Classical Malaysia and Singapore

Welcome to Malaysia! Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur, the driver guide will greet you warmly at the airport and then drive you to Malacca for two hours. Check into the hotel and have a good rest; the rest of the day is up to you.

► Money Tips
In Malaysia, you need to use its official currency, the Malaysian Ringgit, with an official exchange rate of USD 1≈RM 4.4. Since exchanging currency at the airport ATM is less cost-effective, qualified exchange offices downtown are better if you are not in a hurry. Your driver guide will gladly help you get the most bang for your buck. By the way, tipping is not customary in Malaysia, so you can give tipping or not based on your preference.

► Nightlife Recommendation in Malacca
It takes 10 minutes by taxi from the hotel to Jonker Street. Every Friday, a lively night market opens from dusk to midnight for three consecutive days. Stroll through stalls selling all kinds of authentic food, exquisite artworks, famous local products, etc. You can tuck into unique cuisines in Chinese, Malay, and Indian restaurants. It’s highly recommended to try the snack, otak otak—fish wrapped in bamboo leaves with a lemongrass smell, slightly spicy and delicious.

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Melaka (4 stars)

After breakfast, the driver guide will show you around Malacca. Our first destination is Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, built in 1673 with precious nanmu wood. Looking up at its roof, marvel at awesome, colorful statues of mythological figures and animals made from cemented-together tile shards and broken glass. Beyond a temple to express gratitude to deities, who were believed to bless early Chinese immigrants to reach Malacca, Cheng Hoon Teng was also the center of living affairs and spiritual beliefs for the Chinese group then.

Continue to Dutch Red Square, where the Stadthuys stands. Once the office of the Dutch governor, Stadthuys is now a museum showcasing Malacca’s history and development. Along with the clock tower and Christ Church, their ochre-red exteriors with white wooden windows are particularly eye-catching in the shining sun. Walking up the path behind Red Square, you will find the ruins of St. Paul’s Church atop St. Paul Hill, bringing you in close touch with historical traces. Overlooking various buildings afield blending, you can’t help feeling deeply moved.Passing by A Famosa Fortress (Porta de Santiago), a Portuguese fortress with only a gate and two old cannons remaining, we will arrive at Jonker Street, where you can feel the Chinese culture through ancient buildings, including century-old temples and houses of Chinese social organizations. If you encounter Chinese festivals, join exciting activities like New Year countdown celebrations, the Spring Festival Gala, and the lion dance at Lantern Festival to immerse in the exuberant festive vibe. Local cuisine here is also not to be missed. For lunch, we recommend the well-known Hoe Kee Chicken Rice, tasting tender Chicken Rice Ball, the authentic white cut chicken with secret chili sauce, and the sour and spicy Asam Fish, which profoundly captures every diner, costing only RM20-40 ($5-10) per person.

In the afternoon, get to the Taman Rempah Jetty to enjoy a Malacca River Cruise. During the around 40-minute boat ride, pass under several old-aged bridges and meet distinctive architecture on both sides. After that, the driver guide will transfer you to Kuala Lumpur. Rest up for tomorrow’s visit!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur (5 stars)

This morning, the driver guide will first drive you out of the city to Batu Caves, the holy land of Hinduism, a series of limestone caves and temples. Shocked by the giant golden statue in the square at first sight, you need to climb up 272 rainbow-colored stairs to the most extensive cave. Words fail you when the pouring-down sunlight brings the sacred religious place and the natural karst landscape into an otherworldly realm.

Then, we will drive back downtown to Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka), a valued historical site surrounded by eclectic buildings, from British Tudor-style architecture and Islamic temples to congregational churches, complementing the skyscrapers afield. Through the fusion of European charm and oriental culture, you can glimpse how Malaysia became independent and developed.

Around noon, get to Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, where you can have lunch on your own and experience the street stall culture of Malaysia in depth. Under the typical Chinese buildings along the street, countless small stalls sell all kinds of snacks, clothing, accessories, souvenirs, etc., attracting a steady flow of tourists and counting. Some look inconspicuous but are queued with customers relying on their tasty specialties, such as braised duck, tofu pudding, beef brisket noodles, etc.

