Malaysia Food Tour
Taste the unique and varied cuisine of West Malaysia and get to understand how the different ethnicities influenced the city’s food, architecture and culture. Get to know all about the history of the Peranakans through tasting the dishes, walking past streets and visiting iconic landmarks and museums.
This suggested itinerary may be modified and extended to suit your specific requirements.
Travelling Style: Private touring with driver and an English speaking guide
Best Time to go: February to August
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
A walking tour to explore Kuala Lumpur's heritage.
Dine in the sky at Atmosphere 360 in KL
Enjoy Nonya cuisine in Melaka
Learn about this unique culture of the Peranakans through their food.
Go on a heritage and culinary tour in Penang
Day 1: Arrival in Kuala Lumpur
On arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, meet and greet and private transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Kuala Lumpur
Day 2: Kuala Lumpur: Food and Heritage
Meet your private guide. Begin your adventure in the older part of the city on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India. Take a walk through Jalan Tun Perak towards the Jamek Mosque, the city’s oldest mosque. Discover the confluence of two rivers, where Kuala Lumpur was originally founded in the 19th century. Continue to Central Market which is a riot of colour, sounds and smells as locals’ bargain for their day’s food. Learn about the various spices, fruits, vegetables and snacks that can be found in the market.
Passing through the bustling Petaling Street, proceed for lunch at Chicken Rice Shop along Jalan Sultan. Then walk to Chinatown “Petaling Street”, you can visit the Guan Di Temple to admire the status of the Taoist God of War (Guan Di) which is believed by its devotees to have special powers. Nearby, you will find the finely decorated Sri Maha Mariamman Temple which is said to be the oldest running Hindu temple in Malaysia. Elaborate wall décor tell tales from Hindu scriptures.
Before leaving Chinatown, stop by the Common Wisdom Tea-shop, a small typical Chinese store, and learn the traditional way of perfectly brewing a cup of good jasmine tea.
This evening transfer to the incredible Petronas Towers. Admire the sunset at the sky bridge and observation deck before descending to view a synchronised water fountain and light display sending colourful beams dancing through the water.
Dinner at Atmosphere 360 revolving restaurant with a great nighttime view of Kuala Lumpur. Dine at 282 meters above the ground in the revolving restaurant and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur.
Overnight in Kuala Lumpur
Day 3: Kuala Lumpur to Melaka
Travel to Melaka, the historical city of Malaysia. Melaka is steeped in trading history, with a huge Portuguese and Dutch influence. and best explored on foot or trishaw.
Take a stroll through areas steeped in history, starting at the oldest remaining example of European architecture in Southeast Asia, A Famosa, before climbing St Paul’s Hill to visit St Paul’s Church and descending to one of the best examples of Dutch colonial architecture, the Stadthuys - the former Dutch City Hall.
Head to Temple Street, named because for the multicultural range of temples and mosques that have stood since the early 18th century. Continue to see restored Peranakan buildings (a cultural mix of Han-Chinese and Malay that forged its own style, known as the Baba-Nyonya, from the 15th century).
Visit one of the excellent Baba-Nyonya museums along the way to learn more about the culture before exploring some interesting antique stores and cafes along the famous Jonkers Street.
Finish the day with a 45-minute leisurely River Cruise.
This evening try Restoran Peranakan for dinner. Housed within an original building and furnished with authentic décor, this is a great place to enjoy traditional dishes in a vibrant atmosphere. This cuisine is a result of inter-marriage between the Chinese immigrants and the local Malays creating a unique cuisine where local ingredients such as chillies, belacan (Malaysian shrimp paste) lemongrass, galangal, turmeric and other spices are used to assimilate to the local culture.
Overnight in Melaka.
Day 4: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands
Travel to Cameron Highlands, an area of picturesque tea hills and vegetable farms. En-route, stop at Kajang or Putrajaya for an early lunch at the Botanical Garden where your guide will introduce you to more local delicacies such as Satay (a dish of marinated, skewered chicken, mutton or beef and served with a mild-spicy peanut sauce) and Roti John (essentially an omelette sandwich and ingredients included minced chicken or mutton, onion, egg, sardines, tomato-chilli sauce and a baguette-type loaf).
Upon arrival, we visit the local market and vegetable farm for an insight into the lifestyle of the local farmers.
