautiful and the people are super friendly. And for budget-conscious travellers like myself, it’s important to know you can explore Malaysia for the same cost as Thailand.
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