The Ultimate Travel Itinerary for Malaysia with Children
Because it’s easy to get around Malaysia by public transportation, domestic flights, or rental car, there’s really no such thing as the ultimate itinerary. There are dozens — maybe even hundreds — of destinations across the country that are great for traveling with children. It all depends on your travel time, the type of trip you want, and of course, your personal preferences.
Below is a travel itinerary based on our own experiences — one you can follow in about 2 to 3 weeks. We did this route when our kids were younger, and later repeated parts of it again. You can always customize your own route. From most destinations, you can fly directly back to Kuala Lumpur and continue your trip to, for example, the east coast of the peninsula or Malaysian Borneo.
Arrival in Kuala Lumpur (at least 4 days)
We usually stay in Kuala Lumpur for about 4 days before heading off again. Sometimes even longer — we’re big fans of the city, having lived there for a few years before having kids. For most travelers, 4 days is a good minimum. It gives you time to relax, adjust to the new rhythm, and take in all the impressions.
Not a fan of big cities? Fly straight to an island like Penang or Langkawi, or take a Grab or local bus to Pangkor Island. Rental cars are easy to arrange in Malaysia, so you could also consider picking one up right away and driving straight out of the city.
We almost always book a luxury Airbnb with two bedrooms and a big swimming pool — nothing beats relaxing in the pool after a busy day out.
From Kuala Lumpur, you can plan two separate side trips (starting and ending in the city). For example, you could spend 2 nights in Malacca, or visit Taman Negara, a beautiful national park about 3.5 hours away by car. After Taman Negara, you could continue inland to the Cameron Highlands.
Taman Negara National Park (minimum 3 days)
Taman Negara is quite close to Kuala Lumpur and easy to reach by bus (plus a longtail boat) or rental car. You can book the bus + boat combo through Han Travel or NKS Travel — both have offices in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. Han Travel also offers a direct minibus option without the boat ride.
The park is beautiful and everything is well organized. There are plenty of fun tours for both kids and adults, making it an ideal family-friendly jungle destination. Accommodation options range from fairly luxurious (like Mutiara Taman Negara) to more basic stays in the nearby village of Kuala Tahan.
Malacca (3 days)
Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a charming historic center full of Dutch colonial remnants. It’s a lovely town with lots to see. For kids, a rickshaw ride is often a highlight, along with a river cruise through town. The Jonker Street Night Market is super fun — we recommend going over a weekend, as the town feels much quieter on weekdays when the market isn’t on. Malacca is a popular weekend getaway for locals from Kuala Lumpur.
Ipoh & Cameron Highlands (at least 2 and 3 days respectively)
Ipoh is a larger city about 3.5 hours by rental car from Kuala Lumpur. It has beautiful cave temples and a lovely old town. There’s also The Lost World of Tambun, a big (water) amusement park for families. Just before reaching Ipoh, you’ll pass Tempurung Cave, where you can take a great guided tour at set times. We stayed in Ipoh for two nights, but some travelers only spend one night.
The Cameron Highlands, close to Ipoh, are known for their tea plantations and cooler climate due to the higher altitude. It’s a great place for hiking and visiting tea plantations, especially with a half-day organized tour that also includes other scenic spots. Most people stay for at least two nights, but one night really doesn’t do it justice, so try to stay longer if you can.
Penang (around 4 days)
It takes about three hours to drive from Ipoh to Penang. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Some travelers choose to return their rental car here, since Penang is easy to explore by Grab. It’s best to find accommodation in Georgetown, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you’re skipping Ipoh and the Cameron Highlands, you can also travel directly from Kuala Lumpur to Penang — either by rental car, bus, or train. Sometimes even a domestic flight is a great alternative (especially if you book early and get cheap tickets).
Penang is a beautiful island full of attractions. We usually stay for about 4 days, sometimes longer. We often book a luxury Airbnb with two bedrooms and a large pool.
Langkawi (around 4 days)
Langkawi, located north of Penang, is another beautiful island that’s well worth a visit thanks to its many attractions. Penang and Langkawi have some similarities — but even more differences — which is why people often visit both. In our opinion, Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s most stunning islands, offering a great mix of activities, scenic spots, tasty food, and amazing resorts.
