Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to Malaysia - with   buzzing cities, culinary sensations, beautiful beaches, idyllic islands & national parks with wildlife-packed rainforests

Arrive in enchanting Kuala Lumpur.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Kuala Lumpur International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs &, you will be welcomed by the Journeys Representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Check-in at the hotel & relax.

A skyline punctuated by minarets, Mogul-style domes & skyscrapers; colourful, food-stall lined streets shaded by a leafy canopy of banyan trees – this is Kuala Lumpur.

Multicultural Modernity | Historical Canvas | Street Feast | Shopping

Malaysia’s sultry capital is a feast for all the senses. Here you will find historic monuments, steel-clad skyscrapers, lush parks, mega-sized shopping malls, bustling street markets & lively night spots. Kuala Lumpur - KL, as it is locally known, is Malaysia’s hub; a huge, bustling, cosmopolitan city that is the business heart of the nation.

Essential parts of the vibrant mix are the incense-wreathed, colorfully adorned mosques & temples of the country’s Malay, Chinese & Indian communities. This ethnic diversity combined with European culture is part of the attraction, melting together on the tropical streets.

A reverence for these ancient cultures is balanced with a drive to be plugged into the modern world, a desire that's reflected in a creative contemporary art & design scene, an ambitious riverbank-regeneration project & dynamic architecture: the new Exchange 106 Tower is taller than the iconic 436m Petronas Twin Towers, amongst the tallest buildings in the world.

From the viewing level of the Towers the city unfolds with its old mosques & ramshackle buildings, contrasting with the gleaming skyscrapers that have sprouted as Malaysia has become one of the regional economic powerhouses.

Today's KL-ites are separated by barely a handful of generations from the tenacious Chinese & Malay tin prospectors who founded the city, carving it out of virgin jungle. By the time the British made it the capital of Peninsular Malaysia in the late 19^th century, erecting grand colonial buildings, KL had only been in existence for a couple of decades. Since then, KL has been center stage on Malaysian history. Stadium Merdeka was where, in 1957, the country’s first prime-minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared independence.

To fully connect with locals, join them in two of their favourite pastimes: shopping & eating. Malaysian consumer culture achieves its zenith in KL, where you could spend all day browsing glitzy air-conditioned malls such as Pavilion KL, Suria KLCC & Mid Valley Megamall in search of designer fashion & bargains. Bangsar & Publika are the places to go for local labels & the work of offbeat independent designers. Alternatively, explore Central Market for locally made souvenirs & handicrafts; and hunt out the few remaining artisans & antiques dealers still keeping shop in and around Chinatown.

Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps try one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Morning, you will meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09:00 am & embark on a 4 hour sightseeing tour to discover the exciting landmarks of the city.

Despite the heat, this is a city best explored on foot. Walk & you can catch all the action and save yourself the frustration of becoming entangled in one of KL's all-too-frequent traffic jams. Walking, you will discover that parts of KL retain the laid-back ambience & jungle lushness of the kampung (village) it once was. What is more, you will be sure to come across some of the city's best dining spots: the hawker stalls & traditional neighbourhood kopitiam (coffee shops) that beckon you over with the aroma of freshly cooked food & the promise of refreshment with tropical juices & cooling drinks.

View the splendour of the King’s Palace & pass by the impressive Parliament House. Share the Malays’ glorious past at the National Museum.

Visit the National Monument at Lake Garden. Then pass by the National Mosque & the Railway station.

Next will be photo stop at the Independence Square and lastly enjoy an intriguing drive around China Town.

Return to the hotel or continue exploring on your own.

Afternoon is at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions). 

Evening around 6.00 pm, you will be met by a Journeys Rep & proceed to Chinatown for a more leisurely stroll & to experience the night market, with its bright lights & cheap imitation branded ware for sale.

Later continue on to an Indian temple, before moving to a Malaysian restaurant to enjoy a cultural performance of Malaysian dances, accompanied by dinner.

