Culinary Journey Malaysia (9 Nights / 10 Days)

Welcome to Malaysia! On arrival at Kuala Lumpur Airport you will be met and transferred to Melaka. The rest of your day will be at leisure.

Today you will enjoy a traditional Peranakan cooking class at Nancy’s Kitchen. Nancy’s recipes have been passed down through 3 generations. In the restaurant, she is very precise and particular about the quality of each dish being served and she takes great pride in her cooking skills.You will prepare authentic Peranakan dishes using fresh local herbs, spices and other traditional ingredients. Nancy will be guiding you all the way giving her tips and tricks on how to cook some of her best dishes served in her restaurant.At the end of your experience of cooking like a Peranakan, you will receive a certificate, a souvenir and recipe handouts to take home.After the cooking class, return to your hotel where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Enjoy an historical Malacca tour before your journey to Kuala Lumpur. Visit St. Peter’s Church, the oldest Christian Church, believed to be the burial place of St Francis Xavier, a priest who played a vital role in the history of Malacca and won the hearts of the local villagers.Drive past the Bukit China or Chinese Hill – the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China. Stop at the foothill to view the Sultan’s Well before driving through the Portuguese Settlement. Visit the famous gateway, ‘Porta De Santiago’ and the ruins of St Paul’s Church lined with 17th century Dutch tombstones.Next on the list is ‘Red Square’ – the salmon pink Dutch administrative buildings which today house the Malacca Museum and government offices. We will tour Christchurch and visit the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the only temple where you can find the three major doctrines of the local Chinese beliefs of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Take a stroll along Jonker Street and enjoy browsing through the many fascinating rows antique shops.Enjoy a traditional Malaysian lunch at a local restaurant before drive to Kuala Lumpur.Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur, check-in hotel and free time at leisure for th rest of the afternoon.In the evening you will be taken to Jalan Alor to experience Malaysian street food at its best. Jalan Alor is a unique food destination in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The whole character of the city changes when you step onto the street. The modern shopping malls that line the city streets, are replaced with something from days gone by. During the day, there is not much activity here, but when the sun goes down, the street becomes alive with activity. Enjoy tasting the many delicacies on offer in this interesting place, sampling the varied local dishes before heading back to your hotel for the night.

This morning you will be taken to Batu Caves. Batu Caves is a massive limestone outcrop that lies across the scarred landscape of an old tin mine. It is also the site of a yearly Hindu religious festival called Thaipusam. At the base of the outcrop lies a small Hindu shrine displaying various Hindu deities. The Cathedral Caves are breath-taking with huge shafts of light streaking down from gaps in the roof of the cave and piercing the natural darkness of the cave interior.The day continues with Kuala Lumpur Walking Tour. Heritage has played a big part in shaping today’s bustling KL City and it makes perfect sense to restore and maintain these iconic spots in the city. We will visit some centuries-old colonial structures and see the cultural inspiration from the varied architectural designs. This tour covers Jamek Mosque, Malay Street, Indian Mosque Street, The Colonial Core, Medan Pasar (Old Market Square), Central Market, Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Chinatown and Chan She Shu Yuen Clan House.The evening is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities or dine out at one of Kuala Lumpur’s numerous and varied restaurants.

At 10:00, you will be taken to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers observation deck, where you can see the most amazing view over Kuala Lumpur and beyond. Definitely the most spectacular of sights and not be missed on a visit to Kuala Lumpur. After the visit, you will be able to stroll around the KLCC which is next to the Twin Towers and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.After lunch, you will be transferred to Ipoh, approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and check-in to your hotel upon arrival. The rest of the day remains at leisure.

Today you will set off on a culinary-historical adventure to savour the best Ipoh has to offer. From the quintessential Ipoh Sar Hor Fun (Rice Noodles) and melt-in-your-mouth kaya puffs to aromatic Nasi Vanggeh, you will taste all the major flavors of Malaysia.Then, walk off the calories to make room for more good food by exploring historical Ipoh and the many buildings built during the British colonial era – a true haven for photographers, so have your cameras at the ready. Take a rest if you need to and sip away on a cup of freshly brewed old town Ipoh coffee.The rest of your day will be at leisure.

Check-out and transfer to Penang, approximately 2 hours 40 minutes. Along the way, you will stop at Kuala Kangsar where you will visit several places of interest, such as Ubudiah Mosque, Iskandariah Palace, Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery and Kek Lok Tong Temple.Continue the journey on to Penang and arrive at the hotel to check-in early in the evening.

When the sun goes down, Penang becomes a boisterous and active place. The Penang Night Tour is a great way to experience the island’s best-known after-dark attractions; start out the evening with a visit to the ever-popular Gurney Drive. Home to a string of restaurants including the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, it’s the perfect place to sample authentic Penang cuisine including Asam Laksa, Char Kway Teow and Hokkien Mee. With everyone eating and talking, this place is Penang’s noisiest avenue when the sun goes down.Next, head to Penang’s tallest building, the 12-sided geometrically shaped KOMTAR Tower. Next you will be treated to a bustling night market, a truly Malaysian cultural affair. Also known as a pasar malam, here you can purchase a plethora of items from souvenirs and apparel to local delicacies and fresh produce.

Meet your guide at your hotel lobby and be taken to Penang Hill and Temple for an interesting sightseeing tour. Located in the center of Penang island is a village name Air Hitam, meaning black water. Here you can visit one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the region called Kek Lok Si, the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, where the gigantic bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy can be seen. Witness the striking mixture ofThai, Burmese, Indian and Chinese architecture. It is an extremely colorful place and definitely a photographer paradise.From there we head to the highest peak, Penang Hill, where the oldest British hill station in the region was established. Ascend the hill by funicular train pulled by cable which was introduced during the colonial days of Penang. Enjoy the most spectacular scenic and panoramic view of George Town and mainland Malaysia at the peak.

After check-out, you will be met and transferred to the airport for your flight back home.