12-Day Malaysia Foodie Adventure
Trip Highlights
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
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$1,209 AUD
Private Supplement: +$282
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$1,209 AUD
Private Supplement: +$282
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Details
- 2-week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: max 6 spots for those who would like to pay extra for their own private room.
Trip length
12 days, 11 nights
Meeting point
Puri Hotel, Melaka
Ending point
Holiday Villa, Langkawi
Group size
Maximum 14
Participation requirements
Please see our “Is this trip right for you?” section under the Participation Tab.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfer
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation, ferry
- 11 nights boutique and premium accommodation
- Strawberry jam-making class, Afternoon tea, Cooking class with Chef in Penang, Georgetown trishaw tour and food tastings, Sunset cruise over the Andaman Sea
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Click the tabs to find out more
Day 1: Welcome to Malaysia!
Welcome to Malaysia, Patchies! Since this country is so close to home you won’t have jetlag to deal with, which means you can hit the ground running. Your driver will be waiting for you at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as soon as you touch down, ready to whisk you off to lovely Melaka, where the real fun begins.
After settling in at the hotel, it’s time to say the first hellos at your welcome dinner. Get ready to break bread and crack jokes with your new adventure squad. You might be strangers now, but give it a few days and you’ll soon be swapping “remember when” stories like old mates. Here’s to the start of something epic!
Accommodation: Puri Melaka (or similar), Melaka
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Melaka
Your first full day of the trip is all about exploring Melaka, starting at the top with a climb to the ruins of St Paul’s Church for kick-ass views over the city. Melaka was once a colonial stronghold, so you’ll see a mishmash of Portuguese, Dutch and Asian vibes here. Continue on to Porta de Santiago – a fortress from 1511 that’s seen it all. What’s that you hear? Jonker Street is calling your name with its must-try chicken rice balls and icy chendol. Don’t walk, run!
With a quick hotel refresh under your belt, head over to Kampung Morten, a traditional Malay village squished between the high-rise buildings of the city centre. Following your guide, you’ll pass timeless wooden houses and learn how the locals live, before drifting down the river on a town-slicing cruise that deposits you right back at the Jonker Street night market (surely you have room for one more BBQ quail egg?).
Accommodation: Puri Melaka (or similar), Melaka
Included: Breakfast
Day 3: Kuala Lumpur
Start the day on the sweet side, magicking together brightly coloured dough to make traditional Ang Ku Kuih under the watchful eye of an expert instructor. It’s the perfect snack-sized warm-up to the two-to-three-hour drive to Malaysia’s super-city – Kuala Lumpur! Watch the Malaysian countryside unfold through your window, cute towns and endless stretches of palm oil plantations painting a view you’ll soon recognise as oh-so-Malay.
Your metropolitan adventure begins immediately upon arrival – you’ll land at the foot of the Batu Caves, KL’s colour-drenched Hindu shrines and 272 steps of rainbow colours leading into the sky. The ascent is well worth the effort, both for the view and for the banana-leaf dinner to follow – full of smoky biryani, richly scented curries, warming rasam and crunchy papadoms.
Accommodation: Santa Grand Signature (or similar), Kuala Lumpur
Included: Breakfast & Dinner
BREAKOUT
A FIREWORK OF CULTURES AND FOODS
Malaysia was literally the ’doorway’ between East and West on the ancient spice route. Centuries of trade and travel from mainland Asia, Europe and the Middle East have made it a mosaic of cultures. Chinese clans built water villages on stilts, while British colonialists left their ‘western’ mark on government buildings. It’s a mish-mash of cultures, blending and taking new forms.
Nowhere does this mix hit harder than on your plate – a playground for taste buds on an adventure. Indian and Chinese communities brought their favourite dishes, stamped here with a distinctly Malaysian flair – local spices and herbs adding their own magic touch. But it’s the local hawker stalls where the real excitement happens – right here on the streets, fusion dishes evolving from centuries of cultural mixing come to life, giving you the freshest taste of Malaysia.
Day 4: Orang Asli and KL food
Today’s adventure will launch you straight into the depths of Malay culture. An hour’s drive takes you to the village of the Orang Asli, the country’s original inhabitants. Here, your hosts will let you tap into their life in harmony with nature. See them smoke the day’s hunt and craft their intricate ornaments. Of course, giving-it-a-go is any Patchie’s middle name, so you’ll also get to try your hand at weaving – bringing home the keepsake you’ve made.
