- \n
- Chicken wings for \u20ac1, satay skewers for \u20ac0.50, roti canai for \u20ac0.30, fresh coconut for \u20ac0.80.<\/li>\n
- Food is absurdly cheap (5-10 EUR per day if you eat street food), accommodation costs a fraction of Thailand or Bali, and domestic flights with AirAsia start at 15 EUR.<\/li>\n
- The observation deck \u201eThe View at 118\u201c on level 116 offers a 360-degree view over KL that surpasses anything the Petronas Towers offer.<\/li>\n
- Since 2024, the Merdeka 118, at 678 meters, has been the second tallest building in the world.<\/li>\n
- Less touristy, cheaper, more diverse and \u2014 I say this as someone who has eaten in 60+ countries \u2014 with the best street food in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
![\"Merdeka](\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_1964-hq-768x1024.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nMalaysia's tourist attractions: Kuala Lumpur \u2014 The underrated metropolis<\/h2>\n
Kuala Lumpur is often treated as a stopover\u2014one or two nights, Petronas Towers, then on to the next place. Big mistake. I spent four days in Kuala Lumpur and could easily have stayed a week.<\/p>\n
\n![\"KL](\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_1686-hq-768x576.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPetronas Twin Towers and KLCC Park<\/h3>\n
The Petronas Towers are 452 meters tall and a landmark of Malaysia. Impressive from below, but the real wow factor comes from the air. I saw them. drone<\/a> I started from KLCC Park (be careful, there are restrictions near KL city center) and filmed the towers at sunset\u2014the silver facades in golden light, the Kuala Lumpur Tower in the background, and KLCC Park as a green oasis at the foot of the steel giants. This video was my most successful piece of Malaysia content.<\/p>\n
The Skybridge at 170m (level 41) and the observation deck at 370m (level 86) are both worth a visit\u2014but book tickets online in advance, as they often sell out days ahead. Alternatively, the SkyBar in the Traders Hotel next door has a pool with a view of the towers at eye level. Cocktails start at \u20ac15, but the view is priceless.<\/p>\n
Batu Caves<\/h3>\n
272 steps, a 42-meter-tall golden statue of Lord Murugan, and at the top, a vast limestone cave housing a Hindu temple. The Batu Caves are a 20-minute train ride from the city center and one of the most photogenic spots in all of Southeast Asia. The colorful staircases (painted in rainbow colors since 2018), the statue bathed in golden morning light, the cave with its natural light wells shining through from above\u2014this is where the Sony A7 IV really shines. camera<\/a> fully utilized.<\/p>\n
Tip: Arrive before 8 a.m., then you'll practically have the stairs to yourself. And be careful: The macaques (monkeys) there are brazen and will steal anything that isn't held onto\u2014sunglasses, water bottles, snacks.<\/div>\nChinatown and Jalan Alor<\/h3>\n
Petaling Street in Chinatown is a chaotic market by day (fake watches, souvenirs) and a food court by night. But the true street food mecca is Jalan Alor. An entire street lined with stalls and restaurants that set up their plastic tables on the street starting at 5 p.m. Chicken wings for \u20ac1, satay skewers for \u20ac0.50, roti canai for \u20ac0.30, fresh coconut for \u20ac0.80. I ate at four different stalls one evening and spent a total of \u20ac7. Seven euros. For the best meal of my life.<\/p>\n
Merdeka 118<\/h3>\n
Since 2024, Merdeka 118, at 678 meters, has been the second tallest building in the world. The observation deck, "The View at 118," on level 116 offers a 360-degree view of Kuala Lumpur, surpassing anything the Petronas Towers can offer. It's not yet overcrowded, as many tourists haven't discovered it yet. Tickets cost approximately \u20ac25.<\/p>\n
\nLangkawi \u2014 Island paradise and drone heaven<\/h2>\n
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in northwest Malaysia, right on the border with Thailand. The main island has everything: beaches, rainforest, mangroves, and an infrastructure that's just right\u2014developed enough for comfort, but not so developed that it smacks of mass tourism.<\/p>\n
Sky Bridge and Cable Car<\/h3>\n
The Langkawi Sky Bridge is a curved pedestrian bridge suspended 660 meters above sea level between two mountain peaks. You reach it via the Langkawi Cable Car (Southeast Asia's steepest cable car) and then find yourself on a bridge seemingly floating above the rainforest, with views of the Andaman Sea, the Thai coast on the horizon, and the 99 islands below. Launching a drone from up here is epic. The panorama in every direction is breathtaking, with the bridge as a sweeping line above the verdant abyss.<\/p>\n
Kilim Geoforest Park \u2014 mangroves by kayak<\/h3>\n
Kilim Geoforest Park is a UNESCO Global Geopark with limestone cliffs that jut out from the mangrove forest like teeth. I took a kayak tour through the mangroves (3 hours, about \u20ac25) and saw eagles, monitor lizards, snakes, and giant crabs. The drone over the mangroves revealed the winding waterways between the limestone cliffs, a labyrinth of green and blue from above. Pure nature, almost no tourists (a kayak instead of a motorboat allows you access to the narrow channels).<\/p>\n
Pantai Cenang and Island Hopping<\/h3>\n