In the afternoon, continue to the National Mosque, a symbol of Islam in Malaysia. Impressed by its 16-pointed blue umbrella-shaped roof, you will feel a charismatic clash of religion and modernity, also evident in the dome and pond that complement each other and a reverse clock, whose hands move counterclockwise. Sometimes, you may encounter a wedding here, with a sacred and tranquil ceremony as if it were a daily prayer. Afterward, follow the driver guide to visit the King’s Palace (Istana Negara). Although visitors are not allowed inside, you can view the glorious golden-hued palace at a distance and take photos with the majestic-looking royal guard.As the saying goes, you haven’t been to Kuala Lumpur if you haven’t visited the Petronas Twin Towers. We will arrive at the 88-story Petronas Twin Towers, which is 451.9 meters (1482.6 feet) high, before dusk, and you can see its majesty, the spectacular sunset, and the charming night view in one visit. Taking the futuristic elevator to climb 560 feet to the 41st-floor Sky Bridge, you will have 10 minutes to visit, take photos, and then rise to the 86th-floor circular Observation Deck, overlooking the cityscape unfolding in your eyes. No wonder why the Petronas Twin Towers convey Malaysia’s desire and ambition to become a global player.

After all visits, the driver guide will transfer you back to the hotel. Alternatively, you can have dinner near the Petronas Towers, enjoy Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife, and then return by yourself.

► Suggested Dinner Site Tonight
It takes only 10 minutes by taxi from the Petronas Twin Towers to the liveliest Jalan Alor Food Street in Kuala Lumpur, buzzing with over 20 restaurants and 200 stalls. If you like seafood, we recommend the well-received Restoran Sai Woo, much-lauded with fresh seafood, abundant dishes, attentive service, and a reasonable price of RM40-60 ($10-15) per person. Signature Salted Egg Yolk Squid is wrapped in silky dry butter with a salted egg yolk taste, salty and sweet but not greasy. Chilli Crab, Stir-fried King Prawns, and Grilled Stingray all have unique flavors.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur (5 stars)

Today, the driver guide will take you to Kuala Lumpur Airport, where you will take a one-hour flight to Langkawi, Malaysia’s largest archipelago of 99 islands, shrouded in a mysterious and alluring atmosphere thanks to various legends. On your arrival, the local driver guide based there will pick you up and escort you to the hotel on Cenang Beach.

Not far from the town, however, our well-selected hotel is serene, with a leisurely holiday ambiance in the busy city. Each room is a small villa surrounded by blooming flowers facing the sea, with direct access to the private beach. Enjoying a sunset dinner on the beach is unquestionably romantic; if you are interested, book a seat with the hotel in advance. After dinner, roaming along the coast to the town, you can drink in taverns and appreciate fireworks shows at night.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Casa del Mar Langkawi (4 stars)

In the morning, we are going to the Oriental Village at the foot of Gunung Matchinchang Mountain. Coming to such a colorful place is like being in a fairytale world, where natural beauty and cultural activities blend. You will take the Langkawi Cable Car to the top of the mountain and enjoy the spectacular mountains and sparkling ocean. After reaching the top, walking on the 410-foot-long, most magnificent Sky Bridge in Malaysia and overlooking the bottomless canyon is a real heart-pounding experience. You can also see the impressive Eagle Nest Sky Walk at a distance, inspired by the eagle, which symbolizes freedom and victory in Langkawi.

Have lunch in Oriental Village on your own, and then explore Kilim Geoforest Park this afternoon. Embark on a 2-hour Mangrove River Cruise, venturing into the first geological park in Southeast Asia, with substantial limestone islands formed 500 million years ago as a must-see for nature lovers. The boat will stop for a while so you can watch eagles fishing and fishermen feeding eagles, among which a small brown eagle is a unique species in Langkawi. Also, enter the astonishing bat caves and disembark on a floating fish farm to get in close touch with manta rays, giant mantis shrimps, and various unnamed marine creatures. Finally, the driver guide will transfer you back to the hotel.

