best travel backpack malaysia

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12 Best Travel Backpack Reviews in Malaysia 2024 - Top Brands

Travel smart with these backpacks.

Travel backpacks come in a range of sizes, styles, and models. However, it gets rather challenging to choose the right one before you leave for your vacation.

Be it for a hiking trip, a short weekend getaway, or a month-long holiday; a good travel backpack is what you need. This means, it needs to be lightweight and has spacious room to fit all your personal belongings.

Nowadays, you’ll find an array of backpacks with unique designs and various features such as anti-theft technology. Why not look through our list of varying travel backpack brands in Malaysia that you can consider and add to your cart for your next holiday?

Top 12 Travel Backpacks in Malaysia

Golden Wolf Zelda Travel Backpack (17")
Case Valker MAX Outdoor Nylon Backpack Hiking Bag
Arctic Hunter i-Walrus Backpack
Targus Bp Cypress Ecosmart Backpack
GS Ozuko Men Oxford Backpack
Bange City Laptop Backpack
HIGH CULTURED® 3 in 1 Travel Backpack
MILANDO Travel Digital DSLR Camera Bag
MARK RYDEN Travel Backpack Men Large Backpack
Oxwhite Women Lightweight Travel Mini Backpack
Fossil Buckner Backpack
MILANDO Travel 2-Wheel Trolley Bag Backpack

- What size do backpack is best for carrying On?

Backpacking Malaysia Travel Guide (BUDGET TIPS • 2024)

So, you’re considering Backpacking Malaysia, well, you’re in for a bloody treat mate!

It was 2016 and I had been travelling through Southeast Asia for roughly 6 months, with the stalwarts of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos under my belt, it was time for the next adventure: Backpacking Malaysia. Little did I know at the time, but I was about to journey into one of my favourite countries and somewhere I would return to time and time again.

My love affair with Malaysia started of course, in bustling KL. It took me to the bright colours of colonial Penang, the stunning shores of Langkawi, the rolling hillsides of the Cameron highlands, the magical jungles of Borneo and beyond.

Malaysia felt like it offered everything a traveller could want all in one neat package of reliable transport, English as a second language, easy visa entry and super friendly locals. Yet those conveniences didn’t leave it feeling sterile or “too easy”.

Instead, it left me with more energy, mental space and time to fully immerse in the delights that Malaysia laid out before me: Culture, landscape, nature, cuisine and diversity. It’s got it all!

And now, amigos, I am proud to unveil the broke backpacker guide to backpacking Malaysia on a budget…

colourful figures at Batu caves in front of green mountains

Why Go Backpacking in Malaysia?

Malaysia is a country full of variation and surprises, and after a couple of weeks travelling around the numerous regions and areas of Malaysia , it truly left me wanting more. You can explore beautiful beaches, jungle, eat amazing street food, and, of course, check out some beautiful temples (this is Asia after all).

Whether you want to get off the beaten path in Malaysian Borneo , view orangutans and trek through remote jungles, or you just want to chill on a beach all day, there is a destination in Malaysia for you.

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Malaysia

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Below are a few of my favourite spots that I recommend checking out on your own adventure backpacking across Malaysia.

Backpacking Malaysia 2-Week Itinerary: Malaysia’s Highlights

This itinerary is perfect if you have 2-3 weeks to backpack Malaysia. With three weeks you could take your time, and spend more time on the islands.

Start your trip staying in Kuala Lumpur , also known as KL. Take a side trip to visit the Batu Caves , full of Hindu shrines. Climbers, you can hang out here for a couple days since there are over 160 rock climbing routes!

Next, we head to the Cameron Highlands, a “highlight” of your trip. These hill stations grow tea, coffee, and fresh fruit. Make sure to go on a local tour. One of the world’s oldest rainforests, Taman Negara , isn’t far. Adventurers can go on jungle treks lasting a week or more.

Afterwards, head to Penang and get lost in the beautiful colonial streets, venture through vibrant Little India and follow the street art around the city. Afterwards, find a chill place to stay in Langkawi for some quality beach time.

If you have an extra week, head to the Perhentian islands on the other side of Malaysia for some epic diving!

Best Places to Visit in Penang
Penang Travel Itinerary
Best Places to Visit in Langkawi
Langkawi Travel Itinerary

Backpacking Malaysia 3-Week Itinerary: Jungles and Malaysia National Parks

I haven’t been to this part of Malaysia, but I created this itinerary for your inspiration. This is the perfect itinerary for outdoor lovers and adventurers who want to get far off the beaten path in Malaysia’s most undeveloped region: Borneo, an island Malaysia that shares borders with Indonesia, and one of the last places on earth you can see endangered orangutans.

Start by staying in Kuching , Sarawak’s small capital, as a base. Don’t miss the Semenggoh orang-utan sanctuary to see endangered orangutans. This is a rewarding day-trip. Next head to Bako , Sarawak’s oldest national park. Here you will come across monkeys, fauna, and waterfalls!

Afterward, take a boat through the rivers and forests of Batang Ai. Gunung Mulu National Park offers wonderful jungle scenery and a three-day trek through a network of limestone karsts and caverns.

Next head to Miri and Niah National Park. If you like to hike, get to Bario for some multi-trekking through remote longhouses and up mountains. End your trip staying in Kota Kinabalu , Sabah’s capital. Visit the district with traditional over-water houses and spend your evenings at the markets.

If you have the time (and money), you can summit Malaysia’s toughest climb, Mount Kinabalu . Last I heard a permit was over $100 and you have to hire a guide.

Malaysia is a fantastically varied country with so much to explore! Here are my top picks of the coolest places to visit on a backpacking trip to Malaysia.

Backpacking Kuala Lumpur

This is the capital of Malaysia and arguably the most westernised place you’ll visit while in Malaysia. This is often where most backpackers in Malaysia will start, as it is the main hub for international flights. I only spent a short time in Kuala Lumpur, as it was a lot more expensive than the other areas I visited but I was the great food, vibrant and varied culture(s) and the surprisingly decent hiking trails through urban jungle.

The Batu Caves are a short and cheap KTM metro ride from central Kuala Lumpur. The incredible Tamil temple and shrine attracts both worshippers and visitors alike. It isn’t one for the unfit; to get inside the temple you have a great stair workout ahead of you and the humidity will make sure even the fittest person ends with beautiful sweat stains.

At the top, explore the inside of the cave and meet the locals… monkeys! In 2016, major renovation work was done inside the cave, but now things are quiet again with everything looking in tip-top shape.

On the way down from the Batu Caves stop at the Bat Cave and take the 45-minute tour inside, wandering into complete darkness, to meet the animals that live down here. You may see spiders, bats, snakes, scorpions, and plenty of cave-dwelling bugs. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and it’s an experience that a lot of travellers miss on the way down!

If you haven’t spent all your money before you leave KUL, head up the KUL tower . It’s around $25 for both decks. Here you will get a pretty awesome view of the city, even better in the evening! Make sure you take a good cheesy picture with the Petronas Towers!

Backpacking Kedah

When entering Malaysia from Thailand, you will most likely pass through the beautiful state of Kedah. While most travellers will just pass through, Kedah has plenty to offer and it’s worth stopping to explore. Explore some of the first European Colonial Streets and experience the beauty of Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) .

The ancient Malays proclaimed Gunung Jerai sacred and some stunning temples were built throughout the mountain; many of them are still standing today. If you want to know more, the cheeky Malays have placed a great information board at the top of the mountain – all you have to do is climb 1175 meters to reach it!

Backpacking Langkawi

Both a popular spot for visa-runs for Thailand and a great place to chill out for a few days, the peaceful island of Langkawi sits upon an ancient limestone shelf and is home to one of Southeast Asia’s largest eagle populations. This is a great place to head off on an adventure and if you head away from the party beaches you will find some great treks, snorkelling, and scuba diving.

