6 days in Kedah, Perlis & Penang Itinerary

Kedah, a state comprised of flat, arable terrain on the mainland and an archipelago of islands just off the coast, has earned the nickname, “The Rice Bowl of Malaysia” for its landscape of small towns dotted across rice paddies and farms. The region's beaches and lagoons are rich in marine life. The archipelago has been developed as a tourist's paradise, with activity and relaxation both playing a leading role in most Kedah holidays.

Highly industrialized and urbanized, the island of Penang sits off the western coastline of Peninsular Malaysia and boasts a rich cultural heritage blending Chinese, Indian, and European influences. Although most visitors come for the beaches and fishing villages, no tour of Penang is complete without a stop in World Heritage-listed George Town. This cosmopolitan island capital boasts a diverse architectural heritage, its oldest sections packed with 19th-century mosques, churches, temples, and colonial buildings. Another highlight of Penang tourism are the many festivals, showcasing cultural diversity and offering foreign visitors a chance to soak up the atmosphere of the "Pearl of the Orient."