Road Tripping in Malaysia: The Best Routes for Exploring Malaysia From Kuala Lumpur

After long years of pandemic lockdowns, we're all itching for more adventure – and a roadtrip sounds like just the ticket. With Malaysia lifting its ban on interstate travel, thoughts of scenic views, food trails, and nature escapes are getting us revved up already. Here's our bucket list of the best routes for exploring Malaysia from KL, ranging from short drives to multi-day getaways.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara National Park

 

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 

Drive time: 2 hours from KL to Fraser's Hill, 4 hours from Fraser's Hill to Taman Negara National Park

 

If you're craving a dose of nature, a multi-day getaway to Malaysia's green lung of Taman Negara National Park sounds like a plan. But rather than driving there direct from Kuala Lumpur, we recommend making a stopover at the rainforest-rich hamlet of Fraser's Hill in Pahang. Spread over seven lush hills, this highlands village is criss-crossed with scenic mountain trails, prime birdwatching spots, and the popular Jeriau Waterfall. If you're planning to stay overnight, you'll find an array of charming colonial bungalows available for homestays – relics of the British colonial era.

 

Next stop: Taman Negara National Park. This pristine 130-million-year-old forest ranks among the world's oldest rainforests, clocking in at 4,343 square kilometres of camping, cave exploring, and trekking opportunities. Highlights include getting high with stunning views on the world's longest canopy walkway, as well as visiting the Kampung Orang Asli – a village of Malaysia's native aborigines renowned for their blowpipe hunting skills.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Tanjong Jara

 Photo courtesy of Mitchel Lensink on Unsplash 

 

Drive time: 2 hours from KL to Gambang, 3 hours from Gambang to Kuala Dungun

 

Fancy a breezy coastal drive? You can get your fill of sun, sand, and spa time with a winding roadtrip from Kuala Lumpur along Malaysia's tranquil east coast. First up, a dose of wellness – make your way to Mangala Resort & Spa in Gambang for a day or two of traditional Malay massages and luxe villa living, in the serene heart of fruit orchards and wetlands.

 

Hit the road via the picturesque Federal Route 3, which runs along Malaysia's east coast and offers hours of splendid seaside scenery. This route takes you through placid beach towns like Cherating, known for its laidback sands and leatherback turtles. In no time, you'll reach the golden sands fronting Tanjong Jara Resort in Kuala Dungun, an elegant resort designed to resemble a 17th-century Malay palace. With a whole Spa Village to relax in, you can bet on your worries melting away here.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Penang

Photo courtesy of Krystal Ng on Unsplash

 

Drive time: 2.5 hours from KL to Ipoh, 2 hours from Ipoh to Penang

 

Want to eat your way through Malaysia? No better way to do it than a roadtrip from Kuala Lumpur through the hawker food heaven of Ipoh, and onward to the buffet of street eats that is Penang. Ipoh has no end of local delights to stuff yourself silly with – white coffee and chee cheong fun for breakfast, curry mee and claypot crab noodles for lunch, and silky caramel custard to top it all off. Walk off the food coma with a tour around Ipoh's vibrant street art gems, particularly in Ipoh Old Town.

 

Strap in for the two-hour drive north to Penang's capital of George Town, where every nook and cranny is crammed with tasty street eats. Start your day right with Apong Guan's famously fluffy apom manis filled with bananas and shredded coconut, then vie with the crowds at Sup Hameed for nasi kandar (aka rice with curry-based meats and veggies). Drive over to third-generation stall Bridge Street Prawn Noodle for a slurpworthy bowl of Hokkien mee, before stopping by Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul for an icy dessert.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Taiping

 Photo courtesy of TM Yap on Unsplash

 

Drive time: 3 hours from KL to Cameron Highlands, 3 hours from Cameron Highlands to Taiping

 

Nothing spells peace quite like rolling through the countryside in Cameron Highlands. Wind down your window and breathe in the cool highlands air, as you rove through lush tea plantations dotted with honeybee farms, strawberry farms, and rustic villages. Once there, a slice of countryside awaits. The Robertson Rose Garden flaunts over 100 species of roses, best seen from mid-spring; strawberry picking is another popular activity at farms, where you can eat them ripe and juicy right off the stem.

 

Ready to explore further? Wind your way past mountain ranges and dense forests to reach Perak's northwestern town of Taiping. Whether it's a stroll in Taiping Lake Gardens or a boat tour to Kampung Dew to watch the dazzling dance of fireflies on the river, this little town oozes tranquility. It's also worth a trip to the historic Antong Coffee Mill – Malaysia's oldest coffee mill still follows the traditional method of roasting beans over a wood fire to produce a unique smokiness.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Coast

 

Photo courtesy of One&Only Desaru Coast

 

Drive time: 4 hours

 

Set in southeastern Johor, Desaru Coast was once a quiet coastal town - until the luxury resorts started taking notice of its charms. These days, it's a glam getaway for folks craving the suite life, with private plunge pools and prime beach access at the likes of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and One&Only Desaru Coast. Sun and sea aside, you'll also have a splashing good time at the Adventure Waterpark with over 20 wet and dry thrills to tackle.

 

Your four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur will take you past Johor, so why not stop over to fuel up? Drop by the local hotspot The Toast in Taman Mount Austin for Nanyang coffee, along with their signature egg mayo toast and nasi lemak. Or grab a seat at the popular Restoran Gim Cheng in Taman Daya for a spread of over 60 kinds of handmade dim sum, including the crowd-favourite mango shrimp rolls.

 

Kuala Lumpur to Malacca

 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

 

Drive time: 2.5 hours from KL to Muar, 1 hour from Muar to Malacca

 

If you're after a dose of heritage and culture, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Malacca is undoubtedly your cup of tea. But first, we recommend a day's detour to Muar. The buildings of this historical town come splashed with stunning larger-than-life murals, including Julia Vochkova's Loving Sisters and Sabek's The Bond. Also worth seeing is the Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque – a breathtaking mosque splashed in dreamy white and sky blue, blending elements of British colonial and traditional Malay architecture.

 

Next, head to the heritage hotbed of Malacca, where you can explore Malaysia's oldest Chinese temple: the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Another striking attraction, the Malacca Sultanate Palace, is a reconstruction of the 15th-century royal palace that stood in the same spot; not only is it wrought entirely of wood, not a single nail was used in its construction. For a suitably heritage-style stay, opt for the Timez Hotel, where each individually designed suite is a nod to Malacca's history.

 

Road Tripping in Malaysia

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Top image: Photo Courtesy of Paul-Vincent Roll on Unsplash