100% customisable travel idea

Borneo, Penang and the Perhentian Islands Malaysia with the family in fine weather

Malaysia - Kuching - Penang - Perhentian Islands

The jungle, the ports and the beaches

From $4900 to $6000 per person for 14 days Price depends on departure city, season, accomodation types and selected activities

Itinerary highlights

  • This summer, take your tribe and experience three Malaysian realities together: the jungle of Borneo, the cosmopolitanism of Penang and the perfect beach on the Perhentian Islands.
  • From start to finish, the variety of landscapes, activities and atmospheres; ease of access and logistics. Meeting orangutans, visiting Bako National Park, kayaking in the jungle, eating street food and looking at street art in Penang: it's all planned!
  • Carbon absorption, mobile app, on-site Concierge service, our recommendations: the extra Voyageurs touch
Malaysia is not just Kuala Lumpur. In fact, this time, the capital is not in your itinerary - unless, of course, you would like to visit it. However, the trip is designed to be comprehensive, versatile and suitable for all ages, as Malaysia is among the top destinations for small groups. First stop: Borneo. The journey begins in Sarawak, which, together with Sabah, forms the Malaysian part of the island and whose capital is Kuching. Although British adventurers gave it its modern form in the 19th century, it is an old economic and cultural hub. In this sense, Kuching reflects its country. You quickly realise this and enjoy exploring the surrounding nature, jungle and mangroves, which are still bursting with incredible vigour. It is an enormous playground, made even more attractive by the possibility of encountering an orangutan or a proboscis monkey. In Penang, on the peninsula, Malaysia's success story is not new and continues to flourish today. It has generated a spirit, a way of life and an artistic heritage of great value. The Chinese and British have left their mark on the hills and trading houses. This diversity is reflected in the flavours and aromas of the food. The beautiful surrounding countryside produces rice, durian fruit and cloves. Next, head for the South China Sea. The Perhentian Islands offer white sand, azure-coloured, transparent seas, vast skies and lush greenery galore. A tropical paradise? Yes, but less crowded than others. And protected by a national park. The facilities blend in discreetly, without spoiling the landscape. This comfortable simplicity makes it a welcoming place for all ages. The best seaside finale. 

Your trip

With just the right amount of space to be together without being on top of each other, your hotel provides an atmosphere that suits the circumstances. Cosmopolitan urban in Kuching; Peranakan-inspired hotel in Penang; natural seaside resort in the Perhentian Islands. A question of consistency and well-understood sensitivity. At each stop, you have the right amount of time: two four-day stays and one three-day stay. You can settle in and enjoy the different rhythms that are associated with travelling in a group. In short, settle in and enjoy a variety of pleasures. To give you some momentum and anchor you in the reality of the places you visit, we have included certain outings in your itinerary. A Bidayuh village exposes the differences between a traditional way of life and the digital age; a reserve protects orangutans from encroachment by the timber industry; a national park guarantees a pristine jungle. And there is a river for you to explore in a kayak or canoe. And don’t forget the street food and street art. Young and old alike will find something to suit them and everyone will have the opportunity to experience Malaysia in a different and dynamic way. Private English-speaking guides will accompany you. In addition to our itinerary, you can explore on your own. You will take a short flight to each area. Once you arrive, you’ll take the most appropriate means of transport. Finally, if you have a change of heart or experience any minor setbacks along the way, you will have the contact details of our on-site concierge service to help you.

In Malaysia, you will love...