After dinner, take a drive around the city of lights before returning to the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour excursion to see the rural scenery of Kuala Lumpur & gain an insight into some of Kuala Lumpur’s main economic activities.

Visit a pewter-ware demonstration center & batik factory to discover their production mechanics & process.

Next, proceed to Batu Caves, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most frequented tourist attractions. 

Batu Caves is a series of caves & cave temples in Gombak located on a limestone hill in a village of the same name which takes its name from the Sungai Batu river, which flows past the hill.

Comprising 3 major caves & a number of smaller ones featuring 100-year-old temples with idols & statues erected inside the main caves & around it. Incorporated with interior limestone formations said to be around 400 million years old, the temples are considered an important religious landmark by Hindus.

Cathedral Cave - the largest & most popular cavern in Batu Caves - houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 metre high arched ceiling. At the foot of Batu Hill are two other cave temples - the Art Gallery Cave & Museum Cave - which houses numerous Hindu statues & paintings.

Batu Caves is the focal point of the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam held at the end of January, which attracts more than one million pilgrims & visitors.  The procession begins on the evening before the Thaipusam Festival at the Sri Mariamman Temple in KL city centre. The procession more often than not, arrives at Batu Caves in the wee hours of the morning the next day; the entire celebration commences then & is a colourful event that lasts a total of eight hours.

Many disciples carry their offerings – containers of milk – to the Lord Muruga on large, brightly decorated ‘kavadis’ decorated with flowers  & peacock feathers. weighing up to as much as 100 kilos.

 Kavadis are two huge semicircular ornate pieces of wood or steel which are bent & attached to a cross structure that can be balanced on the shoulders and are also usually combined with various metal hooks and skewers which are used to pierce the skin, cheeks and tongue.

Some disciples also fulfil vows that they have made to the Gods by having their bodies pierced by hooks, needles & even skewers & visitors are often fascinated by the dedication of devotees.

The truly amazing feat is when followers begin the arduous climb up the 272 steps to the top of the caves - the trek requires a stunning amount of endurance as they often have to work against the press of the bustling masses. Priests wait at the top to sprinkle consecrated ash over the hooks & skewers piercing the devotees flesh before they are removed.

Admire the wonders of nature & the Caves from below or climb to the top, if you can.

Return to the hotel by evening.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Early morning, depart for Cameron Highland.

Enroute, stop at Tapah village, a cottage industry centre for basket weaving - the large bamboo baskets that are used to collect the tea grown in the Highlands as well as to transport vegetables from Cameron Highland. An expert worker can complete 1 basket in 12-15 minutes. 

Then, visit the nearby Lata Iskandar Waterfall & a native settlement.

Located midway between Tapah & Cameron Highlands, the multi-tiered Waterfalls are a popular attraction providing panoramic views & pools at the base of each tier / level. Avail the opportunity to go for a short dip in the cool water of these pools, which have their origins up in the higher reaches of the surrounding highlands. Nature lovers can go slightly off the beaten track & get to enjoy the rich flora & fauna.

Near the base of the falls, visitors will find a handicraft bazaar where an assortment of craft is available for one's selection. Look out especially for the craft of Orang Asli, the so-called "original people" of the country.

Continue on to Cameron Highlands.

Named after explorer Sir William Cameron, who mapped the area in 1885 & located at almost 2,000 meters at its highest point, Cameron Highlands encompassing a string of smaller townships, including Kampung Raja, Tringkap, Brinchang, Tanah Rata & Ringlet, is the most popular of the highland retreats in Malaysia noted for its tea plantations & cool temperatures.

The highlands were developed during the British colonial period. Gardens, bungalows & a golf course sprang up during the 1930s, cementing the highlands' reputation as a refuge for heat-addled Brits to mop their brows.

Camerons offers visitors a moderate climate with daytime temperatures averaging around 25°C & 18°C at night, making the environment conducive for growing continental plants, fruits & vegetables while providing a cool escape for city-dwellers. 

