Penang Hill Day Trip
Just 5 miles from Georgetown’s bustling city center, Penang Hill rises 2,700 feet, offering stunning island views and a respite from the lowland heat.
Malaysia
Traveling to Malaysia?
Here you’ll find all our Malaysia travel tips, destination guides, family travel tips and more.
Destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Sabah (Borneo), UNESCO sites, wildlife, national parks, things to do, places to visit in Borneo and more.
Georgetown (Penang)
Devoting 8 days to exploring atmospheric Georgetown on Penang Island — historic UNESCO settlement and foodie capital of Malaysia.
Riley Turns One in Malaysia
Our final full day in Kuala Lumpur AND an extra special day at that! We celebrate Riley’s first birthday in style…or at least in Malaysia.
Batu Caves: Kuala Lumpur Day Trip
We ascend 272 neon-colored steps to explore sacred Batu Caves. It’s crowded, it’s kitsch, but a fun day trip by train with little ones from Kuala Lumpur.
Kick-Around Days in Kuala Lumpur
Visits to amazing KLCC park, a short jungle hike in the middle of the city, a stroll along the River of Life, and dinner at a couple of our favorite KL eateries.
Three Weeks of R&R in Malaysia
Kicking off our three-week inter-relocation vacation in Malaysia! The first stop? Five days in one of our favorite world capitals: Kuala Lumpur.
Tip of Borneo: Off-the-Beaten-Path Paradise
Tip of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayu), rumored home to Borneo’s best beaches and sunsets! Here’s our experience, with helpful tips and recommendations for an unforgettable visit.
Pulau Pandan Island
A 3km paddle from Bigfin gets us to the beautiful little uninhabited island of Pandan. Uninhabited, yes—but far from deserted, as we quickly discover.
Pantai Merakit & Bigfin Dive Camp
Back in paradise. Rounding out our two weeks in Malaysia with—you guessed it, more Borneo beach time!—at a remote, off-the-grid dive camp.
Adventures on the Kinabatangan
Three days exploring one of the most diverse habitats in the world—the Kinabatangan river basin—home to Borneo’s highest concentration of wildlife.
I Get Chased by an Orangutan (Seriously)
A morning at world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre offers a close-up view of these amazing apes—which turns out to be a bit too close for some of us.
Sandakan Town
Sandakan is Sabah’s gateway to the jungle. Not known for much else these days, this unassuming town’s myriad trekking agencies and backpacker hostels belie Sandakan’s unique history and quirky offerings.
Taking a Bush Plane into the Jungle
Our experience taking a DHC-6 Twin Otter across Borneo’s northernmost region of Sabah, Malaysia from Kudat to Sandakan. 40 minutes in a plane won out over 10 hours in a bus over rugged terrain.
Kudat Day Trip: Secret Beach
Kicking things into high gear, as the search for the perfect beach continues. Today’s contender, a little-known beach in the extreme north of Borneo.
Kudat Peninsula: Sunsets & Beaches
A last minute change in plans takes us to the north of Borneo—and by north, I mean the tippy-top north—rumored home to the island’s most beautiful beaches [and sunsets].
Kota Kinabalu: Arrival in Borneo
Finally arriving on Borneo—just in time to witness one of the island’s world-famous sunsets…and a major meltdown.
Petronas Towers & Jalan Alor Night Market
We make our necks sore and our tummy’s very happy making our way around some of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic landmarks.
KL Bird Park: Exploring the World’s Largest Aviary
Visiting Kuala Lumpur? Don’t miss KL Bird Park! Read our trip report on exploring this amazing aviary with helpful tips for visiting.