Pantai Cenang is Langkawi's main beach\u20142 kilometers of fine, warm, turquoise sand, with beach restaurants and bars. Not exactly a hidden gem, but a nice basic beach for the evening. More exciting: island hopping. For about \u20ac15, you can take a speedboat to three offshore islands: Pulau Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Virgin, an inland lake on an island), Beras Basah (a sandbar for snorkeling), and Singa Besar (feeding eagles, controversial but visually stunning).<\/p>\n
Langkawi as Duty Free<\/h3>\n
The entire island is a duty-free zone. Beer costs \u20ac1 per can (three times as much in the rest of Malaysia due to alcohol tax), and spirits and tobacco are incredibly cheap. This makes Langkawi more attractive in terms of price than the mainland\u2014and explains why Malaysians themselves like to vacation here.<\/p>\n
Borneo (Sabah) \u2014 Rainforest and Orangutans<\/h2>\n
Borneo was the emotional highlight of my trip to Malaysia. The world's third-largest island, divided between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, is home to some of the oldest rainforests on the planet. I was in Sabah (the Malaysian part) and explored the rainforest, the orangutans, and the coast from my base in Kota Kinabalu.<\/p>\n
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center<\/h3>\n
Sepilok near Sandakan is a rehabilitation center for orphaned and injured orangutans. Twice a day (at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), the semi-wild orangutans come to the feeding platform\u2014and you stand on a wooden walkway, 5 meters away, watching these incredible animals eat bananas and interact with each other. No zoo, no glass between them, no show. Just orangutans in their natural habitat.<\/p>\n
This touched me more emotionally than almost any landscape I've ever seen. Those intelligent, gentle eyes. The knowledge that their habitats are being destroyed for palm oil plantations. The entrance fee (approx. \u20ac8) goes directly towards protecting these animals. Bring a camera\u2014but no flash. And drones must stay on the ground (it's forbidden, and rightly so).<\/p>\n
Kinabalu National Park<\/h3>\n
Mount Kinabalu (4,095m) is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia (outside the Himalayas). A two-day climb (permit approx. \u20ac200, all-inclusive) with an overnight stay in a mountain hut at 3,300m. I reached the summit at sunrise\u2014the view above the cloud cover, the granite landscape bathed in golden light, the South China Sea on the horizon. The climb is strenuous but not technically difficult\u2014no climbing experience is necessary, just stamina.<\/p>\n
For those who don't want to climb the mountain: The canopy walkways in the national park (40m above the rainforest floor on suspension bridges) are an experience even without reaching the summit. The view of the canopy from above, the sounds of the rainforest, the humid air\u2014you feel like you're in a David Attenborough film.<\/p>\n
Semporna and Sipadan<\/h3>\n
Sipadan is one of the top three dive sites in the world. An oceanic island rising directly from a depth of 600 meters, surrounded by a coral reef with a biodiversity that surpasses anything you can imagine. Hammerhead sharks, schools of barracuda, turtles, and reef sharks. Divers need a permit (limited to 120 per day), which can be booked through the resorts in Semporna.<\/p>\n
I'm not a diver, but snorkeling in Semporna was still fantastic. The offshore islands (Mabul, Kapalai) have stilt houses built over the water, with crystal-clear sea teeming with coral and fish below. The drone footage of the stilt houses from above\u2014turquoise water, wooden structures, boats\u2014is among my best photos from Asia.<\/p>\n
Food in Malaysia \u2014 A culinary universe<\/h2>\n
Malaysia has the most diverse food in Southeast Asia. Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan cuisines exist side by side\u2014often at the same row of hawker stalls. My must-eats:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Nasi Lemak:<\/strong> The national dish. Coconut rice, sambal, peanuts, egg, anchovies, cucumber slices. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner \u2014 Malaysians eat it 24\/7. From \u20ac0.50 at street stalls.<\/li>\n
- Char Kway Teow:<\/strong> Fried rice noodles with shrimp, cockles, egg, and dark soy sauce. Best in Penang, but good everywhere.<\/li>\n
- Roti Canai:<\/strong> Paper-thin, crispy flatbread with dhal or curry for dipping. The Indian-Malaysian version. My breakfast ritual.<\/li>\n
- Laksa:<\/strong> Spicy coconut noodle soup. Each region has its own version \u2014 Penang Laksa (sour), Sarawak Laksa (coconut), Curry Laksa (spicy).<\/li>\n
- Cendol:<\/strong> A dessert made with coconut milk, palm sugar, pandan jelly, and ice cream. Perfect after a hot day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\nAre you planning a travel campaign with an experienced travel creator?<\/h3>\n
Over 500 collaborations with tourism boards and hotels worldwide. Drone cinematography, reels, and storytelling for authentic destination promotion.<\/p>\n
- Char Kway Teow:<\/strong> Fried rice noodles with shrimp, cockles, egg, and dark soy sauce. Best in Penang, but good everywhere.<\/li>\n
- Nasi Lemak:<\/strong> The national dish. Coconut rice, sambal, peanuts, egg, anchovies, cucumber slices. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner \u2014 Malaysians eat it 24\/7. From \u20ac0.50 at street stalls.<\/li>\n
![\"Merdeka](\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_1964-hq.jpg\")
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