Langkawi is also perfect for a 4-day trip, but you can easily stay longer. Or you can shorten your stay if, for example, you decide to add a visit to the Thai island of Koh Lipe to your itinerary. We’d actually recommend staying a bit longer at Koh Lipe — around 5 days — just to relax, snorkel, stroll, and unwind. We went there because similar tropical islands of Malaysia, for example Perhentian and Redang, are closed during the monsoon season, leaving Koh Lipe as an easy to reach alternative.
If you plan to visit one of the east coast islands, you can skip Koh Lipe. Some travelers even skip Langkawi entirely, since there’s a direct flight from Penang to Kota Bharu on the east coast — the gateway to the stunning Perhentian Islands, a tropical diving and snorkeling paradise.
Royal Belum State Park (3 days)
This beautiful nature park is located inland and can be reached by rental car or local bus. It’s an ideal stop when traveling from Penang (or Ipoh) to Kota Bharu for a trip to the Perhentian Islands. The drive from Penang takes about 3.5 hours. Once you’re there, a few accommodations offer boat tours to explore the park. Most families stay around 3 days (2 nights) to get a good impression.
If you visit Royal Belum, you might decide to skip Taman Negara — although both parks are unique and each has its own special highlights. Tip: book your stay early and let your accommodation know if you want to join boat tours.
Perhentian Islands (minimum 5 days)
The Perhentians are your classic paradise islands — think white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, perfect for snorkeling and diving. There are several resorts on the two islands — Besar and Kecil — ranging from high-end to budget-friendly. Be sure to book in advance, as the best spots get snapped up quickly.
The Perhentians (and other east coast islands) are best visited between March and October. Outside that window, the monsoon season brings heavy rain and rough seas, making travel difficult. If you’re visiting Malaysia between November and February, it’s better to choose other beach destinations (luckily, there are plenty!).
On the way to the Perhentians, we stopped in Kota Bharu — a pleasant town with a few sights. But if it’s your first time in Malaysia with kids, you could just skip it unless they love cultural highlights.
Alternatively, you could visit Redang, Kapas, or Lang Tengah, all located in the same region. Another option is to fly to Johor Bahru, then take a taxi or bus to Mersing for the ferry to Tioman Island, a large and lush island in the southeast of the peninsula.
Johor Bahru (at least 2 days)
When we first visited Johor Bahru, it wasn’t very exciting — but it’s grown a lot since then. Now, it’s a busy city with two big attractions for kids: LEGOLAND Malaysia and Hello Kitty Land. For some families, those two theme parks are reason enough to visit.
Many people also stay here because it’s an easy jump-off point for Singapore or Tioman Island. You’ll also find the lesser-known Endau-Rompin National Park nearby — a great alternative to Taman Negara or Royal Belum.
Singapore (minimum 3 days)
You can include Singapore in your itinerary if your flight goes there instead of Kuala Lumpur. Singapore Airlines offers good service and reasonable fares. You could start and end your trip in Singapore, where you can easily spend several days.
From Singapore, you can cross the border into Malaysia via Johor Bahru, where your journey continues. As mentioned above, there’s plenty to do around Johor Bahru — so you could begin your itinerary there and then travel to Kuala Lumpur by rental car or bus, with a stop in Malacca along the way. You can then fly back to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur (Subang Airport) for a very low fare.
Travel Route Malaysia with Children – Including Malaysian Borneo
Malaysian Borneo sounds super adventurous — and it definitely can be — but it’s also developed quite a bit over the years. The states of Sabah and Sarawak have good infrastructure, and many towns are connected by buses or domestic flights. You can even explore this part of the country with a rental car.
If you’re traveling with very young children, it’s worth checking which areas are malaria-free, just to be safe. Otherwise, Borneo is an amazing addition to your Malaysia trip.
Of course, you could choose to skip the Malaysian Peninsula entirely, but most families combine Borneo with a visit to the peninsula for the best of both worlds.
Consider the following highlights when visiting Sabah:
- Kota Kinabalu (at least 3 days): The capital and a great base. The beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is right on your doorstep. We could easily spend several days here.
- Kinabalu National Park (at least 1 night): Mountain scenery, pleasant climate, and great hiking.
- Mantanani (minimum 4 days): A tropical island north of Kota Kinabalu — true tropical island vibe.
- Tip of Borneo: A fun adventure by rental car from Kota Kinabalu. Not a destination on its own, but the drive there and back is especially enjoyable.
- Klias Wetlands: A great mangrove area for a day trip from Kota Kinabalu. Expect to see Proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills, fireflies, and more.
