Asia · Singapore, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Langkawi
From Singapore's gardens and hawker centres to Malacca's heritage, KL's towers, Penang's street food and the beaches of Langkawi, with modern trains and cheap flights.
Overview
It's the smoothest long-haul trip in Asia. There's a nonstop flight from Zurich, spotless public transport, English everywhere, and a mix of Chinese, Malay and Indian food that ranks among the best in the world. You start in futuristic Singapore, then cross into Malaysia to discover the old Straits trading port of Malacca and the energy of Kuala Lumpur. Next come the heritage streets and hawker stalls of George Town on Penang. You end on the island of Langkawi, with rainforest-covered mountains, mangroves and beaches. Longer versions add the cool tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands. It's less wild than Thailand or Vietnam, but it's easy, safe and delicious.
Scorecard
Tap a criterion to see why it got that score.
Average of 19 criteria
One of the world's great food destinations: laksa, chicken rice, char kway teow, nasi lemak, roti canai, and all at hawker prices.
Futuristic Singapore, UNESCO Malacca and George Town, Petronas Towers, temples of every religion.
Rainforest on Langkawi and Penang Hill, the Cameron Highlands; the wild interior is off this route.
Langkawi has nice beaches, but not Thailand-level; the sea can be murky.
Singapore's Night Safari, eagles and monitor lizards on Langkawi, dusky leaf monkeys.
Some hiking and kayaking; not an active trip.
Singapore's rooftop bars, KL's Changkat and sky bars; Penang and Langkawi are more relaxed.
Mostly cities; Langkawi provides the beach finish.
Four cultures and a city-state, heritage towns, highlands and islands.
Nonstop Zurich–Singapore (≈ 12h30, Swiss and Singapore Airlines).
Excellent: Singapore's MRT, Malaysia's fast ETS trains, comfortable express buses, Grab and cheap domestic flights.
Visa-free for Swiss citizens, English widely spoken, everything is well organised.
+6 h (summer) / +7 h (winter) from Geneva.
Singapore is expensive (hotels CHF 150+); Malaysia is very good value.
Hot and humid all year (31–33°C) with short tropical downpours; no real dry season in Singapore.
Among the safest destinations in Asia.
Excellent healthcare, safe tap water in Singapore; dengue exists.
Great hotels at every level, with especially good value in Malaysia.
Singapore and George Town are busy; Langkawi is quiet outside holidays.
When to go
December to March is best, especially January–February for Langkawi. The cities work all year: rain comes as short afternoon storms.
Getting there
Swiss and Singapore Airlines both fly nonstop from Zurich to Singapore (about 12h30, daily); from Geneva, connect in Zurich by train or flight. One-stop flights from Geneva via Doha, Dubai or Istanbul serve both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. For an open jaw, fly into Singapore and home from Langkawi or Penang via Singapore or KL.
| Routing | Airline | Stops | Travel time | Return, economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GVA → ZRH → SIN Or take the train to Zurich (2h45) and fly nonstop. | Swiss / Singapore Airlines | 1 | ≈14h (12h30 nonstop from Zurich) | CHF 850–1400 |
| GVA → DOH → SIN / KUL | Qatar Airways | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 700–1100 |
| GVA → DXB → SIN / KUL | Emirates | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 750–1150 |
| GVA → IST → SIN / KUL | Turkish Airlines | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 650–1000 |
Itinerary
Pick a trip length. Day 1 is arrival day and the last day is departure day; the overnight flights are extra. Each transfer lists every option, with the recommended one first.
Singapore, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi: cities, heritage, food and a beach finish.
Early-morning arrival from Zurich: check in and rest, then Gardens by the Bay and the evening light show at Marina Bay.
Changi is 20 km from the centre; don't miss the Jewel waterfall inside the airport.
The Supertree Grove (free), the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome glasshouses, and the free 'Garden Rhapsody' light show at 19:45 and 20:45.
Satay skewers and cold Tiger beer at the hawker centre next to the gardens.
A day across Singapore's cultural quarters, with a hawker-centre lunch and a rooftop drink.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman temple, and Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell.
Tekka Centre, colourful shophouses, the Sultan Mosque and the cafés and street art of Haji Lane.
Choose between Level 33, 1-Altitude, or CÉ LA VI on top of Marina Bay Sands.
An express coach over the border to the old trading port of Malacca, with an evening on Jonker Street.
The red Stadthuys, the ruined Portuguese church on the hill and the fort gate.
Peranakan cuisine (ayam pongteh, cendol) and chicken rice balls.
A morning river cruise and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, then a 2-hour bus to KL and the Petronas Towers at night.
