3 Week Itinerary for Malaysia

Malaysia is a nation of diversity, wildlife, food and unique culture. If you are looking for places to visit in Malaysia, there are lots of options to suit various needs and in this guide, you’ll find a 3 week itinerary for Malaysia.

If you want to travel Malaysia for three weeks or less, I suggest you stick to three or four places to truly grasp an experience in each area and I’ll explain where to go in Malaysia below.

This is an ideal 3 week itinerary for Malaysia for first timers. If you want to see the capital city, the food epicentre and incredible wildlife, read on for my Malaysia guide.

Visa for Malaysia

Contents (jump to)

If you hold a valid UK passport, you can enter Malaysia and receive a visa on arrival at the airport which is valid for three months. This includes flying between Malaysia mainland and Malaysian Borneo.

When to Visit Malaysia for 3 Weeks

I went to Malaysia for 3 weeks during August and this was the perfect time to visit for good weather in Malaysia, spotting Malaysian wildlife at the right time and quieter crowds overall.

How to Get to Malaysia

I flew from Thailand straight to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with Air Asia and flights were cheap, efficient and ideal. Kuala Lumpur is a busy international airport with flights arriving and departing all over the world. I recommend finding the best flights through Sky Scanner.

Alternatively, if you arrive in Singapore or Thailand, you can use the land border crossings into Malaysia. Be sure to visit the Foreign Office official website before doing so.

Sunrise over the river in Malaysia — Sunrise over Kinabatangan River in Malaysia.

SIM Card in Malaysia

The very first thing you should do in Malaysia is buy a SIM card. I never bought a SIM card when I was in Thailand and looking back, it would’ve made things so much easier. When I got to Kuala Lumpur, buying a SIM card was my gateway to getting the most out of the city in just 2 days because I was able to use apps such as Grab and use GPS to find specific restaurants I wanted to visit.

The best way to get a SIM card for Kuala Lumpur is to buy this 4G Sim for Malaysia which you can pick up from KL International Airport on arrival. This connects you to KL as soon as you land and you can download Grab (Asia’s Uber) which saves you from being scammed from taxi drivers at the airport! Also, this sim will work all over Malaysia and has various airport pick-ups around the country including: Langkawi International Airport, Penang International Airport, Johor Senai Airport, and also Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Getting Around Malaysia

Travelling within Malaysia is simple if you don’t mind using public transport.

The best way to travel between places in Malaysia is to use a bus comparison website called 12Go Asia. I use this website every time because it’s reliable, fast and cheap.

Read the step-by-step guide of getting from Penang to Kuala Lumpur here.

This Malaysia Travel Itinerary is designed for three specific reasons:

Visiting the Capital City of Malaysia
Tasting the famous food of diverse Malaysian cuisine
Spotting unique wildlife native only to Malaysian Borneo

Malaysian Cities to Visit

The Capital City of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur and the perfect city to start your Malaysian backpack trip.
Next is the food capital of South East Asia and the blended cultural city of Penang.
Lastly is the city of Sandakan located in Sabah on Malaysian Borneo to spot wildlife exclusive only to Malaysia.

Week 1 of Malaysia 3 Week Itinerary

Starting off your trip in Kuala Lumpur (KL), you’ll see the sights that the great city has to offer. Beyond sightseeing, KL has a sense of chill that you rarely find in busy metropolitans. So much so that you can relax within the city’s gardens or stroll around the quieter neighbourhoods.

Where to Stay in KL

I recommend staying in the Bukit Bintang area of KL because you are within walking distance of famous landmarks such as Petronas Towers, close to tasty Chinatown and near many public transport spots.

I stayed at the Friends Perk Hostel in Kuala Lumpur and it was the perfect hostel for any type of traveller offering both private and dorm rooms as well as free breakfast and discounted lunch/dinner in the downstairs cafe! Click here to view and book Friends Perk Hostel.

If you want to know more, read my full review about Friends Perk Hostel here.

Week 2 of Malaysia Itinerary

Moving on from capital chaos, the second week will bring you to Penang Island located north of the mainland. You can get to Penang via ferry but there is a connecting road that you can use by bus/car.

Penang is the one place I would recommend visiting in Malaysia if you only had a few days because of its diversity, things to do and delicious food. Penang is a multi-cultured city of Malay, Indian and Chinese and this is reflected through the mass of street food on offer. Spend your week in Penang exploring Georgetown which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, finding famous street art and most importantly eating the street food!

Street art in Penang, Malaysia — Street Art in Penang

Where to Stay in Penang

I suggest staying in Georgetown because it has a lot to offer in terms of things to do in Penang and is usually the best place to stay in Penang. Use this search box to find accommodation:

Booking.com

My Penang Blog Posts:

Food You Must Try in Penang

What To Do in Penang

A Day Trip to Penang Hill

Week 3 of Malaysia Itinerary

After Penang, I travelled straight back to KL via bus to take a flight to one of the best places to go in Malaysia. Borneo!

The last week of your three week Malaysian trip will take you three hours away by flight to the Island of Borneo.

Borneo is a large island that is actually three countries; Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Staying in Malaysian Borneo, your visa-on-arrival is still valid but they will stamp your passport for your entry date to Borneo.

2 Proboscis Monkeys in the tree — Proboscis Monkeys in Borneo

Malaysian Borneo was one of the most epic experiences I’ve had in my life. I spent a day in Sandakan before beginning a 3-day trip with Borneo Eco Tours in Sukau Rainforest (inland from Sandakan). I stayed in a Nat Geo’s Unique Lodge of the World, went on river safaris, seen Orangutans in the wild, ate from a boat that Sir David Attenborough used for a BBC documentary, learned about conservation, walked through the jungle and spotted wildlife such as crocodile, monkeys and birds.

Read a full guide to the best wildlife safari in Borneo.