6 Days Malaysia Self Drive West Coast Explorer

Kuala Lumpur – Ipoh (205 km) (-/-/-)
09.00 hrs Pick up/delivery of your rented car and then the drive from your hotel or Kuala Lumpur Int. Airport north towards Ipoh, also known as “The City of Millionaires”.
10.30 hrs Take the Gopeng exit, which is about 30 km south of Ipoh and leave the Highway if you’re interested in visiting Kellies Castle, which is an amazing leftover from the colonial times. William Kellie Smith, a wealthy British plantation owner, plant to build this splendid mansion for his yet unborn son. Smith died in 1926 and the mansion was never finished. Next to the mansion is a Hindu temple, built for the 70 artisans who were brought in from Madras when a mysterious illness decimated the workforce. Turn right continue your journey and drive straight on the main road towards Ipoh.
14.00 hrs In the afternoon, visit Ipoh town with its grand colonial architecture. Some of the highlights are the Moorish-Victorian train station, the St. Michael’s Institute and the Birch Memorial Clock Tower that was erected to the memory of JWW Birch, Perak’s first British Resident, who was murdered by revolutionaries.
Accommodation at Casuarina Hotel.

Ipoh - Pedu Lake (300 km) (Breakfast/-/-)
08.00 hrs Breakfast at the Hotel. Time to continue the drive to Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak, which is 50 km North-west of Ipoh and just beside the highway.
10.00 hrs Suggested visits include the Ubadiah Mosque, the probably finest mosque in Malaysia. Visit the Istana Iskandariah (Kings Palace) and the Istana Kenangan, which was built in 1926 without the use of nails.
Drive north and take the Changkat Jering exit to visit Taiping which several kilometers of the highway and 88 km south of Butterworth.
12.00 hrs Another suggested visit is the beautiful Lake Garden. We will leave the North-South Highway and take the rural road up to Gerik. Enjoy the very scenic drive through Malaysia’s Kampungs (villages). We will visit an Orang Asli (native) settlement as well. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Soon we shall reach the state of Kedah which is known as the rice bowl of Malaysia.
Arrive in the afternoon at Pedu Lake, one of Malaysia’s jungle lakes, which is only 5 km away from the Thai border. This untouched area is about 1224 square kilometers and is home to millions of species of wildlife. There are numerous species of birds to start with - the White-bellied Sea-Eagle for example, which some people say is probably the most magnificent creature in Pedu.
Accommodation will be at the Pedu Lake Resort. 10.00 hrs Suggested visits include the Ubadiah Mosque, the probably finest mosque in Malaysia. Visit the Istana Iskandariah (Kings Palace) and the Istana Kenangan, which was built in 1926 without the use of nails.
Drive north and take the Changkat Jering exit to visit Taiping which several kilometers of the highway and 88 km south of Butterworth.
12.00 hrs Another suggested visit is the beautiful Lake Garden. We will leave the North-South Highway and take the rural road up to Gerik. Enjoy the very scenic drive through Malaysia’s Kampungs (villages). We will visit an Orang Asli (native) settlement as well. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Soon we shall reach the state of Kedah which is known as the rice bowl of Malaysia.
Arrive in the afternoon at Pedu Lake, one of Malaysia’s jungle lakes, which is only 5 km away from the Thai border. This untouched area is about 1224 square kilometers and is home to millions of species of wildlife. There are numerous species of birds to start with - the White-bellied Sea-Eagle for example, which some people say is probably the most magnificent creature in Pedu.
Accommodation will be at the Pedu Lake Resort

Pedu Lake – Penang (170 km) (Breakfast/-/-)
08.00 hrs Breakfast is served at the Hotel.
13.00 hrs After lunch it is time for the drive to Penang. Continue the drive on the highway, heading straight up toward Penang.
15.30 hrs Cross over to Penang using the Penang Bridge, which by the way is the third longest bridge in the world. Arrive in the evening. Head toward Tanjung Bungah, which is the first stretch of beach after Georgetown as it is quite a distance before reaching another prominent beach, Batu Ferringhi

Penang (Breakfast/-/-)
08.00 hrs Breakfast will be at the hotel. Explore Georgetown or the entire island if you’re able to. It is about 70 km all the way round, but only the north coast road runs right on the coast, so you are not beside the beach all the way. Georgetown is a compact city and most places can easily be reached by foot or by trishaw.
09.00 hrs Suggested visits in Georgetown are the Fort Cornwallis, build by British East India Company in 1808, the Khoo Kongsi Clan House which is a magnificent building with intricate carvings worked by master craftsman from China, the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) Temple, Kapitan Keling Masjid, the Wat Chayamangkalaram with its’ 33 meters long reclining Buddha/’sleeping Buddha statue, the Dharmmikarama Burmese Temple and Penang’s Millionaires Row with the many beautiful colonial mansions.
Accommodation will be at Copthorne Resort, Tanjung Bungah.

Penang - Cameron Highlands (295 km) (Breakfast/-/-)
09.00 hrs Depart from your hotel in Penang to Cameron Highlands, which is 1542 meters above sea level, famous for its world-renowned tea. Drive southwards to Ipoh on the North-South Highway. Take the Tapah exit and leave the Highway. We suggest: lunch at Tapah Resthouse (simple but clean local restaurant). Continue your journey to Cameron Highlands for another 65 km. It’s long, gradual and often scenic climb from Tapah to the Highlands with plenty of corners on the way, one visitor reported 653 bends! Suggested visit en route: the Lata Iskandar Waterfall which is about 25 km from Tapah on the way to the Highlands. Cameron Highlands consists of Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. The Strawberry Park Resort, is at Tanah Rata the second of the 3 towns.
15.00 hrs Suggested visits at Cameron Highlands are the vegetable and strawberry farms, the Butterfly Garden, the local market, the tea plantations and the tea factory. The easiest estate to visit is BOH’s Sungai Palas Estate, north of Brinchang off the road to Gunung Brinchang. Free tours are conducted regularly, except on Monday when the estate is closed.
Accommodation will be at the Strawberry Park Resort at Tanah Rata (Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands – Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur (214 km) (Breakfast/-/-)
08.00 hrs Breakfast will be at the hotel. Then it’s time for a scenic drive to Kuala Lumpur via Tapah.
12.00 hrs A suggested visit at this point would be the Batu Caves, which is only 13 kilometers from the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. After a walk up the many stairs that lead to the wide opening of the cave’s mouth you’ll see that this marvelous limestone formation holds a Hindu Temple within – definitely a must see. Continue your drive to Kuala Lumpur where you drop off your car at your hotel or at Kuala Lumpur Int. Airport.
The end of an enjoyable tour.

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