This was the second half of our Vietnam + Malaysia trip with the same group of 4 friends. We flew in from Hanoi (that’s a separate post) and spent 4 days in Kuala Lumpur before flying back to India.
Before You Go — Visa
No visa required for Indians. You just need to fill out a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before you travel. It’s free and takes a few minutes.
Day 1 — Arrival from Hanoi
August 14, 2024
Our AirAsia flight from Hanoi was scheduled for 15:30 but got delayed — we took off around 17:00 and landed in Kuala Lumpur at about 22:00.
At the airport, we picked up our SIM cards — pre-booked from Klook for around ₹600 each. We also exchanged some dollars to Malaysian Ringgit at the airport exchange counter.
Took a cab to our Airbnb — a high-rise apartment on the 21st floor. Reached by about 23:30. Changed and crashed.
Day 2 — KL City Tour & City of Lights Night Tour
August 15, 2024
Morning/Afternoon — KL City Day Tour
Booked a KL city tour from Klook — around ₹1,700 which included a KL Tower ticket.
The pickup was scheduled for 9:45 but nobody showed up till 10:00. A bit annoying. Once it started:
- Batu Caves — The highlight of the tour. A massive Hindu temple complex inside limestone caves, with the iconic 272 rainbow-coloured steps leading up to the entrance. Very impressive.
Most of the other spots were drive-bys:
- National Monument
- Old FMS Railway Station
- Various other landmarks (including sights like the National Palace / Istana Negara along the route)
The guide dropped us at the KL Tower entry around 15:00. After about 30–45 minutes of waiting, we got to the top floor. The view from KL Tower is amazing — you get a panoramic look at the entire city, including the Petronas Towers in the distance.
Honestly, the tour itself was a little underwhelming — mostly drive-bys without enough stop time. But the Batu Caves and KL Tower made up for it.
Evening — City of Lights Night Tour
After the KL Tower, we did the City of Lights tour on a Hop-on Hop-off bus, booked from Klook — around ₹800.
This was worth the money. The bus drove past all the major landmarks lit up at night, and the Petronas Twin Towers at night are something else — they look incredible when illuminated. If you’re in KL, do this.
We grabbed dinner afterwards and headed back to the Airbnb.
Day 3 — Zoo Negara & Petronas Twin Towers
August 16, 2024
Morning — Zoo Negara
Visited Zoo Negara (National Zoo). Tickets from Klook — around ₹600. Honestly, it was underwhelming — mostly birds and reptiles, not many large animals. You can skip this if you’re short on time.
Afternoon — Petronas Twin Towers
This was the main event. Tickets from Klook — around ₹2,000. We had the 15:00 slot.
Important: Book your Petronas Towers tickets early — ideally before you even arrive in KL. The evening/sunset slots sell out fast. We booked an afternoon slot which was fine, but the evening view is supposedly the best.
The view from the sky bridge and observation deck is great. You get a unique perspective of KL from between the two towers.
Evening — Exploring on Electric Tricycles
In the evening, we discovered something cool — KL has electric tricycles you can rent via an app. There are designated parking spots all around the city. If you’re solo or just want to zip around for short distances, they’re a fun and cheap way to get around. We spent the evening cruising around the neighbourhood near our Airbnb.
Day 4 — Genting Highlands
August 17, 2024
Booked a Genting Highlands day trip with gondola ride from Klook — around ₹3,000.
A cab took us to the Awana SkyWay gondola station, and from there we rode the gondola up to Genting Highlands. The gondola ride itself is scenic — you’re going over rainforest canopy with mountain views.
From the Awana SkyWay area, you can also take a van up to Chin Swee Caves Temple — a Taoist temple complex on a forested slope. It’s peaceful and scenic, a nice contrast to the casinos and mall at the summit. If you have an hour or two, it’s worth the detour.
At the top, there’s a huge mall you can explore for free. If you want to go on the theme park rides, that’s a separate ticket. We skipped the rides and just walked around.
On the way back down, we stopped at the factory outlets near the gondola station. They’ve got brands like Adidas and Nike at discounted prices. We picked up a few things — worth a look if you’re into sneakers.
We were back at our Airbnb by 17:00. Did some last-minute shopping nearby.
Day 5 — Departure
August 18, 2024
Checked out, had a light breakfast, and left around 11:00. Our Batik Air flight was at 18:00, so we had a long wait at the airport. The other two guys had different flight timings, so we said our goodbyes at the airport entrance and split up.
What It Cost (Per Person)
Activities (per person, booked on Klook)
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| KL City Tour (with KL Tower) | ~₹1,700 |
| City of Lights Night Tour | ~₹800 |
| Zoo Negara | ~₹600 |
| Petronas Twin Towers | ~₹2,000 |
| Genting Highlands + Gondola | ~₹3,000 |
| SIM Card (Klook) | ~₹600 |
Other Expenses (per person, approximate)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Airbnb (split 4 ways, 4 nights) | Varies |
| Cab from airport | Varies |
| Food | ~₹2,000 |
| Shopping (factory outlets etc.) | Varies |
Note: Flight costs not included — we flew AirAsia (Hanoi → KL) and Batik Air (KL → Delhi).
Things to Know Before You Go
- No visa for Indians — Just fill out the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before you travel. Free and takes a few minutes.
- Carry US Dollars — Exchange at the airport or money changers in the city. Ringgit isn’t commonly available in India.
- Book Petronas Towers tickets early — Evening slots sell out days in advance. Book before you arrive in KL if possible.
- KL City of Lights tour is worth it — ₹800 for a night bus tour past all the illuminated landmarks. The Petronas Towers at night are stunning.
- Skip Zoo Negara — Unless you’re really into zoos. It’s mostly birds and reptiles.
- Electric tricycles for short trips — Rent them via an app, park at designated spots. A fun and cheap way to explore the neighbourhood.
- Genting: Chin Swee Caves Temple — From Awana SkyWay, you can take a van to Chin Swee Caves Temple. Peaceful, scenic, and a break from the mall crowds.
- Genting Highlands = mall + views — The gondola ride is the main attraction. The theme park rides are separate tickets. The factory outlets at the bottom are worth a stop.
- KL traffic is bad — Not as bad as Manila, but plan extra time for getting anywhere by road.
Final Thoughts
Kuala Lumpur is a solid city for a 3–4 day visit. It’s not going to blow your mind the way Hanoi or Cebu did, but it has its moments. The Petronas Towers at night, Batu Caves, and the KL Tower views are genuinely impressive. The City of Lights night tour was a nice surprise.
Genting Highlands is a good half-day escape from the city, and the factory outlets are a nice bonus. The zoo you can skip.
Overall, KL is more of a “comfortable city” trip — good food, decent infrastructure, easy to navigate. Pair it with somewhere more adventurous (like we did with Vietnam) and you’ve got a solid combo.
This was part 2 of our trip. Read the Vietnam half here.