Emerald tea plantations unfurl across Malaysia's largest hill-station area. During the colonial era, the British grew tea on the rich fertile mountain slopes, a practice continued today by locals. Since then, it has become the biggest tea exporter in Malaysia along with a constant supply of vegetables to the country & Singapore.

Cool temperatures inspire convoys of weekenders to enjoy tea & strawberries in the restorative climate. But between trekking & genteel tea culture, there is serenity amid the touristic hubbub. People usually busy themselves in the day time relaxing & enjoying nature and by the time the day ends everybody is dead tired & off to retire early. However, that does not mean that there is no Cameron Highland Nightlife.

On the outskirts of the city, stop at a Butterfly Farm.

One of Cameron Highland's oldest tourist attractions, Butterfly Farm & Garden with a display of live butterflies, insects & animals. The name is really a misnomer, as the Park does not 'farm' butterflies by breeding & cultivating them. The population is restocked from wild specimens on a regular basis.

The Park consists of a garden featuring a large enclosure erected along a hill slope section, where butterflies roam in a landscape of shrubs & flowers and a larger zoological wing, where other insects & mammals are displayed in enclosures or aquariums.  The Park also has a tortoise pen, scorpion pond, reptile exhibit (mostly snakes & lizards), aviary & a small petting zoo.

After spending an hour the Farm, drive on to Cameron Highlands & immediately on arrival, proceed to visit a Tea Plantation & Factory, passing through a quaint market.

Cameron Highlands is the largest tea-growing region in Malaysia - home to vast plantations of this valuable crop that carpet the valleys in a lush sea of bright green. Tea was also one of the precursors to its development as a hill station, before its transformation into a major tourist destination.

The two main Cameron Highlands tea plantations owners are BOH Plantations Sdn. Bhd. & Cameron Bharat Plantations Sdn. Bhd located amidst sprawling tea estates.

Tea was first planted here in 1929 by a Britisher named J.A. Russell who was an entrepreneur involved in trading, mining, rubber & construction industries before embarking into the planting, processing & marketing of tea. He first arrived in Malaya (name of Malaysia before independence) with his father in 1890 when he was only 7 years old.

After finishing his studies in England, he came here to work in a Trading company. He then invested in the tin mines industry after which he diversified his business into the rubber industry in 1908. The opportunity in the construction industry caused him to further venture into this business & together with his business partner was instrumental in the construction of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. The railway station is still functional.

He was optimistic of the tea plantation business due to huge demands despite  the world-wide Great Depression at that time. As a result of the potential, he applied for & was granted a concession of land for his first tea garden in Habu, Cameron Highlands.

Today, his Plantation owns three tea gardens - in Habu, Fairlie Tea Garden & Sungai Palas Tea Garden. To ensure the freshness of its tea products, they also set up a packaging factory near its main garden. Their tea products are distributed both in domestic & international markets.

The Plantations are a must-visit place in Cameron Highlands Scenic, tranquil & cool fresh air!

Journey along the narrow & winding road besides green rolling hills, with the neat regular rows of tea plants, to the largest tea plantation (8000 acres) in Southeast Asia.

In the Plantation, embark on a 30 minute guided tour of the factory to learn how the tea leaf is processed in the 5 steps from sorting, drying, and so on.

Before commencing the tour, go through the informative boards & view the video & get to know more about the history of the tea plantation & the processes that were done before the final product reaches the consumers. Walk around the processing plant, detailing every process of tea making.

After the tour, browse & purchase some tea produce as souvenir at the factory shop. Enquire from the sales person on the different types of tea that you can buy.  

You may also enjoy a cup of tea with sandwiches & other snacks after the tour (not included - direct payment & the rates are very reasonable).

The hilly mountain range will definitely make your trip to these estates worth it. Take as many photos as a momento as you can.

Finally, reach the hotel by late afternoon & Check-in.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

You can visit pubs, cafes, malls, restaurants & night markets and indulge in many night activities in Cameron Highland such as karaoke singing, dancing & watching sports on big TV screens. 