• For your information: Langkawi is also famous for its arsenal of water activities and island hopping; if you want 1 or 2 more free days to enjoy its fine beaches and crystal-clear sea, we can adjust the itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Casa del Mar Langkawi (4 stars)

Farewell to Malaysia! Accompanied by the driver guide to Langkawi Airport, you will fly to Singapore for 1.5 hours. After going through immigration upon arrival, you can see many ATMs for exchanging currency; it’s recommended to use a UOB ATM for online exchange and a UOB counter for cash exchange, both of which have no service charge, at an official exchange rate commonly around USD1≈SGD1.35.

► Try Public Transportation in Singapore by Yourself
Since no guided tour is scheduled for today, it would be more cost-effective to go from the airport to the hotel on your own rather than arranging a driver guide. Public transportation options are readily available and convenient. You can choose either of the transportation as follows:
1. Hail a taxi on the Grab app directly to the hotel, taking about 20 minutes and costing SGD20-30 ($15-23). 
2. By subway: First, go to the T2 or T3 terminal, follow the signs of Train to City and MRT to City to the subway station, buy an Eziink subway card, recharge it, and get on. Then, transfer to the EastWest Line at Tanah Merah Station and get off at Bugis. Ultimately, walk southwest for five minutes to the hotel, costing only about SGD2 ($1.5) single-way.

► Why Don’t We Have a Guided Tour Today?
Singapore is a small country with a compact urban landscape but much higher accommodation costs, drivers, tour guides, and consumption than Malaysia. Therefore, we specially arranged a full-day tour tomorrow, allowing you to visit Singapore’s highlights in one day through a fulfilling itinerary and save half a day’s expenses. In addition, after half a day of travel today, the remaining time is better for you to rest up for tomorrow’s tour.

► What to Do in Your Free Time
It takes a 10-minute taxi or 20-minute walk from your hotel to Clarke Quay. This once dilapidated unloading dock has been transformed into a bustling place gathering delicacies and entertainment. You will be surprised by historical buildings artfully constructed with modern technologies – the canopy not only acts as a shelter but also brings in natural light, making the street cool and comfortable while maintaining its original appearance; the dining platform designed in a lotus shape extends outward from the river bank, expanding the dining space and providing an excellent view; the dry fountain in the central square uses low-temperature water mist to lower the surrounding temperature, creating a pleasant leisure environment in an energy-saving way.

If you are interested in nocturnal animals or traveling with children, you can also make an appointment at Night Safari, a nocturnal zoo. Unlike regular animal performances, its awe-inspiring Creatures of the Night presentation is designed with ingenious plots.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mercure Singapore Bugis (4 stars)

After pick-up at the hotel, your guided Singapore tour will start from Merlion Park, where the Merlion statue discharges water jets, one of Singapore’s most iconic attractions. Take a surrounding walk on the esplanade in the park, and relax in the breeze and the enchanting harbor scenery.
► Photography Tips with Merlion
1. Shoot from the front or side and take the Merlion statue, Marina Bay Sands, and other representative buildings as the background. 
2. Pose in various interesting ways at some distance from the Merlion statue and photograph in a forced perspective to express “washing hair,” “drinking water,” or “scooping up water.”

Then, make it to Gardens by the Bay. Enter the fairy tale world Flower Dome, greeted by blooming flowers, punctuated with Ferris wheels, carousels, and small villas, dazzling your eyes. Continue to Cloud Forest opposite, simulating a tropical rainforest with a 115-foot-high waterfall at first sight. Meander along the path surrounded by tropical plants, take an elevator to the 6th floor, and downstairs along circles of narrow bridges, just like walking in a forest in the air! Such a spectacular sight cannot be restored by any photographic equipment, which completely corresponds to the sign, saying “To the lost world.” Go outdoors, ascend towering tree-like observation decks connected by suspension bridges, and you can get a picturesque commanding view of colorful flowers, lush green plants, and unique architecture.