A Peranakan merchant's mansion, just as it was a century ago.
The towers are lit after dark; the fountain show runs in the park.
A long, noisy street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants in Bukit Bintang.
The Hindu cave temple on the city edge in the morning, colonial KL and Chinatown in the afternoon, and a sky bar at night.
272 rainbow-painted steps up to a Hindu temple cave, watched by a 43 m golden statue (and cheeky macaques). Go early.
Moorish colonial buildings where independence was declared, handicrafts in the art-deco market, and Chinatown.
A drink facing the lit towers, or book the Petronas skybridge and observation deck in advance (≈ CHF 19).
The ETS train to Butterworth and a short ferry to George Town. Hawker dinner on Chulia Street or at New Lane.
Char kway teow, assam laksa, wonton mee and cendol at Chulia Street or New Lane.
Street art, clan houses and the Blue Mansion in the morning, then the funicular up Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple for sunset.
Ernest Zacharevic's murals, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Chew Jetty stilt village and the Cheong Fatt Tze 'Blue Mansion' guided tour.
A funicular to 830 m for jungle walks and views, then Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temple nearby.
The famous seafront food court: rojak, satay and oyster omelette.
A 30-minute flight (or a 3-hour ferry) to Langkawi. Beach and sunset in the afternoon.
The main beach, with beach bars and restaurants.
A cable car up to the curved Sky Bridge, then a boat tour through the Kilim mangroves to see eagles and bat caves.
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, up to 700 m and a curved bridge hanging over the rainforest. Go early for clear views.
Boat through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs: eagles, a bat cave, monkeys and a fish farm.
A morning swim, then a short flight to Singapore (or KL) to connect with the long-haul flight.
Breakfast by the sea before the airport (10 min from Cenang).
An extra day for island hopping and beaches at the end.
Early-morning arrival from Zurich: check in and rest, then Gardens by the Bay and the evening light show at Marina Bay.
Changi is 20 km from the centre; don't miss the Jewel waterfall inside the airport.
The Supertree Grove (free), the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome glasshouses, and the free 'Garden Rhapsody' light show at 19:45 and 20:45.
Satay skewers and cold Tiger beer at the hawker centre next to the gardens.
A day across Singapore's cultural quarters, with a hawker-centre lunch and a rooftop drink.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman temple, and Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell.
Tekka Centre, colourful shophouses, the Sultan Mosque and the cafés and street art of Haji Lane.
Choose between Level 33, 1-Altitude, or CÉ LA VI on top of Marina Bay Sands.
An express coach over the border to the old trading port of Malacca, with an evening on Jonker Street.
The red Stadthuys, the ruined Portuguese church on the hill and the fort gate.
Peranakan cuisine (ayam pongteh, cendol) and chicken rice balls.
A morning river cruise and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, then a 2-hour bus to KL and the Petronas Towers at night.
A Peranakan merchant's mansion, just as it was a century ago.
The towers are lit after dark; the fountain show runs in the park.
A long, noisy street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants in Bukit Bintang.
The Hindu cave temple on the city edge in the morning, colonial KL and Chinatown in the afternoon, and a sky bar at night.
272 rainbow-painted steps up to a Hindu temple cave, watched by a 43 m golden statue (and cheeky macaques). Go early.
Moorish colonial buildings where independence was declared, handicrafts in the art-deco market, and Chinatown.
A drink facing the lit towers, or book the Petronas skybridge and observation deck in advance (≈ CHF 19).
The ETS train to Butterworth and a short ferry to George Town. Hawker dinner on Chulia Street or at New Lane.
Char kway teow, assam laksa, wonton mee and cendol at Chulia Street or New Lane.
Street art, clan houses and the Blue Mansion in the morning, then the funicular up Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple for sunset.
Ernest Zacharevic's murals, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Chew Jetty stilt village and the Cheong Fatt Tze 'Blue Mansion' guided tour.
A funicular to 830 m for jungle walks and views, then Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temple nearby.
The famous seafront food court: rojak, satay and oyster omelette.
A 30-minute flight (or a 3-hour ferry) to Langkawi. Beach and sunset in the afternoon.
The main beach, with beach bars and restaurants.
A cable car up to the curved Sky Bridge, then a boat tour through the Kilim mangroves to see eagles and bat caves.
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, up to 700 m and a curved bridge hanging over the rainforest. Go early for clear views.
Boat through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs: eagles, a bat cave, monkeys and a fish farm.
A half-day island-hopping boat trip (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, eagle feeding), then the beach.
