Among Asian destinations, Malaysia and Singapore have always been preferred places for travellers. Be it someone looking for a beach escape, a couple planning their romantic getaway, backpackers wanting to explore the destinations from a different perspective, adventurers looking to climb and swim, or just family holidaymakers spending quality time together, Malaysia and Singapore are always a good choice to pair together for a holiday.
This is because Singapore, the little red dot, sits snugly at the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula, making it easier to travel to both countries by various modes of transport. Both these destinations pack a whole lot of attractions and experiences for their tourists. So, for those looking to spend their next holiday in these fascinating Asian countries, take a look at this selection of not-to-miss Malaysia and Singapore attractions.
Places to visit in Malaysia
Malaysia’s tropical climate, verdant landscapes, gorgeous beach shores, cultural medley, and contemporary city life all entwine to make for a fabulous holiday spot for globetrotters. This is where one day you wake up to the sounds of the city, and the following day you wake up to the sounds of birds in nature or the waves crashing on the shore. This place is distinct, vivid, and spectacular to visit, and the key spots you should absolutely not miss are:
Kuala Lumpur
The capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, is likely to be the first city to explore on your Malaysian holiday, and rightly so! The city has its unique charm, melded with Malay culture and modern richness. In your time spent in Malaysia, a city tour of Kuala Lumpur is most certainly a must-do. Though the city can be explored with a whirlwind city tour, it is best if you design customised Kuala Lumpur packages that include visiting the Petronas Twin Towers for unrivalled city skyline views, shopping and dining at Suria KLCC, strolling through the breathtaking KLCC Park, experiencing ethnic life at Petaling Street and Little India, and having fun at Sunway Lagoon.
Langkawi
While Kuala Lumpur entices you with urban awesomeness, Langkawi calms you with its serene sceneries of sun, sea, and sand. With a vast array of beach resorts and sea-facing hotels catering to all budgets, the comfort of laid-back leisure will come naturally to you. Flanked by picturesque beaches teeming with white, soft sands edging the azure waters, Langkawi lures visitors who love serene strolls as well as those who want a dip or dive in the waters. Here’s where doing nothing but soaking up the sun takes priority, and you can forget your to-do lists and melt your worries with soul-soothing spa experiences.
Penang
Now, Penang has a bit of a different feel from Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. That is the beauty of Malaysia! Each place you visit has its own uniqueness. In Penang, you should definitely visit George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that fuses the beauty of Malaysia with the remnants of the colonial era. Here is where foodies should pause and help themselves to lip-smacking street food and even go cafe-hopping. Once you have George Town checked out, head to visit the gorgeous verdure of Penang Hill, the spiritual aura of Kek Lok Si Temple, and even spend time cycling through the sublime countryside, and enjoying watersports at Batu Feringghi. For family holidaymakers, Penang presents a wide array of recreational attractions, such as the 3D Trick Art Museum, Penang Butterfly Park, Escape Penang, and Habitat canopy walks, to name a few.
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands are the default spot preferred by city-dwellers to enjoy the soothing, green-hued freshness of nature. It is a preferred weekend spot for Kuala Lumpur locals and is also an amazing place to visit for tourists who want to explore different faces of Malaysia. Of course, you can explore denser woodlands in rainforests of Malaysia with more challenging treks, but the Cameron Highlands are more of a place to enjoy the misty mountain breeze among green landscapes and enjoy a tranquil time with family and friends. The Cameron Highlands are known for sprawling tea plantations, but are also home to orchards and woodlands, where you can go hiking on easy nature trails or strawberry-picking. Try out the perfectly baked scones along with a hot cup of home-grown and freshly brewed tea to give a feel of completion to your Cameron Highlands trip.