Return to town and venture into Kampung Baru, a spot of rural peace in the middle of tall skyscrapers. Dinner is a guided trek through its must-visit markets, the ultimate spot for authentic Malay Street food. Dig into spicy-sweet nasi lemak and grilled satay skewers, leaving room for some refreshing chendol.
Accommodation: Santa Grand Signature, Autograph Collection (or similar), Kuala Lumpur
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5: Cameron Highlands
Say goodbye to the buzz of Kuala Lumpur and buckle up for the tea-tinted sweeps of Cameron Highlands. You won’t be seeing any more skyscrapers for a while. Instead, in these parts, all you’ll find is cooler air and green, green, green!. Up here, your biggest dilemma will be what type of tea to sip on.
With the three to four hours of driving (and perhaps an afternoon stroll in town) behind you, have you worked up an appetite? The chill of the highland evening is best embraced with a steamboat dinner, a shared hot pot meal where you cook your favourite ingredients in a simmering pot of broth right at the table. Nearly halfway through the trip, there’s no better way to share stories and get to know your Patchie friends better.
Accommodation: Century Pine Resort (or similar), Cameron Highlands
Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6: Tea and Strawberries
You’ll dedicate a full day to sampling and enjoying the Cameron Highlands’ top produce – tea and strawberries! It all starts with a quick “tea talk”, where you’ll get a rocket-fast intro to the area’s tea-growing process (surrounded by the glorious tea plantations, of course) before you don aprons to learn how to whip up your very own lip-smacking strawberry jam, following the local recipe. Spoiler – it’s a lot trickier (and stickier!) than it looks.
Alright, you’ve earned it – time to wrap up the day with a Highlands treat: afternoon tea. Scones, jam, and the best brew in town, all while soaking up the glow of the late afternoon sun? Don’t mind if we do!
Accommodation: Century Pine Resort (or similar), Cameron Highlands
Included: Breakfast & Hi-tea
Day 7: Goodbye Highlands, Hello Penang!
The highlands have been such a refreshing pause on all that hectic travelling, but let’s be real: none of you can stay put for too long, so it’s time to pack your bags and head to your next destination, the flavour-laden city of Penang. They call it the foodie capital for a reason, and you’re about to dive fork-first into the best eats around. Ready to taste what all the buzz is about?
Once you’ve checked in at your new digs in Penang, the day is yours. Go wild and try to explore every nook and cranny, or simply chill until the sun dips. Come evening, you’ll join your guide for dinner at one of their favourite local street food spots for a no-holds-barred culinary introduction to Penang. We think you’ll quickly feel at home here!
Accommodation: Cititel Penang (or similar), Penang
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Penang deep-dive
Today, hop on a trishaw for the best way to see as much of Penang as possible – weaving past modern street art, imagining what life was like in generations past with the help of colonial building-views, and letting your head swim with umami aromas as you whizz past hawker stalls. Don’t miss the Clan Jetty, a labyrinth of villages on the water, and sneak into a Clan House temple teeming with stories of Chinese heritage in the region.
The day is a perfect sampler, so that you can fill your free evening with more of what caught your interest. If the hawkers stalls are calling you back, stick with your guide for a dinner fit for the most street-savvy diners!
Accommodation: Cititel Penang (or similar), Penang
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 9: Tropical Spice Garden
The foodie love affair with Penang continues today at the Tropical Spice Garden, your all-access pass to the world of spices. Weaving through the spice terraces, you’ll get the lowdown on the countless uses for the herbs and spices found here, and you’ll get to see firsthand what gives Malaysia’s most beloved recipes that familiar kick.
You’ve smelled, touched, and learned about these game-changing spices – now it’s time to fire up the hob and throw them into the mix yourself with a cooking class. And no stress – we have a local pro chef on hand to show you how it’s done and help you craft something incredible.
Accommodation: Cititel Penang (or similar), Penang
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10: Langkawi Dreams
This morning eases you into the laidback vibes ahead with a cleared schedule – perfect for a morning stroll or a last-minute shop. We won’t keep you from it longer than we have to, so just a short puddle jumper will get you to today’s destination: the legendary Langkawi. Langkawi is Malaysia’s most chilled-out and heavenly archipelago, where you’re heading for some sun, sand, and maybe even a cheeky cocktail or two!