Swim in the freshwater Lake of the Pregnant Maiden on Pulau Dayang Bunting, watch sea eagles, and relax on Beras Basah beach.
A quieter, beautiful beach in the north with limestone islets.
A morning swim, then a short flight to Singapore (or KL) to connect with the long-haul flight.
Breakfast by the sea before the airport (10 min from Cenang).
Adds two days in the cool tea hills, with Ipoh's cave temples on the way to Penang.
Early-morning arrival from Zurich: check in and rest, then Gardens by the Bay and the evening light show at Marina Bay.
Changi is 20 km from the centre; don't miss the Jewel waterfall inside the airport.
The Supertree Grove (free), the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome glasshouses, and the free 'Garden Rhapsody' light show at 19:45 and 20:45.
Satay skewers and cold Tiger beer at the hawker centre next to the gardens.
A day across Singapore's cultural quarters, with a hawker-centre lunch and a rooftop drink.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman temple, and Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell.
Tekka Centre, colourful shophouses, the Sultan Mosque and the cafés and street art of Haji Lane.
Choose between Level 33, 1-Altitude, or CÉ LA VI on top of Marina Bay Sands.
An express coach over the border to the old trading port of Malacca, with an evening on Jonker Street.
The red Stadthuys, the ruined Portuguese church on the hill and the fort gate.
Peranakan cuisine (ayam pongteh, cendol) and chicken rice balls.
A morning river cruise and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, then a 2-hour bus to KL and the Petronas Towers at night.
A Peranakan merchant's mansion, just as it was a century ago.
The towers are lit after dark; the fountain show runs in the park.
A long, noisy street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants in Bukit Bintang.
The Hindu cave temple on the city edge in the morning, colonial KL and Chinatown in the afternoon, and a sky bar at night.
272 rainbow-painted steps up to a Hindu temple cave, watched by a 43 m golden statue (and cheeky macaques). Go early.
Moorish colonial buildings where independence was declared, handicrafts in the art-deco market, and Chinatown.
A drink facing the lit towers, or book the Petronas skybridge and observation deck in advance (≈ CHF 19).
A winding bus into the cool hills. Afternoon at a tea plantation café above the terraces.
Tea on a terrace overlooking the rolling tea bushes, and a free factory walk.
A half-day Land Rover tour to the misty Mossy Forest on Gunung Brinchang, a tea estate and a strawberry farm.
A boardwalk through a dripping cloud forest covered in moss, pitcher plants and orchids, with tea-plantation stops.
Easy trails around Tanah Rata, then English-style scones with strawberry jam.
Down to Ipoh for its cave temples and white coffee, then the train on to Penang.
Chinese Buddhist temples built into limestone caves, with painted murals.
Concubine Lane, murals, bean sprout chicken and the original white coffee.
Street art, clan houses and the Blue Mansion in the morning, then the funicular up Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple for sunset.
Ernest Zacharevic's murals, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Chew Jetty stilt village and the Cheong Fatt Tze 'Blue Mansion' guided tour.
A funicular to 830 m for jungle walks and views, then Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temple nearby.
The famous seafront food court: rojak, satay and oyster omelette.
A 30-minute flight (or a 3-hour ferry) to Langkawi. Beach and sunset in the afternoon.
The main beach, with beach bars and restaurants.
A cable car up to the curved Sky Bridge, then a boat tour through the Kilim mangroves to see eagles and bat caves.
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, up to 700 m and a curved bridge hanging over the rainforest. Go early for clear views.
Boat through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs: eagles, a bat cave, monkeys and a fish farm.
A morning swim, then a short flight to Singapore (or KL) to connect with the long-haul flight.
Breakfast by the sea before the airport (10 min from Cenang).
The Cameron Highlands version with an extra beach day on Langkawi.
Early-morning arrival from Zurich: check in and rest, then Gardens by the Bay and the evening light show at Marina Bay.
Changi is 20 km from the centre; don't miss the Jewel waterfall inside the airport.
The Supertree Grove (free), the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome glasshouses, and the free 'Garden Rhapsody' light show at 19:45 and 20:45.
Satay skewers and cold Tiger beer at the hawker centre next to the gardens.
A day across Singapore's cultural quarters, with a hawker-centre lunch and a rooftop drink.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman temple, and Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell.
Tekka Centre, colourful shophouses, the Sultan Mosque and the cafés and street art of Haji Lane.
Choose between Level 33, 1-Altitude, or CÉ LA VI on top of Marina Bay Sands.
An express coach over the border to the old trading port of Malacca, with an evening on Jonker Street.
The red Stadthuys, the ruined Portuguese church on the hill and the fort gate.