Steamboat dinner: the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table. Typical hot pot dishes include thinly sliced meat, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings and seafood. The cooked food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce.
Overnight at Cameron Highlands
Day 5: Cameron Highlands to Ipoh
Visit a tea plantation to see how tea is processed before departing for Ipoh with a lunch stop at Kampar. Take a leisurely stroll on the Ipoh’s Heritage Trail.
The walk is about 4 miles long, visiting historical landmarks around the city while tasting the way through Ipoh’s Heritage. Continue past the mosque at Ipoh and onto the Birch Memorial Clock Tower, built in 1909 in memory of James WW Birch, Perak’s first British Resident. On the way, try Ipoh’s biscuits and pastries that dates back to the early 1900s where they were traditionally given during Chinese festivals. The dough is still made by hand today. Stop for a coffee at Old Town coffee shop to try Ipoh’s famed white coffee, differentiated from black coffee as the beans are not roasted with sugar. From here get lost in the numerous hidden cobblestone alleyways of the old town experiencing the rich culture of the old-world colonial era. The Walls of the old town have been restored and turned into pieces of art and old shops are now quaint cafes.
Enjoy the taste of laksa for lunch or one of Ipoh’s many famous dishes such as bean sprout chicken, Curry chicken Bread or Clay Pot Chicken Rice. Finish the walking trail at the vibrant Concubine Lane which is home to the best antiques in Ipoh.
Overnight in Ipoh.
Day 6: Ipoh to Penang
Depart Ipoh early for the coastal fishing town of Kuala Sepetang. Famous for its charcoal kilns take a visit to one of the largest Charcoal factories in Malaysia established in 1930. Learn about the process of charcoal manufacturing. Take a 1-hour tour and learn the process of charcoal and enjoy chargrilled sweet potatoes afterwards.
Continue on a boat ride to Kuala Sepetang’s fishing village for a local seafood lunch.
In the evening, meet your guide for a discovery tour of Penang by night. Discover Georgetown’s Heritage by night on a trishaw before arriving at Red Garden Food Paradise Night Market. The Hawker venue offers all of Penang’s favourite dishes. Taste the popular satay sticks of barbecued meat and char kway teow noodles fried with seafood while watching how they are prepared. From 21:00 each evening sit back and enjoy a local band or take a short walk to Georgetown’s 360-degree revolving bar for a drink.
Overnight Penang.
Day 7: Penang - Tropical Spice Garden and Cookery Class
Morning transfer to the Tropical Spice Garden for a guided of the Spice Terraces. Explore the lush landscaped award-winning gardens set out over 8 acres of secondary jungle. Then take a refreshment tea in the Bamboo Garden. Tucked away in a secluded corner of the gardens, the cooking school is surrounded by jungle trees and wildlife, a small herb garden and a glimpse of the Andaman Sea.
At 10:15, the cooking class commences. Cook tasty Malay, Nyonya and/or Indian cuisine with the help of professional chefs. Peranakan or Nyonya cuisine is a unique combination of Chinese, Malay and other influences.
After lunch depart deep in the hills of the winding road of Teluk Bahang towards Balik Pulau to Art and Garden where nature meets with art. Within 1.5 acres of hilly land, in three-tier reaches, a green sanctuary showcases an amazing variety of bromeliads, air plants, aloes, agaves, gingers, trumpet pictures and orchids amidst glass, clay and metal sculptures as well as paintings and colourful mosaics.
Overnight in Penang
Day 8: Penang cultural walk
Start the day with a fabulous dim sum breakfast. Dining alongside crowds of Penangites, sample the city’s best dim sum. After breakfast, head to Georgetown, Penang’s cultural centre and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the streets, looking beyond the heritage buildings and religious sites to discover remarkable street art. Discover whimsical paintings and sculptures as well as interactive murals inspired by daily life before moving through Little India.
Visit the local Hindu temple and be blessed by a priest. Not to be missed here is an opportunity to break a coconut for the deity. In Hindu mythology, breaking of coconut symbolizes the breaking of the ego. Finally, visit Little India. Discover a profusion of authentically Indian items such as an assortment of sweetmeats, aromatic spices, exotic fragrances and dazzling adornments.
The Rest of the day is at leisure to explore independently.
Overnight in Penang
Day 9: Departure or beach extension
Transfer to Penang Airport for your flight home or extend your stay at a beach resort in Langkawi.