Once you’ve finally recovered from the wow-worthy first impression of Langkawi’s blue waters, it’s off to your home for the next few nights: a beach resort and spa. After all, a little pampering never hurt anybody.
Accommodation: Holiday Villa Langkawi (or similar), Langkawi
Included: Breakfast
Day 11: Langkawi forests and floating farewells
Your final full day in Malaysia is all about kicking back and enjoying paradise, whether that be lounging by the pool with a book, taking a wander along the beach, or getting some vitamin sea with a dip in the ocean. Can’t choose? Why not do all three?
In the afternoon, you’ll round off your Malaysia adventure in a very special way: drifting on the emerald water along the wonderland that is Langkawi’s Kilim Geoforest Park. Wind your way through mangrove tunnels and limestone gateways, and discover what – if not crocodiles – is hiding in the Crocodile Cave.
As the trip draws to a close, squeeze out the last of Malaysia’s spirit (and yummy food) at your farewell dinner, feasting on peak dishes at a floating restaurant. With the sun setting, recount your favourite stories from the trip and compare pics with your new Patchie friends. Are you already making plans to meet again?
Accommodation: Holiday Villa Langkawi (or similar), Langkawi
Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 12: Farewell Friends!
Our least favourite part – but all good things must come to an end. After breakfast, share your final bear hugs with your newfound Patchie besties and be sure to swap contact details. Maybe you’ll even see each other again soon on another Patchie adventure! Then, our driver will drop you off at Langkawi airport ready for your flight home.
Jumpa lagi, Malaysia!
Included: Breakfast
Trip Map
Is This Trip Right For You?
You love to travel but don’t like being herded around B-grade attractions… just the mere idea of joining a ‘big bus’ tour makes you want to run for the hills.
You also know, however, that some places are worth the wait.
You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
You also love the idea of living a day fully, and then returning to unique, interesting accommodation!
You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that could involve trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.
If that sounds like you, you’d make a great Patchie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD : MYR exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD : 2.77 MYR.
A deposit of 25% of the total trip price is required to secure your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made at least 120 days before trip departure.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
This is the most frequently asked question we get!
Nearly everyone is in their 50s and 60s, with some people above and below (but of course, everyone is welcome!)
Most Patchies come alone and are matched with a room-mate. Remember, you don’t need to pay for a single supplement if you come solo. We will place you with a similarly-aged roommate.
The typical Patchie has travelled a LOT, is a well-seasoned adventurer, and is not easily thrown by small things. However, many Patchies tell us that this is their first ever group tour. Many of our guests have avoided tours to this point as they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
Oh, and one last thing:
Patchies are warm, generous, and kind. We knew it would be like this, but we weren’t expecting it to be *quite* like this. We’re so blessed as a business to have the customers we do; we consider ourselves to be some of the luckiest people in the world.
Level 1
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. However, to enjoy this trip, you’ll need to be able to spend time on your feet and regularly walk for 2-3 hours. Daily activities might include walking on uneven and hilly ground, getting on and off various forms of transportation and occasionally climbing some stairs. You may also encounter over-the-bath showers in some of the accommodations.
All activities are optional, meaning that if you don’t feel like it, you can skip it, but it will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
Before you head to Malaysia, make sure to fill out and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) at least three days before you arrive. You can easily do it online through the Malaysian immigration website here.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
For your Malaysian adventure, we ask your contribution be:
- 230 MYR (equivalent to $80 AUD) on Day 1.
The kitty will be managed by your guide and distributed along the way for included meals, hotel staff, drivers and local guides.
What is not covered is a customary tip at the end of the trip for your guide. If she/he ensured that your trip is memorable, we recommend the following guidelines:
- Guide: 150 MYR per person (equivalent to $50 AUD)
There are several direct flights with several airlines available from major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur.
From Langkawi there are flights to Kuala Lumpur available. From there, you can catch a direct flight to major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or Brisbane.
Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommended. If possible, come one day early to settle in. We can organise additional hotel nights for you at cost.
The opportunity to do laundry during your trip is possible and best left for stays that are for more than one night. Your guide will be able to assist with recommendations during your trip.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