Another popular attraction is the night market or ‘Pasar Malam’ held in Brinchang city over weekends. The main street is transformed into a lane full of hawkers with their stalls selling different kinds of wares. You can shop for locally produced vegetables, fruits, teas, decorative plants, honey & other items like clothes & souvenirs. The night market is a food haven for those who like & are interested in local Malay dishes.

Early morning, depart for Penang & enroute stopping a couple of interesting points.

First stop will be at Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple.

First discovered by a Chinese monk in 1890 who was passing through Ipoh, the Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple is the oldest & the main cave temple in Ipoh, built within a limestone cave in the mountains. He decided to make it his home & a place for meditation and remained there for 20 years until his death.

The Temple follows the Buddhist branch of Mahayana Buddhism & is still used by nuns & monks pursuing solitary meditation who dedicate their lives to Buddha.

It is said to be the biggest cave temple in the country & within the temple, visitors can discover the impressive artistic works of man & nature - beautifully carved statues of Buddha in various forms interspersed among the stalactites and stalagmites.

The present temple facade dates back to the 1950s & a stiff climb of 246 steps will lead you to an open cave with an excellent view of Ipoh & its surroundings.

Other attractions at the temple include a beautiful Japanese pond full of Japanese carps & tortoises, which are symbols of longevity. To the right of the entrance is an ornamental garden with ceramic lions, miniature shrines & Buddha statues encircling a rock-studded pond.

Continue through the main chamber to reach a breathtaking scarlet-tiered pavilion with sheer limestone behind. Opposite is a turtle pond: these armoured reptiles are said to rebalance karma when released (or fed slices of tomato).

Proceed further to Kuala Sepetang mangrove forest, the best managed mangrove forest in Malaysia and one that serves a very important ecological role in protecting the coastline from erosion.

Kuala Sepetang is a thriving fishing village, the main jumping-off point to the river mouth Chinese fishing community of Kuala Sangga, which specializes in fish breeding in cages. It is also the gateway to the teeming Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The village - still shown on some maps under its old name of Port Weld - has a lost-in-time appeal & a few riverside fish restaurants..

The 40,000 hectare Matang Mangrove Forest, a natural breakwater that supports a diverse ecosystem, is gazetted as a Permanent Forest Reserve. The Reserve has been proven to act as a natural barrier against tsunamis & is recognized as the best managed sustainable mangrove ecosystem in the world - an enchanting place to explore by foot or on a boat ride.

The Reserve also contains rich & diverse wildlife that provide nature lovers to visit and explore its wetlands & resources.  This is also regarded as the breeding grounds for numerous species of marine crustaceans including crabs, shrimps, lobsters, horseshoe crabs & prawns as well as fishes & shellfishes.

Undoubtedly, it is an important site for coastal migratory water birds & a portion of migrant forest birds.  As many as 43,000 to 85,000 birds may be seen using the forest during the migration.  According to some Ornithologists, there is a small population of rare and shy Great Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus), known locally by the Malays as Kuang, that stays close to the ground & makes short flights to low hanging branches of the mangrove trees.

Kuala Sepetang produces the bulk of the nation's top quality mangrove charcoal.

Visit a charcoal kiln where quality charcoals are produced & learn the process. Charcoal production is a long process & every single process in a charcoal factory is done manually.

The charcoal factory in Matang is located right in the middle of a spectacular mangrove forest since 1940. Mangrove forest is an important part of the ecosystems around the world & in Malaysia there is fortunately quite some left. It all starts with harvesting the mangrove trees. The trees need a certain size which is reached after 30 years. When an area is harvested, new trees are planted & that area is not touched, by stringent law, then for 30 years.

Finally, drive to your final destination via the fifth longest bridge in the world.

Reach Penang, better known as the "Pearl of the Orient"

On arrival, by late afternoon, Check-in at the hotel.

If there is a more thrilling cocktail of eastern cultures than Penang, we have yet to find it. The island of Penang lies just off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has long served as the link between Asia’s great kingdoms & an important outlet to the markets of Europe & the Middle East.

