Need Ideas For A Malaysian Road Trip? Here's What We Suggest For The June Holidays!

With the June holidays just round the corner, and with favourable (read: all-time high) exchange rates, there is perhaps no better time than now to plan a road trip across the causeway. 

In this guide, we will be providing you with suggestions for a family-themed road trip to Malaysia! For a concise guide to driving into Malaysia and everything you need to know, read our ultimate guide to driving into Malaysia here!

For clarity, the guide will be formatted in the order you would drive up north starting from Melaka to the busy capital of Kuala Lumpur and further north to Ipoh before returning south with a final stopover in Johor Bahru and finally heading home. We strongly urge you to use the Motorist app and utilise our checkpoint feature to get real-time updates on the traffic situation at the checkpoints before you set off!

Our First Stop: Melaka

 (Photo Credit: petitgo)

Melaka is a four-hour drive away from Singapore. It isn't a mind-numbingly long time, though the monotony may mean your little ones being peckish and fidgety mid-drive - we suggest you keep some snacks and tidbits within an arm's reach.

You'll find a myriad of activities when you eventually arrive in the state. A theme park, like Melaka's Wonderland Theme Park, is good to keep every member of your family entertained. Wave pools, water slides and more will satiate the innate desire of your inner child!

Details:
Address: Lot PT17178, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, Hang Tuah Jaya, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Malaysia
Opening Hours: (10am – 6pm Tues - Sun) Closed on Mon
Google Maps: https://g.page/MelakaWonderlandThemePark?share

(Photo Credit: CK Travels)

For a more wholesome cultural experience, consider heading over to Jonker Street and Night Market. By day, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with distinctive and historical buildings and architecture. By night, the place transforms into a souped-up Pasar Malam of sorts, with food stalls lining the streets. 

We also highly recommend you create memories by posing with the copious street arts that you can find scattered across the city - best of all, it's free to do so!

Details:
Address: Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: (6pm - 12am Fri - Sun) Closed from Mon - Thurs
Google Maps: https://g.page/jonker-street-night-market?share

Next Up: Kuala Lumpur

(Photo Credit: LocalGuidesConnect)

Our first location in Kuala Lumpur is going to be the Egyptian-themed Sunway Pyramid mall! The mall has many different shopping options, ranging from clothes to dining and food! There will be something for everyone, as children may entertain themselves at the indoor ice skating rink in the mall, or even catch a movie at their theatre!

Your younger ones can also visit Sunway Lagoon, an amusement park spanning 88 acres with over 90 rides, they will be entertained for an entire day!

Details: (Sunway Pyramid Mall)
Address: 3, Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia 
Opening Hours: (10am – 10pm Daily)
Google Maps: https://g.page/SunwayPyramidMall?share

Details: (Sunway Lagoon)
Address: 3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia 
Opening Hours: (10am – 6pm Wed - Mon) Closed on Tues
Google Maps: https://g.page/sunway-lagoon-subang-jaya?share

(Photo Credit: Klook)

Kidzania in KL allows children (defined by the brand as those aged from 4 - 14), to have a taste of what adult working life is like. They have a choice to role-play as pilots, workers and more, whilst also learning how to live in a 'city' environment, and Kidzania even has its own 'currency'!

Details:
Address: Curve Nx, 18, Jalan PJU 7/5, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia 
Opening Hours: (10am – 6pm Wed - Mon) Closed on Tues
Google Maps: https://g.page/KidZaniaKualaLumpur?share

Our Third Stop: Ipoh

(Photo Credit: theperpetualsaturday)

Kek Long Tong is a Buddhist cave temple, but it might as well have been lifted straight from the set of an Indiana Jones movie. Guided tours are available from private companies, and are a good idea if you'd like some sort of structure whilst combing the 12 acres of sculptures and gardens.

This is a visually stunning location, with intricate limestone formations dotting even the ceiling of the place. It may look remote, but its allure as a tourist attraction means the venue is actually very well equipped to handle the crowds, with an attached carpark, toilets and even vending machines in case you get thirsty exploring the place!

Details:
Address: Pesiaran Sepakat 3, TMN ENDAH JAYA, 31350 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia 
Opening Hours:  (9am – 4pm Daily)
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/anrTjGHcau7u6utT7

(Photo Credit: aromasian)

How can we mention Ipoh without talking about their food? Our recommendation for Ipoh cuisine will be the beansprout chicken rice at Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong! With the price of chicken exponentially raising in Singapore, enjoying a plate of chicken rice in Malaysia could be the new big thing. 

With every mouthful, you will be greeted with crunchy beansprouts and the tenderness of the steamed chicken. It makes for a great light meal for children too!

Details: 
Address: 49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia 
Opening Hours:  (10:30am – 9:30pm Daily)
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2bAdk1ZB5KxxCNhE9

Final Stop: Johor

Johor is the last Malaysian state before Singapore. We already have a couple of mGuides if you are looking to hop across the border, but it doesn't hurt to suggest even more activities for the state in this piece before you head back over the causeway. 

(Photo Credit: Halal Ke)

Dedicate an afternoon or so to go café-hopping in Johor! There are many different types of cafes in the area, and we even have a previous article for you to visit for the most Instagrammable cafes in Johor here! Not to mention that they have interesting and delicious food too, so the young ones won't get bored!

(Photo Credit: Christine Clara via burpple)

Lastly, make sure you stop by Hiap Joo bakery and Biscuit factory for their famous banana cakes. Founded in 1919, Hiap Joo bakery believes in using wood-fire ovens and doing things the traditional way. As a result, the traditional flavours are preserved, and isn't compromised by the clutches of modern machinery. Do also try their other kinds of cakes and buns, available in flavours such as peanut, red bean and even sardine buns!

Details:
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 
Opening Hours: (Mon - Sat 7:30am - 5pm) Closed on Sun
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Tjuv4UP5vtchijyV9

Homebound

As excited as we all are to travel aboard and stretch our legs in a foreign country, always remember that safety should be your number one priority at all times. Read this article for tips on driving into Malaysia!Road trips are not just for owners of petrol cars. With increasing EV adoption in Malaysia, the charging infrastructure has also been improved, which means that an EV road trip is possible with the current technology that we currently have. Don't believe us? Here's proof!

Why not make the ride even easier with our Motorist app? Our checkpoint feature allows you to check the traffic situation at the borders with real-time camera footage, as well as get updates on potential fuel checks at the customs.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Driving into Malaysia: VEP, Road Safety, Driving Etiquette, Accidents

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