- ✓ Spot wild orangutans in the jungles of Sumatra
- ✓ Float along jungle rivers in Tangkahan
- ✓ Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Georgetown by bike
- ✓ Relax on the tropical island of Langkawi
This 2-week trip combines Sumatra’s wild rainforest with Malaysia’s culture and coast. You’ll experience buzzy Kuala Lumpur, search for orangutans & float along rivers in the Sumatran jungle, explore Penang’s food-filled heritage streets, and finish with relaxed beach time in Langkawi. It's a well-paced journey with a mix of wildlife, culture and downtime.
Day 1 - Arrive in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a city of contrasts, where gleaming skyscrapers sit alongside lively markets and traditional Chinese temples. It’s a relaxed, multicultural city that’s easy to explore independently. You’ll be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your centrally located city hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax after your long flight.
Day 2 - Cultural & culinary city walk
Today we’ll arrange a walking tour in a small group with other travellers, to explore historic and culinary Kuala Lumpur. Your local guide knows the city well and this walking tour takes you to some lesser-known areas of KL. The city has only developed into a modern metropolis in the last few decades, and it’s still possible to discover the original Kuala Lumpur. Along the way you will also stop at small street stalls where you can try some typical Malay food.
Alternative experiences in KL
There’s so much to see and do in Kuala Lumpur and we can offer a variety of activities and experiences. Learn about the flavours of Malaysia on a fun and interactive cooking experience, take a trip out of town to discover the temples and shrines of the Batu Caves, or explore the city on a guided bike tour. If any of these sound of interest, ask your Travel Specialist for more information.
Day 3 - Fly to Medan in Sumatra
Wave goodbye to the bright city lights as you take the short flight to Medan, on the island of Sumatra. Medan is a bustling gateway to Sumatra’s wild jungles and mountains. After arriving, you’ll be met and transferred the short distance to your city hotel. Take a dip in the pool, stroll around the city and sample some of the street food.
Day 4 - Head into the jungle: Bukit Lawang
It’s time to discover the wilds of Sumatra. You’ll travel by private car to Bukit Lawang, a convenient base for treks into the jungle. The drive gives you a first feel for Sumatra’s greener, more rugged landscapes, that are very different from other Indonesian islands. By afternoon you’ll arrive at a simple eco-lodge overlooking the jungle, where you’ll sleep for the next two nights. The lodge is around a 20-minute walk from the drop-off point, and porters are on hand to help carry your bags.
Day 5 - Jungle trek & orangutan spotting
Today you’ll head out early for a guided jungle trek. Take a small boat across the river and walk to the orangutan feeding platform on the edge of the rainforest. This site was set up to support orangutan rehabilitation, and at set times rangers put out fruit which can draw semi-wild orangutans out of the trees. It’s a great opportunity to (hopefully) spot orangutans at close range. Afterward, you’ll continue deeper into the hilly rainforest, following narrow trails and scrambling over roots. Your knowledgeable local guide will be scanning the jungle for wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for wild orangutans moving through the treetops. Return to your lodge in the afternoon
Day 6 - 4WD to the jungle of Tangkahan
This morning jump in a 4WD and travel deeper into the rainforest. After around 4–5 hours, you’ll arrive in Tangkahan, a small, remote riverside community known for its strong focus on conservation and low-impact travel. You’ll sleep in a rustic wooden bungalow surrounded by forest, with limited electricity and cold-water showers, but that’s all part of the experience. Staying here is all about feeling properly immersed in Sumatra’s rainforest.
Day 7 - River tubing through the jungle
After breakfast, you’ll head down to the river with your guide, where an inflatable tube is waiting. The tubes are linked together like a small raft, or you can float along on your own, drifting gently through calm water rather than rapids. As you go, keep an eye on the riverbanks and treetops for monkeys and tropical birds. At a shallow stretch of river, you’ll climb out for a refreshing swim before walking back to your lodge along the river bank. The rest of the day is yours to relax in a hammock, visit the hot spring or spend time chatting with the local villagers.
If you’d prefer not to include the tubing experience we can arrange another guided trek deep into the jungle with a local guide. The trekking is organised by the local community. You’ll notice this immediately in the enthusiasm and expertise of your guide. He grew up here and takes great pride in ‘his’ rainforest. His knowledge of nature comes from his family, and he’s eager to share stories about his life in the jungle. Despite his limited English, he’s had lessons and tries his best to communicate. Ask your Travel Specialist to add this to your travel plan.
Day 8 - Return to Medan
Today you’ll depart from the jungle of Tangkahan and travel back to Medan. You’ll spend the night here because the flight to Penang departs early tomorrow. Recover from your jungle adventure by the pool.
Day 9 - Fly to Penang
It’s time to return to Peninsula Malaysia as you take a short flight to the island city of Penang. This atmospheric city is a rich mix of cultures, brilliant street food and colourful heritage streets, all packed into one easy-to-explore place.
You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Georgetown, Penang’s most atmospheric neighbourhood and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Settle in, and take a stroll around the neighbourhood.
Day 10 - Guided bike tour of Georgetown
There’s no better way to get to know Penang’s heritage and food scene than to hop on a bike and explore with a local guide. You’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the starting point where you’ll be given your bike, helmet and safety jacket. From here you will cycle with your guide in a small group around the city, discovering hidden temples and learning about the history of this area.
For breakfast you will stop to try a variety of different Indian breads alongside a local ‘teh tarik’, and lunch will include a selection of local dishes to share from a hawker centre including local favourites such as Assam Laksa and Char Keow Teow. At the end of this half-day tour you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of your stay in Penang is free to explore independently.
Day 11 - Travel to the island of Langkawi
The final stop on your Malaysia and Sumatra holiday is the tropical island of Langkawi. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Penang for the two hour journey north to Kuala Kedah. Here, you board the ferry to Langkawi, a journey of about one hour.
Langkawi is a tropical paradise worthy of any postcard. With calm, turquoise waters, swaying coconut palms and soft white sands, it’s somewhere to kick off your flip flops and melt into a sun lounger. It’s by far the most popular beach destination in Malaysia but you can still find quiet stretches of sand and if you venture beyond the beaches, you’ll find character and culture.
Days 12 & 13 - Beach time
Time to relax! If you manage to drag yourself away from the pool and the beach, Langkawi offers a variety of activities, including waterfall tours, sunset cruises and snorkelling trips. Take the cable car up to the top of Gunung Machincang for a panoramic view of Malaysia and Southern Thailand, paddle a kayak through the island’s mangrove forest or hire a bike to explore the traditional Kampungs behind the beaches. Ask your Travel Specialist if you would like to include any of these excursions in your travel plan.
Day 14 - Depart Malaysia
Today marks the end of your Malaysian adventure. We’ll arrange for a driver to pick you up from your hotel and take you to Langkawi Airport for your onward flight to Kuala Lumpur. The short domestic flight takes around an hour and is usually included as part of your international flight home to the UK.
Three nights on Langkawi might not feel like enough? We can easily extend your beach stay, so just ask your Travel Specialist.
Accommodation
