If you’re in Kuala Lumpur, things can get pretty exciting even in a day!
Kuala Lumpur (KL) is a famous tourist destination and one of the most renowned Asian cities. There are many places around KL that you can explore – whether you are a tourist or a resident of Malaysia.
So once you have checked out all the main things to do in KL (here is a great list for KL with kids), then it might be time to hop out of the city, and fortunately, there are some fabulous day trips that close by to the city.
We have handpicked ten of the best Kuala Lumpur day trips for you to consider.
Top 10 Day Trips from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Without further ado, let’s look at the top ten day trips from Kuala Lumpur!
1. Batu Caves
Batu Caves is one of the most frequently visited tourist destinations in Malaysia.
It has three big and many smaller limestone caves. The 100-year old temple is one of the most religiously significant Hindu temples outside India.
You’ll find an enormous golden statue of Lord Murugan and 272 steps leading up to the entrance of the temple cave.
We recommend going at the end of January during the Thaipusam festival.
Keep in mind that you should dress modestly for your visit to the Batu Caves.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: 1/2 hour
Best ways to get there by yourself: Direct train from KL Sentral Station, Cityliner Bus no. 69 from Jalan Pudu, or Intrakota Bus no. 11D from the Central Market.
Our favorite private tour to Batu Caves: Why stuff around with getting there yourself, when you can book a tour for only US $25.55.
This tour is great as it is a private tour with pick up and drop off services from your hotel in KL. The tour last for 3.5 hours and includes an English guide. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
Combine your visit to Batu Caves with Firefly Watching in Kuala Selangor: Want to make the most of your day trip out of KL?
The Batu Caves pairs up beautifully with a side trip to Kuala Selangor National Park to see the beautiful Fireflies. It is one of the bestselling tours.
Very affordable at US $59. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
2. Melaka
We really love Melaka, it is one of our favorite destinations in Malaysia.
Melaka, previously known as Malacca, has a vivid mix of old and new cultures and is best known for its Peranakan or Baba-Nyonya culture.
You can visit the night markets in Jonker Street to relax and unwind, or spend time at the Dutch Square or St. Paul’s Cathedral. Don’t miss out on a stroll next to the river!
We recommend that you go to Malacca on a weekday as it often gets overcrowded during the weekends.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: 2 1/2 hours
Best way to get there by yourself: Drive to Bandar Tasik Selatan (30 minutes), followed by a direct bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS). Click here to read our post on what to see in Melaka.
Best tour to book: A Malacca day tour from Kuala Lumpur is an excellent option. I really love the convenience of this 8 tour.
The tour is only $43 USD and includes pick up and drop off, lunch as well as an English guide to show you around the Melaka. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
3. Genting Highlands
If you want to go on a short day trip from KL, Genting Highlands is an excellent choice.
We recommend this place, especially for the fastest and longest cable car in Asia operated by Awana Skyway and Genting Skyway.
You should definitely go to Chin Swee Caves Temple, which is a Taoist temple. A must-see landmark in the temple is its nine-story Pagoda, which has images of Buddha and thousands of lamps.
Other attractions include the Butterfly Wonderland and the Strawberry Leisure Farm.
If you want to enjoy the nightlife, you can go to SkyCasino Genting as well.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: Less than 1 hour
Best way to get there on your own: Direct bus from Genting Express Bus Service Stations at Pudu Sentral, KL Sentral, Terminal Putra LRT Gombak, or One Utama Shopping Mall.
Best tour to book: You can easily visit both Batu Caves and Genting Highlands in one tour. I love this tour by Get Your Guide.
It is a 6 hour tour, it is cheap and includes hotel pick-up and drop off, as well as your return cable car ticket. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
4. Putrajaya
Putrajaya is the administrative capital of Malaysia. It has some famous landmarks that shouldn’t be missed because of the beautiful architecture.
Make Putra Mosque a part of one of your Kuala Lumpur day tours and you’ll just be in awe of the spectacular architecture.
You’ll also feel the same sense of wonder at Istana Melawati. If you something closer to nature, head over to Putrajaya Botanical Gardens where you can find over 700 species of plants.
And don’t miss out on Natural History Medium where you could learn a lot more about Malaysia.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: 20 minutes
Best way to get there: A direct train from KL to Putrajaya is the most convenient and cheapest way to get there. It costs about 14 MYR and trains are available every twenty minutes throughout the day.
Best tour to book: For this tour, I prefer going with a private tour option. This tour is only 3 hours long and you will prefer a private guide as you can’t speak too loudly in the Mosque.
The tour is slightly more pricey than other tours on the list, but I really think it is worth every dollar. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
5. Bukit Fraser (Fraser’s Hill)
Get the experience of an English highland with beautiful resorts and scenery in just one day trip from Kuala Lumpur.
Immerse yourself in various activities; visit the nearby waterfalls and bathe in the clear water, get a private guide and enjoy viewing the diverse bird population, which attracts many birdwatchers from around the world, or just play golf.
Whatever you do at Fraser’s Hill, it’ll be memorable just because of the cold atmosphere and the beautiful sight that accompanies it.
Even a walk on the many trails will fill your heart with serenity.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: Two hours
Best way to get there: The best way to get there will be by driving a personal vehicle – owned, borrowed or rented.
