Attractions of Malaysia

To help inspire or plan your trip to Malaysia, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Malaysia which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
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Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Go to Region of Malaysia-> Malaysian Peninsula - Borneo - Sarawak - Borneo - Sabah

Malaysian Peninsula - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Melaka
Melaka Melaka was founded in the 15th century and soon became an important trading port on the route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It underwent three successive periods of European rule (Portuguese, Dutch and British) before gaining independence with Malaysia in 1957. This historic heritage and a cosmopolitan cultural mix makes Melaka a fascinating town to explore. Attractions of note include the tomb of Huang Kasturi, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia) and the Kampung Kling Mosque but Melaka's highlight is wandering the old, narrow streets, shopping for antiques and tasting the distinctive Nyonya cuisine at the many open air restaurants. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Melaka

Melaka

Melaka was founded in the 15th century and soon became an important trading port on the route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It underwent three successive periods of European rule (Portuguese, Dutch and British) before gaining independence with Malaysia in 1957. This historic heritage and a cosmopolitan cultural mix makes Melaka a fascinating town to explore. Attractions of note include the tomb of Huang Kasturi, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia) and the Kampung Kling Mosque but Melaka's highlight is wandering the old, narrow streets, shopping for antiques and tasting the distinctive Nyonya cuisine at the many open air restaurants.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Penang
Penang Island, just off the north-western coast of Malaysia, has been dubbed the "Pearl of the Orient". Its capital George Town was an historic trading port and was ruled by the British between the 18th and 20th centuries. With one of the most diverse populations in Asia, it's a fascinating town to wander and explore its rich cultural heritage and sample the huge variety of cuisines available. Sites of interest include Fort Cornwallis (built in 1808 to defend the island) and the Chinese Clan bridge houses built on stilts. Elsewhere on Penang you can visit Wat Chayamangkalaram, a Thai architectural Buddhist Temple which houses a 32 metre reclining Buddha, the majestic Kek Lok Si Temple and the Botanical Gardens as well as numerous villages, beaches and mosques and Buddhist temples. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Penang

Penang Island, just off the north-western coast of Malaysia, has been dubbed the "Pearl of the Orient". Its capital George Town was an historic trading port and was ruled by the British between the 18th and 20th centuries. With one of the most diverse populations in Asia, it's a fascinating town to wander and explore its rich cultural heritage and sample the huge variety of cuisines available. Sites of interest include Fort Cornwallis (built in 1808 to defend the island) and the Chinese Clan bridge houses built on stilts. Elsewhere on Penang you can visit Wat Chayamangkalaram, a Thai architectural Buddhist Temple which houses a 32 metre reclining Buddha, the majestic Kek Lok Si Temple and the Botanical Gardens as well as numerous villages, beaches and mosques and Buddhist temples.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Lenggong Valley
Lenggong Valley is home to four archaeological sites which constitute one of the longest records of early man in a single locality, and the oldest outside the African continent. Spanning 2 million years with remains from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Metal ages, the site features open-air and cave sites with Palaeolithic tool workshops. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley

Lenggong Valley

Lenggong Valley is home to four archaeological sites which constitute one of the longest records of early man in a single locality, and the oldest outside the African continent. Spanning 2 million years with remains from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Metal ages, the site features open-air and cave sites with Palaeolithic tool workshops.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley

Borneo - Sarawak - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park in eastern Sarawak covers 529 km² and is an area of remarkable biodiversity. It's best known for its karst features - pinnacles which are blades of rock that project through the rainforest canopy and underground caves, of which 295 kilometres have been identified, believed to be 2-3 million years old. Wind Cave has impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations and some of the longest tunnels in the world. Clearwater Cave has a river winding through its centre, which is over 100 kilometres long. The enormous Deer Cave is home to 32 million bats and watching them leave the cave in the late afternoon in search of food is an extraordinary site. The park also contains the world’s longest tree canopy walkway, allowing you to view the forest and spot some of the resident wildlife. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park in eastern Sarawak covers 529 km² and is an area of remarkable biodiversity. It's best known for its karst features - pinnacles which are blades of rock that project through the rainforest canopy and underground caves, of which 295 kilometres have been identified, believed to be 2-3 million years old. Wind Cave has impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations and some of the longest tunnels in the world. Clearwater Cave has a river winding through its centre, which is over 100 kilometres long. The enormous Deer Cave is home to 32 million bats and watching them leave the cave in the late afternoon in search of food is an extraordinary site. The park also contains the world’s longest tree canopy walkway, allowing you to view the forest and spot some of the resident wildlife.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gunung Mulu National Park

Borneo - Sabah - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu Mount Kinabalu at 4,095 metres is the highest mountain in southeast Asia (outside of New Guinea). Scaling the mountain requires a strenuous two day trek, starting at Park headquarters at 1,900 metres and trekking to base camp at Laban Rata at 3,270 metres. From here a pre-dawn ascent takes three hours to reach the top and enjoy spectacular views with the sun rising over the misty emerald jungles of Sabah on one side and the blue waters of the South China Sea on the other. Kinabalu Park itself has a wide range of habitats that are passed on the climb, ranging from tropical rainforest to mountain forest and up to alpine terrain. It also has a huge diversity of plant and animal life, with over 6,000 plant species (including orchids, pitchers and Rafflesia - a rare parasitic plant with the world's biggest flower) and almost 300 bird species. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kinabalu Park

Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu at 4,095 metres is the highest mountain in southeast Asia (outside of New Guinea). Scaling the mountain requires a strenuous two day trek, starting at Park headquarters at 1,900 metres and trekking to base camp at Laban Rata at 3,270 metres. From here a pre-dawn ascent takes three hours to reach the top and enjoy spectacular views with the sun rising over the misty emerald jungles of Sabah on one side and the blue waters of the South China Sea on the other. Kinabalu Park itself has a wide range of habitats that are passed on the climb, ranging from tropical rainforest to mountain forest and up to alpine terrain. It also has a huge diversity of plant and animal life, with over 6,000 plant species (including orchids, pitchers and Rafflesia - a rare parasitic plant with the world's biggest flower) and almost 300 bird species.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kinabalu Park