It can take a long time to see Malaysia and explore all its remarkable corners. After all, this is a country rich in nature parks and reserves, architectural monuments and religious buildings, picturesque islands with a unique underwater world. Today, Malaysia, whose attractions are spread out in different parts of the state, is able to provide travelers with all the necessary conditions for an unforgettable holiday. And so that you will have only positive impressions of this country, we decided to make a selection of the most remarkable places that you will be happy to spend your time visiting.
Kilim Karst Geoforest Park
If you don’t know what to see in Malaysia, then feel free to go to Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. Here you will enjoy an exciting motor boat trip, during which you will get acquainted with the picturesque nature and local inhabitants. Usually, the tour passes through caves, grottoes and mangroves. In the caves you can admire the intricate shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, look at the flocks of bats, of which there is an abundance. Monitor lizards, monkeys, various species of birds and crabs are waiting for you in the mangroves.
Travelers who have been here advise you to be careful with macaques, who are still trying to get food and water out of the bags of visitors.
The reserve has a fish farm, where tourists are given the opportunity to see rare fish species while feeding. So, among the local inhabitants you will meet a lemon shark and a stingray, and if you drive a little further from the farm, you can not only admire swordfish and ball fish, but even hold them in your hands. And the entertainment does not end there – you will find feeding red and white eagles on the water ahead of you. And all this takes place against the backdrop of the beautiful mountain landscapes of the state of Malaysia.
Some travelers independently organize a trip to the open spaces of the park, while others book a tour. The cost of the tour will depend on the agency where you buy services: in some offices you will be told the price of $25, in others – $45 per person. Therefore, if you don’t want to overpay, we recommend that you monitor the companies that provide this service.
- The property is open daily from 8: 30 to 17: 00.
- Location: Kuantan, Langkawi, Malaysia. The attraction is located in the north-east of the island
Semenggoh Nature Reserve
The Semenggoh Nature Center, sponsored by the state, has sheltered more than 1,000 species of mammals on its territory, which were included in the list of endangered animals. But the greatest interest in the park is due to the orangutans living here as part of a rehabilitation program. In Semenggoh, you will have the opportunity to meet more than 30 individuals with cubs that move freely around the reserve. The park has three playgrounds where tourists can feed the animals with fruit and observe their behavior. If you want to learn more about the orangutan habitat under the guidance of a ranger, you can apply for this event on the official website of the reserve.
On-site facilities include a small cafe, toilets and free parking. You can also catch a Wi-Fi signal here. The reserve is worth visiting during the hours set aside for feeding orangutans, and at other times you simply will not be able to see them.
- You can do this in the morning from 8: 00 to 10: 00 and in the afternoon from 14: 00 to 16: 00.
- Admission to the reserve costs $2.5.
- Semenggoh is located 24 km from Kuching City and can be reached either by taxi or by self-driving bus for $1 (6, 6A, 6B, 6C) from Chin Lian Long Station.
- Address: Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching 93000, Malaysia.
- Website: https://semenggoh.my/.
Sipadan National Park
Another very famous tourist attraction in Malaysia, where you can take original photos — is Sipadan National Park. The facility is located on a volcanic island surrounded by fairly deep waters, considered one of the best in the world for diving. It is home to very rare species of animals that you will not find in identical areas of the state. Dive into the underwater world and see the leopard shark, octopus, stingrays, stingrays, glass shrimp, giant turtles and other marine life.
After an informative tour, tourists have the opportunity to relax on the beach, equipped with sun beds, special awnings with dining tables and toilets. It should be borne in mind that the visit to the reserve is limited: no more than 120 visitors are allowed here per day. And you can’t get to Sipadan on your own. Visit quotas are distributed among diving centers, which set their own prices for the tour. As a rule, agencies offer packages that include diving at Sipadan and other points + accommodation. Outside of the season, it is possible to find Sipadan-only tours in small diving centers.
The cost of the service varies in a fairly wide range, and in order to find the best price, you should go around at least 10 agencies. Divers who have visited the park note that even in low season, the price for a day with three dives on Sipadan costs $200 or more. At the same time, entrance to the reserve costs $10.
Sipadan does not have any specific opening hours, as the visit is limited and takes place as part of the tour. The attraction is located near the port city of Semporna in the state of Sabah in Malaysia.
Redang Island
This is exactly the attraction of Malaysia, the photo and description of which instantly make you want to go to explore the nature, flora and fauna of the Asian expanses. Redang area of 42 square kilometers attracts tourists with its warm turquoise waters, a variety of animals and cozy beaches. It has the status of a nature reserve. This is a great place for snorkeling, diving, fishing and boat trips. Here you can see more than 500 species of coral, as well as rays, lobsters, shoals of barracudas, turtles and many other representatives of the underwater world.
