Top 10 Places to Visit in Malaysia for VMY2014 is a list created in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014. The list is in a random order and based on the frequency of promotions done by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and also Tourism Malaysia. As Visit Malaysia Year 2014 has been launched worldwide, there has been an increase in inquiries on where to go in Malaysia for 2014.
Though there are different types of tourism genres in Malaysia, the most popular ones would be general sightseeing at popular places in the country. However, other popular genres like shopping, Ecotourism, Sports and Luxury tourism has been steadily on the rise in many of the states around Malaysia. This list gives would be travelers a basic understanding to the many types of tourism found throughout Malaysia for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
Sabah - Located on the north of Borneo Island, Sabah is one of the highlights for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 due to the multiple choices of tourism offered here. Visitors can enjoy beautiful beaches, cooling mountains to adventurous rainforest experiences in one place. for outdoor and nature lovers, there are endless choices to select and among them are scuba diving at one of the top dive sites in the world - Sipadan Island, climbing the highest mountain in Southeast Asia - Mount Kinabalu, exploring the beautiful rainforest of Danum Valley and wildlife watching along the Kinabatangan River.
Though there are different types of tourism genres in Malaysia, the most popular ones would be general sightseeing at popular places in the country. However, other popular genres like shopping, Ecotourism, Sports and Luxury tourism has been steadily on the rise in many of the states around Malaysia. This list gives would be travelers a basic understanding to the many types of tourism found throughout Malaysia for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
Kota Kinabalu City in Sabah Borneo |
For the quick traveler, the city of Kota Kinabalu offers some amazing short trips to islands with crystal clear waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park which is only a 15 minute boat ride from the city of KK. Day trips to snorkel or even dive is easily arranged too. Further away at Klias, there are eco tourism tours to cruise the river and do some wildlife spotting finishing with a fireflies tour. This takes only about 4-5 hours in total. If you are not up to climbing the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, simply visit the Kinabalu Park at the foot which is only a two hour drive from KK city.The main gateway into KK is via the Kota Kinabalu International Airport which is only 15 minutes from the city.
Sarawak - The Eco-tourism haven for Malaysia and the largest state which is located on the island of Borneo, this is a mecca for wildlife and nature lovers. Over 20 national parks are available here while jungle trekking is one of the popular activities. Exploring and visiting the ethnic people of Sarawak who stay in the interiors of the rainforest or highlands is another popular activity. Sarawak is also home to some world-class music festivals like the Borneo International Jazz Festival 2014 which takes place in Miri in the month of May and the World Rainforest Music Festival 2014 which takes place at the 'Living Museum' of Sarawak Cultural Village in July.
Various ethnic people in Sarawak Borneo |
Another popular must-do is exploring Kuching city on foot. There are numerous antique and craft dealers located along the Main Street Bazaar while other place offer fantastic local Sarawakian food to try. Visit some of the old coffee shops for a cup of coffee or tea while a number of interesting museums are dotted around the main town area.The Kuching International Airport is the main gateway here while there are other smaller airports throughout the state. Overland transport can take long hours therefore if you are planning to go to Mulu, it is advised to take a flight.
Langkawi's beautiful GEO Park |
Langkawi is also accessible via flights as there is an international airport there while for those coming from Penang or the mainland, there are ferry services to the island. The most popular spot in Langkawi is at Pantai Cenang or Cenang Beach which is the main area. Kuah town is the capitol but this serves as a general town area. There are no beaches around the main town area too.
View of Penang Island from Bukit Bendera or Penang Hill |
While over in the Batu Feringgi area, there are beaches, parks and even theme parks available for everyone. There are numerous hotels and resorts located at Batu Feringgi while the famous Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe is also here. To get here, it is a 30 minute drive from George Town. Penang was also voted by Lonely Planet as the top destination in the world for food recently. Penang is accessible via flights and road. A flight from KL will take about 1 hour while overland, it will take 5 hours. Penang has two bridges connecting to the main land too.
The main entrance to Jonker Street or Jonker Walk in Melaka |
Around Melaka city, there are also some beautiful heritage hotels which are mostly in the boutique style. For a full Peranakan experience, it is recommended to stay at one of these hotels. Outside the city area, there are various parks and attractions which include the crocodile, deer and butterfly farm, a mini Malaysia park and also the well known Melaka zoo. This requires you to take public transport or a taxi as it is not accessible by foot. There are no airports to Melaka.
A cruise ship made out of Lego at Legoland Malaysia in Johor |
Petronas Twin Towers at the back of Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur |
For the city lover, there are numerous heritage buildings and museums around town while the most photographed place in Malaysia, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is a must-visit place near the confluence of the rivers where Kuala Lumpur was born. For nightlife, head over to Changkat Bukit Bintang and also Jalan P.Ramlee where all kinds of restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes are located. Kuala Lumpur also serves as the main hub for trains and buses throughout the country. This is at Puduraya Bus Terminal, KL Sentral and Duta Bus Terminal. The main airport, KLIA and LCCT is located about 1 hour from KL.
A resort hidden in the lush greenery at Perhentian Island |
Some of the resorts are also child-friendly like Bubbles Dive Resort on Perhentian Besar where you can bring toddlers of all ages. The resort owners have kids living there therefore they openly accept traveling parents with infants. Other resorts include long-stay types, luxurious types and also budget resorts. Quite a number of dive schools are available on both islands for those wanting to take their scuba diving licenses. Perhentian is only accessible via boats from the main land. There are no flights to the island. The off season is from October till March where it rains here during the monsoon season.
Royal Belum Rainforest - Image from WWF Ma;aysia |
Royal Belum State Park is recommended for those who love nature and the outdoors and is one of the latest eco tourism attractions in Malaysia. As the country has many national parks, this is the latest to be officially opened to the public. To get to Belum, one needs to engage a tour company.
The Batu Caves in Selangor, one of the most popular tourist spots |
Other places in Selangor include Klang, a royal heritage town, Kuala Selangor for the fireflies watching and also Sepang Gold Coast for the beach and outdoors. Again, Selangor is best known for their theme parks, hiking and shopping malls.
Visit Malaysia Year 2014 is a country wide event where every individual state will have something for the traveler. TheVMY2014 will also continue to Malaysia Year of Festival 2015 where all the festivals and cultures will be celebrated throughout the year.
This Article is reblogged from MalaysiaAsia . The original Creator is David Jr
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