Halal travel in Malaysia is everything this country is about.
The country is beautiful all year around. The climate is tropical with high temperatures and humidity, throughout the year. Daytime temperatures rise above 30°C (86°F) all year round, and night-time temperatures rarely drop below 20°C (68°F). If you do not like the heat, then avoid visiting Malaysia during the summer months.
Malaysia is a progressive country with a stable economy and is safe to visit, especially with families. Malaysia has some wonderful beaches, beautiful rainforests and amazing islands. The Malaysian culture is unique because of the eclectic mix of Malay, Chinese, Indi- an and European influences due to where Malaysia is situated, and of course, imperialist dominance (Portuguese’s, Dutch, British, Siamese and the Japanese).
Exploring Kuala Lumpur leisurely is the perfect start to your holiday. It is a fascinating capital and there is so much to do and see. No wonder it is the top destination for Muslims to visit, according to the Global Muslim Travel Index in 2016.
The city is diverse with beautiful colonial buildings integrated with a new modern architecture such as; the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, designed by British colonial architects and the most famous modern landmark; the 451m tall Petronas Twin Towers. If shopping activities, sightseeing, trekking and relaxing by the beach are on your agenda, then visiting exotic Malaysia ticks all of the above.
Here are my picks for the best adventure.
Petronas Twin Towers
Muslim travellers have plenty of options to chose from when exploring Kuala Lumpur. The most famous landmark in the city is the Petronas Twin Towers or also known as the “Twin Towers of Asia”. The towers were once the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 and currently, are the world’s tallest twin buildings in the world.
Travelling to Kuala Lumpur is not complete without a visit and a photo in front of the towers!
The skyscraper is visited by millions of visitors per year and is a central attraction for those who love views from above. You can buy tickets and visit the viewing deck, which is on the 86th floor offering beautiful views of the city or walk on the world’s highest double-decked bridge between the two towers.
Make sure you book your tickets as early as possible because spaces are limited. Visit: www.petronastwintowers.com
Tip: If you want something more special check out the restaurants located within the Towers for a more special experience.
Putrajaya
Putrajaya is a planned city, 25 km away from Kuala Lumpur; it also serves as the administrative centre of Malaysia. One of the most important and famous landmarks you can visit in Putrajaya is the pink domed Putra Mosque. If you have always wanted to visit this special mosque and you are in Malaysia, this is the perfect opportunity.
The KLIA transit train from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya takes only 25 minutes and the ticket prices cost less than £3.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Photo credit: Jorge Lascar via Flickr
No visit to Kuala Lumpur is complete without exploring the Islamic Arts Museum. The museum was opened in 1998 and it is within walking distance of the National Mosque. It is the largest museum in South East Asia and has more than 7,000 Islamic artefacts, several galleries, and exhibitions. To see the latest exhibitions, visit their website before your trip to the museum: www.iamm.org.my
Batu Caves
The Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which is made up of a series of caves and cave temples, situated in the Gombak District, Selangor; 13 km away from Kuala Lumpur. Its name derives from the Batu Pahat River, which flows past the hill. Although it is a buddist temple it is nice for Muslim tourists to experience.
The Batu Caves are a popular tourist spot and there are good transportation links connecting Kuala Lumpur and Gobmak. The easiest way to get there is with the KTM Komuter line and Batu Caves is the last stop. Tickets cost 2MYR one way.
National Mosque of Malaysia
Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
One of the best places to meet locals and experience some of the local cultures is in the mosque; the place of worship and a focal point for Muslims. The National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur was built-in 1965 and now, is an important symbol of Islam. So when visiting this mosque or any other beautiful mosque in Malaysia is perhaps a religious obligation for Muslim visitors, but also mandatory for a tourist to experience, to be exposed to the Muslim culture.
The National Mosque is an impressive building that has a capacity for 15,000 worshippers and it is surrounded by 13 acres of beautiful gardens.
