Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
213
3
MALAYSIA FOR TREE-HUGGERS &
THRILL SEEKERS
This route gives you some choices, depending on y our par ticular interests. Peninsular
Malaysia's Taman Negara preserve is hopping distance fr om KL, so if y ou want to mix
history and nature, it's very easy to combine an o vernight trip to Melaka with a 3-night
package to the par k—I have included this itinerar y below. If you want to delv e deeper
into rainforest habitats, fly to Kota Kinabalu and sign up for a tour of the area's national
parks; specialty trips take you into wildlife preserves or trekking up Mt. Kinabalu. If it's
indigenous cultures you'd like to visit, fly out to Sarawak, spend a day exploring Kuching,
then join a boat trip into the interior to visit longhouse communities. The diverse range
of for ests in S abah and S arawak offers all kinds of adv entures, fr om natur e walks to
animal sanctuaries, to cave exploring or white-water rafting.
Remember, if you go the outdoor adventure route, be sure to check monsoon seasons
with your adventure tour coordinator. You don't want the rains to wash out your trek, or
the dry season to take the thrill out of your white-water rapids. Also, for dive tours you'll
have to allo w extra time betw een flights and div es, for y our body to acclimate to the
change in altitudes.
Days
1
-
3
: Kuala Lumpur &
Melaka
Follow the itinerar y in “Malaysia for His-
tory Buffs & Culture Vultures,” above, for
Days 1, 2, and 3.
Days
4
-
7
: Taman Negara
National Park
Take an early-morning bus back fr om
Melaka to KL, then boar d an afternoon
bus to Malaysia's premier and most acces-
sible national par k. Hop a boat upstr eam
to the r esort and check in for a good
night's r est. Taman N egara can be done
very nicely in a full-boar d package. You'll
have the chance to jungle-tr ek, traverse a
canopy walk, vie w wildlife fr om obser va-
tion stations, go on a night tr ek, river-raft
and fish, and meet O rang Asli communi-
ties. See p. 229.
Days
7
&
8
: Back to KL
See Days 7 and 8 in “Malaysia for History
Buffs & Culture Vultures,” above.
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4
MALAYSIA FOR FAMILIES
Malaysia is a terrific destination for families. I t's safe, friendly, and fr ee of some of the
seedier trappings of tourism that can be seen in other parts of Asia. For this itinerary, I've
included an equal mix of beach and culture—sightseeing in the mornings and fun in the
afternoons—at a pace that allows for maximum flexibility.
Days
1
&
2
: Arrive in
Kuala Lumpur
After arriving in M alaysia's capital city ,
allow yourself a full day to recover and just
spend y our time wandering thr ough the
city's streets. Start in
Chinatown
(p. 269),
where y ou'll find a str eet bazaar and the
Sri M ahamariaman H indu Temple
(p. 227), then cut thr ough the bustling
Central M arket to
Merdeka S quare
(p.
226),
the focal point of colonial KL. F rom
the Jame Mosque, hop on the train to Jalan
Imbi. Next to the station, y ou'll find
Ber-
jaya Times Square
(p. 228), KL 's largest
