Malaysia With Kids Itinerary:
A Family Gap Year Guide to KL, Borneo & More

  • Written by Roi Alfassi
  • Updated October 2025

Traveling the world with kids has always been a dream of ours, and Malaysia turned out to be one of the most surprising highlights of our journey. Before this trip, I could barely place Kuala Lumpur on a map—aside from recognizing the twin towers from the movies. Now, after standing at the top of the Petronas Towers and exploring the country for weeks, I’m convinced Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated family destinations.

With nine months of continuous travel behind us through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, Malaysia felt different: safe, welcoming, and full of clean air, incredible food, and activities that kept both adults and kids endlessly entertained. Here’s our family circuit through Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, with a quick detour through Singapore.

Quick Travel Tips for Families in Malaysia

  • SIM card: We used Celcom. A starter SIM was about 25 RM (~$8 USD), with voice + data packages starting around 40 RM for a month. Top-ups are easy at 7-Eleven, Celcom stores, or online. Coverage was good with 3G/4G in cities and slower speeds in remote areas. 👉 Stay connected across Malaysia with a fast, reliable SIM card>>

  • Travel insurance: We went with World Nomads Family Explorer, a budget-friendly option that actually covered us when needed.

  • Flights: Many budget flights are available—sometimes under $25 one way—on airlines like AirAsia, Firefly, and Malaysia Airlines.

  • Accommodation: We relied on Agoda and Booking.com for family rooms, and prices were much more affordable than we expected.

Kuala Lumpur – 5 Nights

We based ourselves at Ceria Hotel Bukit Bintang ($49/night for a family room). Spacious, clean, with excellent WiFi, and within walking distance to Times Square Mall and the monorail.

Family Highlights in KL:

  • Petronas Twin Towers: Worth every cent for the view, especially from the skybridge. Tickets are easier to get than expected in off-season (we walked in at 4:45 pm and got the 5 pm slot).

  • KLCC Park & Water Playground: A free and fantastic spot for kids, with pools, slides, and an evening fountain light show.

  • Chinatown: Great for street food, bargaining, and a fun nighttime vibe. Our son even helped us negotiate prices!

  • MUD the Musical: A hidden gem of a theater show that tells KL’s story—intimate, interactive, and full of energy.

  • Batu Caves: Just outside the city, a budget-friendly day trip on the KTM commuter line. Climbing 272 colorful steps with cheeky monkeys is an adventure in itself.

  • Little India: Flavor-packed food at bargain prices (our family meal was around $11).

  • KL Bird Park: Fun for kids, though we were a bit spoiled after South Africa’s bird parks. Still, it pairs well with the surrounding botanical gardens.

Cameron Highlands – 4 Nights

Penang (Georgetown) – 4 Nights

Where we stayed:
We based ourselves at Star Lodge, a very simple but well-located guesthouse right in the center of Georgetown. At around $40 per night for two rooms, it was great value, especially considering we were traveling as a family. The rooms were no-frills, but clean and comfortable, and WiFi was reliable enough for booking activities and keeping in touch with family back home. One of the unexpected perks was the friendly hostel next door, where we ended up having French toast and coffee every morning—a perfect start to our days.

What we loved about Georgetown:

  • Street Art Adventure: Georgetown is famous for its interactive street murals. The kids were fascinated by the 3D-style paintings—posing with the bicycle murals, pretending to ride on swings painted onto walls, and “joining in” with the creative scenes. It turned every walk into a treasure hunt, and we spent hours meandering through backstreets looking for new murals.

  • Exploring by Bike: One of the highlights was renting the quirky “love bikes” to explore the historic center. These tandem-style bikes made it easy for us to cover more ground, and the children had a blast pedaling along. We quickly realized that helmets aren’t common here, so families should keep safety in mind, but overall it was a fun and unique way to see the city.

  • Food, Food, and More Food: Penang is often called the food capital of Malaysia, and for good reason. Every street seemed to offer something new—from Chinese dim sum to Indian curries and Malay street snacks. We introduced the kids to char kway teow, roti canai, and ais kacang (a colorful shaved ice dessert). Even picky eaters found plenty to enjoy, and meals were cheap enough that we could sample lots of different dishes without worrying about the budget.

  • Heritage & Culture: Beyond the food and murals, Georgetown’s UNESCO World Heritage status gave us the chance to step into colonial buildings, vibrant temples, and even a few museums that were surprisingly kid-friendly. Walking through Little India one afternoon felt like stepping into a completely different country, with Bollywood music blasting, spice shops spilling fragrant aromas into the streets, and sari boutiques bursting with color.

Georgetown felt safe, walkable, and endlessly interesting. The combination of culture, history, art, and food meant there was always something to keep the kids engaged—and plenty of chances for us to sneak in some local history and culture in between ice creams and mural hunting.

Perhentian Islands – 6 Nights

We booked Shari-La Island Resort, one of the best-value options on the small island. $69/night included breakfast, a private snorkeling bay, and access to cheap rental gear.

What we loved:

  • Snorkeling straight from the beach with vibrant marine life.

  • Friendly dive shops like Quiver Divers (dives for $19!).

  • Slowing down and enjoying island life—even with spotty WiFi, which turned out to be a blessing.

Traveling there was simpler than expected: a short flight on Firefly from Penang, then an airport taxi + boat transfer arranged easily on arrival.

Borneo Malaysia (12 Days)

Sepilok (Sandakan) – 3 Nights

Stay: Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat, budget bungalows overlooking the rainforest. Unforgettable showers with a view of the jungle canopy! Book your Full-Day Sepilok Orangutan, Sun Bear & Rainforest Discovery Center tour today on Tripadvisor>>

Activities: The Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and easy rainforest walks nearby.

 

Kinabatangan River – 2 Nights

Stay: Sukau Backpackers (basic but well located).

Highlight: Boat rides at sunrise and sunset to spot proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills, and, if you’re lucky, pygmy elephants.

Semporna, Mabul & Sipadan – 5 Nights

Stay: Sea Fest Hotel in Semporna (pre-transfer), then four days with Scuba Junkie on Mabul Island.

Why go: Diving at Sipadan is world-class—turtles, reef sharks, and incredible coral walls. Mabul itself is a family-friendly island with shallow water snorkeling for kids.

 

Kota Kinabalu – 5 Nights

Stay: Hotel 54, recommended in Lonely Planet. Great for planning treks.

Highlights:

  • Climbing Mount Kinabalu (challenging but unforgettable).

  • City markets and cultural centers.

  • While I tackled the mountain, my wife took the kids on a dive trip with Scuba Junkie, proving there’s something here for every type of traveler.

Final Thoughts

Malaysia surprised us in the best ways possible. From the futuristic skyline of Kuala Lumpur to the misty tea fields of the Cameron Highlands, the vibrant culture of Penang, the laid-back charm of the Perhentian Islands, and the wild adventures of Borneo—this country had it all.

It’s safe, affordable, full of cultural diversity, and packed with kid-friendly activities. For any family considering a long-term trip or even just a few weeks, Malaysia deserves a spot on your itinerary.

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