Cenang Beach is where most of the action is. There’s plenty of jet skiing and other watersports, but the beach itself is not that great and is usually pretty crowded. To see the real Langkawi hire a motorbike and take to the open road for a day of exploring.

A backpacker in Malaysia enjoying an adventure activity in Langkawi

Whilst in Langkawi, I took to the trees with Skytrex Adventure for an action-packed afternoon of high ropes (don’t look down!) and zip-lining through the Forest Canopy. I’ve done a few high ropes and zip-lining courses around the world and this was one of the more challenging ones. It’s definitely worth a go if you want to kick-start your day.

There are a lot of great accommodation options in Langkawi. There are some awesome homestays in Langkawi as well as everything from chilled backpacker dorms and quiet Airbnbs to super posh resorts if you plan on splashing out.

However, if you want to stay somewhere really decent that is also affordable, I recommend the Yacht Club Hotel . This hotel has a cool bar offering a great view over the attached Marina where you can boat-watch as people bring their yachts (lucky bastards) in for the night. This hotel also has some of the best WiFi I found on Langkawi so if you need to work, it’s a good place to stay. Otherwise, I’d recommend checking out this breakdown on the best places to stay in Langkawi from my mate Bren.

Backpacking Penang

Being one of the first major areas in Malaysia occupied by the Europeans as well as an ex-trading hub for ships around the world, Penang’s beautiful neighbourhoods keeps much of its colonial heritage intact. It’s an incredible place to chill for a couple of days.

‘Old Penang’ is one of the best places to go for a stroll and is filled with UNESCO sites. It’s a bit like stepping back in time…

Hire a bike for cheap – only around $5 for the day – and explore George Town and its legendary street art. Get lost in the beautiful colonial streets, venture through vibrant Little India, and follow the street art around the city. There are so many things to do in Penang; it’s a beautiful city!

Two people standing on a swing next to some interactive street art in Penang, Malaysia.

You can’t go to Penang and not visit Kek Lok Si Temple or ‘Temple of Ultimate Happiness’. This Buddhist temple faces the sea and overlooks the ever-growing city of new and old Penang. You can hire a guide at the car park relatively cheap, which I highly recommend. The guide will immerse you in the incredibly beautiful and sometimes, gory history behind each of the 10,000 carved symbols.

If this doesn’t convince you, this temple also has one of the biggest statues you will ever see – standing at 99ft (seven stories) Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy is pretty awe-inspiring. Get to this temple around Chinese New Year. Why? Well for 30 days the temple is decorated with thousands of lanterns. This sight is so beautiful that it will give you goosebumps.

Ever wondered what a Burmese Temple looked like?

Dharmikarma Temple is a favourite of mine due to its quirkiness! Explore the gardens of the temple and you will come across a Giant Globe. It is said if you focus on your hearts desires, close your eyes, and point, you will be directed to where you need to go – while also taking a cheesy picture of yourself.

You’ll also find a wishing well of fortune? Throw a coin and land it in one of the moving, engraved cups; each with a different future trait – I got Bon Voyage; I think it was pretty accurate.

Backpacking Cameron Highlands

A relatively new backpacker area, the Cameron Highlands are breathtakingly beautiful and should not be missed when travelling in Malaysia. Moving away from the cities and hitting the dirt roads, you will see some truly gorgeous mountainous scenery, cascading tea plantations, and mysterious cloud forest, making it one of the best places to stay in Malaysia.

When you’re staying in Cameron Highlands , I really recommend hiring a car (or a man with a van) and navigate the dirt track roads leading you into the incredible tea plantations. Learn about the tea-making process – which is actually a lot more interesting than I first thought it would be – sample the leaves, take a walk through the plantations, and even befriend the pickers who will laugh at your attempt at picking the correct leaves at a quick pace… It’s harder than it looks!

A person standing in a tea plantation looking out over the mountains and rolling hills covered in tea fields in the distance in Malaysia.

I hired a local guide and we went into the cloud forest in search for the rare and beautiful Rafflesia (one of the world’s largest flowers). It kind of looks like a giant upside down mushroom, but more red, and, according to my guide depending on the time of year, it smells like a dead elephant – thankfully it did not when we found it.

Hacking my way through the cloud forest was incredible. The trails are not well trodden, the views are incredible (when the trees break) and the knowledge the locals have on the plants and conservation in the area is extraordinary. If you’re after a real adventure whilst backpacking Malaysia, this is it.

Backpacking Melaka

A three-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur, this beautiful small town has an incredibly strange obsession with Hello Kitty, and the city itself resembles a small town in Europe. Once the ‘must-see’ place in Malaysia before Kuala Lumpur developed, it is now a much sleepier backpacker city with mass tourism having moved to the other ever-growing cities within Malaysia. Melaka is a cheap place to hang out, making it a perfect rest stop for broke backpackers travelling in Malaysia.

UNESCO protected, Melaka is filled with an incredible history and many of the old colonial buildings are still in great condition. Melaka is easy to navigate by bicycle or foot. Wander the streets and enjoy the bright colours, colonial buildings, and reflective water canals.

Head down Jonker Street where the city’s heritage meets some crazy museums, awesome market shopping, and some epic Malaysian food . It’s a little quirky and a great place to find things you will never need but want anyway. Melaka is definitely a stop you shouldn’t miss when backpacking Malaysia.

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Malaysia

Borneo is without a doubt the way to go. Borneo is Asia’s biggest island and a rather intriguing oddity of Malaysia’s backpacking trail.

More than half of Borneo is Indonesian territory with the remaining being Malaysia EXCEPT for two small sections which comprise the country of Brunei. Brunei is also very off the Southeast Asia backpacking trail , however, that’s for good reason: we don’t speak of Brunei.

Borneo is a nature lover’s paradise. You can head to Kuching as a base – or stay in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah – however, once you head outside of these semi-touristed areas, you’re just looking at pure jungle wilderness.

Borneo is world-famous for its population of endangered orangutans, however, there’s heaps more to the island too! All manner of rare and exotic wildlife can be seen on Borneo, and there’s heaps of world-class diving and trekking too.

The culture of Borneo is very different from mainland Malaysia with a whole host of different ethnic groups and intricacies. You’re heading pretty far out into the sticks, so exploring takes effort and time, but isn’t that the whole point of getting off the beaten path?

If you feel extra explorer lazy, though, you could take a tour with Global Work and Travel . They at least let broke backpackers pay in instalments which is really quite nice of them!

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

Jungles, temples, caves, ruins, bustling metropolises, backpacker bubbles, and a whole host of exquisite beaches dotted around Malaysia … There’s so much stuff to do in Malaysia, but here are my personal picks!

1. Climb around the Batu Caves

Head outside of Kuala Lumpur to explore these limestone cliffs and caves, which represent Hindu shrines and a site for pilgimage. Climbers rejoice! There are over 160 routes in the area.

2. Hit the Beach in Langkawi

Langkawi is among the best islands in Malaysia . It’s an inhabited island in an archipelago of over a hundred islands in the Andaman Sea. Langkawi Island is popular with both backpackers and honeymooners and has something to suit all budgets.

Looking over a cliff to a beach at Bako National Park, in Malaysia, Borneo.

3. Visit Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

This park is a collection of five islands found off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia. This is a popular place to hike, trek, swim, and dive, especially in March which is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu .

4. Eat the Street Food

Try the authentic food, which in my opinion is not as spicy as Thai food and is, in fact, more flavorful. You will get a HUGE portion for such a tiny price – Malaysia seriously has some of the best street food in the world !

A woman on a motorbike pulling up to buy some street food in Laos, Southeast Asia.

5. Get your Culture on in Malacca

Malacca or Melaka has interesting architecture and a high concentration of museums, galleries, and historical sites to explore.

6. Island Hop the Perhentian is

Blissful and balmy tropical islands? Malaysia has those too! Come here for fresh seafood and scuba diving. The islands can be visited by ferry and water taxis operate between the various islands giving visitors the chance to island-hop at their leisure.

