30 November – 16 December 2026
Emirates · Confirmed
Manchester → Dubai
ConfirmedDubai → Kuala Lumpur
ConfirmedKuala Lumpur → Dubai
ConfirmedDubai → Manchester
ConfirmedConfirmed
George Town · 1 – 9 Dec 2026
£1,105
Kuala Lumpur · 9 – 16 Dec 2026
£949
KTM Intercity / ETS · Business class · Confirmed
KL Sentral → Butterworth
ConfirmedButterworth → KL Sentral
ConfirmedSightseeing & eating — to be booked/refined
UNESCO old town, colonial fort and Baba-Nyonya mansions.
Breakfast at the E&O, then walk to Fort Cornwallis — Malaysia's largest colonial fort (1786), star-shaped. Open 8am–8pm (Tue closes 7pm), entry RM20 (card only); free moat perimeter walk. ~45–60 min. Continue via the Esplanade/Padang and Clock Tower to the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion (14 Leith Street) — guided tours ~11am/2pm/3.30pm, ~45 min, enter via the side door.
Hameediyah Restaurant (164A Lebuh Campbell) — halal, Malaysia's oldest nasi kandar (since 1907); murtabak, ayam kapitan, beef rendang over briyani. Daily ~10am–10.30pm.
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (Cannon Square) — finest clan temple in Malaysia, ~1hr. Pinang Peranakan Mansion (29 Church Street) — opulent "Green Mansion," free tours 11.30am/3.30pm, entry ~RM20. Optional: Little India nearby for spices, textiles, garlands.
Restoran Kapitan (93 Chulia Street) — halal Indian-Muslim institution, famous claypot chicken biryani, tandoori, naan. Halal cendol/ais kacang stall near Penang Road for dessert.
Ernest Zacharevic murals and the waterfront stilt villages.
Self-guided mural walk (comfortable shoes, start early): Jalan Penang → Lebuh Muntri → Love Lane → Lebuh Chulia → Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling → Lebuh Cannon → Lebuh Armenian → Lorong Soo Hong → Lebuh Ah Quee → Gat Lebuh Armenian → Chew Jetty. Highlights: "Little Children on a Bicycle" (Armenian St, the famous 2012 piece), "Boy on a Motorbike" (Ah Quee St), "Reaching Up" (Cannon St), "Trishaw Man," "Uncle Ng the Clog Maker," plus the wrought-iron "Marking George Town" caricatures.
Halal snacks on Armenian Street (near the "I Want Bao!" mural by Ming Xiang Tai pastry shop), or back to Little India for mamak.
Chew Jetty — largest and most visitor-friendly clan jetty, 19th-century stilt houses over the water; go mid-afternoon once tour buses thin out. Other jetties (Lee, Tan, Lim, Yeoh, Mixed) line the waterfront nearby.
Nasi Kandar Line Clear (177 Jalan Penang, off Lebuh Campbell) — halal, legendary 24-hour "banjir" (flooded-gravy) nasi kandar in an alley. Evening stroll along the illuminated waterfront near the E&O.
Cool highland air, panoramic views and Southeast Asia's great Buddhist temple.
Grab to Penang Hill Lower Station, Air Itam (~20–25 min, RM18–25). Penang Hill funicular climbs ~1,996m to the 833m summit — return fare RM30 (standard); a Fast Lane upgrade (~RM80 return) is worth it at peak, as queues can exceed 90 min. Runs ~6.30am–11pm. At the top: viewpoints over George Town, colonial bungalows, gardens; optional The Habitat canopy walk (separate ticket).
Limited halal options at the summit — descend and eat near Air Itam. Friday note: some Muslim-run stalls pause ~12.30–2.30pm for prayers, so eat slightly earlier or later.
Kek Lok Si Temple (Air Itam) — Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple; seven-storey Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the 30.2m bronze Kuan Yin statue. Grounds free, Pagoda RM2, inclined lift RM2–3 each way. Open ~8.30am–5.30pm. ~5 min from Penang Hill by Grab.
