COLONIAL EXPEDITION

Day 1 : Kuala Lumpur (- / - / -)

Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, we transfer to the hotel for check-in, with the rest of the day at our leisure to explore the cosmopolitan capital at our own pace.

Kuala Lumpur is home to a swathe of iconic landmarks, including 88-storey chrome and steel towers Petronas Twin Towers – the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers, Petaling Street flea market and Batu Caves, which is more than 400 million-years-old. Shopaholics can hit the expansive shopping malls, including Pavilion KL and Suria KLCC.

Alternatively, take an evening stroll through colourful Chinatown, stopping to snap up souvenirs at Petaling Night Market. Put on your haggling hat to get the best deals on the bags, clothes, watches and other items for sale. Feast on fine street food at Jalan Alor, which is packed full of seafood restaurants, hawker stalls and street side vendors that serve up a tasty array of snacks.

Overnight at The Majestic Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2 : Kuala Lumpur (B / L / -)

After breakfast at the hotel, we head out on a snapshot morning tour of the city, which takes in some of Kuala Lumpur’s top attractions. Highlights include Istana Negara, or the King’s Palace, the National Monument, National Mosque and old Railway Station. We then take a stop at Central Market. Built in 1928 as a local wet market, it underwent a radical revamp in the early 1980s and was transformed into a handicrafts outlet.

We then continue to colourful Chinatown to take a stroll down its lively streets before heading to Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), where we can view the collection of historical colonial buildings. We enjoy lunch at a local colonial-themed restaurant, with the rest of the day free to continue exploring Kuala Lumpur or spend some time relaxing at the hotel.

Overnight at The Majestic Kuala Lumpur.

Day 3 : Kuala Lumpur – Cameron Highlands (B / L / D) 

We trade in Kuala Lumpur’s futuristic skyline for the rolling emerald hills of Cameron Highlands. This stunning countryside location sits at heights of about 1,542 m and is Malaysia’s largest hill-station area, boasting sweeping tea plantations that hug hills. We stop for lunch at The Lakehouse Hotel located in Ringlet, which is the first township on the way to the highlands.

We then continue on our scenic journey on roads that wind up green-clad hills, passing by Tanah Rata, the administrative town of Cameron Highlands, before we check-in at the hotel. We then have the rest of the day at our leisure to settle into our idyllic new surroundings before being picked up for dinner at 7 pm. Tonight, we will dine at the exclusive Strawberry Park Resort, which is perfectly perched to offer incredible vistas of its surroundings.

Overnight at The Smokehouse.

Day 4 : Cameron Highlands (B / - / -)

After breakfast, we embark on the Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang tour. We hop into a Land Rover to cruise along roads that wind through picturesque rolling tea gardens up 6,666 feet above sea level to Gunung Brinchang. We listen to our guide’s ‘tea talk’ while enjoying breath-taking views of the tea gardens. On a clear day, we will drive up to the highest mountain accessible by road in South-East Asia to enjoy magnificent vistas. We take an interpretive walk with our nature guide through Mossy Forest to learn about exotic flora, including the pitcher plant, orchids, primitive ferns and medicinal plants.

We then take a short drive to Sungai Palas ‘BOH’ Tea Factory. We take a tour of the factory tour before sampling the many varieties of tea. The driver is at our disposal for the rest of the day or us to continue our exploration of the area. Note: The Tea Factory is closed Mondays and public holidays. 

Overnight at The Smokehouse.

Day 5 : Cameron Highlands - Penang (B / L / -)

Wave goodbye to the Cameron Highlands’ rolling greenery as we head to the vibrant island of After breakfast, we depart for Penang with a stopover in charming Ipoh to visit some of its historic colonial buildings, including St Michael’s Institution and the old Railway Station. We enjoy lunch at a typical Chinese coffee shop in Ipoh’s Old Town before hitting the road. We will stop to visit Sam Poh Tong cave temple, a Chinese temple nestled in an ancient cavern, before driving to Taiping Town, famed for its well-preserved colonial architecture, and the charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang, which bakes mangrove logs in kilns.

We later make a stop at The Perak Museum, Malaysia’s oldest museum before the final leg of our road trip to Penang. There is the option to stop at Aun Tong Coffee Mill for a coffee break. Known as Malaysia’s most historical coffee mill, it was founded in 1933 in Taiping. Upon arrival in Penang, we check-in at the hotel, with the rest of the evening at our leisure.

Overnight at Eastern & Oriental Hotel. 

Day 6 : Penang (B / L / -) 

We spend the morning immersing ourselves in Penang’s rich history on a Heritage Walk. Highlights include the Protestant Cemetery, St Xavier’s Institution, St Paul’s Cathedral and Penang Museum. We then visit St George’s Church, the first protestant Church in South-East Asia, and take a stroll down the Street of Harmony, where four main religions’ place of worships sit within metres of each other. Other visits include Penang’s oldest Chinese temple, Kuan Yin Temple, its first Hindu temple, Queen Street Mariamman, and Kapitan Keling Mosque, the island’s oldest Indian Muslim mosque. We take a stroll through lively Little India and take a tour of Khoo Kongsi, the most intricate clan house outside China.

Lunch is at Edelweiss, a pre-war building transformed into a restaurant that has featured in Hollywood and local films.  After lunch, we return to hotel by trishaw, with the rest of the day free before visiting Gurney Drive in the evening to feast on delicious hawker food. 

Overnight at Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

Day 7 : Penang (B / - / -)

After breakfast at the hotel, we have the rest of the day at our leisure until departing for the airport. 

End of the Tour