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What are the best day trips from Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the most populous city of Malaysia. Many tourists spend only one or two days in Kuala Lumpur, because they believe that there’s nothing much to see and do in the city. But that’s not true! KL is a vibrant city that boasts incredible nightlife, great shopping centres, numerous cultural landmarks, impressive architecture and delicious street food! On top of that, there are a number of interesting excursions you can take to get to know Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia better!
Below are 6 great Kuala Lumpur tours you can book online.
All of them can be done as day trips from KL.
Table of Contents
Awesome Day Trips From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What to do in Kuala Lumpur? Where to go on a short trip from KL?
Check out some of the coolest day trips Kuala Lumpur has to offer.
1. Genting Highlands and Batu Caves Day Tour (click for more details)
A day trip to Genting Highlands and Batu Caves.
Overall, one of the very best day trips from Kuala Lumpur.
This is your chance to see the iconic Batu Caves temple complex, one of the top Kuala Lumpur attractions. The complex has been renovated recently. And now it’s way more colorful and picturesque than it was before. Batu Caves is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India. Besides Batu Caves, you’ll visit Genting Highlands, which is a hill station set amidst ancient rainforest.
In Genting Highlands, you’ll have a chance to ride a cable car, Genting Skyway, above the lush green forest. Genting Skyway is one of the longest cable car routes in Southeast Asia. You will also stop by Chin Swee Caves Temple, a popular Buddhist temple in Genting Highlands.
DURATION: 8 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visiting the iconic Batu Caves temple complex (an important Hindu shrine)
- Riding one of the longest cable cars in Southeast Asia
- Visiting an impressive Buddhist temple
2. Full-Day Trip to Malacca (click for more details)
A sightseeing day trip to the historic city of Malacca.
It’s a long day trip, but so worth the tiring hours!
Malacca is a UNESCO-listed historic coastal city known for its historic centre with Portuguese architecture. It is believed that Malaysia’s history started in 15th century in the Sultanate of Malacca (modern day Malacca). This excursion gives you the opportunity to explore ‘the cradle of Malaysia’.
DURATION: 10 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Exploring the colorful streets of the city and important landmarks
- Seeing the Portuguese colonial architecture
- Visiting the beautiful Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
- Tasting authentic Peranakan cuisine
3. Cameron Highlands Private Day Tour (click for more details)
Cameron Highlands day trip from Kuala Lumpur.
A day trip to Cameroon Highlands is a long day trip, but worth the tiring hours! And, oh, so beautiful! You’ll be visiting a tea plantation and tea factory. Trust us, these mountains views there are epic. Besides the tea plantation and factory, you will also visit strawberry fields and a butterfly farm.
Keep in mind that the tea factory is closed on Mondays. If you would like to visit the factory, do not go on this excursion on a Monday. Because then you will be able to visit only the plantation. As Cameron Highlands are located at an elevation of 1500 m, it may get cool especially in the evenings. So, bring a jacket with you.
This place is also one of our personal favorites. So, when people ask us, where to go for short trips in Malaysia, the answer mostly includes Cameron Highlands.
DURATION: 12 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Epic mountain views of Cameron Highlands
- Enjoying cool weather in Cameron Highlands
- Visiting a tea factory and plantation
4. Putrajaya Cruise Tour (click for more details)
A half-day trip from KL to Putrajaya.
Putrajaya is the administrative capital of Malaysia.
Being a planned city, Putrajaya boasts modern, elegant buildings, wide boulevards and plenty of open spaces. If you are visiting KL, and have more than a couple of days, a visit to Putrajaya is a must! Explore its wide streets and marvel at impressive buildings such as the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office (Perdana Putra), the pink-domed Putra Mosque, Palace of Justice and other awesome buildings influenced by the Islamic, Moorish and Western architecture.
We first visited this city by accident, and were pleasantly surprised by what we saw. When going on a one day trip in Selangor, spend the first part of the day in Putrajaya and the second in KL. You can explore Putrajaya yourself or join a guided tour. If you join a guided tour linked above, you’ll have a chance to go on a cruise in the man-made Putrajaya lake.
