Backpacking Malaysia: 18 best places to visit
The most rewarding stops for backpackers in Malaysia, ranked and mapped — and real routes through them, written by travellers who went.
Read Malaysia stories1
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Towers and street food.
2
George Town
Penang
Heritage streets and food heaven.
3
Langkawi
Kedah
Duty-free island beaches.
4
Malacca
Melaka
Colonial trading-port old town.
5
Cameron Highlands
Pahang
Tea estates and cool air.
6
Perhentian Islands
Terengganu
Clear water, cheap diving.
7
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Borneo's beach-and-island hub.
8
Kuching
Sarawak
Laid-back Borneo river city.
9
Mount Kinabalu
Sabah
Borneo's climbable high peak.
10
Tioman Island
Pahang
Jungle-and-reef east island.
11
Ipoh
Perak
Cave temples and coffee.
12
Sepilok
Sabah
Orangutan rehab in the jungle.
13
Sipadan
Sabah
World-top wall diving.
14
Taman Negara
Pahang
Ancient rainforest canopy walk.
15
Redang Island
Terengganu
Postcard resort beaches.
16
Batu Caves
Selangor
Rainbow steps to a cave temple.
17
Semporna
Sabah
Gateway to island diving.
18
Gunung Mulu National Park
Sarawak
Giant caves and pinnacles.
Backpacking routes through Malaysia
Real trips through Malaysia, drawn on maps by the people who took them.
Backpacking Malaysia — the Underrated Middle of Southeast Asia
Why Malaysia is Southeast Asia's most underrated backpacking country — the west coast route, Borneo, street food that beats Thailand, and honest 2026 costs.
Malaysian Borneo: Kuching to Semporna Overland
Two weeks across Malaysian Borneo: Kuching's laid-back Sarawak, Mount Kinabalu, Sepilok's orangutans, Kinabatangan river safaris and diving at Semporna.
The West Coast Run: Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi via the Tea Hills
Malaysia's classic west-coast route: Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands tea estates, Ipoh's kopitiams, George Town street food and a ferry out to Langkawi.
Been backpacking in Malaysia?
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