Investment
- Twinshare – $2985 AUD
- Single Room – $3545 AUD
Taste of Malaysia Tour
Kuala Lumpur ~ Ipoh ~ Penang
- 15-22 April 2024
- 7 Nights / 8 Days
- Weather 14 - 31 C
- Fitness - Med - walk up to 5km a day
When you think of exploring Malaysia, lazing on golden beaches, jostling through bustling city streets, and soaking in its ancient history comes to mind. But more than that, more than all of these things put together, its the promise of the fusion of food which tempts us to travel and indulge in this culinary adventure.
Kuala Lumpur
A skyline punctuated by minarets, Mogul-style domes and skyscrapers; colourful, food-stall-lined streets shaded by a leafy canopy of banyan trees – this is Kuala Lumpur.
Eat – Chinatown Street Food Tour – Visit around 10 food stops, some of which have been featured by CNN and Lonely planet.
Explore – Kampung Village – In the middle of Kuala Lumpur’s bustling metropolis lies a rarely discovered oasis of traditional Malay culture and crafts.
Visit – Batu Caves As one of the biggest attractions in Malaysia, Batu Caves is a limestone hill consisting of beautiful caves, temples and Hindu shrines. Apart from its stunning caves, the main attraction is the colossal gold-painted statue of Murugan (Hindu God of War), which took three years to build.
Ipoh
Ipoh is more than a gateway to the Cameron Highlands or a way station en route to Penang. Shaped by the 1920s tin-mining boom, Ipoh’s wealth and population ebbed away after the mines’ closure. But an old-town renaissance has revived its time-worn buildings into boutiques, hotels and gorgeously kitsch cafes.
Eat – Ipoh Noodles – Smooth and thin flat rice noodle is served in thick soy-sauce based soup and tender pieces of shredded chicken meat is one of the many dishes the city of Ipoh in Malaysia is known for.
Visit – A local Pomelo Farm to see how they grow and sample some of these delicious giant citrus fruits.
Wander – Concubine Lane historic district with shopping, cafes and stacks of old world charm.
Penang
Penang is Malaysia’s tropical island state known as a regional food paradise shaped by the islands many culture. The stunning colonial streets of Georgetown (capital city of Penang) are a center for culture, street art, and the country’s best street food.
Eat – Cooking Class at Penang Home Cooking School
Explore – Get to the heart of Cheong Fatt Tze’s Blue Mansion. Take a step back into the past on the remarkable journey of Cheong Fatt Tze and discover the architectural intricacy of his beloved Mansion and the labour of love that went into the restoration that shaped the Blue Mansion into its iconic status today.
Art – Georgetown’s Street Art. These urban murals throughout the UNESCO-listed historic district depict life & culture in Penang.
Trip Highlights
- Malysian Cooking Class (in Kuala Lumpur and Penang)
- Visit KLCC for shopping and snap photos of the Petronas Twin Towers
- Visit the famous Batu caves
- Eat your way through KL & Penang with guided street food tours
- Visit Penang Hill for a view of Penang island
- View the rainforest from The Habitat Penang Hill
- Wander Ayer Itam Traditional Foodie Market
- See stunning Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion
- Take in the view from Kek Lok Si Temple
- Visit a Pomelo Farm
- Explore the nightlife of Bukit Bintang within the Golden Triangle area of KL and much more ....
Book your Taste of Malaysia Tour
*FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED
This tour has a $500 deposit and the remainder is due 75 prior to departure.
*If you combine our Malaysia and Vietnam Tour you receive a $100 discount per trip = $200. The discount has already been applied to the price.
Meet your Gourmet Host - Susie
Inclusions
- All transfers to/from airport & hotel by a private air-conditioned vehicle on arrival 15 April 2024 and departure day 22 April 2024
- 7 Nights Accommodation
- Private transport throughout
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per above mentioned itinerary
- Entrance fees as listed on itinerary
- Local English-speaking tour guide
- Vibrant Women Host in attendance for extra care
- Meals and Activities as listed on the itinerary
What is not included
- Airfares to Malaysia
- Visa fees upon arrival in Malaysia
- Travel Insurance (which is compulsory)
- Personal spending, including lunches, drinks and dinners not included on the itinerary
- Airport transfers if arriving before the 15th or after the 22nd of April 2024
- Tip for our tour guide, drivers etc. We suggest $20AUD per day per person, and collect this in currency at the beginning of the tour = $140 AUD. This does not include tipping for spa treatments or meals not included in the itinerary.
