From road trips to adventures: Many ways to explore Malaysia this year

Viait Malaysia 2026 has officially started, and we’re excited to join in the campaign and see it run smoothly and successfully throughout the year.

Running parallel to VM2026 are three state-wide campaigns: Visit Negri Sembilan 2026, Visit Johor 2026, and Visit Melaka 2026, an extension of its original, Visit Melaka 2024-25.

Tourists – local and foreign – can expect lots of special events and programmes happening all across the nation, every month.

If you’re looking for some ideas on where to go beyond what’s already heavily promoted, or for things to do over a long weekend, here are a few suggestions.

The train rides

Rail tourism in Peninsular Malaysia is gaining momentum, thanks to the increase – as well as improvements – in services by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad.

There are multiple rail routes to check out within the peninsula, with some services crossing the country’s borders and going into Thailand in the north, and Singapore in the south.

We suggest taking the Electric Train Service (ETS) from KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur, all the way north to Alor Setar, Kedah. The ride is just under five hours and you get three ticket options: Express, Platinum and Gold.

You can find out the differences between ticket classes on the KTMB website (www.ktmb.com.my). Basically, it has to do with price, travel time and the number of stops each train makes.

In Alor Setar, you can choose to do a cultural tour or a historical one, though most times the two are intertwined. Visit the Al-Bukhary Mosque, Kedah Royal Museum, Alor Setar Tower and Kedah Museum, before hitting the Pekan Rabu Complex for some shopping and food.

About an hour away from the city is the Sungai Batu Archaeological Site, a historically important place that is said to be one of the oldest known civilisations in South-East Asia.

You can also take the ETS from KL Sentral