At its heart is diverse, cosmopolitan George Town, named after the British King George III, Penang Island's main city & an urban centre that delivers old-world Asia in spades, from trishaws pedalling past watermarked Chinese shop-houses to blue joss smoke perfuming the air.

After Penang was handed over by the sultan of Kedah to the English, Sir Francis Light founded the city of Georgetown & he immediately started the construction of Fort Cornwallis.

Charming Georgetown is a great example of the multicultural society in Malaysia - thriving hub where Malay, Chinese, Thai, Indian & European cultures merge. The Chinese form the majority, something you can see clearly in daily life. When you are in a taxi with a Malaysian driver, he will probably be talking about Chinese & Indian people. Vice versa a Chinese taxi driver will be talking about the Malaysian or Indian people

The city is not a modern metropolis like Kuala Lumpur; some quarters are fairly modern, others are old fashioned. But, it is characterized by the colonial architectures which, in the space of a few miles, takes in a British colonial-style cricket pitch & a rumble of Chinese stilt houses.

Georgetown - together with Melaka - has developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia & Europe have endowed this city with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible & intangible. The UNESCO Heritage listed historic city of Georgetown features over 12,000 old buildings comprising of shop-houses, churches, mosques, government offices & monuments, representing  the British era from the end of the 18^th century.

Outside Georgetown, one of the most unusual attractions is the Snake Temple, which swarms with poisonous snakes, but their venomous threat is countered by heavily drugging them with incense. Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple contains an enormous gold-plated reclining Buddha which, at 33 meters long, is believed to be the third largest in the world. Worth visiting too are Fort Cornwallis, a British 18th century fortress, Penang Museum & Art Gallery.

The freshest aspects of modern culture are present, too, in the exceptional art scene & free-spirited carnivals, all fed by an infectious local enthusiasm for Penang's long history & kaleidoscope of cultures.

And if you can tear yourself away (& have the time), the rest of the island is rich in palm-fringed beaches & fishing villages, mountainous jungle and farms growing nutmeg & durian.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Overnight.   B

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08:00 am & embark on an exciting full day 8 hour tour to discover the amazing Penang city & the attractions in the vicinity just outside, to learn about the rich history & culture.

You will see the bustling Clan Jetties on George Town's waterfront & the Khoo Kongsi Clan House - one of the grandest old Chinese traditional clan house built on stilts over the water by the Chew Clan with fascinating history & rituals. Admire the intricate carvings & woodwork of this heritage building.

Visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the former house of a Chinese Captain & see a remarkable collection of memorabilia & artifacts.

Next, head to Pulau Tikus to visit 3^rd largest reclining Reclining Buddha at Wat Chaiyamangkalaram, then learn the differences between Chinese & Siamese dragons. There is also a grand standing Buddha here, and the "Guardian of the World" - count how many animal parts make up this guardian. 

Continue to Kek Lok Si Temple that was built in 1904. It is the most beautiful & largest Buddhist temple complex in South East Asia and is known as the Temple of the 1000 Buddhas.

Embark on a thrilling leisurely Trishaw ride along Penang's "King of the Road", a still popular mode of transport in Georgetown.

See the State Museum at Fort Cornwallis facing the Esplanade, the water village & Old Georgetown.

Drive through the residential areas passing by the State Mosque to the foot of Penang Hill. Ascend by funicular railway to the summit of Penang Hill, 830 meters above sea level for a panoramic view of Georgetown. Stroll to the quaint & cosy Bellevue Hotel to admire the exotic birds in its grounds.

In the seaside district of Teluk Bahang to visit the Butterfly Farm, a sanctuary for over 120 species of exotic tropical butterflies.

Next, stop at Batik Factory to observe the traditional technique of batik printing using wax & dyes.

The tour ends & you return to the hotel by late afternoon.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed to the seafront again to stroll along the night market to experience why Penang is known as the Far East’ warehouse. You might also want to explore the nightlife along Batu Ferringhi, Penang style.

