Looking to plan an amazing two weeks in Malaysia adventure? Trying to create the perfect Malaysia 2 week itinerary? Let us come to your rescue.

Living in Malaysia for the past two years has given us firsthand knowledge of the best travel destinations in Malaysia.

We’ve explored Malaysia as backpackers and as an expat family with young kids. Now we’re combining all our experiences to bring you the ultimate 2 weeks in Malaysia itinerary.

Why visit Malaysia?

Malaysia is a country of amazing cuisines, incredible rainforest landscapes and of course, the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

Although located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia today is a fusion of vibrant multiculturalism, traditional indigenous ways of life and colonial heritage. It is definitely an inviting country whose cultures and rituals transcend its geographical boundaries. Where you’ll discover Chinese and Indian customs melt into Malay beliefs and ideas.

Malaysia is a land where vibrant, modern cities are punctuated with ancient rainforests. Chinese temples standing proudly next door to ornate Hindu shrines and grand Islamic mosques.

Whether you like idyllic tropical islands, cosmopolitan cities filled with rooftop bars or trekking with orangutans through dense jungle, 2 weeks in Malaysia will give you a real taste of the diversity and contrasts that symbolise Malaysia.

If you’re travelling around Malaysia with kids check out our epic post: 50+ amazing things to do in Malaysia with kids for oodles of family-friendly inspiration!

Is 2 weeks in Malaysia enough?

How long is a piece of string? Seriously – there is a lifetime’s worth of places to visit in Malaysia but our two week Malaysia itinerary will give you a great taste of all that Malaysia has to offer.

With only 2 weeks in Malaysia, you will need to make some choices depending on your interests, your preferred pace of travel and where you are arriving and departing from. You won’t be able to see everything in with only two weeks in Malaysia!

Malaysia in 2 week itinerary

Here’s an outline of our favourite way to spend two weeks travelling in Malaysia. This 14 day Malaysia itinerary is very easy to expand by adding in the neighbouring countries of Brunei (when you’re in Sabah) or Singapore when you’re in Peninsular Malaysia.

Outline of this 2 week Malaysia Itinerary

21 days by bus, boat and plane: Kuala Lumpur-Georgetown (Penang) – Miri (Sarawak) -Labuan – Kota Kinabalu- Kinabatangan River -Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre – Sandakan – depart from KK (Kota Kinabalu)

2 weeks in Malaysia highlights

Two weeks in Malaysia gives you plenty of time to get a great taster of Malaysian culture and explore different ecosystems.

In 2 weeks in Malaysia, you will be able to venture into the rainforest, see lots of wildlife including many species unique to Borneo and try a huge variety of cheap and delicious food.

Who is this 2 week Malaysia itinerary suitable for?

Malaysia is a great country for tourists who are jungle trekkers, nature lovers, bird-watchers, curry connoisseurs or scuba divers (head down south in Sabah to Semporna). It is also a wonderfully family-friendly country!

We like a level of honesty here at World for a Girl so some of the lowlights for visitors to Malaysia may include: alcohol being a lot pricier than neighbouring countries like Thailand, you will witness first-hand horrific environmental destruction in the form of Palm Oil plantations and admission prices for attractions like theme parks can be high.

Of course, this 2 week Malaysia itinerary is great for families too. We are primarily a family travel blog after all! We have detailed kid-friendly guides to all the main destinations mentioned including KL with kids, Melaka with kids, a special KL with toddlers guide and Langkawi with kids

Constructing the perfect Malaysia 2 week itinerary

Our ideal Malaysia 14 day itinerary is split in half equally between Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Giving you the opportunity to really experience both sides (literally) of Malaysian culture.

Of course, it is very easy to create a 2 week Malaysia itinerary that focuses purely on Peninsular Malaysia. Just drop us a comment below if this is something you’d be interested in.

You can start this 2 week Malaysia itinerary in either Penang or Kuala Lumpur. If you start in KL, you may wish to buy return flights, bus or train tickets from KL to Penang.

Living in Malaysia, we’ve had lots of opportunities to travel throughout the country. We’ve added in lots of alternatives throughout this 2 week Malaysia itinerary so that you can adapt it to be absolutely right for you!