Grab back to George Town (~RM20). Deens Maju Nasi Kandar (Jalan Gurdwara) — halal, a local favourite rivalling Line Clear.
Sun, sand, water sports and a beachfront sunset.
Grab or Rapid Penang Bus 101 from Weld Quay to Batu Ferringhi (~30–45 min; bus RM3, Grab RM25–35) — Penang's main 4km beach strip, ~11km north-west of George Town. Swim early while calm, before jet-ski operators set up. Water sports on offer: jet ski, banana boat, parasailing (negotiate prices).
Very halal-friendly strip: Yusuf Restaurant (halal, casual), Ayu Mee Udang (halal prawn noodles), or Malay/Middle Eastern places along the main road — confirm certification if strict.
Beach relaxation, or Entopia (Penang Butterfly Farm) in nearby Teluk Bahang for shade and activity. Alternatively, a boat from Teluk Bahang into Penang National Park to Monkey Beach (~RM50) for a quieter cove.
Watch the sunset from the beach. Halal seafood/Malay dinner at a beachfront restaurant, then browse the Batu Ferringhi Night Market (from ~7pm). Grab back to George Town (~RM25–35, 25–40 min).
Eat like a local — halal hawker crawl, markets and modern George Town.
Malay breakfast — nasi lemak, roti canai, teh tarik at a mamak/kopitiam. Astaka Taman Tun Sardon (Gelugor) serves halal nasi lemak, murtabak, roti bakar (6.30–10.30am, closed Mon). Bee Hwa Cafe (10 Lebuh Dickens, 7am–3pm, closed Sun) — rare halal char kway teow with duck egg (check if open this trip, as it's normally closed Sundays).
Chowrasta Market/Penang Road, or Little India spice and sweet shops. Snack on halal pasembur (Indian-Muslim salad with peanut sauce) and mee goreng mamak.
A halal nasi kandar not yet tried — e.g. Nasi Kandar Beratur (by Masjid Kapitan Keling, famous evening queue).
Optional heritage: Sun Yat Sen Museum, Cheah Kongsi, or Penang State Museum. Or relax at the hotel pool during peak heat.
Gurney Drive Hawker Centre — Penang's most famous hawker centre with clearly marked halal stalls. Halal picks: mee sotong (squid noodles — a Gurney Drive institution), satay, grilled seafood, Malay-style fried noodles. Dessert: halal cendol or ais kacang.
Halal flagAvoid the char kway teow / Hokkien mee stalls here unless specifically advertised pork-free/halal — the traditional versions use lard/pork.
A change of pace — rural Penang and spice gardens.
Grab/drive ~40 min to rural Penang's padi fields, durian orchards and Malay villages. Halal Malay food is easy here — try village laksa (confirm halal) and nasi campur.
Tropical Spice Garden — landscaped spice/herb garden, guided/audio tours. ESCAPE Penang — award-winning outdoor adventure/water theme park (ziplines, water slides); halal food available on site.
Halal Malay/seafood in Teluk Bahang or Balik Pulau. Return to George Town for last-minute souvenirs at Campbell Street Market or Chowrasta.
Halab Penang Arabic Restaurant (halal Middle Eastern) for variety, or another favourite nasi kandar.
Revisit favourites, relax, and prep for the train south.
The modern icon and the city's green heart.
Breakfast at the Shangri-La (halal-certified Lemon Garden). Kelana Jaya LRT to KLCC station (directly under Suria KLCC). Petronas Twin Towers — 451.9m towers; tour includes the 41st-floor Skybridge and 86th-floor Observation Deck (~45 min). Open Tue–Sun 9am–9pm (closed Mon), last admission 8.30pm. A limited number of tickets released daily — book online in advance. Non-Malaysian adult ~RM98.