Enjoy the spectacular view of the city at dusk while you enjoy a sumptuous dinner at one of the shop-house restaurants there specialising in the traditional ‘steamboat’ cooking (Steamboat is another name for a hot pot). The dry spicy hotpot is a hit & comes in the meat of your choice.

Return to the hotel.

Today, depart very early in the morning & travel across Peninsular Malaysia through the main mountain range, which offers breathtaking views of the dense tropical rain forest whilst journeying through villages and plantations.

A photo stop will be made on Banding Island with its scenic view of the famous Temenggor lake & then at a mountain point 1050 meters above sea level, overlooking the Thailand border.

Continue on to the border town of Rantau Panjang (Kota Bharu), a meeting, mingling & trading point for people of Thailand & Malaysia.

Kota Bharu (meaning' new castle / fort' in Malay) is the capital & royal seat of province of Kelantan. The conservative city serves as main gateway to visitors that are on their way to visit the tropical island of Perhentian.

The laid back & relaxed city is situated in the north of the Peninsular Malaysia, close to the southern Thai border & in this region, the Islamic influences & culture are clearly visible in the daily life at every level.

Kota Bharu is a great place to experience Islamic Malaysia. Culturally rich with beautiful & vibrant markets & mosques but you hardly see any western influences (like modern shops or shopping malls).

Because the people of Kota Bharu live by Islamic laws, there is zero to none nightly entertainment. During Ramadan F & B outlets are usually closed during the day, food is sold in public only in the early morning & after sundown. Alcohol is not sold in public in Kota Bharu (& in the whole state of Kelantan for that matter), but there are some exceptions like the international luxury hotels (like the luxurious Renaissance Hotel) & some Chinese restaurants where beer is served to non-Muslims. The people of Kota Bharu usually do their daily shopping at Pasar Siti Khadijah (Kota Bharu Central Market), where most of the sellers are women.

Main attractions in the city are the many Islamic museums & mosques and also the traditional day & night markets, the old royal palace & former royal buildings in the center of town.  You can also visit a buddhist temple where you can look at a huge sleeping buddha; the Wat Pothvihan

Outside of Kota Bharu, there are many activities visitors can participate. River cruise along Sungai Galas, explore the Gua Ikan caves, visit to the Stong Waterfall, white water rafting at Kuala Betis, diving at the Japanese Invasion Wreck & visit the beaches like PCB Beach, Irama Beach, Pantai Perkasa, Pantai Sungai Dua & Pantai Kandis.

On arrival by afternoon, Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or walking around independently.

Evening, meet the Journeys Driver / Rep & proceed to see a 1 hour Martial Arts (pencak silat) performance, where combatants assume meditative postures & circle one another with stylized gestures. Then, a group of drummers wearing cheerful yellow tunics swing into action. The drums have a surprisingly mellow timbre & the rhythm patterns are complex & delicate.

Return to the hotel.    

Overnight.   B

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the lobby at 09.00 am & proceed on a 4 hour walking’ tour visiting the famous colorful wet market of Kota Bharu and the traditional cottage industries such as silver handicraft and songket weaving.

The "wet" (fresh produce) Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah market located on ground floor of the Central Market in the cavernous, octagonal hall seething with colour & activity, where, interestingly enough, most of the vendors are women.

One floor up, customers throng around stalls stacked with packages of mysterious herbs, dried leaves, gnarled barks & roots. Patrons sitting at tables wield their chopsticks deftly in & out of steaming bowls of broth & wonton dumplings and the air sizzles with the smell of curried chicken, fried noodles & steamed fish.

See a vendor as he pours hot milky tea from a mug held high above his head into another held at thigh level; when the latter is brimming, he reverses mugs & does it again, without spilling a drop. When he is satisfied that the teh tarik "pulled tea" is blended to frothy perfection, he offers it to visitors. It tastes like Indian chai - sweet & spicy.

The top floor of the market is honey-combed with narrow aisles running between shops. Racks display patterned Baju Kebayas, wrap-around skirts, flowing tunics, men's T-shirts, Batik handicrafts (a speciality of the region), caftans & scarves. Their shelves, stacked with bolts of material, are mosaics of parrot green, royal blue, orange & purple.