Beach huts surrounded by palm trees on an island in the Philippines.

7. Haggle for Souvenirs

This is super common in Malaysia and also great fun. The only way to get a good deal is to bargain. Make sure you read up on how to haggle before you go so you’re ready to negotiate like a pro!

8. Hang Out With Endangered Orangutans

Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre is one of the biggest and most well-known orangutan sanctuaries in Malaysia. The sanctuary is located nearby Sandakan.

9. Explore Gunung Mulu National Park

Located in East Malaysia, this park is known for its caves and karst formations. There are ample hiking opportunities around the caves and rainforest!

10. Hang Out in the Cameron Highlands

These hill stations provide visitors with cool water and fun tea and coffee plantation tours! You can also fruit pick at one of the many fruit farms.

The rolling fields of the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands with mountains in the distance in Malaysia.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Hostels are only just beginning to pop up throughout Malaysia. During my time there, I chose to stay at guesthouses rather than the hostels, as they were cheaper! These days, however, there’s an increasing number of hostels and eco-friendly accommodation in Malaysia .

Throughout Malaysia, guesthouses, hotels, Airbnb, or being hosted with CouchSurfing will be your main options for accommodation. Guesthouses are fantastically priced for us broke backpackers and you can score a bed for as little as $5-$15 a night!

If you are backpacking Malaysia in peak season use Airbnb as an alternative. Often just as cheap, the added bonus is you may get a whole apartment! If not, you’ll at least make some awesome local friends.

Or pack your camping hammock instead and sleep for free! Some hostels will charge you for amenities and some restaurants won’t even charge you a dime.

Unmarried couples generally won’t have a problem travelling and staying together when in Malaysia. You may have to request a double bed in some places (if necessary) but otherwise, you will be met with friendliness and the beautiful hospitality that Malaysian people are famous for.

The Best Places to Stay in Malaysia

You can backpack Malaysia for as little as $15 a day. Sometimes it’ll be more if you want a fancy cocktail rather than a beer for a change.

However, with a few basic travel tips for Malaysia , you’re budget will be easy to keep in check. Stick to cheap guesthouses, good street food, and buses rather than flights and trains and you shouldn’t spend more than forty dollars a day.

A Daily Budget in Malaysia

Money in malaysia.

DO NOT buy Malaysian Ringgit before travelling to Malaysia. Why? You will get a crappy exchange rate. Money is easily exchanged upon arrival in Malaysia, and you’ll get a much better exchange rate in the country.

Malaysia accepts the majority of international cards so long as they are Visa or MasterCard, but many of these charge pretty insane withdrawal fees. It’s advisable to avoid small ATM transactions and get out a bunch of cash at once – just make sure you hide it well (pack a travel money belt for this).

The currency of Malaysia - Malaysian ringgit (MYR)

When travelling to rural areas, cash is always best because ATMs will become scarce fast. If arriving by land, exchange only what you absolutely need before entering Malaysia. Some drivers will accept US dollars as payment if you have nothing else, but don’t count on it.

Once you head into the rural areas don’t expect ATMs anywhere. Carry cash with you, just enough for what you will be doing and a hidden backup stash in case of delays.

Travel Tips – Malaysia on a Budget

Sometimes things are country specific, sometimes they’re just the golden rules of budget backpacking . Either way, if you’re backpacking Malaysia on a shoestring budget, here are some tips to stretch your money further.

Eat the Street Food: Put your stomach to the test! Nah, just kidding. The street food in Malaysia is awesome and I didn’t encounter any stomach or bathroom problems while here. The trick, as with anywhere serving street food, is to go for the one that already has a queue. No one queues for bad food. This will be the cheapest way to eat, but if you’re not convinced, then head to the food courts (which are basically the same thing).
Haggle: It is commonplace while market shopping to haggle for your goods. Even if you think it is cheap for you without haggling, you are not getting the local price or a good deal. It’s heaps of fun as well, so get your game face on and snag some random goodies!
Guesthouses: Cheaper than most hostels and way cheaper than hotels, this is the best way to save money while travelling through Malaysia. They’re often family-run too, so you will meet some awesome locals. If you want to book something online, Hostelworld offers some of the best deals in Asia.
Couchsurfing: A fantastic way to travel without spending money ! You’ll make local friends and see a whole other side to the tourist part of town. Just be sure to cook your host a meal to say thank you for putting you up!
Hitchhike: Hitchhiking is a great way to meet the locals, and it may even score you a free bed for the night as well – two for one is always good right? If you’re not comfortable hitchhiking, take the bus: it’s super cheap and relatively comfortable.

Why You Should Travel to Malaysia with a Water Bottle

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… so do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller .

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress rigorously from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Malaysian seasons range from wet, comfortable, hot and humid. The West and East Coast can experience completely different weather from one another so it really depends on where you want to go in Malaysia.

Overall, the west coast is best between October to March , and the East coast is best from March to October .

The east coast gets quite a bit more rain than the west, and if travelling to Malaysia in the wet season, you may find a lot of stores, hotels and guesthouses closed. I travelled around Malaysia from December to the end of January and the weather was spot on.

Festivals in Malaysia

Given the massive cultural and ethnic spread in Malaysia, there’s a huge range of festivals to go wild at too. Religious shebangers, cultural shindigs, and musical shemozzles – it’s a blast.

Thaipusam (January/February) – If you’ve ever wanted to watch men stick spikes through their cheeks and shake what their mumma gave them, this is your chance! One of the most important festivals for Tamil people, things really kick off in Kuala Lumpur and the Batu Caves around this time of year.
Malaysia Water Festival (April) – The concept is pretty similar to the Thailand Water Festival: everyone gets out in the streets with super soakers and water balloons. There are other activities too, but really, this one’s all about H2- whOa .
Gawai Harvest Festival (June) – If you’re looking for something a little more esoteric, than get yourself Sarawak (in Borneo) at the start of June. It’s a harvest festval – similar to Pagan festivals in concept – hugely important to a number of indigenous peoples of the Sarawak area. Expect to be fed… a lot.
Rainforest World Music Festival (July) – Also held in Sarawak, this world-famous international music festival sees a lot of ecclectic artists grace its stage. You get quite a variety of music, however, traditional music, world fusion, and other contemporary international styles tend to be the main affair.

What to Pack for Malaysia

Malaysia has to be one of my favourite places in Asia for shopping and you will find that most people – especially in the busier areas – take a lot of pride in what they wear. The more modern areas of Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur will be a lot more westernised in their dress sense; you can pretty much wear what you would at home on a day-to-day basis with only a few exceptions.

In the more rural areas it is a wise to be respectful and dress a little more conservatively, especially if you are a woman. Although Malaysia is a melting pot with a mixture of religions, the most prominent practice is that of Islam (and the Islamic dress sense ).

Showing a lot of flesh for men or women will attract a lot of attention or, worst-case scenario, cause offence. Jeans and a t-shirt, covering shoulders and cleavage is perfectly fine. Try to keep shorts/skirts/dresses at or just below the knee. Tight and fitted clothing will attract attention such as harmless stares.

You also shouldn’t forget your backpacking essentials! Here are the pieces of gear that I never go travelling without. For even more packing ideas, check out my list gear to take backpacking !

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Malaysia is completely safe for travel. The majority of people you will meet when travelling in Malaysia are incredibly friendly and genuine people.

Malaysia is a peaceful country and incredibly accepting and respectful of other cultures; be respectful back and don’t break the rules. If you do, you may find yourself in a bit of a tough spot.

As long as you stick to the basic tips for travelling safe , you’ll be totally gravy.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the worlds toughest countries when it comes to drugs. If you get caught with drugs you’ll most likely get a mandatory prison sentence or even worse, the death penalty. I’d recommend avoiding drugs altogether when travelling Malaysia, but if you’re going to dabble in these illicit substances, then at least be sure that you’re keyed in on taking drugs on the road .

