In 1511, Alfonso De Albuquerque, a Portuguese led an expedition to Malaya which seized Malacca with the intent of using it as a base of activities in South East Asia which led to the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisation of Malacca 1511 - 1957. Due to its strategic position between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca has been long the meeting place for traders and travelers from West and East for the supply of natural richness from South East Asia.

Hence its history is one of continual interaction with foreign powers and influences which led to the recognition of Malacca as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

There are 4 Unesco World Heritage Sites in Malaysia, the historic cities of Melaka and Georgetown, and the Lenggong Valley with its archaeological remains in Peninsula Malaysia and two National Parks of Mulu and Kinabalu on the Borneo Island.

Melaka and Georgetown were added to Unesco world heritage list as the historic cities of the straits of Malacca in 2008. They have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between east and west in the straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible.

Melaka demonstrates the early stage of history from 15^th century Malay Sultanate, and the Portuguese and Dutch periods in the 16^th century featuring residential and commercial buildings. Georgetown represents the British era from 18^th century.

The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape are without parallel anywhere in East and South East Asia. Reflect a multi-cultural heritage that evolved from their strategic location along the trade routes from Great Britain and Europe through the middle east, the colonization from the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British.

The Lenggong Valley in Perak was declared as a Unesco World Heritage site in 2012. Situated in the lush Lenggong Valley, the property includes four archaeological sites in two clusters which span close to 2 million years, one of the longest records of early man in a single locality, and the oldest outside the African continent. It features open-air and cave sites with Paleolithic tool workshops, evidence of early technology. The number of sites found in the relatively contained area suggests the cultural remains from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and metal ages.

The Perak man from 11,000-year-old was discovered within Gunung Runtuh Cave and is South East Asia’s oldest most complete human skeleton.

Undisturbed Paleolithic stone tool workshops are located on the shores of a Paleolake and ancient river gravel beds and dated in a long chronological sequence. Hand axes are among the oldest so far discovered outside Africa. Analysis suggests these were made by hominids which thus provide an extremely early date for hominid presence in South East Asia. A volcanic eruption 70000 b.p. causes abandonment of a workshop site containing multiple tool types at Kota Tampan, at the vicinity of the present day Lenggong Archaeological Museum.

The tour also visits other attractions of Peninsula Malaysia. The modern city Kuala Lumpur, a tropical rainforest dedicated to research, tea plantation at Cameron Highlands and the Orang Utans at Semanggol, Perak, the beaches of Penang Island, and see how the iconic batik is painted on clothes and dresses.

Room Policies & Guidelines

Twin Share:
Max. Allowed: 2 x Adults, 1 x Child (with extra bed), 1 x Child (with no bed)

Triple Share:
Max. Allowed: 3 x Adults

Single:
Max. Allowed: 1 x Adult

Unesco Heritage Tour of Malacca (Tour Code 43)
4 days 3 nights

Itinerary: -

Day 1     Home – Kuala Lumpur
Arrive at Kuala Lumpur airport, meet and transfer to hotel at city centre. Free at leisure.

Overnight 4-star city hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2     Kuala Lumpur: - City Tour / Petronas Twin Tower
In 1857, a group of Chinese tin prospectors settled where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet in what was then deep mosquito-ridden jungle. The mines developed into a trading post which evolved into a frontier town. Its development into modern day 'KL' began under British colonial rule, when the scruffy little settlement ridden by inter-gang rivalry was placed under the control of a Chinese headman, Yap Ah Loy, and he was responsible for the layout of the city.

The jungle was cleared, and the construction of more substantial brick and stone buildings commenced. The use of skilled Chinese carpenters meant that many of the buildings that sprang up resembled the distinctive shop houses of southern China. The construction of a railway line, the establishment of laws, courts, a prison and a school all contributed to the city’s early modernization. This led to KL being proclaimed capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States at the end of the19^th century. KL’s growth continued apace until capture by the Japanese in 1942. But British administration returned post-war, and preparation for Malayan independence began in earnest, coming to fruition in 1957. Since independence, KL has steadily grown, particularly during the boom years of the 1980s and 1990s, into the ultra-modern city it is today.

On this half-day tour of Kuala Lumpur, see the highlights of this city, passing by the fascinating Chinatown district and Parliament House.  You also stop at the War Memorial (dedicated to those who died during the 12-year Emergency against communist forces), New King’s Palace, and Federal Court. Then, we drive past the stunning Masjid Negara, a modernistic, nationalist mosque, one of the largest in southeast Asia, set in seven hectares of landscaped gardens.

This is complimented by many historical buildings built in 1800 – Sultan Abdul Samad Building with a 41 metre tower chimed with Queen Victoria’s jubilee parade in 1897 and had chimed since.

Railway Station building was built in 1892 with mixing Moorish, Mughal, English and indo Sarrazin styles and decorated by characteristic domes.

Central Market building was built in 1888 is now a heritage site for culture and heritage.

We end our tour with a visit the iconic Petronas Twin Towers reaching for the sky at 452 metres tall, the world’s tallest twin structures. Both towers are ‘intelligent’ structures, built with a system that seamlessly and simultaneously coordinates telecommunications, environment control, power supply, lighting, fire and smoke control and building security.