Meeting your distant cousins, the orangutans; paddling on the Semadang River, towards the heart of the jungle; staying at the luxurious hotel in Penang; cycling through the rice fields; trying the unusual things you can eat on the street, which are actually very good; the beach; spotting the small, large and very large multicoloured fish; the beach; having a ride on a banana boat; the beach; cool parents; experiencing the mix of genres and the mix of people; changing your perspective: the forest, the city, the sea; finding yourself, deep down, less out of place than the adults...
Perhentian Island - Malaisie © Droits réservés
Perhentian Island - Malaisie © Droits réservés
Malaisie © Gemma Cagnacci
Malaisie © Gemma Cagnacci
Malaisie © Faustine Poidevin
Malaisie © Faustine Poidevin
Perhentian Island - Malaisie © Droits réservés
Perhentian Island - Malaisie © Droits réservés
Malaisie © Faustine Poidevin
Malaisie © Faustine Poidevin
Parc National de Bako - Bornéo - Malaisie © salparadis / Adobe Stock
Parc National de Bako - Bornéo - Malaisie © salparadis / Adobe Stock
Centre de préservation des orangs-outans de Semenggoh  - Sarawak - Ile de Bornéo - Malaisie © Sabino Parente / Adobe Stock
Centre de préservation des orangs-outans de Semenggoh - Sarawak - Ile de Bornéo - Malaisie © Sabino Parente / Adobe Stock
Kuching - Malaisie © AbdulRazak / Adobe Stock
Kuching - Malaisie © AbdulRazak / Adobe Stock
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Kuching- Malaisie © sabino.parente / Adobe Stock
Kuching- Malaisie © sabino.parente / Adobe Stock
Penang - Malaisie © Blue Mansion
Penang - Malaisie © Blue Mansion
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Penang - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Kuala Lumpur - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Kuala Lumpur - Malaisie © Olivier Romano
Forêt tropicale - Sabah - Bornéo - Malaisie © Getty Images
Forêt tropicale - Sabah - Bornéo - Malaisie © Getty Images

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Night on board, arrival the next day.

Flight to Kuching. Upon arrival, private transfer and four-night stay on the right bank of the Sarawak River. On the opposite bank, you can spot the nine-pointed star of the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building. Your hotel meets the highest international standards. It combines functionality with comfort in its thoughtfully designed décor, featuring subtle, soothing tones. The rooms are equipped to a high standard. Expansive bay windows offer sweeping panoramic views. The restaurant serves Malaysian and international cuisine to a high standard. Meals are taken with a view of the Astana, the governor’s palace, and Fort Margherita, built in 1879 by Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak. To stay fit, , there is a very well equipped gym? To unwind, there is an indoor/outdoor rooftop pool with a bar
Scheduled - Annah Rais, a Bidayuh village. The Bidayuh are an indigenous people from west Sarawak. While they are no longer head-hunters, they still strive to preserve their traditional lifestyle. Since isolation leads nowhere, the smartest approach is likely to celebrate this Bidayuh way of life by opening up to travellers. They discover the longhouse in particular, a central feature of both housing and culture. It consists of a series of gallery houses joined together that provide a mix of private and communal spaces. This layout brings the various aspects of daily life into close proximity while maintaining harmony and order. Bamboo architecture and a subtle human balance. You visit with a private guide.

Scheduled - The orang-utans of Semenggoh Nature Reserve. You travel with a private guide-driver, for about 20 km (12 miles) from Kuching to a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing animals that have fallen victim to deforestation or trafficking. The work carried out with the orang-utans is particularly remarkable. This large, reddish, tree-dwelling ape may look unusual, yet there's something strangely familiar about it. Let’s say a hint of primate kinship. It's an intelligent animal, capable of creating and using tools. Usually, it moves quietly through the treetops to feed and build its nest for the night. This excursion offers a rare chance to observe it up close, in an environment that suits its needs. The survival of the Bornean orang-utan is under threat. Institutions like this invite awareness. Without it, Pongo pygmaeus will soon be just another regret.

Scheduled - Bako National Park, in private. About 40 km (25 miles) from Kuching, Bako National Park sits on the Muara Tebas peninsula. The final approach is only accessible by boat. Despite its narrow format, the park boasts landscapes sculpted by the sea - cliffs, peaks, headlands and beaches. And a very old and rich forest. Amid the rich plant life, orchids and carnivorous plants - nepenthes and sundews - stand out. Your guide leads you along well-tended paths. The luckiest visitors might catch a glimpse of the proboscis monkey or the bearded pig - two shy creatures. The macaque or the flying squirrel are more likely. More frequently spotted birds are the bronzed starling, the common myna and the collared kingfisher. And then there are unique creatures, like the Malayan monitor lizard, the leaf turtle and the giant mudskipper. And prehistoric ones, like the horseshoe crab.

Scheduled - Kayaking on the Semadang river. The Semadang Riveris, in fact, the upper course of the Sarawak. Led by a guide, you enter the jungle by water. The river at its source is peaceful, but the surrounding vegetation, trees leaning over the water, the cries and songs of the animals, and the intensity of the greens make each paddle stroke unique. And a completely fun experience. Technique is not a problem. A few instructions are enough to manoeuvre the boat properly. You're in good hands. Young people move faster - that’s normal. Dragonflies come aboard. If it's black with a rusty, banded tail, it's Agrionoptera insignis if it's bright red, it's a male Neurothemis terminata. Along the way, experience waterfalls, swimming and picnics.