Alcohol in Malaysia is pretty pricey because it is forbidden for Muslims to drink. However, those who are not Muslim are free to drink if they wish. Many restaurants won’t serve alcohol but will turn a blind eye to those bringing in their own to have with their meal.

House parties are pretty common in Malaysia and are heaps of fun! You’ll find modern clubs in the main cities such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny to get in!

Travel Insurance for Malaysia

Travelling without insurance would be risky, so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. It’s definitely a smart idea to have travel insurance for Malaysia.

I have been using World Nomads for some time now and made a few claims over the years. They’re easy to use, professional, and relatively affordable. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once you’ve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

I arrived in Malaysia by travelling from Thailand across the Thai/Malay border. We hired a local man and his van to drive us to the border in Thailand and then walked through and caught another man in a van on the other side.

There are long-distance bus services that will take you from Thailand to Malaysia as well, but this costs a little more and takes a little longer as well. If you’re short on time or simply a baller, flights from Thailand to Kuala Lumpur are very cheap.

If you’re coming from outside of Asia, the International flight’s hub is Kuala Lumpur, and you can get great deals with an array of different airlines. I have found Malaysian Airlines and Emirates (via Dubai) to offer some of the best prices into Malaysia.

Flying to other airports in Malaysia is easily done but will often cost more and you will stopover in Kuala Lumpur anyway, so you may as well hop off and explore!

Entry Requirements for Malaysia

As of 2016, the majority of nationalities will be able to get a visa on arrival for Malaysia for no cost at all, which is fantastic! For the UK and a number of other nations, you will be permitted to stay for a maximum of 3 months on arrival, but be careful not to overstay this. Malaysia, unlike many other Asian countries, is having a big crackdown on illegal immigration and overstaying your visa may be a tricky (and expensive) situation to get out of.

If you know you will be staying longer than 3 months in Malaysia, it is recommended you visit the Malaysian Diplomatic Mission in your own country to obtain the correct visa. If you are in the country, head to your local embassy or otherwise just hop out of the country and come back in again.

Once through immigration, Malaysia is a relatively safe and welcoming place to travel. A couple of months is heaps of time to explore this beautiful country. Entering overland into the country you will have your fingerprints taken, passport scanned, and you may be asked about your exit plans, especially if you don’t have a flight out of the country booked.

Malaysian immigration is not new to backpackers so as long as you have an idea of how you will leave, you should be fine. It’s a good idea to have a rough idea of when/how you will be leaving and someone you can call who will vouch for you, just in case. If you need help organising your visa, try using iVisa.

It only takes 2 minutes! Book your transport on 12Go now and guarantee your seat easily.

Malaysian roads are top-notch in tourist areas but will quickly turn to gravel and dirt tracks as you venture further away from backpacker hubs and out of the cities. All the same, your options for public transport in Malaysia are plentiful! It’s easy to get around Malaysia.

One of the best ways to get around when backpacking in Malaysia is by bus. Buses are a comfortable and affordable way to travel around Malaysia, however, they’re not the fastest option. Most buses have English translations and super helpful drivers.

It may take longer than flying but buses tend to be air-conditioned and the scenery is pretty beautiful. I wouldn’t recommend using buses in the cities though; they are slow, more expensive and due to congestion are not able to stop exactly where you need to be.

Malaysia is revamping its train service and if you are looking to get from the top to the bottom pretty quickly, it’s a comfortable ride. I didn’t use the long-distance train service whilst backpacking Malaysia, but it is perfect for those short on time.

It is pricier than the bus service and most train services run on a one-line system that will restrict the stopping options you have on the way through the country.

I did not take any domestic flights within Asia but you can pick these up relatively cheap in-country through the likes of Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia for as little as $10 – $30 , one-way, to most destinations in Malaysia. If you only have a short time in Malaysia, this is a great way to travel.

Driving in Malaysia, once out of major cities, is relatively straightforward, and I would dare to say, one of the safest places to drive in Southeast Asia. With good road infrastructure in the cities, traffic lights and well-marked signs your biggest pest will be tailgating and the lack of signal use.

Venture into the countryside expect gravel and dirt roads but beautiful and plentiful view stops. If you are exploring by car in monsoon season, I would recommend hiring a 4×4 car if possible. Getting stuck in the mud is never too much fun!

Kuala Lumpur’s metro is the best, if not, then the only way to travel inner city. The metro will connect to all the must-see places in town as well as the shopping district, nightlife, and areas such as Little India. They even have air-con!

Running every few minutes, why waste your time and money hailing a taxi when the metro will beat the traffic and even take you as far out as the Batu Caves?! Ladies, there is even female-only carriages if you are travelling alone and/or feeling slightly anxious about mixed carriages and local customs.

In Malaysia, you’ll get the best deal on a metered taxi. Don’t jump in a non-metered taxi without agreeing on the price first. You will definitely pay A LOT more than you need to.

Always haggle the price with a non-metered taxi. If they won’t budge, move on, and always check if there’s someone with a much better deal.

To travel around Malaysia quickly would involve a lot of flights, but you’d be missing out on some epic overland scenery and road-trips. Travelling in Malaysia is, after all, a part of the appeal. There is so much to be seen from the road…

Rather than just rocking up at the bus stop in the hope they will have space to fit you on, you can now book tickets in advance for most of Southeast Asia using 12Go ! I love 12Go and used it myself pretty often when backpacking around Malaysia.

Hitchhiking in Malaysia

Hitchhiking in Malaysia is uncommon but not at all difficult. For broke backpackers on a tight budget, hitchhiking offers one of the most cost-effective ways to get around whilst backpacking Malaysia.

The busier roads in Malaysia are often highways, which can make scoring a ride a little tricky. The best tip I was given was to put yourself in a spot that if you score a ride and they come in at speed, you can get out the way. Malaysians are curious and ridiculously friendly, so on a good day, it shouldn’t take you longer than 5 minutes to hitch a ride.

Expect short distance riding, especially in rural areas where not many people are driving by. It’s far more likely you will catch lots of short rides rather than one long one. Make friends with other tourists at gas stations and café stops. You never know who has a spare seat in their car.

Before hopping in the car it’s a good idea to clear the air and make sure the driver is aware you are hitchhiking, not hailing a taxi. That would make for an awkward exit…

Top Tips for Hitchhiking in Malaysia

Take a road map of Malaysia : It isn’t exactly necessary, but it may help you out in a pinch. Plus, doing it old-school is just a blast!
Look like a tourist: People know what hitchhiking is and they are interested in foreign visitors, so make sure you look like a tourist. On busy roads, sometimes the wait time is less than 5 minutes.
Don’t hitch right on the motorway: Unlike in other countries in Asia, it’s not advisable to hitchhike right on the motorway. Police won’t bother, but cars are much less likely to stop if they are too fast or there is no safe place to stop.
Have a sign with ‘Tumpang’ written on it: This can help, especially if you choose to walk on the Expressway.
Learn some useful phrases: Drivers usually speak English, so a few local phrases like the ones below will help!
Read our Hitchhiking 101 Guide : It helps!
Where are you going? – Di Mana anda akan pergi?
I am going to… – Saya mahu pergi ke…
Please stop here. – Sila berhenti di sini.
I have no money. – Saya tidak ada duit.
Thank You – Terima Kasih (Treema-Kahseh)
I am hitchhiking. – Saya sedang hitchhiking.

Onwards Travel from Malaysia

The main peninsula of Malaysia shares borders with Singapore and Thailand , both of which are relatively easy to cross. To cross the overland route from Malaysia and travel to Singapore requires A LOT of time and patience though. Malaysia also borders with Indonesia if you are over in Borneo.

Thinking about backpacking in The Philippines or Indonesia after Malaysia? Why not follow in the footsteps of the explorers of old and hop on a boat? With some journeys taking just eight hours to reach the Philippines, and ferry prices being relatively cheap, catching a boat out of Malaysia can be an adventurous alternative to flying…

A person sitting on a wooden boat with blue sea and jungle covered islands in the distance.