Next, follow your driver guide to Chinatown, where early Chinese immigrants settled in the 1820s. Today, it has become a microcosm of ancient Chinese society, evident in authentic Chinese dialects and the heady smell of Chinese cuisine, like fried rice noodles and radish cakes hanging in the air. Passing by the colorful Sri Mariamman Temple - the oldest Indian temple in Singapore, the majestic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and houses painted with creative cultural murals, you’ll be awed by various handicrafts on street sides displaying traditional Chinese art, such as calligraphy, carving, puppets, and incense and candle making.► Gastronome-recommended Lunch Site in Kampong Glam
We will arrive at Kampong Glam around noon. Before visiting, having lunch on your own at the century-old Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant is recommended to tuck into authentic Indian cuisine, costing SGD10-20 ($8-15) per person. Its signature Murtabak is made on site: the thick crust filled with marinated meat, tangy onions, and other vegetables and fried to an irresistible meat pie. The fillings include chicken, mutton, beef, sardine, or even deer. Paired with rich curry sauce and slightly sour cucumber sauce, your taste buds will gambol with spices.

After the lunch break, visit Kampong Glam, a Muslim community. From afar, you will be captured by the magnificent dome of the Sultan Mosque, under which bottoms of glass bottles donated by local people form a black circle. Strolling on Haji Lane and Arab Street, admire murals painted by masters, depicting the historical and modern life of this area. Get an eyeful at featured shops stacked with various printed fabrics, perfumes, spices, lamps, traditional costumes, etc., indulging in the rich Arab ambiance.

Finally, we will come to Little India, where Singapore Indians live. As one of the four major ethnic groups in Singapore, they account for 15% of the population. The colorful, Indian-style streets and exuberant religious vibe put it as close as you’ll get to India. Crossing Tekka Centre, buzzing with shops selling snacks, fresh food, clothing, and antiques, appreciate the striking-colored Former House of Tan Teng Niah—the landmark of Little India—which integrates Chinese and Western styles, and Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, roofed by stacked Indian statues, both of which are popular with tourists.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mercure Singapore Bugis (4 stars)

It’s time to say goodbye to your Malaysia-Singapore tour packages. Today, you need to go to the airport by yourself. We wish you a safe journey home with happy memories! If a week-long trip doesn’t satisfy your craving and you want to continue visiting neighboring countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc., feel free to contact our travel consultants to customize your itinerary!

► How to Get to Singapore Jewel Changi Airport
1. Arrange for a taxi on Grab in advance, which costs SGD20-30 ($15-23) and takes about 20 minutes to get to the airport.
2. By Subway: Walk 5 minutes northeast from the hotel to Bugis Station, take the EastWest Line to Tanah Merah Station, and transfer to the CG Line to the airport, which takes 30 minutes and costs only SGD2 ($1.5).
3. By Bus: Walk 5 minutes south from the hotel to Aft Bras Basah Stn Exit A, and take bus No. 36 for 50 minutes to the airport. The ticket fare is around SGD2 ($1.5).

► Why is Jewel Changi Airport the Winner of “World’s Best Airport”
Jewel Changi Airport expresses Singapore’s concept of Garden City by building a botanical garden, Forest Valley, indoors, decorated with about 130 kinds of green plants. Before leaving Singapore, gasp at the 130-foot-high world’s largest indoor waterfall, Rain Vortex. The waterfalls are so penetrating that if you stand close, you feel like you are in the clouds and mist. No wonder why Changi Airport has won “World’s Best Airport” for consecutive years.

► Where to Go on the Last Day in Singapore
It takes 10 minutes by taxi from the hotel to Orchard Road, a shopping and dining paradise that spans three subway stations downtown with a nearly 200-year history. You can try many special Singaporean snacks here: Pandan Cheese Roll with salted cream mixed with pandan and coconut aroma, ice cream sandwich with distinct taste, Irvins salted egg yolk snacks, kaya jam with strong coconut aroma, and low-sugar cookies -YU Cookies - that are only available in Singapore.

Meals: Breakfast