Top 10 Things to Do in Malaysia (That Aren't the Petronas Towers)

Malaysia is more than the Petronas Towers, and more than the KL. The country has some of the best food in Asia, the most-diverse nature, the most-layered cultural history, the most-photographed orangutans, the world-class diving, and the most-photographed tea plantations. This is the list of 10 things to actually do.

1. Eat the street food in Penang

Penang's street food is the most-celebrated in Asia, and the most-rewarding. The char kway teow at the New Lane, the asam laksa at the Pulau Tikus Market, the hokkien mee at the Cecil Street Market, the nasi kandar at the Line Clear, the cendol at the Penang Road. Eat your way through 3-4 days and you will have eaten the definitive version of the Malaysian canon. $10-15 per day for all meals.

2. Climb Mount Kinabalu

The 4,095-m peak, the highest in Malaysia, the 20th most prominent in the world. The 2-day climb (1 night at Laban Rata at 3,272 m, the summit at sunrise) is the most-photographed in Malaysia. The trail is hard but achievable for anyone in reasonable shape, the view from the summit is the most-rewarding in Southeast Asia. The Via Ferrata (the protected climbing route, the most-photographed addition) is the most-exciting. $400-600 per person.

3. Visit the orangutans at Sepilok (Sabah) or Semenggoh (Sarawak)

The two orangutan sanctuaries, the most-photographed in Malaysia. The Sepilok (Sabah) is the larger, the most-photographed. The Semenggoh (Sarawak) is the smaller, the more-intimate. The feeding time, the semi-wild orangutans, the most-photographed animals in the country. $20-50 entry + transport.

4. Go to the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands

The BOH Tea Centre + the Sungai Palas Plantation, the most-photographed tea plantation in Malaysia. The cool weather, the green terraces, the factory tour, the tea tasting, the most-photographed 2 hours in the Cameron Highlands. The strawberry farms, the mossy forest, the waterfalls. 2-3 days is the sweet spot.

5. Dive at Sipadan

The small oceanic island 36 km off the east coast of Sabah, the world-class diving, the Jacques Cousteau "an untouched piece of art" (1989). The wall dives, the barracuda tornado, the green turtles, the white-tip reef sharks, the occasional whale shark. Limited permits (only 176 divers per day), the most-photographed dive site in Malaysia. $400-800 for 3-day trip including permits.

6. Visit a longhouse in Sarawak

The Iban longhouses of the Sarawak interior, the most-photographed culture in Malaysia. The wooden stilt houses, the families in one long house, the rice wine (tuak), the ngajat dance, the most-cultural experience in the country. The most-recommended: the Batang Ai area (3-4 hours from Kuching), the Aiman Batang Ai Resort, the 1-2 day longhouse visit. $200-400 per person.

7. Visit the Mulu Caves (Sarawak)

The 529-km² national park, the most-photographed in Sarawak, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Deer Cave (the largest cave passage in the world, the most-photographed), the Clearwater Cave (the longest cave system in Asia), the Sarawak Chamber (the largest cave chamber in the world). 2-3 nights at the Mulu Marriott. $300-700 per person including park entry, accommodation, and the guided tours.

8. Visit the Jonker Street in Malacca

The 500-year-old Chinese street, the most-photographed night market in Malaysia. The weekend night market (Friday-Saturday-Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight) is the headline. The food: chicken rice balls, the Nyonya cendol, the Nyonya laksa, the durian puffs, the Hainanese coffee. The atmosphere is the most authentic Chinese-Malay fusion in Malaysia. The 1-day trip from KL is the standard.

9. Visit the Batu Caves (near KL)

The 400-million-year-old limestone cave complex with the Hindu temple inside, the most-photographed Hindu site in Malaysia. The 272 colorful steps up to the temple, the 42.7-m golden statue of Lord Murugan, the cave temple with the painted ceiling. The most-photographed day trip from KL.

10. Go to the Perhentian Islands

The 2 small islands off the northeast coast, the most-photographed beach destination in Malaysia. The white sand, the turquoise water, the snorkeling, the diving, the no-cars atmosphere, the laid-back vibe. The most-photographed: the Long Beach (the backpacker beach), the Coral Bay (the snorkelers' beach), the Turtle Bay (the conservation beach). The best months: April-October. $30-100/night for the bungalows, $30-50 for the snorkeling trips.

Bonus: the durian

The "King of Fruits," the most-photographed fruit in Southeast Asia, the most-pungent smell. The Malaysian varieties: the Musang King (the most-celebrated), the D24, the Red Prawn, the Black Thorn. The season is June-August, the most-photographed in the markets, the most-distinct in the durian stalls. The taste is the most-polarizing in the world — you either love it or you hate it.

What to skip

The Genting Highlands: The casino, the indoor theme park, the most-photographed of the "Kuala Lumpur day trip" destinations. The casino is the only one in Malaysia, the family-friendly atmosphere, the most-photographed for what it is, but not the most-authentic Malaysian experience.
The Kuala Lumpur Tower: The 421-m tower, the less-famous version of the Petronas. The view is similar, the price is similar, the experience is less impressive.
The "Kuala Lumpur City Tour" bus: The 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus, the most-photographed in KL, the slowest way to see the city. The LRT, MRT, and Grab are faster.