Onwards travel to Indonesia via ferry is not as common as it once was and these days it can be hard to find a boat heading in the right direction. Melaka is the best place to find a ferry onwards to Malaysia. From here, it is likely your arrival port will be Padang (Sumatra) in Indonesia.

Onwards travel to the Philippines via ferry is recommended from Sandakan using either Aleson Lines or SRN Fastcraft. Neither of these companies offer comprehensive websites, so check the latest information when in country and haggle for the best price. Aleson Lines takes around 16hrs while SRN Fastcraft is only 8hrs to reach the Philippines.

For a more adventurous and unique way to sail to Indonesia or the Philippines (or really anywhere else) check out findacrew.net . Basically, this is Couchsurfing for sailors. You will find locals, travellers, and expats with their own boats looking for crew to help them adventure oversea to their next destination.

It’s perfect if you have a lot of time on your hands and a limited (or non-existent) budget. Many captains don’t require you to have any previous experience and you may even get paid a little for helping out!

Personally, I can’t think of a better way to begin a new adventure after backpacking Malaysia. I will definitely be trying this on my next trip to Malaysia.

Malaysia is a primo spot for working travellers and one that a lot of long-term backpackers and digital nomads end up in. While rural and off-track areas of Malaysia can still be pretty crazy, cities and touristed areas are very modern and, at times, Westernised. Kuala Lumpur alone is a hugely crucial international business and trade hub with plenty of foreigners expatting there.

While there’s no shortage of choices available for working in Malaysia, teaching English is one of the most common forms of employment for backpackers. You will need a work permit for Malaysia , however.

A Temporary Employment Pass is the standard work visa in Malaysia unless certain extenuating circumstances apply (like you work in a highly-technical and highly-payed field). These passes last up to two years and are pretty easy to obtain provided you jump through the require bureaucratical hoops.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic .

Teaching English in Malaysia

While Southeast Asia as a whole is a prime English teaching destination, Malaysia is one of the hottest candidates among those. Many travellers stop for a contract’s period working as an English teacher in Malaysia .

Given Malaysia’s familiarity with both tourists and expats, as well as their stronger economy and tighter infrastructure, it’s a perfect destination for those with TEFL degrees looking to teach English abroad . You can pitch yourself up in a nice pad for 6-12 months, enjoy the local cuisine, and have a completely refreshed bank account by the time you’re ready to hit the road again!

Now, you will need the aforementioned work permit for this alongside a potential sponsorship/employer. The last thing you’ll need is a TEFL certificate.

TEFL certificates open up a lot of doors for travellers. With one under your belt, you’ll find opportunities to work on the road (and, thus, extend your travels) most places in the world!

There are a lot of choices for acquiring a TEFL degree, however, I recommend running the course through MyTEFL . Not only are they a highly reputable and effective company, but Broke Backpacker readers get a 50% discount (using the code PACK50)! Not a bad deal at all considering that the payoff is a life of indefinite travel.

Volunteer in Malaysia

Volunteering overseas is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good in the world. There are lots of different volunteer projects in Malaysia which you can join ranging from teaching, to animal care, to agriculture to pretty much anything!

While parts of Malaysia are greatly developed, there are still plenty of opportunities for backpackers to offer up some time and skills in other, more rural areas. Most of the gigs you’ll find are ‘bread and board’ opportunities working in hospitality, which are a great way to give back to the local community. English teaching and conservation work are other popular options. A tourist visa is enough for volunteering in Malaysia, although longer stays may require a ‘special visit visa’.

If you want to find volunteering opportunities in Malaysia, then we recommend that you Signup for Worldpackers – a volunteer platform that connects local hosts directly with traveling volunteers. As a Broke Backpacker reader, you’ll also get a special discount of $10 when you sign up. Just use the discount code BROKEBACKPACKER and your membership is discounted from $49 a year to only $39.

Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers are usually very well-managed and reputable. However, whenever you are volunteering, do stay vigilant especially when working with animals or children.

There are some amazing options for street food in Malaysia. Here are some must try foods in Malaysia:

Banana Leaf Rice: This is white rice served on a banana leaf with an assortment of vegetables, curried meat or fish, pickles, and the super addictive papadum (look like giant, round, flat crisps)!
Nasi Dagang: Rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry and extra ingredients such as fried shaved coconut, solok lada, hard-boiled eggs, and vegetable pickles.
Hokkien mee: Thick yellow noodles braised in thick dark soy sauce with pork, squid, fish-cake and cabbage as the main ingredients.
Satay: Meats on sticks over a BBQ – simple, scrumptious!

If you’re interested in learning the cuisine, then check out this site for awesome deals on Malaysian cooking classes !

Malaysians are incredibly friendly people; they have grown up in one of the biggest melting pots of cultures I have come across. They are so interested in your story and will often ask you a lot of questions. They love to take pictures with the people they meet. This even happened to me at the border crossing.

If you don’t want your picture taken, just politely decline, though they may take a sneaky one anyway. It is not uncommon for Malaysians to invite you for tea or for dinner. It is up to you if you want to accept this offer, but I mean, why wouldn’t you?

Nic playing with a kid on a boat in Laos.

I have yet to meet an unfriendly Malaysian and found everyone to be extremely respectful. If nothing else, you will not be without friends when backpacking in Malaysia.

Useful Travel Phrases for Malaysia

It always helps to learn new languages and pieces of the local language when you travel to a foreign country! Below are my favourite Malaysia travel phrases:

Hi Friend! – Hi!
Kwan apa khabar? – How are you?
Sangat bagus. – Very good.
Siapa nama anda? – What’s your name?
Nama saya … – My name is….
Selamat malam – Goodnight
Selamat tinggal – Goodbye
Berapa harganya ini? – How much is this?
Di mana tandas? – Where’s the toilet?
No plastic bag – Tiada beg plastik
No straw please – Tidak ada jerami sila
No plastic cutlery please – Tidak plastik alat makan sila
Terima kasih – Thank you
Tolong – Please
Saya dari … – I’m from ….
Makan! Makan! – Eat! Eat!
Saya tidak faham – I don’t understand

Books to Read About Malaysia

Backpacking Malaysia will be made even more incredible with background knowledge. To truly get an idea of the incredible range of cultures, religions, and traditions in Malaysia, I highly recommend reading some of these books set in Malaysia before your travels.

Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore – A great insight into how Malaysian culture developed and grew after splitting with Singapore and how different the two places are.
A Town Like Alice – The story of Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman who becomes romantically interested in a fellow prisoner of World War II in Malaya, and after liberation emigrates to Australia to be with him, where she attempts to generate economic prosperity in a small community – to turn it into “a town like Alice”.
Stranger in the Forest: On Foot Across Borneo – If this doesn’t convince you to go and explore the wild side of Borneo, I don’t know what will.
Malaysia – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture – I don’t normally take guide books with me, but this was a good read before I left.
The Harmony Silk Factory – A fantastic read comparing different cultures and how they lived and worked together. One of my favourites!

I love reading before taking my next trip. Actually, I just love to read in general. Check out more of my favourite books to read on the road for some lazy hammock day inspiration!

A Brief History of Malaysia

For many centuries, the British colonized Malaysia.

On December 8, 1941, the Japanese invaded the Malay Peninsula and they quickly overran it, but after WWII the Japanese were overrun.

As they were gaining independence, there was tension between Malays and non-Malays. It culminated in violence after an election in May 1969. The two sides came to violence and the government declared a state of emergency and parliament was suspended.

The Malaysian government then adopted a new, successful economic policy. It was remarkably successful.

From the 1970s on, Malaysia changed from being a poor, agricultural country to a rich, industrial one. The standard of living of the Malaysian people rose dramatically and Malaysia remains more prosperous than most Southeast Asian countries today.

