Malaysia Highlights

Intrepid Travel Premier
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
4.6 . Excellent
94%
Travel Style: Array Mixed
Physical Level: All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
8 days
From: $ 1,530 $ 191 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • You’ll explore the rolling green Carmeron highlands, blanketed by tea plantations and strawberry fields, and then trek through the mystical Mossy Forest to learn more about the unique plants living beneath the sea of moss 
  •  Stay in a special eco lodge on the edge of the jungle that’s fighting for the preservation of Ulu Muda Forest with research and awareness, low footprint practices and ecotourism principles.  
  •  Take not one but two river cruises deep in the Ulu Muda Forest to double your chances of spotting roaming wildlife like elephants as your guide tells you about the native plants and wildlife that call this lush rainforest haven home. 
  •  Really slip into the local way of life, staying with a family on a homestay that gives real insight into village culture – play traditional games, learn fishing techniques and tuck into a home-cooked dinner. 
  •  Wander the historic mural-lined streets of Georgetown, the vibrant cultural hub of Penang, and marvel at contemporary art galleries and boutiques, traditional temples and churches.

Short Description

From bustling cityscapes to the blissful countryside to the lush tropical rainforest, this trip showcases the diverse beauty of Malaysia. Across eight days, you’ll learn the local way of life as you journey from the Cameron Highlands to Ulu Muda Forest and on to a local homestay in Penang. You’ll play traditional games with the locals, tuck into a home-cooked dinner and mingle amongst the street stalls. From trekking through the jungle to spotting elephants from a cruise through the wilderness to learning about local fishing traditions – this trip offers culture, nature and wildlife delights.  

Style Small group tour
Spend most of the time outdoors. Common trip themes and activities include cycling, hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting.
Itinerary Focus Active
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City Kuala Lumpur
End City George Town

Destinations

Malaysia

Attractions & Cities Visited

Georgetown Kuala Lumpur

Activities & Interests

N/A

Age Requirement

15-99

No Single Supplement
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Itinerary

Day 1 Kuala Lumpur

Salamat Datang! Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the bustling capital of Malaysia, you can expect streets lined with colourful food stalls, friendly locals and fast-paced energy flowing throughout the city. Your adventure officially kicks off with a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm this evening where you’ll meet your group leader and travel companions. If you arrive in town with time to spare before the meeting, why not check out the Petaling Street Market – the vibrant hub of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown – or wander along the River of Life and its masterful murals. After your Welcome Meeting this evening, you’ll have the option to explore Kampung Baru – a Malay village where you will have the chance to tuck into some local Malay food. On the way back from the village, you’ll stop to wonder at the striking view of the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers from Saloma Bridge.  

Day 2 Cameron Highlands

After a short and sweet stay, you’ll wave Kuala Lumpur goodbye after breakfast this morning as you make your way to the Cameron Highlands. A serene spot, the rolling green highlands are blanketed by tea plantations and strawberry fields and boast a refreshingly cool climate. You’ll arrive in this emerald oasis in the afternoon and might like to spend your time wandering the local market stalls in the evening and then tucking into some typical Malay eats. 

Day 3 Butterworth

This morning you’ll enjoy breakfast just like the locals and treat your tastebuds to some traditional eats straight from a local street stall. This is breakfast on the go – Malay style! After you’ve fueled up with food, we’ll hit the road for a section off the beaten track of mossy forest area and stretch our legs on a trek through this mystical, mist-shrouded spot. Your guide will point out the unique plants living here, under the blanket of rich, green moss. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d walked straight into a scene from Avatar. After some time in this magical place, you’ll step back to reality and explore one of the local tea plantations. You’ll learn more about tea production here and marvel at the endless rows of green shrubs that seem to hug the hillside. This afternoon, we’ll head to Butterworth where you’ll have a free evening and you’ll get a chance to explore the local area and grab a bite to eat at a local cafeteria.  

Day 4 Ulu Muda Forest

Today, you’ll be heading to Kuala Labua, your home away from home, for the next two nights. With a slower start today, you’ll arrive at the Lake Muda Jetty just in time for a bite to eat, prepared freshly for you by the locals. Then, you’ll board a boat ride to Earth Lodge in Kuala Labua, a purpose-fueled organisation that’s fighting for the preservation of Ulu Muda Forest with research and awareness, low footprint practices and ecotourism principles. You’ll be surrounded by nature, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the cities at this special ecolodge some 14km from anywhere. It’s the perfect launching pad to explore the nearby jungle trails, winding rivers and lush tropical rainforest. In the afternoon, you’ll get acquainted with the area on a river cruise where you’ll have the chance to spot local wildlife (even elephants if you’re lucky) before an evening at your leisure to settle in and make yourself at home.

Day 5 Ulu Muda Forest

After breakfast this morning, you’ll pull on your walking shoes for a trek into Bukit Labu where you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide. Listen carefully as your guide tells you all about the native plants and wildlife that call this lush rainforest haven home. Keep your eyes peeled for exotic wildlife, including elephants, as our trek toward the Bukit Labu caves – just waiting to be explored. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the river before trekking back to your accommodation and visiting hot springs Salt-lick where animals like elephants would go and get their minirals . Then, in the late afternoon maximise your wildlife spotting luck with yet another river cruise.

