By air
Located on the island of Borneo in Sabah, East Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is the most conveniently accessed by air. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) operates both domestic and international flights to and from the region. The main gateway to Sabah and the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the airport receives a number of flights from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and many parts of Malaysian Borneo. It also serves as a major hub for Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia and Fly Asian Xpress (FAX). The airport is located only 7kms from the city so you can easily take a taxi or a bus to the city centre.

By train (East Malaysia)
Travelling by train to Kota Kinabalu is a rewarding experience as you can experience the beauty of the countryside. Railway connects Kota Kinabalu with other major towns including Beaufort and Tenom. By sea, you can arrive at Kota Kinabalu’s harbour located in the city. There are ferries five times a day serving to two main destinations which are Labuan (2-3 hours) and Brunei (3-4 hours). Tourists can also make a trip to nearby islands from this harbour.

Once in Kota Kinabalu, the best way to travel around is on foot. From one end of the city centre to the other is less than 3kms. If you want to travel out of the city, taking a taxi is the best option as mini buses provided are very crowded and without air-conditioner.

By bus
Travelling to Melaka by bus is very convenient and is the most popular means of transport from nearby areas. There are many long-distance buses connecting Melaka state with major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Located about 3kms from the historic city centre, Melaka City’s Melaka Sentral is a major bus station that receives express buses from several locations in the state and other neighbouring countries.

Getting to Melaka by train can be very slow but the experience is truly rewarding as travellers can admire scenic views of lovely countryside along the way. However, the nearest station to Melaka is at Tampin, which is about 38kms to the north of Melaka City. From there, passengers can easily take a bus or wave down a taxi to their destination in Melaka.

By car, simply follow the signboards on the North-South Highway and choose to exit at the Alor Gajah-Tampin (Simpang Ampat), Ayer Keroh or Lipat Kijang (Jasin). Ayer Keroh exit is the nearest to Melaka City. Melaka City is located on the Coastal Trunk Road (Federal Route 5) so if you are on the Main Trunk Road (Federal Route 1), turn off at Simpang Kendong or Tampin, which is about 40 kms from Melaka City.

Without its own airport, travelling by plane to Melaka is not very easy. The nearest airport is Batu Berendam Airport which is about 10kms from Melaka City. There are no domestic flights but Riau Airlines operates flights to Pekabaru and Sumatra.

The best way to travel around in Melaka is on foot as you can take time to admire this charming city. Cycling is also another good option while taking a trishaw ride to major tourist attractions is enjoyable and eye-opening (with a trishaw rider being your guide). Those who want to take a bus, make sure you have exact amount of money for tickets as the drivers do not give change.

By air
Kuantan has a small airport, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA) that services a few daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, taking 40 minutes. There is also a single weekly flight to Kuala Terengganu. If you want to arrive to Kuantan by air from other countries, you have to fly to Kaula Lumpur first and get a shuttle service to Kuantan on Malaysian Airlines, which operates flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan four times a day.

By bus
Taking a bus from Kuala Lumpur is also another good option to travel to Kuantan. The journey takes about three hours excluding stops. Transnasional Coach Services is one of the most reliable coach companies, operating buses between major cities in Malaysia and Kuantan. All buses stop at Kuantan Bus Terminal in the city centre. From there, you can either walk or take a taxi to your hotel.

Driving to Kuantan from Kuala Lumpur is very easy through the Karak Highway and East Coast Expressway which were opened in 2004. The journey usually takes about two and a half to three hours with a driving distance of 250 kms. The East Coast Expressway is also equipped with toilets, sundry shops and food stalls so that tourists can stop by at their own convenience.

Travelling around in the city of Kuantan can be done simply by walking. Getting a ride on a trishaw is also a fun and entertaining way to observe the city in an old-school style.

By road
Buses, taxis and several cars use the good expressways and roads to get to Cameron Highlands. If travelling by car the best route would be to use the North South Expressway and exit at the Tapah toll exit. Soon after this the long and winding drive of about 60 kilometres, begins. This portion of the drive can take as long as up to two hours as there are many sharp turns and corners. There is now a second route from the Tapah toll exit. The Simpang Pulai-Kampung Raja Highway is not as windy as the old road as it tunnels through sections of the mountains. Drivers from Kuala Lumpur can head for the Simpang Pulai exit instead of the Tapah toll exit. From here the roads are clearly sign posted. The Cameron Highlands is about 300 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur.

Taxis from Kuala Lumpur leave on a hire basis from Pudu Raya Bus and Taxi Terminal. There are regular taxi services from Tapah and Ipoh to The Cameron Highlands. Passengers arriving at Kuala Lumpar airport can take a limousine from the airport straight to Cameron Highlands but this may be rather expensive.

By Bus
Buses to The Cameron Highlands depart from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang. TBuses leave Kuala Lumpur hourly between 08.30 and 15.30. There are about eight buses leaving Ipoh daily to Cameron Highlands between 08.00 and 19.00 hours. Three buses go directly to Cameron Highlands from Penang leaving at 08.00, 09.00 and 14.30. Buses also leave Penang for Tapah at 08.00 and 16.00 daily. From here passengers will need to change buses or take a taxi to The Cameron Highlands. Buses from Tapah to Cameron Highlands leave daily at 08.00, 09.00, 10.30, 11.30, 13.15, 15.15, 16.15 and 18.15 hours. There is an overnight bus that leaves Singapore at 22.00 hours daily and reaches the Tanah Rata Bus station at about 07.00 the following morning.

There are numerous border-crossing points between Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia also offers a very reasonable west-coast rail link. To get to/from Singapore, you have three options. You can either go across the causeway by land into Johor Bahru, catch a ferry or take the train.

Peninsula Malaysia has a fast and affordable nationwide bus system, and provides an excellent way to get around the country. Minibuses are also very common, and are the only way to get by public transport into Northern Malaysia from Thailand.

Peninsula Malaysia offers a comfortable and economical railway service too, though you’ll find there are only two lines: one linking Singapore to Thailand via Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth, the other linking centrally located Gemas with Kota Bharu on the north-east border.

Long distance taxis are around twice the cost of buses, but are more comfortable by half.  There are no boat services between Peninsula and East Malaysia. Rickshaws can still be found in some parts of Kuala Lumpur, as well as in provincial areas. The public transport system in Kuala Lumpur is in a sorry state especially during peak hours.

Malaysia Truly Asia

Holding its own among Asia’s best know destinations, Malaysia encompasses the best of the region’s outstanding characteristics, without the hassle or concerns of its neighbours. From the stunning beaches in Langkawi to the history on Penang and Sophistication of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers its 20 million annual visitors a completely satisfying experience.

On this site we cover the entire Peninsula and Borneo, including Melaka, the Cameroon Highlands, the islands of Perhentian and Redang, as well as Kinabalu, and the jungles and beaches of East Malaysia. Written by an old hand on Southeast Asia, this blog will soon be upgraded to a full travel site with hundreds of pictures and pages to help you plan your trip to Malaysia.

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, history, shopping, beaching, culture, backpacking or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this organised and mutli-cultural country, there’s something for you on this site. We’ve got the tourism on Malaysia covered.

The best way to see Malaysia is under your own steam with a rental car. This allows you to get around easily to the various rural areas of beauty. It’s best book online in advance using an online car hire comparator that lists the best deals from car hire companies in Malaysia