Kota Bharu/Redang or Cameron Highlands & Pangkor?

Am trying to decide on the final aspect of our trip to Malaysia. We have aprrox. 5 days to plan, and are considering either flying into Kota Bharu and exploring the Eastern coast, or driving from Kuala Lumpur into the Cameron Highlands and then onto Pangkor.

Do you guys have any advice as to which we should go for? Our trip already consists of Bali/Lombok/Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Do you think a trip to Sabah would be better? Any help appreciated!

Kota Bharu/Redang or Cameron Highlands %26amp; Pangkor?

Hi Nevita,

It really depends on what you really want to see. The KL-Cameron-Pangkor is a path well travelled by many a tourist. If it%26#39;s your first time in Malaysia, then it is a nice change of scenery from city to highlands and then to island.

I%26#39;m not too sure about the Kota Bharu -east coast trip as I am assuming you%26#39;re planning to drive down from KB-Terengganu and Kuantan? Pls be warned that there%26#39;s no straight beautiful highway as that in the West coast. It%26#39;s mostly trunk roads with signboards lacking. It%26#39;s better you get a tour package in KL on the East coast.

The east coast is another side of Malaysia that tourists to Malaysia should visit. The finest beaches in Peninsula Malaysia are found here. Kota Bharu is considered the Cradle of Malay culture but at the same time the backwater of malaysia. Traditional Arts like Kite making, silver ware and batik making still form the major cottage industry in state of Kelantan (KB being the capital of the state). Life%26#39;s slow paced here, though KB is a vibrant town.

Terengganu is famous for its islands, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang are two of them. It%26#39;s here that you find silky soft white sand and crystal blue waters. Just board a boat at Merang jetty and paradise is awaiting. It%26#39;s just one of the best places to do scuba diving in Peninsula Malaysia. However pls note the Monsoon season is from Nov to Feb, during which it%26#39;s advisable not to visit.

Kuantan has many beaches, the most beautiful is Cherating , on which Club Med (and probably has the best stretch of beach)

and a host of other resorts.

As for Sabah, it%26#39;s on another island all together. You have to get a flight there. Really since you have so many places you want to visit in Malaysia, why not you drop Singapore all together? That%26#39;ll leave you with more days in Malaysia.

Kota Bharu/Redang or Cameron Highlands %26amp; Pangkor?

Thanks so much for your reply. Firstly we would be travelling at the end of July/beginning of August so hopefully weather wouldnt be too much of an issue.

The KL - Cameron-Pangkor path does seem really appealing, is it practical in about 4 or 5 days? I mean with self drive rather than flights. How easy is to hire a car just one way, because we could take a flight back from Pangkor to Kuala Lumpur.

We dont need to stay in Singapore for too long, but we would like to visit, even if its just for one day.......

Yes Sabah is on a different island, but Air Asia do such cheap flights, its still a realistic possibility! This is one of the reasons why we are so confused.

I dont think we can do all of the above, it has to be a choice for the time we have, but how to make that choice? Your description of the east coast sounds wonderful, so are you saying it would be difficult for us to get from the airports at Kota Bharu/Kuala Terengganu to the %26#39;resort%26#39; areas?

I guess what we want is a variety of places to see and experince without it feeling too rushed, since we are travelling with children including a 15 month old!

Hi Nevita,

How many days are you prepared to spend in Malaysia actually, as I am quite confused, seems like you can spare a few more to Sabah after KL-Cameron-Pangkor??

If you%26#39;re doing Bali already, Pangkor is just another island which pales in comparison. I suggest you drop that. and maybe venture up Penang where there%26#39;s plenty to see. KL-Penang only takes 4hrs plus journey.

Cameron highland is just like any highland tea plantation in Sri Lanka or some parts of india. See if you like it.

Of course, if you%26#39;re adventurous enough, try the east coast, as I told you the roads are not well- sign boarded.

to be practical, KL-cameron-Penang for a 5 day trip is just nice. You can find out from Mayflower, Avis, Hertz whether they do single trip drop off . then you can fly back to KL from Penang.

Hi....thanks for your reply and advice. We have approx. 9 days in Malaysia including those 3/4 days we would like to spend in KL. We cannot do Sabah as well as Cameron/Pangkor, it has to be a choice between the two.

I just thought the Cameron Highlands would be something different seeing as we are already visiting beach resorts in Bali and Lombok.

So you%26#39;re suggesting that Penang would perhaps be a better option than Pangkor? It would be easy to get to as Air Asia do cheap flights there.

Yes I think Penang is a better choice, suppose if you were to drive up from KL.

9 days in malaysia is sufficient. You can spend 3 days in KL, 2 days in Cameron Highlands and 4 days in Penang.

Cameron Highlands is famous for tea plantations, you can visit the Boh Tea centre where you will have a sweeping view of the tea valley. Cameron Highlands also supplies the majority of our vegetable supply to the rest of Malaysia. So you will see a lot of vegetable farms there. You might want to also visit the strawberry farm or go jungle trekking. There%26#39;s not a whole lot to do there, but people go there for the environment. Don%26#39;t miss the Ye olde smokehouse at Tanah Rata, a boutique hotel with 13 rooms, quintessentially old English tudor style. You can even have afternoon tea at its rose garden. Mind you , this is all not made up. This property was built by an English man and has withstood for nearly three scores and a decade. The Lakehouse is a larger property , same tudor styling at Ringlet (a town in cameron highlands).

Penang is an historical city occupied by the British during the East India times, its architecture mostly colonial, surviving along side with Chinese architecture. You can have a lot more to do in Penang than Pangkor. You can join the heritage trail, sample the famous hawker food. Fried Kuey Teow is a quintessential Hokkien fare, which made up majority of the local Chinese in Penang. Kuey Teow (Flat Rice Noodle) - incidentally they%26#39;re pronounced as such in Thailand and Vietnam as it%26#39;s introduced by the Hokkiens, is fried with condiments like Lard, Soy Sauce, a bit of Fish sauce, with Big prawns , cockles and Bean Sprouts.

Do try this dish in Singapore and compare it with Penang%26#39;s. They tend to add sweet sauce, which to me, a Penang born, is a sacrilege.

Hope you can make up your mind with my ramblings.

Thanks again. You are being such a great help! So we could def. drive from Kuala Lumpur all the way to Penang with no problems?? Is there any other way we could combine Penang with the highlands? We can get a cheap flight to Penang but then what about the highlands........

How easy would it be for us to find our way around, hire a car etc etc? Perhaps we could do a one way rental and take a flight back from Penang. How long would the journey be?

Thanks for your time!

Hi Nevita,

The North-south highway connects all three places. cameron highlands is halfway to Penang, that%26#39;s why I advise you KL-CH-Penang route.

I just drove 4 hrs this morning from KL to Penang with a few stops in between, to try to local fruit stalls. But beware the N-S highway is undergoing upgrading work to add a lane to the 2 lane highway, so drive carefully because sometimes the one of the lane is cordoned off for repair etc.

You should enquire on Hertz, Avis, I think you can search online...and ask them.

Btw, there%26#39;s no flights to Cameron Highlands.