Halal at Suria KLCC: Maria's Signature (halal Western/Malaysian, known for steaks), Serai (halal-certified, Serai Platter ~RM37, Nasi Campur ~RM29), or the halal Signatures Food Court.
KLCC Park — 50-acre landscaped park, lake, jogging paths, playground; best spot for tower photos. Or Aquaria KLCC oceanarium (90m underwater tunnel) beneath the convention centre for an air-conditioned option.
Early halal dinner in KLCC, then the free KLCC Lake Symphony fountain & light show on the esplanade in front of Suria KLCC, roughly every 30 min through to ~10pm — the 9pm show gives the best balance of city lights and dark sky.
An early cave temple, then KL's cultural green belt.
Go before 8am to beat heat and crowds. Grab (~RM20–30, 20–30 min) or KTM Komuter from KL Sentral (~RM2.60, 30–40 min, terminus at the caves). Free entry to the main Temple Cave; climb the 272 rainbow steps past the 42.7m (140ft) gold Lord Murugan statue — the world's tallest Murugan statue, unveiled Jan 2006. Modest dress enforced (sarongs ~RM10–15 at the entrance); watch belongings around the monkeys.
Friday note: Muslim-run eateries pause ~12.30–2.30pm for prayers — eat early. MOZA café at the Islamic Arts Museum (Lebanese/Middle Eastern, halal) is a calm, scenic option with big windows.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia — largest Islamic arts museum in SE Asia (opened 1998), twelve galleries, 7,000+ artefacts (Qur'an manuscripts, textiles, Mecca/Dome of the Rock/Taj Mahal models, ceramics, jewellery). Open 9.30am–6pm (closed Mon), adult RM14 (half-price Fri), allow 2–3hrs. Next door: National Mosque (Masjid Negara) — 16-point star roof, reflecting pools; free outside prayer times, robes provided. Nearby: Old KL Railway Station for photos.
Dinner in Bukit Bintang: Restoran Hadramawt Palace (halal Yemeni — mandi lamb, Arabian grilled chicken) or Tarbush (halal Lebanese).
KL's historic core and multicultural street life.
MRT to Merdeka or Pasar Seni. Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) — independence square (flag first raised at midnight, 31 Aug 1957), ~95m flagpole, framed by the Moorish Sultan Abdul Samad Building (1897) and the Tudor-style Royal Selangor Club (exterior only). See the "I Love KL" sign and KL City Gallery. National Textile Museum — 1905 Indo-Saracenic building, Malaysian textiles/traditional dress, open daily 9am–6pm, nominal entry. St Mary's Cathedral on the square's north side.
5–10 min walk to Central Market (Pasar Seni) — halal Malaysian stalls upstairs — or eat in Chinatown at a clearly halal spot.
Central Market (daily ~10am–10pm, free) — batik, songket, pewter, wau kites, wayang kulit puppets; adjacent covered Kasturi Walk. Petaling Street (Chinatown) — bustling bargain market; nearby temples Sri Mahamariamman (Hindu), Guan Di and Sin Sze Si Ya (Chinese). Kwai Chai Hong — restored heritage lane with murals, good late-afternoon photo stop.
Halal flagMuch Petaling Street Chinese food is not halal — stick to clearly halal stalls or Indian-Muslim spots.
Dinner at a halal Indian-Muslim/mamak spot nearby, or return to Bukit Bintang.
Birds, gardens and a hilltop temple with skyline views.
KL Bird Park (Perdana Botanical Gardens) — 20.9 acres, 3,000+ birds from 200+ species (opened 1991), the world's largest free-flight walk-in aviary (hornbills, flamingos, peacocks). Open 9am–7pm (last entry ~5–6pm); non-Malaysian adult ~RM75 (confirm current rate). Feeding sessions and bird shows every couple of hours. Optional adjacent: KL Butterfly Park or a Perdana Botanical Garden stroll.
Bird Park's Hornbill Restaurant (check halal status) or Grab to a nearby halal spot.