Peranakan cuisine (ayam pongteh, cendol) and chicken rice balls.
A morning river cruise and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, then a 2-hour bus to KL and the Petronas Towers at night.
A Peranakan merchant's mansion, just as it was a century ago.
The towers are lit after dark; the fountain show runs in the park.
A long, noisy street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants in Bukit Bintang.
The Hindu cave temple on the city edge in the morning, colonial KL and Chinatown in the afternoon, and a sky bar at night.
272 rainbow-painted steps up to a Hindu temple cave, watched by a 43 m golden statue (and cheeky macaques). Go early.
Moorish colonial buildings where independence was declared, handicrafts in the art-deco market, and Chinatown.
A drink facing the lit towers, or book the Petronas skybridge and observation deck in advance (≈ CHF 19).
A winding bus into the cool hills. Afternoon at a tea plantation café above the terraces.
Tea on a terrace overlooking the rolling tea bushes, and a free factory walk.
A half-day Land Rover tour to the misty Mossy Forest on Gunung Brinchang, a tea estate and a strawberry farm.
A boardwalk through a dripping cloud forest covered in moss, pitcher plants and orchids, with tea-plantation stops.
Easy trails around Tanah Rata, then English-style scones with strawberry jam.
Down to Ipoh for its cave temples and white coffee, then the train on to Penang.
Chinese Buddhist temples built into limestone caves, with painted murals.
Concubine Lane, murals, bean sprout chicken and the original white coffee.
Street art, clan houses and the Blue Mansion in the morning, then the funicular up Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple for sunset.
Ernest Zacharevic's murals, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Chew Jetty stilt village and the Cheong Fatt Tze 'Blue Mansion' guided tour.
A funicular to 830 m for jungle walks and views, then Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temple nearby.
The famous seafront food court: rojak, satay and oyster omelette.
A 30-minute flight (or a 3-hour ferry) to Langkawi. Beach and sunset in the afternoon.
The main beach, with beach bars and restaurants.
A cable car up to the curved Sky Bridge, then a boat tour through the Kilim mangroves to see eagles and bat caves.
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, up to 700 m and a curved bridge hanging over the rainforest. Go early for clear views.
Boat through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs: eagles, a bat cave, monkeys and a fish farm.
A half-day island-hopping boat trip (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, eagle feeding), then the beach.
Swim in the freshwater Lake of the Pregnant Maiden on Pulau Dayang Bunting, watch sea eagles, and relax on Beras Basah beach.
A quieter, beautiful beach in the north with limestone islets.
A morning swim, then a short flight to Singapore (or KL) to connect with the long-haul flight.
Breakfast by the sea before the airport (10 min from Cenang).
Everything, plus a third day in Singapore for the Night Safari and Pulau Ubin.
Early-morning arrival from Zurich: check in and rest, then Gardens by the Bay and the evening light show at Marina Bay.
Changi is 20 km from the centre; don't miss the Jewel waterfall inside the airport.
The Supertree Grove (free), the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome glasshouses, and the free 'Garden Rhapsody' light show at 19:45 and 20:45.
Satay skewers and cold Tiger beer at the hawker centre next to the gardens.
A day across Singapore's cultural quarters, with a hawker-centre lunch and a rooftop drink.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman temple, and Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell.
Tekka Centre, colourful shophouses, the Sultan Mosque and the cafés and street art of Haji Lane.
Choose between Level 33, 1-Altitude, or CÉ LA VI on top of Marina Bay Sands.
An extra Singapore day: Pulau Ubin island by bike in the morning, and the world-famous Night Safari after dark.
Singapore as it was in the 1960s: kampong villages, mangroves and the Chek Jawa wetlands, reached by a 10-min bumboat ride.
Tram ride and walking trails among 900 nocturnal animals (leopards, tapirs, flying squirrels).
Beaches, Universal Studios and the S.E.A. Aquarium; take the cable car from Mount Faber.
An express coach over the border to the old trading port of Malacca, with an evening on Jonker Street.
The red Stadthuys, the ruined Portuguese church on the hill and the fort gate.
Peranakan cuisine (ayam pongteh, cendol) and chicken rice balls.
A morning river cruise and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, then a 2-hour bus to KL and the Petronas Towers at night.
A Peranakan merchant's mansion, just as it was a century ago.
The towers are lit after dark; the fountain show runs in the park.
A long, noisy street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants in Bukit Bintang.
The Hindu cave temple on the city edge in the morning, colonial KL and Chinatown in the afternoon, and a sky bar at night.
272 rainbow-painted steps up to a Hindu temple cave, watched by a 43 m golden statue (and cheeky macaques). Go early.
