A passage through time Country: Malaysia Duration: 10 days / 9 nights ROUND-TRIP Route: Round-trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang Type of tour: Culture and nature Your tour designer Steffanie Tan |E: [email protected] | T: (+60) 4 376 1101 TOUR OVERVIEW Embark on a journey through Malaysia’s past, present and future with this spellbinding tour, which over 10 unforgettable days will take you to its most emblematic cities and some of its most spectacular landscapes. Malaysia is a melting pot of such diversity that every destination you visit brings a new sense of adventure and wonderment. It is a country that looks to the future but cherishes the past. Blessed with nature’s bountiful gifts, it also offers age old forests, beautiful beaches, idyllic islands, hills and mountains. With expert guides and five-star accommodation throughout, this tour is the ideal way to discover the real Malaysia and all she has to offer. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Kuala Lumpur: Tour the historic heart of the capital, visiting the National Mosque, Royal Selangor Club and Thean Hou Temple among other sights Malacca: Discover the European colonial heritage of Malaysia’s oldest city and enjoy a scenic river cruise Cameron Highlands: Escape from it all in this English-style hill station where tea, strawberry and rose plantations abound Kuala Kangsar: Visit former royal palaces and the golden-domed Ubudiah Mosque, which is considered to be the most beautiful in the country Taiping: Stroll the spectacular Lake Gardens of Malaysia’s wettest city and visit the poignant war cemetery Penang: Explore the capital, George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a variety of temples and the War Museum DON’T MISS! Kuala Lumpur: Munch on some goreng Cameron Highlands: Enjoy some tea and George Town: Check out the innovative pisang – the deep-fried banana fritters scones while taking in the scenery in one three-dimensional street art that adorns that are a local delicacy of the area’s picturesque tea plantations many of the walls in the old town DAY BY DAY D1 KUALA LUMPUR Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you will be met at the arrivals hall by a representative and transferred to what will be your accommodation for the next three nights, the five-star Hotel Majestic. Located opposite the old Moorish-style railway station, the Majestic is also within walking distance of the capital’s main heritage attractions such as the National Museum, the National Mosque, the Islamic Arts Museum, Lake Gardens and the Bird and Butterfly Parks. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur. D2 KUALA LUMPUR Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel in preparation of a seven-hour tour dedicated to discovering and exploring many of the top cultural and historical sights in the city, with Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist places of worship on the itinerary. See the National Monument, which commemorates those who died in Malaysia’s struggle for independence and during the Japanese occupation of World War II as well as the troubled times that followed the war, known locally as the Emergency. Continue to the landmark Federated Malay States Railway Station, whose eye-catching architecture blends European, Arabesque, Indian and oriental elements. After visiting this early 20th century temple of transport, head to the radically modern National Mosque, which was built in the mid-1960s. The main roof is reminiscent of an open umbrella while the minaret’s spire looks like a folded one. Reflective pools and fountains are spread throughout the mosque, which is surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens. The KL City Gallery is as famous for its neo-Renaissance façade as for its stunning scale model exhibits. Head to Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) where old and new Malaysia merge in a vast, open space. Among the notable buildings in the square are the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the former High Court building, the late Victorian St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral and the Tudor-style Royal Selangor Club. Nearby is the magnificent Moorish-style Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. It lies at the confluence of two rivers and is surrounded by palm trees of all shapes and sizes. Continue to the art deco Central Market, where the scents and sounds of KL come to life, and the 2 adjacent Annexe Gallery. You will be spoiled for choice by the selection of food and beverage outlets in the Central Market, so you can enjoy a nice lunch while watching the world go by. After lunch, head to the dazzling Thean Hou Temple, which is considered one of the finest examples of Chinese architecture in Malaysia, and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, which is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur and is famed for its multifaceted Dravidian-style gopuram tower. Return to the hotel with the rest of the evening free. Dinner at own arrangement. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur. D3 KUALA LUMPUR – MALACCA (160km – 2.5 hrs) Feast on breakfast at the hotel before departure at 09:30 hours for Malacca, driving south through verdant countryside dotted with villages. On arrival, check in at The Majestic Malacca hotel and enjoy some free time for lunch in this most historic of Malaysian cities. Malacca was founded by a Hindu prince in the 14th century but its strategic location on the Strait of Malacca, which was a vital route in the medieval spice trade, made it an attractive prize for European colonists. From 1511 to 1957, it was ruled first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British, each leaving a legacy that can still be spotted today, from the ruins of fort A Famosa to Queen Victoria’s Fountain. The result is a fascinating multi-cultural city that will captivate your heart. At 14:00 hours, we begin a four-hour orientation tour of Malacca, visiting the top attractions. Head to the Dutch-era St John’s Fort for a panoramic view of the city – on a clear day, Indonesia on the other side of the strait. Discover Bandar Hilir, the city’s oldest area, and climb St Paul’s Hill, where the ruins of St Paul’s Church stand, before continuing to the Porta de Santiago, which is all that remains of the Portuguese-built A Famosa. Visit the ‘antiques row’ of the always colourful Jonker Street, where shops and stalls will tempt you with their historic and folkloric wares. Complete the tour with stops at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the Tranquerah Mosque – which unusually has a pagoda instead of a minaret –the three-century-old St Peter’s Church and the haunting Bukit Cina, where Chinese burial sites are scattered on a barren hill. Return to the hotel with the rest of the evening free. Dinner is at own arrangement. You can ask the driver-guide to take you to one of the many restaurants in the city such as those in the Portuguese Square or to try the local Peranakan cuisine (also known as Nyonya), which blends Chinese and Malay flavours, try any of the Peranakan Restaurant, Manis Sayang, Ole Sayang and The Mansion. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Malacca. D4 MALACCA – KUALA LUMPUR (160km – 2.5 hrs) Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a gentle sightseeing cruise up the Malacca River, which is flanked by historic homes, old warehouses, mangrove stands and churches. Expect to pass under some rather colourful bridges, too. The river featured in the 1998 Hollywood blockbuster Entrapment, which starred Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. After the cruise, enjoy a trishaw ride to Villa Sentosa, a family home located on a bend of the river. The house has been turned into a museum of early 20th century Malaysian family living. Admire the intriguing collections of costumes, embroidery, furniture, muskets and other everyday items. The combined cruise and trishaw tour takes about four hours. Return to the hotel for lunch (not included) before departing for Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon. The evening back in the capital is at your own leisure. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur. D5 KUALA LUMPUR – TAPAH – CAMERON HIGHLANDS (260km – 4 hrs) Take to the road after breakfast at 09:00 hours with a stunning, scenic drive to Cameron Highlands in the state of Pahang. The highlands are a resort area situated at 1,500 metres above sea level in the Titiwangsa Range and are renowned for their pleasant cool climate, romantic rolling countryside and their tea plantations. En route, there is a one-hour stop to visit Gua Tempurung, a spectacular cave that was used as a hideout by communist guerrillas in the tumultuous years of the Emergency. Apart from the impressive stalagmites and stalactites, there are also rim stone pools, curtains, straws, calcite crystals and pillars to admire. There are also magnificent marble columns inside a huge cavern honeycombed with smaller caves of different dimensions. Stop for lunch (on own account) at a local restaurant in Tapah, a quiet country town. After eating, head back on the road with a brief sightseeing stop at the Iskandar waterfall, which is almost at the halfway point between Tapah and Cameron Highlands. Here you can meet members of the local hill tribe and maybe even witness a blow pipe demonstration. Continue to the hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. For dinner (on own account), you may choose to eat in your hotel or you may prefer to ask the driver to take you to check out the many types of cuisine that can be found in Cameron Highlands.