Let’s start…

Malaysia 2 weeks itinerary

Days 1 – 2: Penang Island

2 days in Georgetown (Penang)

Georgetown is an old British colonial town on the island of Penang which was formerly owned by the British East India Company and used as a major trading outpost.

Now a city of over one million people, it contains a tantalizing mix of cultures as a result of its international history, UNESCO protected colonial architecture and of course, the world-famous street murals.

When we first visited Penang in 2011, we were shocked by the level of seediness. Prostitutes coming out to ply their trade at six in the evening and giant rats living underneath the streets but there was something charming about the city. You could almost conjure up what it could have been like when sailors landed here two hundred years ago.

If you have a bit longer to explore Penang, check out our Penang in 3 days itinerary exploring the whole island.

Nowadays, Georgetown is a much more pleasant and family-friendly city. The UNESCO World Heritage status (awarded in 2008) to both Georgetown and Melaka has pumped in a lot of money and investment.

The dilapidated buildings that we saw in 2011 are now luxurious boutique hotels and cosmopolitan cafes serving lattes. Like Hoi An in Vietnam, this gentrification brings mixed feelings. We hope that the local residents are getting a fair share of the profits.

Georgetown has it all: hustle and bustle, a mix of cultures, great Indian, Malay and Chinese food, many bars and lots of galleries.

Three main cultures live side by side (Chinese, Indians, Malay) with a spattering of expats and Australian tourists in their Billabong uniforms – and yes, the food is incredible.

Penang is known as the food capital of Malaysia. Hawker stalls line every street. Don’t be put off by the cheap plastic chairs and sample some truly delicious and very cheap food- Indian roti canai being especially tasty!

Other things to do in Penang

If museums, galleries and lattes aren’t enough to fill two days in Georgetown. Pop down to popular Batu Ferringhi beach (you can hop on a local bus or book a Grab car).

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something more adventurous than lounging on the beach. There’s great hiking through the rainforest in Penang National Park and Penang Hill. Travelling with kids? The Escape theme park and the Penang Butterfly Farm both come highly recommended by friends with kids.

Alternative to Penang or KL: Langkawi

If you really want to avoid either Penang or KL (we’re all different, right?) Langkawi, Malaysia’s premier holiday island might be for you. It’s easy to fly there from either Penang or KLIA.

Langkawi Island offers high-class resorts, gorgeous long sandy beaches and duty-free alcohol. If this sounds more like your cup of tea, check out our family-friendly Langkawi guide (don’t worry, we list our favourite beach bars!).

Planning to enter Langkawi from Thailand? You might be interested in our popular 10 days in Southern Thailand itinerary

Days 3 – 4: Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur (or KL as it’s known throughout the region) is a hub with great flight connections. Over the past 20 years, KL has developed into a true ‘world city’.

For that reason, it is definitely worth spending a day and two nights in Kuala Lumpur to see what the fuss is about. We live in Kuala Lumpur with our young kids. We’ve been here for almost 2 years. We’ve explored alleyways, art galleries and mega-malls.

I could, in fact, talk for hours about what to see and do in Kuala Lumpur. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you here. You can check out this post here if you want to know more.

What to see and do in Kuala Lumpur

KL has two very cool and spectacularly high skyscrapers: the Petronas Twin Towers (the tallest twin towers in the world and better viewed at night) and Menara KL, an observation tower that flashes crazy colours in the night.

Local KL Travel Tip: Unless you really like views and spending money, then don’t worry about ascending the towers. In my option, the Petronas Twin Towers are best seen from KLCC Park just outside Suria Mall (which is at the base of the Towers).

Menara KL can be seen from most places but our favourite view is from KL Eco Park. Sometimes the best pictures are of the buildings rather than from them. I think that’s definitely the case in Kuala Lumpur!

Walking around the city, you can easily grasp its importance which is not as a tourist destination but of a world-famous financial and economical centre.

There are impressive skyscrapers, residents who come from every corner of the Earth to work here and endless, endless shopping malls. Side note: even if you don’t like shopping malls in KL they’re great places to shelter from the monsoon rains and oppressive humidity.

