Here’s our high-level Malaysia travel vlog itinerary, covering the hotels we stayed at, along with transportation tips and must-try foods in Malaysia

🦘 Jump to Our Travel Vlog

Day City Video 🔗
Day 1-2 Penang First Time in Penang!
Day 3 Perhentian Islands Perhentian Island, The Bora Bora of Malaysia!
Day 4 Perhentian Islands Snorkeling Excursion in Paradise
Day 5 Perhentian Islands > KL My First Time in KL!
Day 6 Kuala Lumpur (KL) Eating and Visiting Batu Caves
Day 7 Kuala Lumpur (KL) Shopping and Exploring in KL!
Day 8 KL > Kuching Sarawak & Mooncake Festival!
Day 9 Kuching Must visit Fairy Cave
Day 10 Kuching Eating Sarawak Laksa & Wedding Photoshoot!
Day 11 Kuching Eating All Day in Kuching!
Day City Hotel We Stayed at Hotel Review Video 🔗
Day 1 – 2 Penang Penang Marriott Hotel No video, lost our footage 😭
Day 3 – 4 Perhentian Islands Mimpi Perhentian No video, lost our footage 😭
We loved this resort but little outdated. If you want Marriot or luxury brand, they opened a new Marriot property here as well:
Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa
Day 5 – 6 Kuala Lumpur (KL) EQ Kuala Lumpur Love Malaysian Hotel: EQ
Day 7 Kuala Lumpur (KL) Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur First Time Staying at Four Seasons!
Day 8 – 9 KL > Kuching The Waterfront Hotel 5 Star Boutique Hotel in Kuching
Day 10 – 11 Kuching Sheraton Kuching Hotel New Sheraton Hotel in Kuching

Helpful Transportation Tips

When exploring Malaysia, especially bustling Kuala Lumpur or other Malaysia cities, Grab quickly becomes your best friend. This incredibly convenient ride-hailing app allows you to easily book rides with upfront fares, effectively bypassing any need for haggling. It’s the go-to solution for zipping around the city, ensuring smooth and predictable travel within urban areas. Compared to USA Uber price, Grab is significantly affordable so you won’t have to worry about the transportation cost too much. 

For seamless airport transfers, the KLIA Ekspres is an absolute lifesaver. This dedicated train service whisks you directly from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the city center in a comfortable and highly efficient journey, making both your arrival and departure stress-free experiences. We will recommend take KLIA Ekspres and take a grab to your final destination. Especially, Malaysia rains very often so KLIA Ekspres will help you to arrive to your airport on time so highly recommend it. 

What is the MUST food I should eat in Malaysia?

Before jumping into Top 10 food list, take a look at my YouTube Viewer’s recommended food spots! We personally didn’t visit here but he was nice enough to share his food recommendations so we wanted to share with you all! 

Amazing Malaysia Food Places in GSheet

Malaysia is a true food paradise, offering an incredible fusion of Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors. Your taste buds are in for an adventure! Here are 10 must-try dishes that define Malaysian cuisine, including the beloved Sarawak Laksa:

  1. Nasi Lemak: Often hailed as Malaysia’s national dish, this fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves is served with spicy sambal, crispy anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber, and usually a hard-boiled egg or fried chicken. It’s a staple at any time of day!

  2. Laksa (various types including Sarawak Laksa): This iconic spicy noodle soup comes in many beloved regional variations.

    • Sarawak Laksa: A specialty from East Malaysia (Borneo), it’s characterized by a unique, complex broth made from a blend of spices, a hint of coconut milk, and often a prawn and chicken stock base. It’s typically served with rice vermicelli, shredded chicken, prawns, omelette strips, and bean sprouts. Anthony Bourdain famously called it the “breakfast of the gods.”
    • Asam Laksa: Found predominantly in Penang, it offers a tangy, fish-based broth with tamarind.
    • Curry Laksa (or Curry Mee): Common in Kuala Lumpur, it features a rich, coconut milk-based curry broth.

  3. Char Kway Teow: A universally loved stir-fried flat rice noodle dish. Cooked over high heat in a wok, it boasts smoky “wok hei” flavor, tossed with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, chives, egg, and a savory dark soy sauce.

  4. Satay: Delicious skewers of marinated meat (chicken, beef, or lamb) grilled to perfection over charcoal. It’s served with a rich, sweet, and spicy peanut dipping sauce, often accompanied by cucumber and onion. A quintessential street food experience.

  5. Roti Canai: A flaky, crispy, and incredibly addictive flatbread, a testament to Malaysia’s Indian-Muslim culinary heritage. It’s typically served with various curries like dal, chicken, or fish for dipping, making it a perfect breakfast or snack.

  6. Hainanese Chicken Rice: A seemingly simple yet profoundly flavorful dish featuring tender poached or roasted chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, accompanied by chili sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce.

  7. Rendang: While originating from Indonesia, this luxuriously flavored, slow-cooked meat (most commonly beef) dish is immensely popular throughout Malaysia. It’s braised in coconut milk and a rich blend of spices until the meat is tender and the sauce is absorbed.

  8. Nasi Kandar: Hailing from Penang, this popular dish allows you to customize your meal. It’s steamed rice served with your choice of various flavorful curries and side dishes, such as fried chicken, fish, or vegetables, all generously doused with gravies.

  9. Hokkien Mee (Kuala Lumpur Style): Distinct from its Penang counterpart, the KL version features thick yellow noodles braised in a rich, dark soy sauce with pork, prawns, and squid, often cooked over charcoal for a signature smoky aroma.

  10. Cendol: The perfect refreshing dessert for Malaysia’s tropical climate! It’s a bowl of shaved ice topped with pandan-flavored green jelly noodles, sweet coconut milk, and a drizzle of rich palm sugar syrup (gula melaka). Red beans or sweet corn are often added for extra texture.