Redang is unique in that it does not have any land roads, so you can only move from one point to another by boat. At the same time, there is an opportunity to use the services of boaters, or rent a motorboat yourself. On Redang there are many inexpensive hotels focused on active recreation, the concept of which includes three meals a day. The property is located northeast of mainland Malaysia and can be reached either by ferry from Kuala Terengganu Marina or by plane from Kuala Lumpur. For more information about the island, see this article.
Mount Kinabalu
If you have not yet decided what to see in Malaysia on your own, then we recommend paying attention to Mount Kinabalu. This majestic mountain with a height of more than 4000 meters is located on the island of Borneo, 130 km from the city of Kota Kinabalu. At its foot is a national park, which provides a lot of entertainment for travelers. All lovers of active recreation can try their hand and independently climb to the top of Kinabalu to the waterfall. And if it is risky for you, then you always have the opportunity to walk along the mountain trails of low and medium difficulty.
You can also visit the Danum Valley Suspension Bridge Park and take a dip in the hot mountain springs. It should be borne in mind that climbing a mountain requires good physical training and special equipment — trekking shoes and gloves. The way to the top is about 9 km. Tourists who have visited here note that it is difficult to conquer the mountain in 1 day and recommend spending 2 days on it. You can get to the attraction from Kota Kinabalu by regular bus for $5 one way. The entrance fee to the park is $4.
If you want, you can hire a guide for $35-40. Self-organized climbing is not so economical, so if you decide to conquer the top, it makes sense to use the services of a travel agency with a professional instructor. So, a two-day tour with lifting, accommodation and meals will cost an average of $100 per person. The attraction is open daily from 9: 00 to 22: 00.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center
Another orangutan rehabilitation center in the state of Malaysia has become a popular tourist attraction. The center covers an area of 43 square kilometers in a forest reserve, where about 80 individuals live, as well as 25 orphaned cubs. Here, tourists have the opportunity to see orangutans up close. For this purpose, the park is equipped with a special viewing platform. Be careful: some individuals have long been accustomed to humans, so they can come close and take something away from you. It is best to visit the center during orangutan feeding hours-in the morning at 10: 00 and in the afternoon at 15: 00.
On the territory of the park there is a small shop where you can buy cheap souvenirs.
- The entrance fee is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 17. There is an additional charge of $2.5 for photo and video recording. At the same time, all the proceeds are spent on the needs of the rehabilitation center, so you will make a kind of donation.
- The attraction is open daily in the morning from 9: 00 to 11: 00 and in the afternoon from 14: 00 to 16: 00.
- The property is located 26 km west of the city of Sandakan (Sabah), and you can get here by taxi or by bus yourself. Address: Batu 14, Jalan Labuk Sandakan Sabah.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
The Sun Bear Conservation Center is the most valuable gem of the state. It is located near the orangutan rehabilitation center, so it would be logical to combine a visit to these two attractions. It is home to the smallest solar bears on Earth. They can only be found in Southeast Asia. These bears continue to be threatened by deforestation, illegal hunting, and poaching to obtain young cubs for the pet trade. As a result of these threats, young sun bears have been found to live in unnatural captivity conditions in Sabah, with no access to open areas. The facility includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment appropriate to the needs and well-being of sun bears, and to facilitate their recovery in the wild.
You should visit the park in the first half of the day, because it is at this time that the animals are most active. From a special viewing platform here, you can watch them climb trees and take sun baths.
Bears are assigned to different enclosures according to their age. The center has a guide who explains in detail about animals in English. In general, you will need no more than an hour to visit this tour.
- The entrance fee is $12 for an adult and $2 for children aged 2-17.
- The center is open daily from 9: 00 to 15: 30.
- The property is located 26 km west of the city of Sandakan, which can be reached independently by bus or taxi. Address: Jalan Sepilok, Sandakan 90000, Malaysia.
- Website: https://www.bsbcc.org.my/index.html
Bako National Park
Bako is a unique nature reserve in the state of Malaysia, where travelers have the opportunity to experience themselves in the wild jungle and get acquainted with their inhabitants. The park is spread over an area of 27 square kilometers and offers its visitors 18 different routes, differing in the level of complexity and length. It is noteworthy that you can go to explore the jungle both during the day and at night. Among the inhabitants of the park, the most interesting are snout monkeys, wild boar families, crocodiles, macaques and various insects from butterflies to spiders.