Enjoy the spectacular bird’s eye view of the cityscape from above 370 meters at the observation deck. You will also get to discover the history of the twin towers in detail through digital displays and exhibition.

After lunch, return to hotel, afternoon at leisure. You may like to visit the many shopping malls in KL selling from very inexpensive items to the most luxurious branded goods.

Overnight 4-star city hotel in Kuala Lumpur. (Breakfast / Lunch included)

Day 3      Kuala Lumpur: - Malacca Day Tour
0900 hours depart for 2.5 hours (151 km) drive south of Kuala Lumpur to historical Malacca, the third smallest state in Malaysia and one of the oldest, and most strategic trading ports in Malaysia which has undergone Portuguese, Dutch and English rule.

In 1414, the Malay Sultanate of Malacca was established and the city became prominent trading ground for traders from India, Arabia and China. Many Chinese migrants settled here establishing the Peranakan culture for the future. Malacca was also established contact with the Chinese empire through the explorer Zheng He.

The Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511. Malacca continued to prosper under Portuguese rule until the Dutch captured and ruled over it until 1795 when Malacca was ceded to the British.

The British East India Company developed Malacca and spread their influence all over Malaysia until it was replaced by direct administration from the Crown Colony. Malacca along with the rest of Malaysia’s received her independence in 1957, paving the way for the future which is today.

Drive past the largest 17th century Chinese cemetery outside of China, located at Bukit Cina.

Stop at the foothill to view the Sultan's well. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah (1457 – 1477) for his wife, believed to have been a princess from China. The well is said to never dry out even in the severest of droughts. During a siege in 1551, Johore forces poisoned the well, causing the deaths of over 200 Portuguese soldiers. During the Dutch occupation they turned this area into a restricted zone and constructed the present walls around the well completed in 1677. The square holes are for guns while the round ones are for transferring water outside the walls through chutes.

Visit to Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Baba Nyonya are descendants of the early Chinese immigrants to the Malay Archipelago who inter-married with local folks. Visit the 'Abode Merciful Clouds' or the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (1600s) the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia.

"Red Square", the salmon pink Stadthuys Buildings constructed in 1641 is said to be the oldest existing Dutch building in Asia. The majestic Christ Church is Malaysia's oldest functioning Protestant church started as early as 1741.

Continue to view the well-known Portuguese "Porta De Santiago" (A Famosa) which translates to 'The Famous' in Portuguese. It is one of the few oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in the whole of Asia. It was built in 1511 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque. The fortress was built to consolidate their gains in Malacca after they defeated the armies of the Malacca Sultanate.

Visit the ruins of St. Paul's Church lined by 17th Century Dutch Tombstones. Built in 1521 by Portuguese nobleman Duarte Coelho, the original church at the site was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary. Almost 30 years later, in 1548, it was deeded to the Society of Jesus and the deeds title was received by St. Francis Xavier, widely regarded as the Catholic missionary pioneer in Southeast Asia. Since then, it underwent several expansions including the addition of a second level and a bell tower.  In 1592, a burial vault was opened where prominent individuals were laid to rest.

When St. Francis Xavier passed away at sea in 1553, his body was kept at this church for a period of eight months until it was shipped to Goa. When the Dutch took over Malacca, it was reconsecrated as St. Paul’s Church, which became the primary church of the Dutch population until the construction of Christ Church Melaka in 1753.

Two and a half centuries later in 1924, the burial vault in the church’s chancel was unearthed. It triggered a series of excavations led by the Malacca Historical Society in 1930. They uncovered several tombstones at the site that are displayed on the walls of the ruins of the church.

Return to and overnight 4-star city hotel in Kuala Lumpur. (Breakfast / Lunch included)

Day 4     Kuala Lumpur – Home       
Transfer to Kuala Lumpur airport. (Breakfast included)

How to book this holiday?

Our tour prices are based on: -

• Adults sharing a twin or triple (with extra bed) room basis.
• Per adult basis inclusive of all taxes.
• Varying numbers of adults travelling together as a small group in a private vehicle as per product options - Select - Twin or Triple Share (no of pax).
• Minimum number is 2 adults in a group staying in a twin share room.
• If sharing a twin share room is not the choice you would prefer, then you will stay in 2 single rooms by purchasing 2 Single Room Supplement as per product options - Select - Single Room Supplement.
• If you prefer to be a single traveler, you will stay in a single room by purchasing 2 adults as per product options - Select - Twin or Triple Share (no of pax).
• If sharing a triple room is not ideal for you, you can stay in a twin and a single room by purchasing 1 Single Room Supplement as per product options - Select - Single Room Supplement.
• The hotels allow double room if you do not prefer a twin room.
• Children under 12 years old can travel with minimum 2 adults in a twin share room by purchasing number of children as per product options - Select - Children (max 2 child per room). The hotels allow a total of 2 children staying in a twin room.
• Children staying in a Twin Share room will be treated as an adult.
• After you have paid for the total purchases by debit or credit cards, a receipt will be issued to you as proof of payment, together with details of your purchases and an itinerary as per the selected package will be attached for your easy reference. Please note day 1 on the itinerary will be the date as selected to commence the tour.
• Should you require to cancel your booking, please refer to our “Terms of service” under “Help” section on the top right-hand corner of the home page.
• Please advise us your incoming and outgoing flight details so that airport transfers can be arranged for you.