There are a lot of incredible reasons to travel Malaysia . It’s a beautiful country filled with many beautiful people. Enjoy it!

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Scuba Diving in Malaysia

Malaysia has plenty of great scuba diving options. The most famous sites, however, are located on Sipadan Island and Mabul Island .

Sipadan is by far the best place to enjoy scuba diving; it is also not that easy to actually dive at because of the restricting rules that are in place (i.e., daily permits). Mabul is known worldwide for its amazing muck diving conditions.

Scuba Dive Malaysia on a Liveaboard Trip

So you have some diving experience under your belt and you want to get to know some of Malaysia’s best dive sites intimately?

Then consider joining a liveaboard scuba diving trip in Malaysia !

Two people taking a selfie whilst scuba diving.

There is no better way to experience remote, super interesting dive sites than on a liveaboard trip. You get what you pay for: excellent food, days of diving, and comfortable accommodation.

If you have the burning desire to do heaps of scuba diving in awesome locations, then a liveaboard diving trip somewhere amazing may be just the thing for you.

Trekking in Malaysia

Adventurists and avid trekkers will want to head to Borneo. There are several beautiful national parks, and ample opportunities to hike through jungles, over mountains, and through remote villages. If you’re a fan of the trail, be sure to plan a hiking adventure in Malaysia .

Just be good to Malaysia.

Writing your name in black marker on temples, chugging beer while shirtless, swearing loudly, and visiting unethical animal attractions ? You, Sir, are a twat.

Luckily, most backpackers don’t fall into this category but, when you’re out and about and have had a few too many drinks, it can be easy to embarrass yourself. It’s easy to get carried away in Southeast Asia: everything is so damn cheap and so much fun.

Look up ethical animal sanctuaries , and learn more about the Palm Oil Plantation/deforestation crisis.

If you’re not into seeing the temples, no worries , but don’t be disrespectful, inappropriate, or deface them – certainly, do not try to wander in shirtless. Malaysia is predominantly Muslim, so dress conservatively when you are not on a beach.

Wear a helmet when you hop on a motorbike in Asia. Despite being an experienced driver, I’ve had a total of three crashes in South East Asia over the last ten years. On the one occasion, when I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I split my head open and had to go to the hospital. It was an expensive mistake.

The local people are sick of scraping foreigners off the road and, trust me, you don’t look cool for not wearing a helmet.

Humans are humans; treat people you meet along the way with the same respect you would show your friends and family back home. You are not superior to anyone including the girls/guys walking the streets.

Go to Asia and have the time of your life, do the things you’ve dreamed of, but be respectful along the way. Travelling the world makes you an ambassador for your country , which is awesome. We can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with your country…

All in all, just be cool, homie. Malaysia is a beautiful place filled with a lot of beautiful people. And now, you have everything you need to know to hit the road and begin backpacking Malaysia. So get out there already!

Got more to add to the guide? Let me know in the comments below! We’re always on the hunt for the tastiest new updates on our favourite countries.

And above all, have a blast, amigos. Eat ’til you drop, then eat some more!

Where to stay in Malaysia
Backpacking Southeast Asia Travel Guide
Backpacking Indonesia
Backpacking Thailand
Backpacking Vietnam Travel Guide
Backpacking Cambodia

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Nic Hilditch-Short

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25 Comments

Super Great info. thanks for this. Malaysia is one of my Favorite destinations. I have only been to peninsular malaysia but hoping to hit up Borneo areas as well and will certainly check back when I do.

I love reading such long and detailed posts about any place or a country. They instantly ignite the wanderlust within. I have only been to KL in Malaysia. But now I feel like exploring the country thoroughly!

Wow, very informative. Do you think traveling Malaysia can be a good choice for someone who is 5months pregnant?

So in love with Malaysia too! Always been mesmerized by the beaches and their rich culture. Planning to come back next year. Enjoyed reading your post. Kudos!

Wow this is an excellent trip to Malaysia…many and many i can observe the places Borneo,Epic Road Trip and the lights beauty its just stunning thanks for the blog!

Good resource! I will admit I have never really thought about Malaysia too much, but after reading your blog will definitely consider this in my bucket list.

I love Malaysia Chinese foods! I also love travel in Malaysia! When i first travel Malaysia i have no idea. I spend a lot of my for travel! But now i know everything! Awesome post! I got Malaysia visa from Keymalaysia.com website! Thanks, dear for the awesome content!

Try Kuching in Sarawak, for something different in Malaysia. Thanks for the pics they brought back happy memories of our visits. My wife and I have been there a number of times and we love the place.

Will thank you for informing us of Malasia and their beautiful culture. I would really love to see it, especially the tea plantations.

Hi Will, I’m a Malaysian and I want to correct you on a mistake. Under the section “Backpacking Melaka”, the picture describing [Cool art on the streets of Melaka] is actually located in Georgetown, Penang but not Melaka. I love reading your posts here. I’m planning to backpacking in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in the upcoming June. Thank you for all the tips you shared.

Dating women in a theocracy? I had no luck whatsoever…

You can date women in any country if you act respectfully and throw down some charm, I met my wife in Iran.

Absolutely fantastic post! Thanks

Great guide but this should be a guide on travelling in West Malaysia only. Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia too but I guess you didn’t go there.

Hi, how easy is it to get from Kuala Lumpur to Penang? Do buses/trains run quite regularly? Same with to Langkawi, is there a boat from penang to Langkawi and is there quite regular travel from Langkawi back to KL.. Thanks

It’s actually quite easy to travel from KL to Penang by bus. You can take a bus from Pudu Sentral (around RM30 per person). The bus terminal operate 24 hours.You can get a bus each hour. A boat from Penang to Langkawi is approx RM60 per person. You may want to consider AirAsia as another alternative because sometimes they sell tickets cheaper than the ferry. Hope this help. We are able to pick you up at the airport and offer you affordable accomodation. Do contact me and i will bring you around. =)

Inbox us anytime. https://www.facebook.com/BrogaHomestay/

Great post, was super helpful in our trip around Malaysia! I also recommend checking out Borneo, there is some world-class diving, beaches, hiking and unforgettable encounters with orangutans in the jungle ?

Check out our blog for lots of tips and inspiration: https://bonatravels.com/2017/10/15/destination-guide-malaysia/

Great post! Borneo is my favourite place in malaysia , especially kinabatangan river.

https://www.facebook.com/BrogaHomestay/

Well-made guide, although it really just scratches the surface…nothing on Sarawak/Sabah? Malaysia has a lot of unknown places to discover, especially in the interior. Driving a car, as you suggested, is a good idea. I like Highway 76 a lot, leaving North of Kuala Kangsar to gerik, passing via lenggong, it goes through some really nice scenery and towns worth exploring. And about Penang… check out my site.

I love peninsular Malaysia too but backpacking Sarawak is just about the most fun you can have in SE Asia

Hi there, i have rooms for backpacker located near to tourist attraction at Broga Hill, Gunung Tok Wan & Sek Na Tu temple. This area suitable for hikers, camping & backpackers. How can i list my room in your website? Looking forward for your reply. Thank you

Ah next time you should go to Tioman! Amazingly clear water with beautiful coral and colourful fish.

I planned on going to Malaysia for about a week and ended up staying for four. Wonderful place.

Such a detailed information about Malaysia! I wish this will be very helpful for all the people who are looking forward to plan their next trip to Malaysia. All they need to do is to read this blog post!

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The Best Travel Backpacks of 2024

Whether weekend road-tripping or jet-setting around the world, you’re going to need a pack to toss over your shoulder. Here are the best travel backpacks for every adventure.

There are a lot of great travel backpacks out there, but not all of them are created equal. A travel pack needs to be comfortable to carry, easy to organize, and durable enough to withstand being toted from place to place.