Taman Negara National Park
If you love nature, trekking and exploring one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, then you must visit the Teman Negara National Park in the Malay Peninsula and it is said to be 130 million years old.
It is a popular ecotourism and adventure destination; the national park is full of rare exotic plants and wildlife, such as the Malayan tiger, Asian elephant and more. You can also take a night safari to see the wildlife and nature, which only becomes alive at night, such as the glow-in-the-dark fungi, owls, water dragons and wild cats.
This will definitely be an unforgettable experience. The national park is 200 miles away from Kuala Lumpur, but there are excellent transport links that can take you there.
Venturing into Islands
Kuala Lumpur might be one of the world’s most famous cities to visit and the capital of Malaysia, but there is so much diversity, beauty and nature to see in the surrounding areas too. What is really beautiful about this country, are the different scenic views you can experience.
The Borneo Island is full of wild jungles, animals, remote tribes and some pretty amazing diving spots. The Malaysian islands also offer beautiful beaches, amazing views and peaceful seclusion, perfect for relaxing the mind and body.
Borneo Island
Malaysian Borneo is considered to be Borneo’s most sophisticated territory, because it brings together a number of cultures, craftsmanship and cuisines. The other owners of the island are Brunei Darussalam and Langkawi
Indonesia. There are two states in Malaysian Borneo: Sarwak and Sabah.
You will see a mixture of modern and colonial architecture and plenty of incredible views from the island. Kuching is a starting point in the Borneo Island for exploring the national parks, amazing rainforests, wildlife and local tribes for the tourist to admire.
Some of the places you should visit are Nanga Delok, situated in the untouched jungle near Jelia River in Batang Ai, where you will explore the local tribal culture and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, which is the natural habitat of the ‘Orangutans’ (great apes). If time permits, visit the breathtaking beaches in the state of Sabah, such as the Pulau Lankayan, Pulau Kapalai and Tanjung Aru.
Langkawi
Langkawi is one of the most famous and popular tourist islands in Malaysia and also known as the Jewel of Kedah. It is also an extremely popular Halal honeymoon destination in Mayalsia. The island is located off Malaysia’s northwestern coast in the Andaman Sea; Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands. It boasts picturesque beaches, rainforest, mangroves and forest-clad mountains. It has a great deal of natural beauty and in recent years, there have been many luxury resorts being developed on the island.
If you are visiting Langkawi, do not forget to visit the Langkawi Sky Bridge; a curved pedestrian bridge, 660m above sea level on top of Gunung Mat Cincang peak. Also, make sure you visit the Temurun Waterfall and the Pantai Cenang area on the island.
Perhentian Islands
If you love going off the beaten track and visiting less explored and touristy places then you do not have to go far. The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia offer exquisite beaches, where you can relax and enjoy nature. Only a few hours away from Kuala Lumpur, these small islands are not as touristy as Langkawi, so you can enjoy more of the local culture there.
The experience may not be luxurious, as these islands are not very developed yet, but you will appreciate the authenticity of local life there.
Halal Food in Malaysia
Maylasia is a Muslim country and all of the food is halal. There is no shortage of delicious halal food in various cuisines in Malaysia.
Malaysia is one of the most fascinating countries in South East Asia, where experiences are indescribable and unforgettable.
Where to Stay
We stayed in three hotels while in Kuala Lumpur and I enjoyed all of them. Kuala Lumpur is one of the cheapest countries for luxury hotels with great prices. Some of the best 5-star hotels in the world can be found for less than £200.
Here are my favourite places to stay.
- Hilton Doubletree my review is here.
- Hilton Kuala Lumpur was a great option for a nice start.
- Holiday Inn Express great budget hotel in the heart of the city, for £35 i think it was the best money spent
- The Westin Langkawi has great Tripadvisor reviews here.
Venturing outside of Kuala Lumpur is very affordable with a number of low-cost airlines starting from as little as £10 (one way) to £50. If you decide to explore more of this beautiful country, do not miss out on visiting these incredible islands.
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