- Sepilok: Orangutan rehabilitation center.
- Sandakan: A good base on the east side of Sabah.
- Selingan Turtle Island: A popular 2D/1N turtle tour.
- Kinabatangan (minimum 3 days): A well-known river delta where you search for wildlife by boat. The high chance of spotting animals makes this a real highlight, especially with children.
- Tabin Wildlife Reserve (minimum 3 days): Another amazing jungle adventure. You’ll mostly explore on foot, searching for animals, birds, and insects.
- Danum Valley (minimum 3 days): The ultimate jungle experience — absolutely stunning, but pricey. Very special and still doable with kids, despite the remote location.
- Semporna and surroundings (minimum 4 days): Surrounded by dozens of tropical islands, perfect for diving and snorkeling. A beautiful area, though there’s been some safety concerns (from over 10 years ago) — so keep that in mind.
If you have a week to spend in Sabah, we’d recommend flying from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan, spending two nights including a visit to Sepilok, then transferring to Kinabatangan for an awesome jungle experience. After that, fly to Kota Kinabalu for a few relaxing days in this lovely city.
When visiting Sarawak, consider the following highlights:
- Kuching (at least 3 days): A lovely city with enough sights to keep you entertained. Often combined with visits to Semenggoh and Bako National Park.
- Bako National Park (minimum 3 days): A super cool national park — small but amazing. You can explore it independently, but going with a guide is more fun (they spot so much more!). You can visit as a day trip from Kuching, or stay overnight at the park HQ (basic but cool).
- Damai Beach (minimum 3 days): A beautiful beach north of Kuching, with a few nice resorts. A great spot to unwind or recover after a busy trip.
- Semenggoh: Orangutan rehabilitation center.
- Batang Ai (minimum 3 days): A unique experience with the longhouse tribes in the interior of Borneo. You get there by 4×4, followed by a boat ride across a huge lake.
- Sarawak Cultural Village: A fun and educational destination near Kuching/Damai Beach, where you’ll learn all about Sarawak’s tribes.
- Mulu National Park (minimum 3 days): The highlight of Sarawak — and maybe the most stunning national park in Malaysia. Incredible caves and lush jungle. The famous Pinnacles require a strenuous trek.
- Niah Caves (minimum 3 days): A lesser-known national park with spectacular caves. Off the beaten path, but easily visited with a rental car.
- Gunung Gading National Park (minimum 3 days): A lovely park, best known for the rafflesia flower that blooms there.
- Turtle Island (Talang-Talang): A great 2D/1N turtle tour.
- Bario Highlands (minimum 4 days): A remote and unique destination in the interior. Not touristy, with a pleasant highland climate.
- Borneo Highlands & Annah Rais Longhouse (minimum 4 days): A beautiful cooler area near Kuching, great for a relaxed stay.
If you have a week to spend in Sarawak, we’d keep things simple. Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, and stay there for the full week. From this base, you can explore Bako National Park, Semenggoh, Damai Beach, and the Sarawak Cultural Village. You could also add trips to Gunung Gading or Annah Rais if you want to see more.
Travel itinerary for Malaysia with children in two weeks
We’ve left out a few great but rather specific destinations here. Often, you need to travel a bit further to reach those places, which might not be ideal if you only have two weeks. The travel plan above can easily be done in two to three weeks.
If you have exactly two weeks, we’d suggest keeping it simple — stick to just the first part of the itinerary and fly back to Kuala Lumpur after Penang or Langkawi. Alternatively, you could skip the overland part (Cameron Highlands and Ipoh) and head straight to Penang and/or Langkawi.
We always prefer longer stays and slow travel, so we don’t have to move around as much. It saves us hassle and usually means we have a great base at our destination, from where we can organize day trips (using Grab, a rental car, or tours via Klook.com).
Tips
- In addition to transportation to Taman Negara, the aforementioned Han Travel also offers minibuses that can take you to the Cameron Highlands or Kuala Besut (for the boat to the Perhentians) via a network of shared vehicles. This is especially useful if you’d rather not drive around the country yourself in a rental car.
- Don’t forget to apply for the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) at least three days before your departure to Malaysia. It’s free and can be done on the official MDAC website.
- Most international tourists can stay in Malaysia for up to 90 days on a standard tourist visa (you’ll get a stamp on arrival).
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Malaysia, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!