Feedback on 20-Day Malaysia Itinerary

Hi everyone! Here’s a rough draft of my itinerary: I’d like to rent a car in KL and return it in Penang. Is there an overnight bus from Langkawi to the Perhentians? Another option: skip one of the two islands to drive back down to KL and stop at Pulau Redang?

Day 1: Arrival at 10 AM, car rental for 7 days, Putrajaya, night in KL Day 2: Batu Caves, Taman Negara, night in TN Day 3: Taman Negara, night in TN Day 4: Drive to Cameron Highlands, night in CH Day 5: Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, night in Penang Day 6: Penang, George Town Day 7: Return rental car in Penang and flight to Langkawi. Night in Langkawi (4 nights) Day 8: Langkawi Day 9: Langkawi Day 10: Langkawi Day 11: Overnight bus? Langkawi to Perhentians (5 nights) Day 12: Perhentians Day 13: Perhentians Day 14: Perhentians Day 15: Perhentians -> KL (flight) Day 17: KL Day 18: KL Day 19: Return flight at 1 PM

Thanks for your expert advice! !

Hi there,

The start of your itinerary seems quite packed, with a lot of travel time for not much time actually spent in places (Taman Negara and Cameron Highlands). Plus, the roads to the Cameron Highlands are mountainous, at least partly. If it rains (which it did for us), it’ll slow you down even more. I’d suggest dropping one island—not to replace it with another, but to give the first part of your trip some breathing room. If you love beautiful sandy beaches and snorkeling, the Perhentians are more interesting than Langkawi, in my opinion.

Hi there, First, I’d skip Langkawi—it’s way too built-up for my taste—and use the days you’d planned there to spend more time in Taman Negara. One day there makes no sense at all! I’d also skip the Cameron Highlands and head to Malacca instead. If there’s only one city to see in Malaysia, it’s that one. PS: You didn’t mention your travel dates… The climate is *totally* different in Langkawi vs. the Perhentians and Taman Negara. From Langkawi to the Perhentians, you’ll first need ferries to leave and arrive at the islands… plus at least 11 hours of bus travel between Alor Setar and Kuala Besut! That’s a minimum of 2 days just for transport! For comparison: Imagine wanting to go from Île d’Oléron to Île de Porquerolles in France…

Wow, the start is fast-paced!

Langkawi is definitely too much—you could spend more time elsewhere (Penang, for example). FYI, there’s a direct flight between Penang and Kota Bharu (access to the Perhentians).

Last question: when are you going? Because you should skip the Perhentians in winter.

Have a great trip! 😉

Hi there, For the first 6 days, doesn’t an average of only 0.5 full day per stop seem totally unreasonable to you? 🤪 Since it’s clear your thing is purely beach time—which also comes through in your questions—why not go all-in and spend your whole trip at the beach? That way, you’ll avoid wasting time on a ridiculous early-route pace. 😉

Thanks! I'm going in May

Thanks, I'm heading there in May!

Where at? Perhentians? Langkawi? Taman Negara? Penang? Malacca? Tioman?