8 Days Malaysia Self Drive West Coast Explorer

^{8 Days / 7 Nights}

Itinerary (Singapore - Johore Bahru - Malacca - Ipoh - Pedu Lake - Penang - Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur - Johore Bahru - Singapore)

SELF DRIVE MALAYSIA EXPLORER (EX./TO SINGAPORE)
Some say to see is to believe. And others say beauty lies in the eyes' of the beholder. Now you can see the beauty of Malaysia and behold all that she can offer by discovering Malaysia at your own leisurely pace. Take in all the scenery, discover the rich and varied cultures, sample the delightful local cuisines and soak in the sun at the many long, white sandy beaches. Our Malaysian Discovery by Self-Drive packages will make a believer out of you yet.

Self Drive West Coast Explorer (Suggested itinerary - 8 Days / 7 Nights)

Day 1 : Singapore - Johore Bahru - Malacca (240 kms)
09.30 hrs You will be picked-up from your hotel in Singapore and transfer-driven to Johore Bahru. Pick-up your car from the pick-up point and start your journey north to the Historical City of Malacca.
12.30 hrs Arrive at Malacca. This charming city was founded some 590 years ago by a crown prince called Parameswara. From a humble beginning, Malacca rose to become a prosperous and powerful trading empire sought after by the powers of Europe.

They came and they conquered and the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English respectively left behind their mark that stands till this day. Go around town and see some of the oldest relics in the country like the Dutch Square with the pink colored Stadthuys, Christ Church, Clock Tower and the Queen Victoria Fountain. You will also see the Cheng Hoon Teng, which is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia founded in 1645. The Porta De Santiago, the Gate to the Portuguese fortress "La Formosa", built in 1511, the St. Paul's Church where St. Francis Xavier was once buried and many more interesting sites would also be worth a look. Accomodation at the Equatorial Hotel in Malacca.

Day 2 : Malacca - Ipoh (349 kms)(Breakfast)
09.00 hrs Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from your hotel and drive north towards Ipoh, bypassing the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. 
10.30 hrs Take the Gopeng exit, which is about 30 km south of Ipoh and leave the Highway. Suggested visit is the Kellie's Castle, an amazing leftover from the colonial times. William Kellie Smith, a wealthy British plantation owner, planned to build this splendid mansion for his unborn son. Smith died in 1926 and the mansion was never finished. Next to the mansion is a Hindu temple, built in memory of the 70 artisans who were brought in from Madras to work on the mansion when a mysterious illness decimated the workforce. Make a right turn after the mansion to continue your journey and drive straight on the main road towards Ipoh.
12.30 hrs We suggest lunch at your hotel or perhaps one of the local restaurants. 
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 in the memory of JWW Birch, Perak's first British Resident, who was murdered by revolutionaries. Accommodation at Casuarina Hotel.

Day 3 : Ipoh - Pedu Lake (300 km) (B)
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, probably the finest mosque in Malaysia. Visit the Istana Iskandariah (King's Palace) and the Istana Kenangan, which was built in 1926 entirely without the use of nails. 
Drive north and take the Changkat Jering exit to visit Taiping which is several kilometers off the highway and 88 km south of Butterworth.
12.00 hrs Another suggested visit is the beautiful Lake Garden. You will leave the North-South Highway and take the rural road up to Gerik. Enjoy the very scenic drive through Malaysia's Kampungs (villages). You will soon 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 Golf and Lake Resort.
Special events to take note of : During February witness the traditional art of collecting honey made by the giant wild honeybee or Appis Dorsata as it is scientifically called. In a brave ritual, a male individual will recite a chant to ward off the bees as the others gather the honey from the unique Tualang trees.

Day 4 : Pedu Lake - Penang (170 km) (B)
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. Accommodation at Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Tanjung Bungah.

Day 5 : Penang (B)
08.00 hrs Breakfast will be at the hotel. Explore Georgetown or the entire island. 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 Fort Cornwallis, build by the 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 many beautiful colonial mansions. Accommodation at Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Tanjung Bungah.

Day 6 : Penang - Cameron Highlands (295 km) (B)
09.00 hrs Depart from your hotel in Penang to Cameron Highlands. The Highlands, which is 1542 meters above sea level, is famous for its world-renowned tea and sprawling tea plantations. To get there drive southwards to Ipoh on the North-South Highway. Take the Tapah exit and leave the Highway. We suggest for you to have lunch at Tapah Resthouse (simple but clean local restaurant). Continue your journey to Cameron Highlands for another 65 kms. It's a 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 are the Lata Iskandar Waterfall which is about 25 km from Tapah on the way to the Highlands. Cameron Highlands consists of three towns namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang in that order when you are on your way up.
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 Mondays when the estate is closed. Accomodation is at the Strawberry Park Resort, at Tanah Rata which is the second of the three towns.
Optional Tour : USD 25.- p.p., min. 2 persons (to be pre booked in advance) The Village and Nature Tour, which will give you an insight of Cameron Highlands. Visit the Cloud Forest, the peak of Gunung Brinchang, view the rolling tea hills, and tour of tea factory. The tour is conducted by local guide driving a Land Rover. 

Day 7 : Cameron Highlands - Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur (214 km) (B)
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 272 steps of stairs that leads 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 and check-in your hotel before embarking on a city tour on your own free time. Drive around town to take in the sights, sounds and smells. Visit the Jamek Mosque, oldest mosque in KL, the War Memorial and Chinatown. You must also not miss the Moorish-styled Federal Court, the Railway station, a striking piece of Mohammedan architecture, the Tudor-styled Cricket Club and the King's Palace. Certainly the most spectacular new sight in Malaysia are the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world, which just recently opened its doors to the public. In the evening, try the local delights at the many food stalls all over town and try your hand at bargaining at the night market in Chinatown. 

Day 8 : Kuala Lumpur - Johore Bahru - Singapore (……..kms)
08.00 hrs Breakfast at the hotel.
09.00 hrs After check-out from your hotel, drive back to Johore Bahru using the north-south highway. The journey will take you approximately 5 hours and you can make stops at the many rest and relax area along the highway. Drop-off your car upon arrival in Johore Bahru and be transfer-driven back to your hotel or the airport in Singapore. End of tour.