Days 5 – 6: Melaka

Melaka (Malacca) is just 2 hours south of Kuala Lumpur. It is easy to reach by bus or car. Another World Heritage city, Melaka has Dutch, Portuguese and Britsh colonial heritage existing alongside vibrant modern-day Malay, Nonya, Chinese and Indian cultures.

Like Georgetown, Melaka is known for its food especially Nonya cooking. Check out our family-friendly guide to Melaka for lots more information.

Alternatives to Melaka

If you don’t fancy another city after Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown some great alternatives not far from Kuala Lumpur are Fraser’s Hill, a quirky hill station deep in the rainforest. Check out our in-depth post on things to do in Fraser’s Hill here. It’s a 2-hour drive from KL.

Another great possibility is a trip to the stunning Cameron Highlands. It’s a 3-4 hour drive. Once there you can enjoy cooler temperatures, verdant tea plantations and lots of hiking. You may be able to find affordable guided tours.

Week Two of the 2 week Malaysia itinerary

Today is the seventh day of this Malaysia 2 week itinerary. It is also the day to leave Peninsular Malaysia and hop on a flight over to Borneo.

Most flights leave from KLIA2 airport. Book in advance and you can find cheap holidays.

Malaysian Borneo is divided into 2 main states: Sarawak and Sabah. Our personal favourite is Sabah and we keep returning again and again. Sbah is also the smaller of the two states. This means that in just one week you can really explore Sabah.

Days 7 and 8: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

We really enjoy the quiet charm of Kota Kinabalu. It is a great place to base yourself for a couple of days whilst you arrange a tour or transportation into the interior of Sabah state.

A heritage walk, a spattering of temples and a few markets will keep you occupied in town. But in our option, the best thing to do is hop on a boat over to Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park spans some stunning tropical islands (and the waters between). Boats leave regularly from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in KK. On the islands, you can hire snorkel gear, book a dive or just sunbathe on the beach. Watch out for the small, black fish that nip your ankles when snorkelling! You have been warned!

Just beyond Kota Kinabalu’s city centre are a couple of very interesting cultural villages: the Mari Mari Cultural Village and Monsopiad Cultural Village. Here you can learn about traditional Bornean tribes, admire the high-skilled local craftspeople at work and explore tribal buildings. The Sabah Museum just 2km from central KK also has a small cultural heritage village.

For more adventurous travellers, there is the possibility to climb Mount Kinabalu. At 4095m high, it is a challenging climb but the views from the summit are tremendous. Most tour operators in KK will be able to help you organise a permit and guide. Advance planning is recommended.

Days 9 -10: Sungai Kinabatangan

The Kinabatangan is a 560km long chocolate-brown river winding through the very heart of the Bornean rainforest.

The best way to experience the Kinabatangan is cruising along in a boat. You can easily arrange a short trip through a KK tour operator or directly with one of the many lodges along the riverside.

During sunset river cruises, we were lucky to see a small herd of pygmy elephants (only approximately 2,000 left in the wild, worldwide) and were able to get within 15m of these impressive animals who were not bothered by us being parked on the water.

We also spotted a few different species of monkeys, including the native proboscis, who swung through the trees oblivious that they were putting on a fine show for us. On our sunrise (5 am!!) river trip, our tour guide parked our boat under an overhanging branch where a poisonous snake was sleeping and could have fallen on to our heads. All the leeches, spiders and bugs in our bedroom were forgiven and forgotten after that!

You cannot visit Borneo and not be devastated by the sight of palm oil plantations. Rows and rows of palms trees line the side of almost every road and river where once stood virgin rainforest.

Now, most of that rainforest is in protected areas and the plantations are still encroaching in every direction. These forests house dozens of unique species of mammals, hundreds of types of birds and innumerable plants and insects. It is truly a sad sight to see such a diverse and special island such as Borneo be destroyed for economic gain.

Days 11 and 12: Sepilok

Within a small area, there are three excellent wildlife centres. We highly recommend that you spend a day or two exploring this part of Sabah.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Perhaps the most famous orangutan rehabilitation centre in the world is Sepilok. It is definitely not to be missed.