Moorish colonial buildings where independence was declared, handicrafts in the art-deco market, and Chinatown.
A drink facing the lit towers, or book the Petronas skybridge and observation deck in advance (≈ CHF 19).
A winding bus into the cool hills. Afternoon at a tea plantation café above the terraces.
Tea on a terrace overlooking the rolling tea bushes, and a free factory walk.
A half-day Land Rover tour to the misty Mossy Forest on Gunung Brinchang, a tea estate and a strawberry farm.
A boardwalk through a dripping cloud forest covered in moss, pitcher plants and orchids, with tea-plantation stops.
Easy trails around Tanah Rata, then English-style scones with strawberry jam.
Down to Ipoh for its cave temples and white coffee, then the train on to Penang.
Chinese Buddhist temples built into limestone caves, with painted murals.
Concubine Lane, murals, bean sprout chicken and the original white coffee.
Street art, clan houses and the Blue Mansion in the morning, then the funicular up Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple for sunset.
Ernest Zacharevic's murals, the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Chew Jetty stilt village and the Cheong Fatt Tze 'Blue Mansion' guided tour.
A funicular to 830 m for jungle walks and views, then Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temple nearby.
The famous seafront food court: rojak, satay and oyster omelette.
A 30-minute flight (or a 3-hour ferry) to Langkawi. Beach and sunset in the afternoon.
The main beach, with beach bars and restaurants.
A cable car up to the curved Sky Bridge, then a boat tour through the Kilim mangroves to see eagles and bat caves.
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, up to 700 m and a curved bridge hanging over the rainforest. Go early for clear views.
Boat through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs: eagles, a bat cave, monkeys and a fish farm.
A half-day island-hopping boat trip (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, eagle feeding), then the beach.
Swim in the freshwater Lake of the Pregnant Maiden on Pulau Dayang Bunting, watch sea eagles, and relax on Beras Basah beach.
A quieter, beautiful beach in the north with limestone islets.
A morning swim, then a short flight to Singapore (or KL) to connect with the long-haul flight.
Breakfast by the sea before the airport (10 min from Cenang).
Skip a region, add beach days, change the pace… Suggest changes and a new version of this trip will be created.
Getting around
In Singapore, tap your contactless card on the MRT and buses. Cross into Malaysia by express bus, which takes you straight to Malacca. From 2027 the new RTS link to Johor Bahru, combined with the ETS train, will be an alternative. Between Malaysian cities, the ETS electric trains are fast and comfortable (book on the KTMB app). Express buses fill the gaps, and short flights or ferries reach the islands. Grab is the answer for everything local.
Singapore's MRT and KL's LRT/MRT are clean, fast and cheap; pay with a contactless card.
ETS electric trains (KL ↔ Ipoh ↔ Butterworth for Penang, KL ↔ Johor Bahru) are fast and comfortable; book on the KTMB app.
Luxury express coaches with 3 seats per row link Singapore, Malacca, KL and the Cameron Highlands.
AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Scoot fly between KL, Penang, Langkawi and Singapore for CHF 30–100.
Grab works everywhere, even on Langkawi; cheap and fixed-price.
Penang ↔ Langkawi ferry (≈ 3 h) is scenic but can be rough; flying is quicker.
Where to stay & budget
Per person per day, excluding international flights. Assumes two people sharing a double room. Singapore costs about twice as much as Malaysia (hotels CHF 150–300), while meals at hawker centres stay cheap everywhere (CHF 4–8).
A garden city-state of futuristic architecture, colonial heritage, ethnic quarters and the world's best-value food courts.
Where: Chinatown, Clarke Quay or Kampong Glam (central, on the MRT).
UNESCO-listed trading port where Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British history mix. It has Peranakan houses and a riverside walk.
Where: Around Jonker Street and the river.
Malaysia's dynamic capital: the Petronas Towers, colonial Merdeka Square, Chinatown, great food and sky bars.
Where: Bukit Bintang (food and nightlife) or KLCC (tower views).
Cool hill station at 1,500 m with rolling tea plantations, strawberry farms and the misty Mossy Forest.
Where: Tanah Rata (walkable, buses).
Malaysia's food capital: a UNESCO town of shophouses, clan houses, street art and legendary hawker stalls.
Where: Inside the George Town heritage zone.
Duty-free island of rainforest-covered mountains, mangrove geoparks, eagles and sandy beaches.
Where: Pantai Cenang (lively, restaurants) or a secluded bay in the north.
Practical
Information last checked: September 2026. Visa rules, prices and timetables change, so always check before booking.
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