Thean Hou Temple (Robson Heights) — one of SE Asia's largest, most ornate Chinese temples, dedicated to Tian Hou; tiered pagoda roofs, panoramic KL skyline views. Open 9am–6pm, free. Grab from Lake Gardens ~RM12–18.
Songket Restaurant (Bukit Bintang — cultural Malay dining), or halal Japanese at Sushi King (JAKIM-certified chain), or halal Chinese at Ren (Suria KLCC — Shanghai/Xinjiang).
Shopping, city views and the Golden Triangle food scene.
Easy morning near the hotel — shopping at Pavilion KL, Lot 10, Fahrenheit88, Berjaya Times Square (Bukit Bintang MRT/Monorail).
Damascus (111 Jalan Sultan Ismail, by WOLO Hotel) — halal Syrian, famous garlic-infused chicken/beef shawarma (open till very late). Or Al-Amar (halal Lebanese) near Pavilion.
Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower) on Bukit Nanas — 421m, 360° views. Observation Deck (~RM49–52 non-Malaysian) or combo Sky Deck + Sky Box (glass box that extends from the ledge, ~RM78–105). Open ~9am–10pm. The Sky Box is the photo highlight. An observation tower, not a bar — a good alcohol-free alternative to any rooftop-bar viewpoint. Optional: KL Forest Eco Park canopy walkway next door.
Jalan Alor food street (off Bukit Bintang) from ~5.30–6pm — halal picks: satay, grilled seafood, Malay/Thai dishes; Damascus at the top of the street is a reliable halal anchor.
Halal flagJalan Alor is largely but not wholly halal — verify each stall.
Malaysia's garden administrative capital and the Pink Mosque.
KLIA Transit from KL Sentral to Putrajaya & Cyberjaya station (~18–20 min, ~RM14 each way), then Grab (~10 min) to Dataran Putra — or a private half-day tour with hotel pickup (typically 9am–1pm). Putra Mosque ("the Pink Mosque") — rose-tinted granite, Persian-Safavid inspired, five-tier minaret; free outside prayer times, robes provided. Perdana Putra (PM's office) and the Putra Bridge for photos.
Halal Malay stalls by the lakeside or at Alamanda mall, or a halal restaurant near Dataran Putra.
Putrajaya Lake cruise — Seri Wawasan and other feature bridges, the Iron Mosque (Masjid Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin), government buildings from the water. Return to KL by KLIA Transit before evening traffic.
Farewell dinner — Lemon Garden at the Shangri-La (halal-certified buffet: Japanese sashimi, Chinese dim sum, Indian tandoori, Western roasts), or Maria's Signature (halal fine dining at KLCC), or Bar.Kar (halal open-flame fine dining).
Worth acting on before you go
Book Petronas Twin Towers tickets online now for Day 1 in KL — a limited number sell per day and Mondays are closed. If sold out, KL Tower's Sky Deck (Day 5) is an excellent alternative view.
Buy Penang Hill Fast Lane tickets if visiting on a weekend/holiday — standard queues can exceed 90 minutes. December school-holiday crowds are likely.
Do Batu Caves and Penang Hill early (before 8–9am) — cooler, quieter, better light; both get hot, crowded and hazy by midday.
Halal caution on famous Chinese hawker dishes: standard char kway teow, Hokkien mee, curry mee and lor bak are NOT halal (pork/lard) in Penang. Choose Malay/mamak stalls or halal-certified spots, and verify each stall on Jalan Alor/Petaling Street.
Get a Touch 'n Go card on arrival in KL for seamless rail travel, and default to Grab in both cities for door-to-door trips in the heat.
Respect Friday prayer-time closures (~12.30–2.30pm) at Muslim-run eateries — plan lunch slightly earlier or later on Fridays (Penang Day 3, KL Day 2).
If it rains heavily (Dec is monsoon-influenced), swap beach/Batu Caves days for indoor options — Islamic Arts Museum, Aquaria KLCC, Central Market, Peranakan Mansion.
Before you go