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8 Days
Malaysia Self Drive West Coast Explorer
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Code: |
SIN 06 |
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Routes: |
Singapore -
Johore Bahru - Malacca - Kuala Lumpur -
Cameron Highlands - Ipoh - Penang -
Banding - Kota Bharu - Kuantan - Johore
Bahru - Singapore |
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Duration: |
8 Days |
Itinerary in brief
Day 1 : Singapore - Johore Bahru -
Malacca
Day 2 : Malacca - Ipoh
Day 3 : Ipoh - Pedu Lake
Day 4
: Pedu Lake - Penang
Day 5 : Penang
Day 6 : Penang - Cameron Highlands
Day 7 : Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves -
Kuala Lumpur
Day 8 : Kuala Lumpur - Johore Bahru -
Singapore
SELF DRIVE MALAYSIA EXPLORER (EX./TO SINGAPORE)
Some say to see is to believe. And others say
beauty lies in the eyes' of the beholder. Now you
can see the beauty of Malaysia and behold all that
she can offer by discovering Malaysia at your own
leisurely pace. Take in all the scenery, discover
the rich and varied cultures, sample the delightful
local cuisines and soak in the sun at the many long,
white sandy beaches. Our Malaysian Discovery by
Self-Drive packages will make a believer out of you
yet.
Detail Itinerary
Day 1
: Singapore - Johore Bahru - Malacca (240 kms)
09.30 hrs
You will be picked-up from your hotel in Singapore
and transfer-driven to Johore Bahru. Pick-up your
car from the pick-up point and start your journey
north to the Historical City of Malacca.
12.30 hrs Arrive at Malacca. This charming city was
founded some 590 years ago by a crown prince called
Parameswara. From a humble beginning, Malacca rose
to become a prosperous and powerful trading empire
sought after by the powers of Europe.
They came and they conquered and the Portuguese, the
Dutch and the English respectively left behind their
mark that stands till this day. Go around town and
see some of the oldest relics in the country like
the Dutch Square with the pink colored Stadthuys,
Christ Church, Clock Tower and the Queen Victoria
Fountain. You will also see the Cheng Hoon Teng,
which is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in
Malaysia founded in 1645. The Porta De Santiago, the
Gate to the Portuguese fortress "La Formosa", built
in 1511, the St. Paul's Church where St. Francis
Xavier was once buried and many more interesting
sites would also be worth a look. Accomodation at
the Equatorial Hotel in Malacca.
Day 2 : Malacca - Ipoh (349 kms)(Breakfast)
09.00 hrs Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from your hotel and
drive north towards Ipoh, bypassing the capital city
of Kuala Lumpur.
10.30 hrs Take the Gopeng exit, which is about 30 km
south of Ipoh and leave the Highway. Suggested visit
is the Kellie's Castle, an amazing leftover from the
colonial times. William Kellie Smith, a wealthy
British plantation owner, planned to build this
splendid mansion for his unborn son. Smith died in
1926 and the mansion was never finished. Next to the
mansion is a Hindu temple, built in memory of the 70
artisans who were brought in from Madras to work on
the mansion when a mysterious illness decimated the
workforce. Make a right turn after the mansion to
continue your journey and drive straight on the main
road towards Ipoh.
12.30 hrs We suggest lunch at your hotel or perhaps
one of the local restaurants.
14.00 hrs In the afternoon, visit Ipoh town with its
grand colonial architecture. Some of the highlights
are the Moorish-Victorian train station, the St.
Michael's Institute and the Birch Memorial Clock
Tower that was erected in the memory of JWW Birch,
Perak's first British Resident, who was murdered by
revolutionaries. Accommodation at Casuarina Hotel.
Day 3 : Ipoh - Pedu Lake (300 km) (B)
08.00 hrs Breakfast at the Hotel. Time to continue the drive to
Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak, which is 50
km North-west of Ipoh and just beside the highway.
10.00 hrs Suggested visits include the Ubadiah
Mosque, probably the finest mosque in Malaysia.
Visit the Istana Iskandariah (King's Palace) and the
Istana Kenangan, which was built in 1926 entirely
without the use of nails.
Drive north and take the Changkat Jering exit to
visit Taiping which is several kilometers off the
highway and 88 km south of Butterworth.
12.00 hrs Another suggested visit is the beautiful
Lake Garden. You will leave the North-South Highway
and take the rural road up to Gerik. Enjoy the very
scenic drive through Malaysia's Kampungs (villages).
You will soon reach the state of Kedah which is
known as the rice bowl of Malaysia. Arrive in the
afternoon at Pedu Lake, one of Malaysia's jungle
lakes, which is only 5 km away from the Thai border.
This untouched area is about 1224 square kilometers
and is home to millions of species of wildlife.
There are numerous species of birds to start with -
the White - bellied Sea - Eagle for example, which
some people say is probably the most magnificent
creature in Pedu. Accommodation will be at the Pedu
Golf and Lake Resort.