In order to fully explore all the corners of the park, it takes 2-3 days, so many tourists book houses on the territory of Bako in advance. In order not to wander through the jungle in search of their inhabitants, you can use the services of a guide. The nature reserve is 38 km from Kuching City, and you can get here by yourself first by bus number 1, which runs from the market next to the Electra building. And then from the pier of the village of Bako by motor boat (about $9), plying from 9 am to 3 pm.
- The entrance fee to the park is $5 for adults and $2 for children from 6 to 18 years old (up to 6 years old is free).
- Bako is open every day from 8: 00 to 17: 00.
- Address: Highway 1002, Jalan Bako, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
- Website: https://sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/bako-national-park/.
Putrajaya Mosque
Located on the shore of an artificial lake, the Putra Mosque is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the state. The majestic structure, built at the end of the last century in the city of Putrajaya, is laid out of pink granite and accommodates about 10 thousand parishioners inside and another 5 thousand people in the courtyard. Its five-level minaret with a length of 116 meters, symbolizing the five pillars of Islam, deserves special attention.
Putra Mosque is one of the few pink mosques in the world. However, it is not as well-known as the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque in Iran or the mosque in the Philippines, and it is not as pink as both. However, the delicate features of this mosque with its pastel pink dome are a sight to behold.
The attraction is beautiful not only from the outside: its interior decoration is also able to make a lasting impression, it is simple but elegant. The property is very clean, and its employees are very friendly and friendly to tourists.
You can only enter the mosque during breaks between prayers. Tourists are allowed inside from 10: 00 am. You must wear closed clothing when entering the building. If you do not have one on you, you will be given a special hoodie. Always remove your shoes when entering.
- You can visit the Putra Mosque completely free of charge.
- Address: Persiaran Persekutuan, Presint 1, 62502 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Batu Caves
The Indian temple in the Malaysian state is a combination of natural ancient caves, decorated at the entrance with a majestic 43-meter statue of the monkey-like deity Hanuman. The property is located 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, and you can get here yourself by metro ($0.6).
- The temple is open to the public daily from 6: 30 to 20: 30.
- Admission — $1.2 per person to the Ramayana Cave; ticket to the Cave villa, which features works by Indian artists and shows Indian dances, – $8.5.
Turtle Island Park
Turtle Island Nature Reserve is one of the most unique places in the Malaysian state where travelers can see the endangered green sea turtles. Huge individuals up to 1 meter in length swim to the coast to lay eggs, which are then collected by rangers and buried in the sand in special incubators. After 40 days, young turtles are born, which are released into the wild, where they begin to live independently. All these processes can also be observed by tourists.
As a rule, turtles come ashore after sunset, and until then you have a great opportunity to swim and sunbathe on the beach, go for a walk in the surrounding area or play football. Snorkeling equipment can be rented on the beach and you can enjoy the local underwater world.
- Turtle Lodge is located 40 km north of Sandakan City and can be reached independently by motor boat from Sabah Parks Pier, which runs between the property and the mainland from 9:30 am.
- The ticket price for adults is $16, for children – $8.
Perak Cave Temple
In the Malaysian state, there is a small town of Ipoh, where there is an ancient cave temple, which sophisticated travelers seek to see. The temple itself is small, but inside you can see a lot of interesting drawings. Everyone can climb from the temple to the mountain, but the steps to the top are open at certain hours – from 9: 00 to 16: 00. This is not a tourist attraction where crowds of visitors walk, so it is calm and comfortable here. At the same time, the temple can be viewed completely free of charge.
The property is located 8 km north of Ipoh, and you can get here yourself from the city bus station by bus number 35 for $0.6.
- Perak Temple is open daily from 8: 00 to 17: 00.
- Address: Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Kawasan Perindustrian Tasek, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur
To visit Malaysia and not see the main city of the state is simply impossible! Rich in cultural sites, natural parks, religious sites and architectural monuments, the capital should be at the top of your list of must-see places in Malaysia. More information about Kuala Lumpur can be found here.
Penang Island
One of the largest islands of the state attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to its open spaces every year. Penang has a well-developed tourist infrastructure and is ready to offer its visitors a wide range of hotels, restaurants and a modern transport network. It will appeal to lovers of active recreation and entertainment and lazy travelers who prefer to relax on the beach. You can get all the necessary information about Penang here.
Langkawi Island
Clear sea, white beaches, pristine landscapes – all this is the island of Langkawi. Being one of the most popular resorts in Malaysia, Langkawi is famous not only for its coastline, but also for a large number of unique natural attractions that you can see in between your beach holidays. More information about Langkawi can be found here.
Conclusion
Any traveler who goes to an unfamiliar country is eager to see its most remarkable objects. And if you are planning to visit the state of Malaysia, the sights of which are quite diverse, be sure to make a route in advance that focuses specifically on your interests.