Listen to the plaintive call of "Allah-ho-Akbar" from nearby mosques, with the smell of mangoes, durian & papayas wafting on the warm air.

You will also visit a master kite-maker. You will see a 2.5 metre high kite, with a lacy white design set stencil-like against gold paper & mounted into a bamboo frame. The kite-maker swings a small kite back and forth, producing a "whooomp' of sound, a "song" which is intensified many times over, when monster-sized kites are up there bobbing & weaving against the sky. During kite-flying competitions, points are scored for heights attained & kites conquered in fights.  

You may also visit the Kelantan Museum, Royal Museum & Handicraft Village.  

Enjoy lunch in the market (not included - direct payment) before returning to the hotel. Taste some keropok, the very popular local chips made out of fish or prawn. 

Return to the hotel to Check-out & depart for Kuala Terengganu, driving through emerald-green land with paddy fields, coconut groves & banana plantations. 

Reach Kuala Terengganu by late afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

The sleepy town of Kuala Terengganu, between the islands & jungles, occupies a promontory jutting into the South China Sea flanked by the estuary of Sungai Terengganu. A microcosm of Malaysia’s economic history: fishing village strikes oil & rapid modernity ensues.

Land reclamation & development of the waterfront has seen the creation of attractive parks & parades plus a modern harbour that has one of Asia's biggest drawbridges. Despite the rapid modernisation, the city retains plenty of charm & you will find one of eastern Peninsular Malaysia’s prettiest & most interesting Chinatowns & old kampong-style stilt-houses can still be found just across the river.

The city serves as main gateway to visitors that are on their way to visit the tropical islands of Redang, Lang Tengah, Tenggol and Kapas, but also the fantastic nature at Lake Kenyir. The city is internationally known because of the yearly prestigious Monsoon Cup, dubbed the Formula 1 of sailing, in December; a very popular sailing event.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Overnight.   B

Morning, Check-out, meet the Tour-guide in the lobby at 08.00 am & proceed on a 6 hour sightseeing tour of Kuala Terengganu.

Some of the places of interest include Chinatown, Pasar Payang (Central Market), the Sultan's Palace, the State Museum, Pulau Duyong, Sekayu Park, the village of Rhusila, Suterasemai Silk Centre & the latest attraction is Masjid Kristal in Pulau Wan Man.

Visit (subject to Ferry operation) the largest island in the estuary, Pulau Duyong is famous for its traditional traditional way of boat making in the region. Modern housing estates is being built on reclaimed land, but there is still a sizeable presence of old wooden houses & a village lifestyle.

Fishing boats are built here, using mostly age-old techniques and tools & visitors are welcome to look around. Note that of the original 30 or so boat-building yards, only three remain on the island and fewer & fewer younger people are learning the trade.

As the number of cengal trees continue to deplete & the rising labour cost, this industry is not thriving but rather it is slowing down. Cengal wood is a type of hard wood that is found in the jungle of Malaysia & the market demand for it has caused the price to escalate. Over here, you will be able to see the boats that are being built at the workshop.

The legendary boat builder Abdulla Muda has been making hand crafted wooden boats, all made from memory, for the last 50 years. You can wander around the tiny boat yard, seeing the unfinished vessels taking shape, and have a chat to some of the workers. With orders from as far afield as New Zealand and Canada, Abdulla Muda is famous the world over for his traditional methods and the reliability of his boats.

One of Terengganu's newer attractions is the Islamic Civilization Park (Taman Tamadun Islam). Located on the small Wan Man Island, on the east coast of Terengganu, this unique interactive theme park featuring Islamic teaching & attracting millions of visitors. It took up 22 hectares of land area in total, with an additional 8.4 hectare of reclaimed land for future development.

