Here are 5 must-have Malaysian road trips for travelers who do not want to skimp on the experience. Each destination is known for their food, culture, sights and sounds, which are impossible to list here, but you’re welcome—because with this list, you now have a place to start!
1. Kuala Lumpur – Bukit Tinggi – Fraser’s Hill
If you want a road trip that travels up to higher altitudes, then this is the one for you. First stop is Bukit Tinggi, where Colmar Tropicale is located. Colmar Tropicale is a French styled area with several hotels, restaurants and shops. The backdrop of the French village makes a beautiful backdrop for photos. There is also a Japanese village with a botanic garden and a rabbit park.
Visit the Japanese and Botanical Garden first as these two close in the evening while Colmar Tropicale is open 24/7. The walk to Japanese and Botanical garden is quite hilly so remember to bring plenty of water! Do note that there’s an entrance fee. Moving upwards to Fraser’s Hill, there will be more nature-based activities such as archery and horse-riding in The Paddock. There are also several trails to explore by foot, like the Bishop Trail, Hemmant Trail, and Jeriau Waterfall.
2. Kuala Lumpur – Seremban – Melaka
If you’re coming from Kuala Lumpur, a trip to Melaka should only take a little over 2 hours! Instead of rushing straight to Melaka, why not take the Exit 218 (if you’re coming from North-South Expressway) for a short stroll and lunch in Seremban? There’s plenty to do and eat in Seremban but if you’re only there for a short while, their Daging Salai Masak Lemak Cili Api is a must try!
Once you’ve had your fill in Seremban, start your engine and head for Melaka! Malacca is perhaps one of the most historically intact locations in Malaysia and this is why tourists flock to this history-rich place. You can also opt to put your swim suit on and head over to the A’ Famosa Water Theme Park, it is after all the cheaper option in comparison to other water parks such as Sunway Lagoon.
Malaccans would be the first to recommend their mouthwatering delicacies inclusive of the seafood from the Portuguese Settlement Malacca restaurant and the Klebang Coconut Shake. Other meals to sample would be the wide array of food from Jonker 88, and cheese naan from Pak Putra Tandoori and Naan Restaurant.
Johor Bahru is an ideal location for travellers who are looking to enjoy some theme park adventure such as Legoland, Hello Kitty Land, Little Big Club and Angry Birds Activity Park. Instead of spending the money to travel to overseas attractions such as Disneyland, these local attractions are good alternatives.
3. Kuala Lumpur – Sekinchan – Kuala Selangor
Mention scenic paddy fields and Sekinchan would probably pop into Malaysians’ minds. Many have dropped by Sekinchan to host their bridal shoots and there is a good reason for that. Vast open spaces dotted with bright green paddy makes for a photoshoot one would definitely remember. Life here is slow paced so pay a visit to the Fisherman’s Wharf. For meals, seafood is the delicacy to sample here and Cha Po Tion Restaurant is one of the more well known ones.
When one is at Kuala Selangor, fireflies are the experience not to be forgotten, and this can easily be done at Firefly Park Resort. Other than that, tourists can also visit Bukit Melawati to enjoy the view amidst a bunch of friendly monkeys. Some of the must-try meals at Kuala Selangor are the famous Aroma Ikan Bakar and Cendol Bakar Kuala Selangor. It’s clear that grilled is the way to go at Kuala Selangor, but for those looking for a lighter meal, they can try sampling the seafood from Restaurant Makanan Laut Bagan.
4. Kuala Lumpur – Kampar – Ipoh – Taiping
Kampar is a quiet town known for its rich tin reserves. The food that are a must-try while making your stopover here is the famous Kampar Chee Cheong Fun from Restaurant Wing Lok Yuen, and the economical array of food from Medan Selera Kampar. You can also spend some time to visit the place which houses the history of Kampar and that is none other than Kinta Tin Mining Museum. Best of all, a trip to the museum is free of charge and also provides visitors with a colourful background about tin mining.
Kellie’s Castle and Gua Tempurung also make great stops, be it for photo ops or to test your adrenaline. Taiping is also known as a place that’s suited for families, especially with the Taiping Lake Gardens being located here. There is also the Taiping Night Safari which provides educational value and fun whilst mingling with wildlife. Perfect way to end the day.
5. Kuala Lumpur- Temerloh – Kuantan
If you’re on your way to Kuantan, make a pit stop at Temerloh for some original ikan patin masak tempoyak. Temerloh -dubbed as ‘Bandar Ikan Patin’ or ‘Town of the Silver Catfish’ is very proud of their ikan patin and are even putting it up as decorations! Now if you’d like to satiate that craving for ikan patin masak tempoyak, here are two very popular spots to get them approved by locals.
In Kuantan, Teluk Chempedak is a must! The family-friendly beach is always lively but more so on the weekends. There are plenty of things to do here with eateries and night markets set up nearby. If night life is not your thing, you can choose for a morning walk along the cool beach
