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Backpacking in Malaysia: Costs, Tips and Places to See

Backpacking in Malaysia: Costs, Tips and Places to See

At first glance Malaysia just doesn’t seem as exotic or interesting as other countries in the region, but take a closer look and you’ll find everything you need for a rewarding backpacking experience. You won’t get hassled by touts and you’ll be treated to the best food in the region, so if you’re looking for a more relaxing alternative to Thailand, Malaysia could be a great choice. While backpacking in Malaysia you’ll see a huge variety of landscapes, from the jungles of Borneo to the white sand beaches of Pulau Tioman, via the very British Cameron Highlands hill station, where you can stroll through tea fields and search for the largest flower on Earth.

Here’s a breakdown of the cities/regions of Malaysia (that I’ve been to).

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a bit of a poor man’s Singapore – it’s very similar but just not quite as interesting or nice to be in. If you’re staying in Kuala Lumpur you’ll most likely stay in Chinatown, which is home to some great food and shopping.  It’s also walking distance from Little India and the colonial area of the city. There are a couple of train stations close to Chinatown where you’ll find connections to most areas of town, including Batu caves, which is my favourite part of Kuala Lumpur.

Backpacking in Malaysia - Batu caves in Kuala Lumpur

Malacca

If you’re looking for a historical city which is also pretty laid back, head to Malacca, just a few hours from Kuala Lumpur. It’s the most unique historical town in the country due to its colonial Portuguese past and the Straits Chinese culture (Chinese men married Malay women and created an interesting mix of the two cultures).

Malacca - the best historical town to visit when backpacking in Malaysia

East Coast Islands

The best beaches are found on the East Coast islands, my favourite being Pulau Tioman. I hated the Perhentian Islands (although I didn’t give it much of a chance) and didn’t have time to visit the rest of the islands; I hear Pulau Kapas is worth checking out though.

Further reading: Read a full post on Malaysia’s islands here.

Pulau Tioman, a great island to visit if backpacking in Malaysia

West Coast Islands

Penang is a popular spot on the tourist trail and it’s easy to see why. Georgetown is full of impressive colonial architecture and old temples, and the food is some of the best in Malaysia (and therefore the world!). Pulau Pangkor is a laidback backpacker spot although the beaches aren’t quite your white sand paradise variety. Langkawi is geared more towards package tourists but Pantai Cenang is a popular spot for people backpacking in Malaysia.

Langkawi, a popular island to visit when backpacking in Malaysia

Cameron Highlands

If you’ve been to India or Sri Lanka you might be a little disappointed by the Cameron Highlands, but the flowing tea fields and cool mountain air will please most backpackers in Southeast Asia. There are lots of walks you can do in the area – I’d recommend doing a trek to see the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. Tanah Ratah makes for a comfortable base and you can get strawberry flavoured Magnum ice-creams, something I haven’t seen in many other places!

Further reading: Visiting Cameron Highlands while backpacking in Malaysia? Read my post!

Rafflesia flower in Cameron Highlands, a popular place when backpacking in Malaysia

Ipoh

Ipoh, and the area surrounding it, doesn’t seem to be as popular as other parts of Malaysia, but there is definitely enough there to keep you occupied. I visited a huge cave, a hill with a temple and tried some of the local food. I stayed with a local friend for a few days in Ayer Tawar and it was interesting to see the day to day lives of small town Chinese Malaysians – they love their food and I put on quite a bit of weight in those few days.

Sarawak

Borneo has a far different feel to mainland Malaysia, and if you skip it you’ll be missing the best of what the country has to offer. Kuching, the biggest city in the province of Sarawak, is one of the nicest, cleanest and most interesting cities in Southeast Asia. Bako National Park is just a few hours from the city and is worth at least a night – you’ll see proboscis monkeys and plenty of other wildlife, along with some great beaches. You can also see semi-wild orangutans just outside the city and explore colonial architecture, Malay kampongs and a cat museum within it. Miri is worth stopping at to see the Niah Caves, and if you have time and money (I had neither) I’ve heard it’s worth flying into Gunung Mulu National Park (if you’ve been there please leave a comment and let me know how it was).