Find a new Favourite Food
From steaming bowls of tangy assam laksa to piles of smoky, unctuous char koay teow, Malaysia’s street-food scene will deliver you straight to a higher level of being.
Explore the many hawker stalls and enjoy a cuisine that draws from Malay, Chinese and Indian culture. During this tour we explore markets, street food stalls, take cooking classes and visit local produce farms, it is truly a culinary adventure.
Travel Itinerary
Arrival to Kuala Lumpur
Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to hotel for check in.
Today is a free day for you to settle in. You can arrive at any time. Our Vibrant Women Host will be at the hotel to greet you. Our representatives will collect you from the airport. Check in is from 2pm. If you arrive earlier or have free time in the evening discover the exciting things to do within the vicinity of the hotel such as shopping malls, KL Forest Eco Park (Bukit Nanas) or the River of Life (Listed among the 10 best waterfronts in the world, The River of Life is located near the Art Market and Chow Kit offers spectacular views. If you arrive before sunset, you can clearly see the surrounding area where the river is located with shower water and beautiful trails. In this water you can also see the Koi fish swimming happily. The river which surrounds Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, was a part of the River of Life project that was launched by the former government in 2012. At night, just after 8pm, the light along the waterfront begins to glow in a musical style, the beauty of the scenery being enhanced by the backdrop of the surrounding buildings that also emit light. Dubbed the Blue Pool).
All places of attractions within walking distance of the hotel.
Overnight KL – Santa Grand Signature Hotel or similar *Please note rooms are cozy
Meals: N/A
Kuala Lumpur sight-seeing and street food tour
After breakfast at hotel, we will reach have a sight seeing tour in Kuala Lumpur district. Visit Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Sin Sze Ya Temple and Guan Di Temple. Then we proceed to Petaling Street for a guided street food tour. On this tour we’ll visit around 10 food stops, some of which have been featured by CNN and Lonely planet.
After lunch we head back to the hotel and rest.
In the late afternoon, visit Petronas Twin Towers and snap some pictures. Explore street food and nightlife when we visit Bukit Bintang, the Golden triangle area and the most well-known street food/night market street Jalan Alor (restaurants will be suggested by SE for dinner).
Overnight at Kuala Lumpur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Kuala Lumpur – Largest Wet Market
Start with a guided tour of one of the largest wet markets in Kuala Lumpur to learn about vegetables, fruits, spices and other ingredients. We then visit the last remaining kampung/village a stone’s throw from Petronas Twin towers. For lunch we will enjoy the best handmade noodles in town.
In the afternoon, we visit Batu caves, climb the stairs and/or explore Ramayana Caves.
Drive to Ipoh around a 3 hour drive.
Overnight at Ipoh – M Boutique Ipoh or similar. Located in a quieter enclave of Ipoh Town enjoy a quick workout in the gym or dine in the “Old Town White Coffee Cafe” which is onsite.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Concubine Lane and Pomelo Farm
Today we visit Concubine Lane, which is also known as Yee Lai Hong to its Cantonese-speaking population or Mistress Lane, is a small, relatively narrow lane situated in the Old Town of Ipoh. Possessing more than a century-old history, the Concubine Lane, Ipoh, has built its reputation as a must-visit tourist attraction in Perak, Malaysia. The cityscape charms visitors with its vintage old-world look enhanced with a touch of the present world.
For lunch try the famous Ipoh noodles and then in the afternoon take a wander around a Pomelo Farm to try some of these giants of the citrus world, before heading on to Penang (Drive time 2 hours and 30 minutes)
Evening is free to enjoy.
Overnight at Ozo Penang or similar. Stylishly designed with their signature sleep experience and thoughtful amenities in mind, this hotel is ideally located near the Georgetown UNESCO World Heritage City.
Meals: Breakfast
Welcome to George Town, Penang
After breakfast, start your tour with a Trishaw ride visiting Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Blue Mansion and Peranakan Museum. Have lunch at a recommended local restaurant in Penang. **SELF-PAY**
In the afternoon, we will continue our sight-seeing tour in George Town. Visit St. George Church, Masjid Kapitan Keling mosque, Chinese temple Goddess of Mercy, Little-India Georgetown, Armenian street.
Enjoy our Eat Drink George Town tour to learn about Penang’s history whilst tasting some of the best food in Penang. Includes 1 alcoholic drink.