Private transfer to the airport and flight to Penang, on the peninsula. Transfer and three-night stay in George Town at a historic landmark, a magnificent Hakka merchant’s house dating from the late 19th century. With its indigo walls and refined interior ornamentation, combining traditional Chinese motifs, Art Nouveau stained glass, porcelain, MacFarlane & Co. cast ironwork, crystal and carved wood, everything about it is remarkable. A grand fusion of style and decor. The rooms are spacious, airy, comfortable and have a luxurious simplicity. The technical features are discreet but efficient. Several bars and restaurants offer their own take on the cosmopolitan, hedonistic spirit of Penang. It's just as sophisticated as the rest. Outdoor pool, massages, bike hire. The lotus pond preserves the serenity of the place.

Scheduled - Good food and street art culture, inprivate. With a guide, you set out to discover George Town and meet its people. Approach them through their cuisine. Fish head curry clearly shows its Indian roots;. Oyster omelette comes from the Guangdong cookbook. Neither Indonesians nor Malays would turn down ikan bakar grilled fish. Here you can see the institutions: the neo-Palladian building housing the High Court dates from the early 20th century; the Khoo clan house is a striking example of 19th-century Chinese architecture; the Kapitan Keling Mosque, from the same era, is built in the Indo-Moorish style; Wat Chaiyamangkalaram has welcomed Theravada Buddhists since 1845; the neoclassical Anglican cathedral was consecrated in 1819; and so on. The diversity and dynamism of humanity are reflected in the architecture. You travel on foot and by cycle rickshaw. As you move along, you discover the most exciting creations of Malaysian street art
Optional - Culinary getaway at Vespa.

Overlooking the Strait of Malacca, the state of Penang has a maritime part, Penang Island, where George Town is located, and a mainland part, Seberang Perai. The interior of the island is dotted with high hills covered in forests. These are primeval forests on Penang Hill, designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The Penang Hill Railway, a funicular, takes you up to Flagstaff Hill, asthe British called it. The settlers arrived before you, turning these highlands into a haven for strawberry fields and a refuge from the coastal heat. Their cottages still stand. The island is bordered by narrow plains, while there are still dense mangroves along the west coast. The farming villages are located on the lower slopes. So there is still plenty to do once you have got to know George Town
Optional - Balik Pulau, cycling through Penang’s countryside.

Private transfer to the airport and flight to Kota Bharu. Transfer and four-night stay on Pulau Perhentian Kecil. Your villa overlooks a lush tropical garden. The hotel’s private beach is only a few steps away. You are guaranteed perfect privacy and easy access to sand and water. The accommodation is just as it should be in these circumstances: bright, comfortable and easy to live in. We're not here to complicate things. And while casualness would feel out of place, rigid formality would be equally unwelcome Cool elegance is called for. The estate’s restaurant is open to the sea breeze. Seafood and fish are served here, - prepared according to the chefs’ inspiration. In the evening, enjoy a barbecue on the beach. The bar serves colourful cocktails, without which paradise would feel incomplete. For total relaxation, the spa offers treatments designed to restore your balance

The Perhentian Islands are within the Pulau Redang National Marine Park. The jungle covering the islands, the coral reefs, and the aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and plants are therefore protected. Green and hawksbill turtles come here to lay their eggs, for example. Snorkel to watch an Annam clownfish frolic among sea anemones, see the cuttlefish change colour, spot the blue spots of the bluespotted stingray, the beak and colours of the parrotfish, count the scales of the checkerboard wrasse or the starry pufferfish, and more. With scuba tanks, you can access dive sites that are truly remarkable for their biological vitality. That said, you can just relax here. A quick swim or a ride on a banana boat — that big inflatable that brings laughter across generations — can easily coexist with wildlife watching This is also the place to spot forest creatures: Malayan monitor lizard, tokay gecko, painted frog of Malaysia and others. Explore all these options to fully enjoy the islands.
Optional- Picnic< on a secret beach.

Crossing to Kota Bharu, flight to Kuala Lumpur, then international return flight. Night on board, arrival the next day.

À la carte

This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.

