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Easy Going Malacca - Warm welcome on wheels Malacca travel packMalacca is a great place to kick off your Malaysia travels as an intriguing alternative to the busy capital. Malacca has a fascinating mix of colonial and traditional Malaysian culture which gives it its unique atmosphere. In our Malacca travel pack we'll take care of your airport transfer from KL airport to your accommodation in Malacca. You’ll be staying in a comfortable hotel with lots of character in the heart of Chinatown. On Day 2 you'll get a glimpse of a very authentic Malaysia on a bike ride. Our guide Alias has a wealth of local knowledge and will keep an easy pace as you pedal through palm plantations, tropical fruit orchards and sleepy villages.Long before the arrival of the colonial rulers Malacca was a major trading port, so it’s little wonder the Portugese and Dutch picked this city as their strategic base in their quest for Asian expansion. There are several remnants of this period throughout the city which can still be seen today. In 2008 Malacca was officially named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic centre, though a bit touristy is a great place to wander around on foot. Make sure you take a loot at Jonkerstreet with its many antique shops and some of the best food stalls in Malacca. |
| Duration: |
3 days - 2 nights |
Accommodation: |
2 nights in small-scale hotel in centre of Chinatown |
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Price: |
from $289 per person - based on 2 people sharing | Includes: | 2 nights accommodation with breakfast, guided cycle tour, transfer from KL airport to hotel |
| Transport: |
car or minibus, mountainbike |
Excludes: | other meals |
Day 1 - Arrival MalaccaOn arrival at the airport you'll be met by our driver. He'll transfer you directly to your comfortable hotel in Malacca, 1 1/2 - 2hours' drive away depending on traffic. You'll be staying in beautiful, charming accommodation, centrally located in the heart of Chinatown and within walking distance of all the sights. The hotel is decorated in the typical Baba-style of the Chinese community that has been living in Malacca for more than 600 years. The historic Baba houses have now been turned into cosy, atmospheric hotels. The basic, tidy rooms have air-conditioning, TV and a private bathroom with shower and toilet. Everything you need to start of your Malacca travel.Once you've settled into your hotel you can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city. One of Malacca’s attractions is the colourful trishaws, the local bike-taxis which you’ll see everywhere in the city. For around $15 you can arrange a tour along all the the colonial historic sites. Malacca is also a paradise for food-lovers with restaurants offering more kinds of food you could possible imagine, and street stalls where they’ll cook up freshly prepared meals which will make your mouth water. The typical Baba Nyonya culture (mix of Malaysian and Chinese) is visible everywhere you look, from the lavishly decorated facades and unique cuisine to the distinctive faces on the street. |
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Day 2 - Bike ride through the outskirts of MalaccaAfter breakfast you’ll be picked up at the hotel by minibus for the 30 minute drive to the outskirts of Malacca where Alias will be waiting for you with the mountain bikes. He’ll pick the best route for that day; to the guava orchards where the fruit is ready to be picked or past the bright red chilli plants in full bloom. Whether you want to keep up the tempo or take it slow, Alias will adjust the pace. You’ll be cycling in the shade of the trees for most of the time, but we still recommend sunscreen and a sun hat. Slippers are fine, but shoes or sandals will give you better grip on the pedals.You’ll arrive back at the hotel in time for lunch. The rest of the day you can spend strolling around Malacca. For a completely different view of the city, take a sunset river cruise. As the sun goes down the lights of the city come on, giving the place a very magical atmosphere. |
Day 3 - Departure from MalaccaToday it’s time to leave Malacca and make your way towards the next destination on your Malaysia trip. You can take the bus (or car) to Kuala Lumpur to discover this lively metropolis with our Kuala Lumpur travel starter pack. If you’re ready for a bit of adventure then head west to the Endau National Park for our jungle trekking Malaysia tour. |
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Malacca hotel comfort option
If you'd like to begin your Malaysia trip with a touch of luxury, we've selected a stylish hotel on the coast, just outside the centre but still within walking and cycling distance of all the major sights. The hotel has spacious, tidy rooms and two pools. Rooms have air-conditioning, private bathroom with shower and toilet, TV and minibar. For a spot of exercise there’s a tennis court, squash court and a gym. The hotel also has a free shuttle service to other parts of the city. Kids will be kept amused in the special kids’ pool with slides and special kids entertainment on the weekend. A great hotel if you’re looking for a bit more luxury and comfort to start your Malacca travel of with.
| Duration: |
3 days - 2 nights |
Accommodation: |
2 nights in comfortable hotel with pool |
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Price: |
from $305 per person - based on 2 people sharing | Includes: | 2 nights accommodation with breakfast, guided cycle tour, transfer from KL airport to hotel |
| Transport: |
car or minibus, mountainbike |
Excludes: | other meals |
Malacca travel tipsBest time to travel: Just like the rest of the Malaysian west coast, Malacca is fine to visit all year round.Food stalls: Malacca is famous for its food stalls, where you can enjoy some excellent food at a very low price. The food stalls at Klebang Beach (Jalan Klebang Besar) serve up some fantastic ikan panggang (grilled fish), and other great food stalls can be found at Glutton’s Corner, at the corner of Jalan Merdeka and Jalan Taman. Try no. 16 Prince Satay Celup! Other food stalls you should definitely try are: Jalan Bukit Baru (Chinese), Jalan Bunga Raya (fish) and Jalan Semabok (fish curry). Night view safari: Take the no. 19 bus or your own transport (motorway to Kuala Lumpur) to the Ayer Keroh just under 7 miles away. This is where you’ll find the Melaka Zoo where you can go on a night viewing safari by tram. You can also go horse-riding, or slightly more exotic, an elephant ride. |
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Mini Malaysia: In Ayer Keroh you can also see the whole of Malaysia in one park in the Mini Malaysia theme park where they have reconstructed 13 traditional houses from all 13 states in Malaysia. The houses are life-size replicas, built by traditional craftsmen and even the interior decoration is authentic. There’s a traditional Long house from Sabah and the Rumah Minangkabau from Negeri Sembilan. Admission is RM4 for adults and RM2 for children. Opening hours are 10am – 6pm on weekdays and 9.30am – 6.30pm on weekends. Festivals: Should you happen to be around Malacca in June, make sure you don’t miss the Pesta San Pedro festival, or the Portugese festival of Saint Peter in which beautifully decorated fishing boats are blessed and prayers are said for a good fishing season. There is also an annual kite festival on the coast which is well worth a visit. Boat trip: A fun sightseeing trip is a boat trip from the harbour along the Melaka river past old colonial Dutch houses, boat wharfs and colourful markets on the river banks. This area is also known as Little Venice but that might be a bit of an overstatement. It’s certainly good fun though. The boat leaves every hour between 10am – 2pm as soon as the boat’s full. Tickets can be purchased at the tourist office for around 8 Ringgits. The boat trip takes about 45 minutes. For dinner, head to Jonkers (Jalan Hang Jebat 17), in a beautiful historic setting and the food’s fantastic. |