From hitting the road for the weekend to spending months traveling abroad, we’ve put nearly 30 different travel backpacks through the wringer. We tallied our airline miles, punched our tickets, and put our tray tables in the upright and locked position for close to half a decade now, taking domestic and international flights to as far as Iceland and as close as 30-minute island hops. And while there isn’t a single pack that suits every traveler, we’ve highlighted a variety of designs and price points to help you find the perfect travel backpack.

Choosing a travel backpack can be a dizzying experience, and we’ve shaken down the best to sort through the static. Each pack has seen its time on the baggage carousel, hostel luggage cart, and we’ve even had a few go missing for the full experience. We fully pack and live out of these bags to test them, and in the end, we’re confident that the 15 packs collected here are the best travel backpacks available today. Check in and check them out.

For all your travel pack questions, consult our buyer’s guide , where we’ve laid bare all the essentials. Compare each of the packs using our handy comparison chart , and if you’ve still got questions, check out our FAQ section.

Editor’s Note: We updated our travel backpack guide on March 20, 2024 to add the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L — a supremely nice commuter-style travel pack, as well as the Thule Aion 40L and Osprey Archeon 30L .

Best Overall Travel Backpack: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
Best Budget Travel Backpack: Dakine Campus 33L Backpack
Best Carrying Travel Backpack: Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs
Best Organization in a Travel Backpack: Matador SEG45 Travel Pack
Best Shoulder Bag: Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L
Best Commuter-Style Travel Backpack: Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L
Best Personal Item Travel Pack: TimBuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

Capacity 45 L (collapses to 35 L)
Weight 4 lbs., 8 oz.
Dimensions 22" x 13" x 9.5" standard, 22" x 13" x 11" expanded
Compartment access Back panel clamshell design with #10 zipper
Material Weatherproof, 100% recycled 400-denier nylon canvas shell; 900-denier waterproof bottom

Compresses down to maximum airline carry-on size, and then expands once you’ve hit your destination
Burly construction
No details are overlooked in the design
Side-carry handles are offset in an awkward position

Perfect is a dirty word in product design, but we’re about stumped when it comes to drumming up a quibble about the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45 L ($300). This redeye-ready clamshell design is made to the highest of standards.

It’s made of quality materials, utilizing aluminum hardware and a burly 400-denier nylon canvas — and it easily ticks all our boxes for the best overall travel backpack. The interior of the bag is split into two compartments: a larger main area for storing the majority of your kit and a secondary sleeve at the front of the bag with five zippered pockets. The main pocket also sports a foam-padded laptop sleeve and three more pockets.

One of the more impressive aspects we discovered along the bag’s inaugural leg from Seattle to Anchorage was how easily the straps of the Travel Backpack stow away into the bag. Two foam panels on the back of the bag flip away to secure them and then close with a magnetic closure — very slick. This was our favorite strap-stowage system, with the zippered panels of the Matador GlobeRider45 coming in a close second. We find the Peak Design bag compresses smaller.

Then there are the little details. An ID-size sleeve on the back panel provides all the information should your bag get separated from you. Zipper pulls thread through one another to keep what’s yours safe. And a collapsible system adjusts the bag from a full 45 to 35 liters.

In our review, there’s little about the Peak Design pack that misses the mark. The company leans heavily toward the camera-toting travelers among us, but the 45 L Travel Backpack makes no compromises and works just as well for any user group. The high price is undeniable, but for the scope of the travel pack, it’s a buy-once-cry-once purchase we would make again.

Also available in a 30L size , the range of Travel Backpacks from Peak Design is so well-thought-out that you can practically see the cogs turning in their creators’ heads. We think they make the best travel backpacks on the market.

Dakine Campus 33L Backpack

Capacity 33 L
Weight 1 lb., 10.6 oz.
Dimensions 20.5" x 13" x 8"
Compartment access Zippered top access
Material Depending on print type, can be 600-denier recycled polyester, 420-denier recycled nylon, 630-denier recycled nylon, or 1,200-denier recycled polyester

Cheap price
Available in many different fabric prints
Unique insulated cooler pocket
Not many travel-specific features
Straps don’t pack away

Even at the regular price, the Dakine Campus 33L Backpack ($75) is a great deal. And considering you can grab one on sale for $45, it’s a must-have budget travel backpack.

It has everything you need to keep your travels organized, without getting too big or complicated. This design has a padded laptop sleeve and a fleece-lined top pocket to keep your sunglasses safe. There’s an organizer pocket that’s perfect for pens, a phone, and easy-access essentials. We love pockets, and this backpack has plenty.

And if that weren’t enough, it also has an insulated cooler pocket to keep your snacks fresh on the go, plus double side pockets keep drinks handy. We found the straps comfortable during long travel days. Be sure to use the sternum strap when carrying a heavy load for the best fit.

While this bag does excellent at travel, it isn’t quite what the bag was designed for, thus it’s missing a few travel niceties like a compression system or the ability to pack away the straps. We didn’t find that we missed them desperately, but they would have been nice for a few instances. For similar-sized backpacks with more of a travel bend to them, look to the sleek Timbuk2 Never Check, or the uber-customizable Tom Bihn Synapse 25. But prepare to shell out some more for them.

If you’re looking for a sub-$100 backpack (under $60 during sales!) that does the basics, then the Dakine Campus Backpack is for you. It comes in a variety of colors and is also available in a 25L capacity .

Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs

Capacity 40 L
Weight 3 lbs., 7.6 oz.
Dimensions 22" x 14" x 9"
Compartment access Zippered back panel clamshell design
Material Bluesign-approved 450-denier recycled polyester

Supreme suspension system offers the best carry of any pack we tried
External compression straps limit the volume well
Comfortably padded grab handles
Not much internal organization

No stranger to producing supremely comfortable suspension systems, Osprey injected a good bit of its tech into the Farpoint and Fairview packs ($185), which both sport LightWire frames, load lifters, and breathable framesheet and suspension straps. Our Farpoint pack was easily the best load carrier of any we tested and a close contender for the best travel backpack overall.

Far beyond what any of the other travel packs offer, the pack even allows you to adjust the torso length — unheard of in the typical travel pack. Newly updated, these packs have been tweaked to ride the line between traditional backpacks and functional luggage, a claim we can substantiate.

The 40-liter capacity is just about the sweet spot for domestic carry-on luggage limits, and these packs make good use of the space. We could easily pack away a long weekend’s worth of travel essentials into the bag with a little space to spare.

Whereas many other travel packs stash straps away into the body of the pack, the Farpoint and Fairview move in the opposite direction with a deployable strap cover that neatly seals in the suspension for safekeeping when checked. This produces a clean profile that’s ready to be slung around, but it’s not quite as easy and quick as the magnetic panels of the Peak Design Travel Backpacks, as you need to unclip straps to tuck them away.

The interior of the pack is rather spartan, incorporating only one zippered pocket, a laptop sleeve, and two internal compression straps. We would have rather seen a bit more organizational features involved like those that the Matador GlobeRider and Topo Designs Global Travel bags incorporate, but for those who stuff more than pack, the Farpoint and Fairview may very well punch the ticket.

With one foot on the platform and one on the trail, these packs from Osprey will get you where you’re going and carry a trip’s worth of kit with ease.

Matador SEG45 Travel Pack

Capacity 45 L
Weight 2 lbs., 8 oz.
Dimensions 22" x 13.4" x 10.2"
Compartment access Full clamshell interior, additional front zippered access
Material 420-denier nylon exterior, 100-denier Robic Dynatec interior

Excellent storage organization options
High-quality, strong, and lightweight construction
No frame to speak of
Shoulder straps don’t pack away

Aiming to do more with less, the Matador SEG45 Segmented Backpack ($200) proposes a future free of packing cubes and splits up the bag for you, making the organization of your travel pack a breeze.

The full 45 liters of volume is shared among the five segments (6, 9, 15, 9, and 6 L) and trades volume between the full clamshell compartment and the segments. Each of these segments is accessible via its own water-resistant zippers and can be collapsed as your needs change.