Special events to take note of : During February
witness the traditional art of collecting honey made
by the giant wild honeybee or Appis Dorsata as it is
scientifically called. In a brave ritual, a male
individual will recite a chant to ward off the bees
as the others gather the honey from the unique
Tualang trees.
Day 4 : Pedu Lake - Penang (170 km) (B)
08.00 hrs Breakfast is served at the Hotel.
13.00 hrs After lunch it is time for the drive to
Penang. Continue the drive on the highway, heading
straight up toward Penang.
15.30 hrs Cross over to Penang using the Penang
Bridge, which by the way is the third longest bridge
in the world. Arrive in the evening. Head toward
Tanjung Bungah, which is the first stretch of beach
after Georgetown as it is quite a distance before
reaching another prominent beach, Batu Ferringhi.
Accommodation at Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Tanjung
Bungah.
Day 5 : Penang (B)
08.00 hrs Breakfast will be at the hotel. Explore Georgetown or
the entire island. It is about 70 km all the way
round, but only the north coast road runs right on
the coast, so you are not beside the beach all the
way. Georgetown is a compact city and most places
can easily be reached by foot or by trishaw.
09.00 hrs Suggested visits in Georgetown are Fort
Cornwallis, build by the British East India Company
in 1808, the Khoo Kongsi Clan House which is a
magnificent building with intricate carvings worked
by master craftsman from China, the Goddess of Mercy
(Kuan Yin) Temple, Kapitan Keling Masjid, the Wat
Chayamangkalaram with its' 33 meters long reclining
Buddha/'sleeping Buddha statue, the Dharmmikarama
Burmese Temple and Penang's Millionaires Row with
many beautiful colonial mansions. Accommodation at
Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Tanjung Bungah.
Day 6 : Penang - Cameron Highlands (295 km) (B)
09.00 hrs Depart from your hotel in Penang to Cameron Highlands.
The Highlands, which is 1542 meters above sea level,
is famous for its world-renowned tea and sprawling
tea plantations. To get there drive southwards to
Ipoh on the North - South Highway. Take the Tapah
exit and leave the Highway. We suggest for you to
have lunch at Tapah Resthouse (simple but clean
local restaurant). Continue your journey to Cameron
Highlands for another 65 kms. It's a long, gradual
and often scenic climb from Tapah to the Highlands
with plenty of corners on the way, one visitor
reported 653 bends! Suggested visit en route are the
Lata Iskandar Waterfall which is about 25 km from
Tapah on the way to the Highlands. Cameron Highlands
consists of three towns namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata
and Brinchang in that order when you are on your way
up.
15.00 hrs Suggested visits at Cameron Highlands are
the vegetable and strawberry farms, the Butterfly
Garden, the local market, the tea plantations and
the tea factory. The easiest estate to visit is
BOH's Sungai Palas Estate, north of Brinchang off
the road to Gunung Brinchang. Free tours are
conducted regularly, except on Mondays when the
estate is closed. Accomodation is at the Strawberry
Park Resort, at Tanah Rata which is the second of
the three towns.
Optional Tour : USD 25.- p.p, min. 2 persons (to be
pre booked in advance) The Village and Nature Tour,
which will give you an insight of Cameron Highlands.
Visit the Cloud Forest, the peak of Gunung Brinchang,
view the rolling tea hills, and tour of tea factory.
The tour is conducted by local guide driving a Land
Rover.
Day 7 : Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur (214 km)
(B)
08.00 hrs Breakfast will be at the hotel. Then it's time for a
scenic drive to Kuala Lumpur via Tapah.
12.00 hrs A suggested visit at this point would be
the Batu Caves, which is only 13 kilometers from the
nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur. After a walk up the
272 steps of stairs that leads to the wide opening
of the cave's mouth, you'll see that this marvelous
limestone formation holds a Hindu Temple within -
definitely a must see. Continue your drive to Kuala
Lumpur and check-in your hotel before embarking on a
city tour on your own free time. Drive around town
to take in the sights, sounds and smells. Visit the
Jamek Mosque, oldest mosque in KL, the War Memorial
and Chinatown. You must also not miss the
Moorish-styled Federal Court, the Railway station, a
striking piece of Mohammedan architecture, the
Tudor-styled Cricket Club and the King's Palace.
Certainly the most spectacular new sight in Malaysia
are the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest
buildings in the world, which just recently opened
its doors to the public. In the evening, try the
local delights at the many food stalls all over town
and try your hand at bargaining at the night market
in Chinatown.
Day 8 : Kuala Lumpur - Johore Bahru - Singapore (kms)
08.00 hrs Breakfast at the hotel.
09.00 hrs After check-out from your hotel, drive
back to Johore Bahru using the north-south highway.
The journey will take you approximately 5 hours and
you can make stops at the many rest and relax area
along the highway. Drop-off your car upon arrival in
Johore Bahru and be transfer-driven back to your
hotel or the airport in Singapore. End of tour. |
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