Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Malaysia

Malaysia should definitely be part of your Asian travel bucket list—with its exciting mix of culture, a rich and colourful history, colonial architecture, interesting wildlife, vibrant urban areas, and a cornucopia of natural wonders, this Southeast Asian country will definitely make for an unforgettable holiday.

Here are some of the tourist attractions that you should not miss out on when traveling to Malaysia.

The Mulu Caves

Located within the confines of the Gunung Mulu National Park, the Mulu Caves should be definitely part of your Malaysian holiday itinerary. The national park is located near Miri, Sarawak in the Malaysian Borneo, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its cave networks and karst formations, with the Mulu Caves as the most popular destination for tourists.

The caves found within Mount Mulu are impressively large, with some chambers having enough room for dozens of Boeing 747s placed inside side-by-side, without the wings touching. Getting to the Gunung Mulu National Park is not easy—but there are flights from Kota Kinabalu, Miri, and Kuching to the Mulu Airport.

The Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

Nestled within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center opened its doors in the early 1960’s as a haven for orphaned orang utans, who lost their families to illegal logging activities, poaching, and expansion of agricultural lands. The Sepilok Sanctuary aims to care for these animals while training them to survive in the wild once again. There are nearly a hundred adorable orang utans in the sanctuary, drawing thousands of tourists every year to the virgin rainforests of Sabah.

The Perhentian Islands

The Perhentian Islands, or the Pulau Perhentian in the local Malay language, is located in the northeast coast of the West Malaysian region, close to the border with Thailand. The islands are part of the Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which is an area where fishing, the collection of corals, and littering the pristine surroundings are strictly prohibited.

The Perhantian Islands are ideal for a wide variety of water activities (including swimming, diving, and snorkeling) with its beautiful white coral sand beaches, clear waters, and palms offering a cool shade to beach lovers. Most of the hotels aimed at tourists are located in the larger island of Perhentian Besar. Getting to the islands is only possible through boat, from the villages of Tok Bali and Kuala Besut.

Langkawi

The official name of this tourist destination is Langkawi the Jewel of Kedah, but it is more popular as Malaysia’s most popular holiday attraction. With long stretches of fine white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, mountain peaks, and lush, hilly jungles, Langkawi is definitely a tropical paradise that you should not miss out on. When in Langkawi, do not miss out on the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, the beaches of Pantai Tengah, Datai Bay, Burau Bay, Pantai Cenang, and Pantai Kok.

The Petronas Twin Towers

Located in the vibrant metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers are among the tallest buildings in the world. There are 88 floors in each towers, which are made of reinforced concrete and features an ultra-modern façade of glass and steel. The façade is designed to echo various motifs of Islamic art, a clever and beautiful reminder of the country’s religious affiliation. One of the most notable architectural features of the Petronas Twin Towers is the sky bridge, which links the twin towers on their 41st and 42nd levels.

Mount Kinabalu

Gunung Kinabalu, or Mount Kinabulu, is one of Malaysia’s iconic peaks. Rising at 13,435 feet (4,095 meters) in Sabah, an eastern Malaysian state, Mount Kinabalu is found within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinabalu Park. The mountain is ranked 20th in the world in terms of topographic prominence, and is home to unique flora and fauna such as the giant Rafflesia plants (with its huge, stinky flowers) and the orang utan. Mount Kinabalu is also popular among hikers, who can explore Low’s Peak without any special mountaineering equipment.

Tioman Island

Known among locals as Pulau Tioman, the island of Tioman is found in the state of Pahang, some thirty miles off the eastern coast of the Malaysian peninsula. Local legend states that Tioman Island is the resting place of a dragon princess, who found respite in the South China Sea while flying to Singapore to meet with her dragon paramour. The dragon princess found the area so beautiful that she decided to be an island that will provide comfort and shelter to travelers like her. When in Tioman Island, do not miss out on Panuba Bay, Salang, the Minang Cove, the village of Tekek, the Asah Waterfall, and the Bagus Place Retreat.

Taman Negara

Nestled in the lush greenery of the Titiwangsa Mountain near Kuala Tembeling, the Taman Negara was once known as the King George V National Park. Once the country was freed from the British colonial government, the national park was named Taman Negara, which literally translates to “national park.” With a total area of over 4,000 square kilometres, Taman Negara is the “world’s oldest tropical rainforest” and his home to a wide variety of rare wildlife, including the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Malayan tiger, the Asian elephant, the crab-eating macaque, the Malayan peacock pheasant, the great Argus, and the red junglefowl.

Georgetown Inner City

Georgetown, situated in the northeastern part of Penang Island, is one of the reminders that Malaysia was once under British colonial rule. The area is named after King George III, and is at present home to numerous colonial structures. The inner city of Georgetown is an architectural and cultural treasure of the country, and is popular among tourists wanting to experience a unique East Meets West vibe in Malaysia.

The Cameron Highlands

Tanah Tinggi Cameron, or the Cameron Highlands, is a vast hilly region in the northwestern corner of Pahang. Roughly the size of Singapore, this region is home to a diverse group of citizens, with each group having their own languages, religions, and cultures.

The Cameron Highlands is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Southeast Asia, having been developed in the 1930s. Colonial tea estates, cool weather even in the heat of the tropical summer, forests, museums, aborigine settlements, modern entertainment facilities, and various bodies of water make the Cameron Highlands popular among people who want to experience the heart of Malaysia.