Sabah and Sarawak
The Malaysian Peninsula certainly has the most attractions to offer, but that does not mean you should ignore the beauty of Borneo in East Malaysia. The ambience and mood are more rustic and rugged, and wrapped in the warmth of nature, as compared to the Malaysian Peninsula. Sabah and Sarawak are among the most exquisite places on the planet to witness diverse ecosystems teeming with rare marine and wildlife. Here, you can view orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and Sun Bears on rainforest treks, and spot myriads of green turtles, rays, and sharks on scuba-diving sessions. The highest peak in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, dominates the scenery in Sabah, nudging you with a challenge for adventure, calling to the nature-lover in you to witness spellbinding sunrises. So, when you visit Malaysia, take a couple of days to explore the extraordinary sights of Sabah and Sarawak.
Places to visit in Singapore
Now, let us turn our attention to the nation located at the tip of Malaysia – Singapore. This destination is full of surprises, as you would not have in the slightest possible way thought that it could pack so many experiences into its petite size. You would require one whole week or more to explore all of its popular attractions. Some of the must-visit places in Singapore are:
Little India and Chinatown
Singapore is a place where multi-ethnic people live harmoniously, and Little India and Chinatown are two such prominent places where you get to explore the essence of these Asian cultures in a distinctive yet warm way. Go ahead and marvel at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple and stroll down the vibrant streets lined with shophouses, cafes, and restaurants to enjoy the street art, shopping and the street food. In a sense, Singapore tour packages aren’t really complete without visiting these vibrant spots because they provide a unique essence to your vacation. If possible, align your visit with festivals like Diwali and Chinese New Year so that you can experience the extravagance and festive flair of these Singapore attractions.
Mandai Reserve
Singapore is known for its verdant spaces. In fact, one would often feel that the city has built itself around nature rather than the other way round. Singapore gives immense attention to nature and wildlife conservation, while keeping it open for tourists to explore, witness, and learn about them. The Mandai Wildlife Reserve, tucked into the north of Singapore, is a sprawling 126-hectare region dedicated to the preservation of nature and wildlife, but open to the public through impressive attractions, namely the Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Rainforest Wild Asia. Each of these parks takes you on a distinct wildlife journey found in different corners of the world. Each park takes a good chunk of time out of your day, so do not plan multiple park visits on a day, even if you are tempted to do so.
Gardens by the Bay
A section of Marina Bay, known as Gardens by the Bay, has ardently conjured a breathtaking natural gardenscape in the midst of the city. It is one of Singapore’s most photographed spots. At every vantage point while winding down the pedestrian walkway, this attraction offers Instagrammable photos of glistening towers in the background and floral blooms in the foreground. The Supertrees are a spot that takes your breath away instantly. Watching the Garden Rhapsody light and music show while lying down on a pavement with strangers is a memory you will carry with you forever. The scintillating show of hundreds of LED lights pulsating in sync with music against the grand frame of Marina Bay Sands looming in the background is a spectacular experience not to be missed.
Sentosa Island
Even further from Singapore City, accessible by road, monorail, or a cable-car ride, is a tiny island brimming with nothing but pure fun! If thrill and adventure top your list of things to do in Singapore, then a visit to Sentosa Island is a must. Within this fascinating island lies South-East Asia’s only Universal Studios, one of the biggest aquariums in the world – the Singapore Oceanarium, a sprawling beach shore, thrilling adventures like indoor skydiving and outdoor bungee-jumping, and a spectacular sound and light show called ‘The Wings of Time’. Sentosa Island also preserves a slice of Singapore’s history at Siloso Fort, from where the view of the island and the seascape is incredibly stunning. There are plenty of places to stroll around, many attractions for kids to enjoy, and thrills that can keep adventure enthusiasts busy for a day! It’s a place for everyone, and the fun is endless!
Conclusion
Planning a Singapore tour package with an extension to Malaysia is the ideal way to strike off two destinations from your travel ‘bucket list’ with just one holiday plan. These Malaysia and Singapore tourist attractions are just the crème de la crème, as these Asian destinations have so much more to offer, which you can decide upon, keeping in mind your preferences during the holiday. Your time spent here will undoubtedly be memorable, and you will come back being a fan of these places, so much so that you will not mind making it your home in the future.