Bako National Park, a great stop if backpacking in Malaysia

Sabah

I didn’t spend as long in Sabah, Malaysia’s other slice of Borneo, but I enjoyed it and I’ve heard there is so much more to explore. Apparently there are some amazing islands which are home to some of the best diving in the world. Climbing Mt Kinabalu is pretty challenging and expensive but it’s worth visiting even if you don’t climb it. You can stay out in the jungle for a taste of the traditional life – I did it near Poring hot springs and it was great, apart from all the leaches.

A jungle stay in Sabah, a must do if backpacking in Malaysia

Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru isn’t a typical stop while backpacking in Malaysia, but you’ll pass through it if you’re travelling to Singapore overland. There’s really no reason to stop, but if you’re living in Singapore it’s a great place to shop as everything is cheaper – I’ve even heard of people driving across the border to fill their cars up with petrol.

Taman Negara

*I haven’t been to Taman Negara, so I roped in Margherita from thecrowdedplanet.com to tell you about it.

Taman Negara means National Park in the Malay language. It is one of the oldest rainforests on Earth and an area of incredible biodiversity. The rainforest is in much better condition than in Borneo, making wildlife viewing a lot more difficult, even though Taman Negara is home to several species including elephants, tigers and several types of monkeys. The gateway to the park is the village of Kuala Tahan, from there you can organize activities such as guided treks and night walks. You can also wander around the park without a guide; there are several trails to choose from, including a canopy walk. Another interesting activity in Taman Negara is spending the night in a hide, called bumbum. Hides are built near water holes increasing the chance of viewing wildlife, especially at sunset. Read a full post here.

Backpacking in Malaysia - Taman Negara

Getting there

Kuala Lumpur is the hub for Air Asia, in my opinion the best budget airline in the region. You can get to pretty much everywhere in Southeast Asia cheaply, but you can also take the train or bus from Singapore and Thailand, and you can take a ferry to Indonesia. If you’re travelling through Borneo it’s worth stopping off in Brunei, a tiny country (which I thought was in the Middle East for most of my life) which got rich from oil.

Backpacking in Malaysia: Accommodation

Accommodation in Malaysia is slightly more expensive than the rest of Southeast Asia (apart from Singapore of course) but it’s not too noticeable. You’ll find somewhere for RM40 ($13 USD)  or under most places, and dorms in the more popular places can be found at decent prices. I found I didn’t quite get the same value for money as in most Southeast Asian countries though – for RM30-40  you’re lucky if you get your own bathroom.

Transport

Malaysia is an incredibly easy place to get around, but again, it’s not the cheapest. You can take tourist mini buses or public buses, and there often isn’t a huge price difference between the 2.

Food and Drink

The amazing variety of food is one of the best things about backpacking in Malaysia. Even at the smallest, cheapest looking places you’ll find great food and it’s usually pretty cheap. Drinking is a different story, as alcohol is heavily taxed. If you’re an alcoholic head to Langkawi or Tioman and stay there (they are duty free ports), but for mild drinkers the prices are bearable.

Have you been backpacking in Malaysia? What was your favourite part? If not, would you like to go?

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Jon Algie

A travel blogger from New Zealand who hates talking about himself in the third person and has no imagination when it comes to naming websites.

David @ That Gay Backpacker

Thursday 4th of September 2014

I ended up soending the least amount of money in Malaysia from anywhere in Asia somehow. I think because I fell in love with Melaka and stuck around for a few weeks. It's always good for the budget to slow down for a bit.

Jon Algie

Thursday 4th of September 2014

Definitely, I just spent 3 and a half weeks at Lake Toba in Sumatra, was a much needed break/money saver!