DURATION: 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Seeing beautiful, modern Islamic architecture
- Putrajaya lake cruise
5. Private Full Day Tour to Taman Negara (click for more details)
A full-day excursion to Taman Negara National Park.
On this KL day trip you’ll experience Taman Negara National Park up close. It’s a large park consisting of a vast ancient rainforest. In fact, it’s one of the world’s oldest rainforests! Trek through the virgin rainforest and explore the Titiwangsa Mountains. Learn more about flora and fauna, and visit an indigenous village. Enjoy the walk along the canopy walkway and ride a traditional longboat up the river.
DURATION: 11 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visiting one of the oldest rainforests in the world
- Taking a longboat up the river
- Exploring Titiwangsa mountains
- Visiting an indigenous village
6. Kuala Lumpur Local Street Food Night Tour (click for more details)
A local street food night tour, perfect for first timers to Asia.
Kuala Lumpur is one of the best places in Malaysia for trying local food. When visiting KL, definitely explore its many foodcourts and outdoor food markets to get an authentic taste of KL. If it’s your first time in Asia or you just don’t know what to try and where to start, go on a foodie tour. You’ll get to try amazing local foods and dishes as you’ll be guided by experienced locals.
DURATION: 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learning about Malaysian cuisine and its influences
- Trying traditional snacks
- Tasting various delicious dishes
- Trying popular drinks
Our Best Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips
Kuala Lumpur is one of our favorite cities in Asia.
There is a myth that Kuala Lumpur is a boring city with nothing to do. Many travellers spend just one or two days in KL, on their way to “more interesting destinations”. But it’s not true. KL is a fascinating city with loads of attractions and interesting places to visit. The city has a rich history, and is home to different cultures. Its diverse culture has shaped the city into what it is today.
Here are some of the things we have learned about this city.
Some of our best Kuala Lumpur tips.
- Transportation in Kuala Lumpur is efficient. There are a number of metro (MRT) lines, light rapid transit metro (LRT) lines, commuter rail lines, mono rail lines and airport links. There’s also an efficient network of public buses, including free bus services (GO KL City Bus). The city’s transportation system is huge, but it’s not complicated.
- Kuala Lumpur is not only about skyscrapers. Yes, KL is known for its futuristic architecture. But you shouldn’t miss its colonial heritage which is well-preserved and very treasured in KL. Do not forget to explore KL’s Hindu and Chinese temples as well. Visit the Sri Mahamariamman Temple which is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. Explore the Thean Hou Temple – one of the largest Chinese temples in South East Asia.
- Do not miss out on food markets. Kuala Lumpur is one of the best places in Malaysia for trying local food. Visit its many food courts and outdoor food markets to get an authentic taste of KL.
- Stay with a view! It can be very affordable. Kuala Lumpur has many affordable 5-star hotels and modern apart-hotels. A number of them boast great skyline views and offer rooftop pools with views of the Petronas Towers and KL Tower. We recommend you to stay in such a hotel (one example — THE FACE SUITES). It’s an unforgettable experience for a fraction of the price.
- See the different sides of the city. Explore KL’s many neighbourhoods to discover the city from different perspective. Visit KLCC, Chinatown, Bukit Bintang (nightlife and shopping), Brickfields (also known as Little India), Merdeka Square and the traditional Kampung Baru.
Have you visited Kuala Lumpur? Did you do any day excursions in Kuala Lumpur? Which, in your opinion, are the best day trips from Kuala Lumpur you could recommend?
Book Your Trip Like a PRO
1. Book Your Flight. Find cheap flights using Kiwi.com, Momondo.com. Or subscribe to Dollar Flight Club, if you don’t want to be searching for the flights yourself. Kiwi currently is my first choice.
2. Book Your Accommodation. Booking.com, Agoda.com and Airbnb. I use Booking and Agoda at least a dozen times a year, and Airbnb – when looking for a long-term stay. My best tip is to ALWAYS compare the price. Sometimes the same hotel is cheaper on Booking.com, other times – on Agoda. Always compare the price!
3. Buy Your Travel Insurance. Ekta and SafetyWings are two companies I can recommend. Ekta offers some extra benefits, that will be important for those doing some higher risk activities (make sure to choose the right plan!), while SafetyWings is better for digital nomads. SafetyWings is also very affordable.
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