Culinary getaway on a Vespa

You all get your own Vespa with driver (since it can take a little while to get used to driving in Penang) and you set off at nightfall. This is when the restaurants, stalls and shops fill up. It’s time for chopsticks. A private English-speaking guide will help you out. Where should you start? Probably with char kway teow, which are stir-fried rice noodles. And topped with various ingredients. It's the number one snack. Then there's satay, skewers, mee goreng (fried noodles), dim sum, Indian breads and tandoori meats. For lor bak, meat, seafood, tofu and vegetables are dipped in batter and fried, then served with sweet chilli sauces. Popiah is the Penang version of spring rolls. Well, there are lots of other things!

The Penang countryside by bike

In the south-west of Penang, Balik Pulau is an agricultural suburb founded in 1794 by the British East India Company. Today, the island's most famous products come from here: nutmeg, cloves and durian, that large spiky fruit with a repulsive smell yet captivating flavour. With a private English-speaking guide, you can hop on a bicycle and set off to explore the rice fields, orchards, vegetable gardens and small villages. Another side of Penang reveals itself - one that is peaceful, green and natural. An alternative atmosphere after the bustling George Town. And an opportunity to get some invigorating exercise.

Picnic on a secret beach on the Perhentian Islands

A great opportunity to leave the beach for another beach! Sail to a secluded, serene, idyllic cove. There, swim in the crystal-clear water and soak up the sun. Then, unpack your lunch and eat it on the beach. Is it like being at a hotel? Not really. There's the magic of being away from it all, the absence of any equipment and a completely natural environment. In short, the meal has a feel of the first sunrise about it.

With a few extra days: Kuala Lumpur

You immediately notice that architecture is one of Kuala Lumpur's charms. The old railway station (1910) kicks things off. And, passing by the Jamek Mosque (1911), the Central Market (1888), the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple(1864), you can go to the Kuala Lumpur Tower (1991-96), the Petronas Towers (1992-98) and the Merdeka 118 (2023, 680 metres or 2,227 feet high). The urban parks - Titiwangsa Lake Park and Perdana Botanical Gardens - offer a surprising sense of peace. The cuisine, available in countless restaurants of various types, faithfully reflects the complex interactions that take place here. There is more culture here than you may expect. And commerce is on the level you would expect. In short, Kuala Lumpur is a city that should not be missed.

Why visit Malaysia with Voyageurs du monde?

Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)

Let us create your trip

A few of the advantages of travelling with us to Malaysia

  • Globally unique concierge service
  • CO2 absorption

Estimated budget

Price depends on departure city, season, accomodation types and selected activities

The estimated budget for this trip is $4,900 to $6,000 per person.

A fixed price is rarely applicable to a bespoke journey. The final cost depends on various factors, such as the level of service, travel dates, and booking lead times. The only definitive price will be the one provided in your personalized proposal.

The average price for this trip is $5,400 per person

Included in this suggestion

  • International flights on a scheduled airline
  • All internal flights
  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
  • Carbon absorption contribution for your trip's CO2 emissions through reforestation projects (via our Philippe Romero Insolite Bâtisseur Foundation)
  • Private transfers as mentioned in the travel itinerary
  • The roundtrip fast boat crossing between Kota Bharu and Pulau Perhentian Kecil
  • Four nights in Kuching, in a family room with breakfast included
  • Three nights in Penang, in double rooms with breakfast included
  • Four nights at the Perhentian Islands, in a family villa with breakfast included.
  • In Kuching: the Bidayuh village of Annah Rais; the orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre; Bako National Park; a day of kayaking on the Semadang River; with a driver-guide and private English-speaking guides.
  • In Penang, experience culture, good food and street art with a private guide.
  • Our on-site Concierge service
  • Wi-Fi access during your trip: an international mini router or eSIM allowing you to connect your various devices (phones, tablets, computers)
  • A travel booklet with useful information (your day-by-day itinerary, hotel contact details, a personalized selection of our recommendations, etc.)
  • Our recommendations and reservations at selected restaurants
Ref:1724078
The Voyageurs du Monde spirit

Travel with complete freedom, guided by your interests,
ideas and passions.

Wherever you want

250 travel specialists, organised by country and region. Driven by a passion for beauty and never short of ideas, they inspire you and design an ultra-personalised journey: itineraries, accommodation, workshops, encounters, and more.

Whenever you want

Always at your service: with a dedicated travel specialist, Concierge service and 24/7 assistance, our teams support you and adapt in real time, for a trip that is both flexible and expertly supported.

However you want

With family, as a couple, in a group of ten, on a road trip, by train, by boat, for a weekend or a round-the-world journey... Trips tailored to your preferences, enhanced by clever services, for ever smoother travel.