Day 6 Teluk Bahang

You’ll kiss the ecolodge goodbye after breakfast this morning and begin an epic overland journey to Teluk Bahang, a small fishing village in Penang. Tuck into lunch before enjoying some fun with a selection of traditional games. Then, take a late afternoon walk around the fishing village, learn how the locals make their nets and even discover a local orchard plantation. You can look forward to dinner this evening as it will be prepared especially for you by your homestay host. Tuck in and take some time to get to know your local hosts over dinner. Enjoy a special Silat (local martial art) Performance after dinner and learn a few tricks or two from the local masters.

Day 7 George Town

You’ll explore the local market this morning before breakfast and then visit a Batik factory where you’ll learn about the art of hand painting Batik patterns onto materials. Then, you’ll enjoy a photography session and souvenir giving ceremony before waving your homestay hosts a big goodbye and making your way to Georgetown, the capital of Penang. On arrival, hit the streets with your group leader for a walking tour of the city. You’ll notice a certain charm about this city as you wander by the historical building and ancient shopfronts and admire the fascinating street art at every turn. You’ll also explore Pinang Paranakan Museum with over 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectable on display. This evening, you might like to rally your group together for one final meal together in one of the many quaint restaurants of Georgetown. 

Day 8 George Town

Your great Malaysian adventure will come to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’re keen to keep the good times rolling, why not check out our Sabah Adventure, and explore Borneo on a combo style trip

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 1,530
Price Per Day: $ 191 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateBase PriceAvailability 
Mar-30-2024Apr-06-2024$ 1,5908 spots left Reserve
Apr-13-2024Apr-20-2024$ 1,5908 spots left Reserve
May-11-2024May-18-2024$ 1,53011 spots left Reserve
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Aug-03-2024Aug-10-2024$ 1,65311 spots left Reserve
Aug-24-2024Aug-31-2024$ 1,65312 spots left Reserve
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Oct-19-2024Oct-26-2024$ 1,53012 spots left Reserve
Nov-30-2024Dec-07-2024$ 1,53012 spots left Reserve
Dec-14-2024Dec-21-2024$ 1,53012 spots left Reserve
Mar-08-2025Mar-15-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Apr-12-2025Apr-19-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
May-17-2025May-24-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Jun-07-2025Jun-14-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Jun-21-2025Jun-28-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Jul-12-2025Jul-19-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Jul-26-2025Aug-02-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Aug-09-2025Aug-16-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Aug-23-2025Aug-30-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Sep-13-2025Sep-20-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Sep-27-2025Oct-04-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Oct-11-2025Oct-18-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Nov-15-2025Nov-22-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
Dec-20-2025Dec-27-2025$ 1,79012 spots left Reserve
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4,407 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings

94%
4.6 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 3,319
Great 671
Average 144
Disappointing 80
Terrible 193
Value
4.6
Guide
4.6
Activities
4.6
Lodging
4.6
Transportation
4.6
Meals
4.6

Malaysia Highlights

Liked the free time as well as

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
Liked the free time as well as organised activities. Really liked the small group and community awareness

It was well organised, full of interest

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
It was well organised, full of interest with hotels of a standard we expected and some very good local experiences. The leadership of Jeremy Mak was excellent. He was consistently polite and patient and managed to make each day fascinating and enjoyable. We also felt safe with his leadership
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Excellent organisation and a first class tour

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Excellent organisation and a first class tour leader, Jeremy Mak, who was well organised, very competent, and approachable at all times to deal with any issues.
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Company Reviews

Avoid Intrepid

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
Many recent reviews are pointing to a sharp decline in quality and service with Intrepid. My recent experience echoes all that has been mentioned. They are appalling at responding to serious concerns. I have countless auto responses from its laughingly useless and lazy customer service department. Their financial management is a joke. They couldn't find my payment despite my twice providing traces from my bank. They are pathetic liars about not just the money. They lied about their failure to send me any information about my upcoming trip, how they omitted me from the group email circulation. They lied about anyone including a 'senior manager' trying to phone me.
Even the length of the trip is a con with first day being nothing more than a brief meeting at 1800. The last 'day' being breakfast at the hotel with not a sight or sound of the Rep.
Intrepid is a dishonest mess. They are now purely concerned with making money.
Do not use this company. They are terrible and there are many better (and safer) providers out there.
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We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food…

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment.
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Central Asia Explorer

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was my third trip with Intrepid, and I'll continue to plan future trips with them. I choose Intrepid to travel to parts of the world where I don't feel comfortable traveling alone, and the experience is always memorable. Intrepid provides experiences that would be difficult for a traveler to do on their own. The most recent trip I did was to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and it was a fantastic experience.
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Details

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport Private Vehicle,Public Bus,Metro,Ferry,Boat

Group Size

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum Number of People in Group: 12

Accommodations

Hotel (4 nights),Eco Jungle Lodge ( 2 nights),Home Stay (1 night)

Guides

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Age Notes :

Min. Age: 15

Max Age: 99

Additional Information

Finish point

  • Merchant Hotel
  • 55, Jalan Penang
  • George Town
  • MALAYSIA
  • Phone: +60 (4) 263 2828

Trip ID#:

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