The Park is a way to demonstrate the achievement of Islamic architecture providing an interactive journey of scaled-down replicas (at 1:1.7 to 1:22 the original size) of many famous Islamic monuments, including Taj Mahal of India, Al-Hambra Citadel of Spain, Masjidil Haram of Mecca Saudi Arabia, Dome of the Rock Palestine amongst the other 21 mini replica monuments found in the Islamic Civilization Complex, separated from the Public Zone.

On the same island in the Public zone but outside the perimeter of the Monument Park is another impressive icon of the theme park - the Crystal Mosque, a convention centre, a shopping arcade, food court & river cruise jetty. There is also a lake with paddle boats.

The Crystal Mosque constructed between 2006 - 2008 & inaugurated in February 2008 by the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is considered unique as it is the first & only mosque built entirely from steel & glass hence the crystal-like image.

Sitting atop the surface of the Terengganu River, this magnificently mesmerizing mosque is truly a sight to behold. With beautifully crafted frosted glass windows & meticulous calligraphy, it instills in the visitor a sense of serene & peaceful piety. Reflecting domes & minarets made up of facets of bronze-tinted, smokey glass provide a striking riverside apparition. The comfortable hall is air-conditioned & equipped with modern amenities. The mosque is illuminated at night & looks very impressive when seen from the river.

A local water taxi will take you to the fishing village of Seberang Takir where you can see the local families earning a meager living in different cottage industries such as small fish farms, prawn-cracker making & batik printing.

Return to the city.

The remains of a 19^th century fort along with superb views of the city can be found at the summit of the 200 meter high Princess Hill. Nearby you can see the sultan's palace & state mosque, although these are normally closed to the public.

On the eastern flank of the hill near the Central Market is the sultan’s palace. It is built in colonial-era style, but renovations have given the structure a blocky feel. The palace is closed to the public, except for some ceremonial occasions such as royal birthdays, weddings, conferment of titles & receptions for local & foreign dignitaries.

The colorful food markets showcase the wide array of spices, fruits & seafood that make the region famous for its fresh food & distinctive cooking style. Spices are mostly grown in the state & the seafood is as fresh as you can get with the fishing boats docking literally right outside. Above the food market are shops selling everything from brassware, local medicines, songket - hand-woven cloth - & batik clothes.

To finish the day you have the option of going to Terengganu State Museum, which is reputed to be the largest museum in Southeast Asia. There are some superb displays in the mammoth 270,000 square meter site housing century old artifacts & artworks of rich & colorful heritage. The complex is an impressive architectural feat in itself, based on the design of Terengganu’s old palace & comprises a main museum, maritime museum, fisheries museum, four traditional houses and botanic & herb gardens. The entrance fee of around five ringgit per person needs to be paid by you at the entrance.

After having lunch in the market (not included - direct payment), depart for Kuantan.

Continue on to Kuantan, enroute visiting Cherating. village where you will see Pandan leaves being weaved into bags, mats & crafts and see the antics of trained monkeys plucking coconuts.

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel. 

Kuantan is capital of the state of Pahang, the largest state of the Malaysian peninsula  & Malaysia's second-biggest port. Even Cameron Highlands (Midwest) & Taman Negara (Mideast) are part of Pahang.

While the city isn’t especially geared towards tourism, it is definitely interesting enough to warrant a day’s exploration.

There are quite a few fun attractions & sights in & around Kuantan.

The city has a modern part & an historic part. Especially in the older part you find many beautiful sights. There are also some old looking shopping centres (Kompleks Teruntum & Kuantan Parade).

Within Kuantan, you can visit the State Mosque, the Kuantan river esplanade & enjoy a river cruise.

In the center, the modern Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque features 5 domes adorned with blue geometric patterns, plus 4 towering minarets. The vast mosque is also a fantastic spectacle when illuminated at night, the padang is huge & refreshingly cool in the morning & late afternoon, while food markets are set up nearby towards evening.

There are excellent Museums in the vicinity, scattered around the region, which showcase the history & heritage of the area.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Alas, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye.

Morning, you depart for Kuala Lumpur.

Arrive Kuala Lumpur by noon. You will be dropped at the hotel if you are staying longer or at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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