Overnight at Ozo Penang or similar. Stylishly designed with their signature sleep experience and thoughtful amenities in mind, this hotel is ideally located near the Georgetown UNESCO World Heritage City.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Nature and Contemporary Malaysian Food
In the morning, we take a short drive and visit Habitat and Penang Hill for a view of Penang Island from the top and the serenity of the rainforest. Have lunch at a recommended local restaurant.
Return back to the hotel and rest. Afternoon is your free time, take a dip in the rooftop infitinty pool.
In the evening, you will have a unique dining experience at Kebaya – traditional with a twist of modern Malaysian food. **SELF-PAY**
Overnight at Ozo Penang.
Meals: Breakfast
Penang Cooking Class
After breakfast, we head to a local cooking class to Learn traditional Malaysian food and signature dishes in the state of Penang.
After lunch, we will drive around the town and visit Kek Lok Si Temple & Ayer Itam, Traditional Foodie Market and early dinner. *Dinner self pay
We will then take a trip back to Kuala Lumpur (Drive Time – 4 hours)
Overnight – Santa Grand Signature Hotel or similar *Please note rooms are cozy
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Kuala Lumpur Departure
After breakfast, free time until taken to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Requirements:
This tour has a lot of walking and requires a moderate level of fitness. There are steep stairs, uneven roads and footpaths. markets are large , you may need to walk several kilometres in a day. You need to be fairly fit to attend this tour.
Vibrant Women with a heart ♥
Please know that $25 of your booking goes towards supporting our charity Samadhan Dwarka and the amazing work they do in supporting children with an intellectual disability in India, so THANK YOU!
"An amazing trip that I would recommend to anyone wanting a unique and unforgettable experience. Great organising and flexibility when called for!"
"We had a fantastic time, the itinerary was seamless - very well organised with flexibility to suit also. The accommodation was beautiful and everyone we encountered was so helpful and friendly. We had a great trip and would recommend."
"Fantastic trip - extremely well organised, beautiful accommodation and such interesting sights and activities."
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Trip Notes
The Trip Notes on this link are always the most up to date version. When booking a tour in advance things can change, please always refer to these notes on the website as the most recent version of trip notes for your tour.
FAQ's
How to get a Malaysian Visa
Malaysia has started an auto gate facility for visitors from several countries, including Australia. The option to use the manual counter for a visa is still available. To use the auto gate facilities, Australian visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months and must complete and submit their Malaysian Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 3 days before arriving. The auto gate facility is unavailable for Australian passport holders with Malaysian permanent residency or a long-term pass. This auto gate facility is available at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1 and 2. Further information can be found on the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card website.
Up until 75 days before the start of the tour a $500 non-refundable non-trasnferrable deposit will be retained. For between 75 days and 45 days, 50% of the final payment, this is in addition to the non refundable deposit will be forfeited. For less than 45 days or for no shows the entire amount will be retained as we would have already had to pay for accommodation, transport, flights and activities, and this money will not be returned to us. Once the tour has commenced no monies will be returned to you. This is why travel insurance is compulsory.
Our rates do not include any kind of travel insurance and each guest must make sure to arrange their own necessary insurance prior arrival to Thailand. We will do everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. However, all travel involves some degree of risk we strongly recommend that you take out appropriate travel insurance for your adventure.
Your insurance protection should include cover for cancellation, medical, in particular Coronavirus and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability. Insurance cover offered by credit card companies or reciprocal medical cover agreements are often not comprehensive please check this before travelling. Or contact our preferred Travel Insurance provider CoverMore
Flights
If you need assistance with FLIGHT BOOKINGS we use Kerstin Rheinlander – Contact details : Mobile: 0448 958 366 Phone: 1-300-024-856 Email: kerstin.rheinlander@travelmanagers.com.au
Kerstin can assist with flights and can also provide you with travel insurance and additional support if you want to extend your tours.
A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy all the sites we visit. Some of the days we are out and about all day you do need to be able to walk up to 5km a day and sometimes at pace if we are heading somewhere we need to be on time. Other times its more of a stroll however please consider if you think you would hold the group up. We cannot unfortunately have women travel with us who require assistance to walk, for example if you use a walking stick you will not be able to get to many of the sites we visit. Footpaths are uneven and there are lots of stairs.
If you want to make the most of your Southeast Asia adventure you can join our “Vibrant Vietnam Tour” after this trip.
If you book both Malaysia and Vietnam tours combined, you receive a $200 discount. *The discount ahs already been applied for your ease at check out when combining tours.