Get on Karak highway, go to the North and exit at Rawang toll.
You can also take a bus, nearby Kuala Kubu Bharu, and then taxi to the hill but coming back in a taxi can be a hassle.
6. Kuala Selangor Nature Park
Enjoy the natural beauty of Malaysia in just a day trip from KL.
This nature park is a beautifully preserved estuarine wetland.
Here, you’ll get to see macaques, herons, milky storks, and silver leaf monkeys. While gawking at the splendid wildlife here, don’t forget to take a boat ride.
Missing out on a boat ride along the river at night and looking at the fireflies along the banks of Selangor river will be a huge mistake! It’s a sight to behold.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: About an hour away.
Best way to get there: Best way to get there is by driving via Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor/E25.
You can also take a bus, which is frequent, from KL Sentral but you’ll have to switch between 3 buses in total and the whole ordeal will take you more than 4 and a half hours.
Best tour to book: A great way to tackle this tour is to do a combined Batu Cave and Firefly Tour. It is a 7-hour tour, but it is a great way to see some important sites and enjoy some nature.
The tour is slightly more pricey than other tours on the list, but it is a really popular one and often sells out. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
7. Bukit Tinggi
Bukit Tinggi feels like a 16th-century French town, filled with French bakeries and riddle cobblestone streets. It’s mind-boggling to see this amount of French influence in one of the day tours from Kuala Lumpur.
To get a taste of French culture and architecture here, we would highly recommend paying a visit to Colmar Tropical French Themed Resort. The beautiful atmosphere will sweep you off your feet.
But while relaxing, don’t forget to get some adventure by going on a hike and visiting the Japanese gardens where you can relax to the max with Japanese tea and a spa.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: About one hour
Best way to get there: There is no public transport. Plan ahead for a private shuttle bus for the cheapest ride there or get a taxi which is more convenient, but can be expensive.
Best tour to book: The best way to visit Bukit Tinggi is on a private tour. The tour is 8 hours long and includes the beautiful French Colmar Tropicale, the Japanese Village, as well as a stop at the Botanical Garden.
8. Ipoh
Be sure to visit Ipoh in one of your Kuala Lumpur day tours for a culinary delight.
For a meal, try out the Ipoh chicken rice or the chicken noodles and then try out the internationally famous white coffee of Ipoh at Nam Heong.
Apart from food, Ipoh is a beautiful place waiting to be discovered. It is riddled with hidden temples and mesmerizing street art that shouldn’t be missed.
And when it comes for the time to relax, try out the hot springs of Tambun for a perfect end of the day.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: Two and a half hour.
Best way to get there: There are direct trains from KL Sentral to Ipoh every half an hour.
Best tour to book: There are two tours that I can recommend to see Ipoh. The first one is a private tour from KL to Ipoh. It is a BIG day as the tour lasts for 14 hours, but you will have plenty of time to see the art, sights and attractions in Ipoh.
The second tour that I usually recommend is a fabulous combo tour.
You will have less time in Ipoh as the full tour only lasts 10 hours, but you will also get to watch orangutans in action in their natural habitat at Bukit Merah Orangutan Island – say WHAT!? So cool!
9. Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)
Palau Ketam is a fishing village that is always super busy with working fishermen. It is a sight to see how this industry of fishing works so efficiently in a village built entirely over mangrove swamps.
While you marvel at the sight and the people there, don’t forget to try some of the fresh exotic seafood. There are plenty of spots in and around where you can treat your tongue.
So, don’t forget to feast on the different and delicious local food during your visit.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: About 2 hours.
Best way to get there: Take KTM Kommuter from KL (1 hour and 10 minutes) and to Pelubuhan Kland and then take a jetty from there to Pulau Ketam (40 minutes).
10. Cameron Highlands
Just the journey to Cameron Highlands makes it one of the best day tours from Kuala Lumpur.
Once you reach the cold and fresh highlands, you can immerse yourself in various activities.
Visit the tea gardens and sip on some the freshest and finest tea of the world. Or you could have a wonderful time at the butterfly and honeybee farms, or the strawberry farms.
The entire place fills you with serenity even with just a walk. But if you are adventurous, be sure to take a cold dip in Lata Iskandar waterfall.
Time from Kuala Lumpur: 3 1/2 hours.
Best way to get there on your own: If you book a taxi, which can be expensive, it’d take about 3 hours to get there.
Though we’d recommend planning ahead and booking a seat in a private shuttle which takes 3 and a half hours because it’ll be way cheaper.
Best tour to book: With such a long drive, I highly recommend that you simply book a tour.
This popular private tour is 11 hours and will cost you only US $118.
The driver will pick you up in KL and drive you to visit a tea farm, a rose garden, a strawberry farm, as well as take you to see the Lata Iskandar waterfall. CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS TOUR
So, that’ll be all for this article.
We have listed out 10 options for a one day trip in Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur which will surely give you some travel goals.
And with this list of the best day trips from Kuala Lumpur, we tried to reduce the burden of planning and help you enjoy time in peace.
Find a full list of what not to do in Kuala Lumpur so you can best be prepared for your trip.
Thank you for reading!