Sepilok welcomes orphaned and injured orangutans and helps rehabilitate them back into the wild. The highlights for visitors are the feeding platforms where you can watch hungry orangutans chomping through their meals twice a day. The feeding times are currently at 10 am and 3 pm.

There’s also an outdoor nursery where you can see toddlers learning how to survive in the jungle. There is also an interesting Nature Education Centre and various walking trails.

Rainforest Discovery Centre

Another favourite of ours is the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The walkways high in the rainforest canopy are fantastic. Although if you want to see any wildlife it’s best to go as close to dawn or dusk as you can. Most animals hide during the piercing heat of the day. There is also a pleasant lake that you can stroll around. It’s easy (but sweaty) walk from here to the Orangutan centre.

Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Sun bears are perhaps the cutest (and smallest) bears that you’ll ever see! Endangered throughout Asia, the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) works tirelessly to help rehabilitate sun bears into the wild. The centre even has elevated glass viewing platforms so that you can get up close to these magnificent creatures.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

The Labuk Bay Proboscis Centre is in a 6 sq km reserve on a private palm plantation. These unusal-looking but totally endearing monkeys have huge floppy noses, pot bellies and red faces. Here at the centre, you can watch them feeding in the morning and afternoon. It is half an hour drive from the other centres in Sepilok.

Days 13 and 14: Sandakan, Sabah

Option number one for finishing this 2 week Malaysia itinerary is making the short trip from Sepilok to the coastal city of Sandakan. Whilst Sandakan isn’t bursting at the seams with must-visit tourist attractions, there is plenty in Sandakan to keep you busy for 24 hours.

If you are interested in WWII history, make sure you find time to visit the Sandakan Memorial Park commemorating the thousands of Allied soldiers who died on the infamous ‘death marches’ across Borneo. You can also visit the Japanese Cemetery.

To find out more about the untold story of ‘comfort women’ in Asia during WWII, check out our posts of the Ama Museum in Taiwan and the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum in South Korea.

Agnes Keith House

A wonderful women’s museum right in the heart of Sandakan. This restored two-storey colonial villa was the home of the American author, Agnes Keith.

Agnes Keith lived in Sandakan during the 1930s. When the Japanese occupied North Borneo, she was detained in a POW camp. She wrote a series of books detailing her life in Borneo. The most famous being ‘Three came Home‘ telling the harrowing story of her family’s quest for survival in the Japanese camps.

The fine English Tea House and Restaurant next door to Agnes Keith House is a great place to rest your weary traveller socks in splendid colonial style. Sit in a fan-cooled pagoda overlooking the harbour whilst scoffing scones and drinking tea. Ahh, the life…

Then just to finish things off play a few games of croquet on the lawn!

Alternative Days 13 -14: Semporna Archipelago

A great alternative to Sandakan if you’re flying up to Kuala Lumpur is to fly from Tawau. You can also cross into Indonesia here.

Tawau is not much a town but it does give you direct access to the Semporna Archipelago. If you’re a diver than substituting Sandakan with a trip to Semporna is a MUST.

The Semporna Archipelago is the ultimate dive spot in Malaysia. Crystal clear turquoise waters, tropical white-sand beaches and a vibrant and colourful underwater world make this the perfect spot to finish up your 2 week Malaysia itinerary.

Get ready for your trip to Malaysia

Of course, we have only scratched at the surface of all that Malaysia has to offer. However, if you only have 2 weeks in Malaysia, this 14 days Malaysia itinerary should be a great place to start.

Remember this Malaysia itinerary is just a guideline. We’ve done it and loved it! But your travel needs will be different so use our alternative suggestions to mix and match the perfect 2 weeks Malaysia itinerary for you.

Enjoy Malaysia and pop back to let us know how it goes!

Travelling around Southeast Asia with kids? We have been living, holidaying and travelling in SE Asia for almost two amazing years now. Find out our best Asia with kids travel tips, discover the best family-friendly destinations in SE Asia and learn how NOT to make the (many) mistakes we’ve made by checking out our collection of in-depth family travel posts on Myanmar | Thailand | Malaysia | Singapore | Vietnam | Cambodia and more.

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