We found organizing by clothing type made the most sense in our own packing, but you could even pack based on the day of the week or the use. The clamshell-accessed main compartment was ideal for holding larger items like spare shoes or quarantining spent outfits.

Known for its overbuilt but lightweight bags, Matador didn’t spare the SEG45, utilizing 420D UHMWPE-reinforced nylon in the pack body, as well as 100D Robic Dynatec weave on the interior. It should be noted that this travel backpack doesn’t have any kind of frame and will rely on being packed well to carry correctly. Because of this, this pack won’t carry as well as bags like the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, so consider packing mostly clothing in the SEG45.

Our testers felt this bag excelled as a travel bag you might deploy once you’ve hit your destination, as it packs away into larger bags so well. Unfortunately, however, the shoulder straps don’t pack away into the bag itself, so you’ll have to wrangle them into place to keep things tidy.

No matter what you’re up to, everything has got a spot to live in the SEG45 . Need a bit less space? Matador offers the SEG28 ($250) for that.

Read Review: Dresser in a Backpack: Matador SEG42 Review

Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L

Weight 3 lbs., 10.3 oz.
Dimensions 22.8" x 8.6" x 14.5"
Compartment access Back panel zippered clamshell design
Material 900-denier recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU laminate

Multiple ways to carry the pack
Many different storage and internal organization options
Burly external fabric
Doesn’t carry the best as a backpack

Looking to squeeze out every last liter of allowed space? Patagonia named this pack in honor of the cause: the Patagonia Black Hole Maximum Legal Carry-On 45 L ($239). This bag can be carried in a number of different ways, but we found it shined during travel as a shoulder bag.

Borrowing fabric from Patagonia’s line of burly Black Hole Duffels , the MLC 45 is made for the long haul. The 900-denier polyester ripstop is coated in a TPU laminate and feels ready to take on the surliest baggage carrier. We certainly felt no remorse in tossing the bag around.

At 45 L, the MLC is certainly right at the cusp of the maximum allowed size, but thankfully that space is well divided up inside the pack. Inside the main clamshell-accessed compartment is a blizzard of zippers and mesh pockets and dividers. Anything we tossed inside was well-stabilized.

Because there isn’t much of a frame to speak of, the Black Hole MLC doesn’t carry the best when slung over both shoulders and can sag when not entirely full. But over a shoulder with the included shoulder strap, this pack feels great and can be easily accessed on the go. This is one of the only packs in our testing to feature a shoulder strap (the other being the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag).

On top of all this, we greatly appreciate that the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45 L is made with 100% recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing. Perfect for grabbing and going, this pack is ready to move.

Read Review: Patagonia Black Hole MLC Bag Review: An Organized, Carry-On-Size Wonder

Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L

Capacity 24 L
Weight 3 lbs., 1.6 oz.
Dimensions 18" x 7: x 11.5"
Compartment access Zippered clamshell
Material 840D ballistic nylon 6, 420D HT nylon

Functions as both a laptop backpack and suitcase
Well-structured and protected
Full panel loading access
Limited colorways

With an understated look that betrays the truly impressive fit and functionality inside, the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L ($279) doesn’t need to brag — it knows it’ll tote your kit through the worst of your travel or everyday commutes without missing a beat. This bag is our newly anointed best commuter-style travel backpack.

From a fabrics and materials standpoint, it’s clear that someone at Evergoods truly nerded out when they brewed up this bindle. The 840D ballistic nylon 6 that makes up the exterior of the pack is burly (errantly spilled coffee wipes right off), and compliments the thick #10 zippers and spacer-mesh back panel. Even the Evergoods logo is low-key: a simple 2×2” patch on the front of the bag with a slash. That’s it — and we dig it.

Bar none, the Civic Panel Loader has the best laptop sleeve we’ve ever encountered in a backpack, and that’s saying something. The side-accessed zippered aperture can hold a 17” Macbook Pro, and nestles into a fully padded space at the rear of the pack. This sleeve is suspended from the bottom of the bag, as we’ve seen in many forward-thinking bags, but goes a step further and protects the laptop from the side with an aluminum stay — the primary functionality of which is to support the side handle on the bag. Genius.

The high-polish finish on the CPL24 feels reminiscent of the attention to detail we loved about the Tom Bihn Synapse 25, but we ended up enjoying this pack even more for a simple reason: side carry. The broad handle on the side of the pack is reinforced by that aluminum stay, and it creates a perfectly supported carry for jostling through crowded terminals.

On the interior of the pack, two large pockets are subdivided with a few smaller sleeves and pockets, which are oriented to be accessed with the bag on its side. We carried this pack for a month straight of remote work, lugging it to coffee shops and co-working spaces, and it supplanted all other packs we’ve used previously. “It’s hard not to love a pack that makes your life easier,” says Senior Editor Nick Belcaster. “This pack does that. Laptop, headphones, notebooks — a whole lot goes into the pack without a care.”

Up there with Nomatic, GORUCK, and Tom Bihn, Evergoods is certainly among the pack-makers that put intelligent design and smart material choice above all else. The Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L is the final word when it comes to a travel pack you can carry every day. We certainly do.

Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

Capacity 27.5 L
Weight 2 lbs., 9 oz.
Dimensions 18.9" x 11.4" x 5.9"
Material 420x2000D Cordura nylon, 135D polyester

Dang good looking
High-quality trim and details, including anodized G hooks and supple webbing
Supper cushioned back panel
Exterior expandable water bottle pocket is a bit slim
Pack straps don't stow away.

Pulling off a good expandable backpack can be a tough task, with fabric accordion folds often taking up valuable real estate on the interior when collapsed in lesser bags. Not so with the TimBuk2 Never Check ($209), which takes a simple backpack shape and elevates it with premium materials and design to create one of our favorite travel backpacks for tucking under an airliner seat.

Unlike a lot of the pure-function rectangular bags in our lineup, the Never Check is a real looker — easily one of the best styled in our testing so far, and we’d have no qualms about bringing it along as a business bag. Small details like rubber-covered zipper pulls, anodized G hooks, and supple webbing keep it looking sharp. The 27.5-liter size is just about dead-on for most airline ‘personal item’ size requirements, and this bag easily slides under a seat.

The main compartment is accessed through a clamshell zipper on the front of the bag, which is gusseted to hang open while you’re loading it up. During the few national and international flights our Senior Editor Nick Belcaster deployed the bag on, this was easily enough space for everything you might want during a plane ride. And for everything else, a front pocket is lined with multiple drop and zip pockets for organizing small gadgets like chargers or keys.

The back panel of the Never Check is a plush ½ inch of comfortable foam, and combined with the equally padded shoulder straps made for a very nice carrying bag. The straps unfortunately do not stow away, but on a lower volume pack such as this, it’s a much less useable feature in our opinions. And finally, one of our favorite features: the wide laptop sleeve. This 15” opening is generous enough to accommodate the larger laptops of today, and is suspended from the bottom of the backpack to ensure bumps don’t turn into bruises.

Just like the name suggests, the Never Check Expandable Backpack provides a svelte solution to bringing a bag with you during airline travel — or even just to the office. Its clean profile and attention to detail impressed us, and it would make an excellent work-to-weekend bag.

Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack

Dimensions 22" x 12.8" x 11"
Compartment access Zippered clamshell design
Material 420D UHMWPE-reinforced ripstop nylon, 100D Robic nylon mini-ripstop

Incredible density of pockets and sleeves
Tough UHMWPE outer fabric can be tossed around
Shoulder straps tuck away in a novel and smart manner
Laptop sleeve opening is a bit tight
Price is up there

With a pocket or sleeve for pretty much everything, the new Matador GlobeRider 45 ($350) gives the Peak Design Travel Pack a run for its money when it comes to the best overall travel pack.

Our Managing Editor raved about the GlobeRider after serious testing where she pretty much lived out of it for 3 months: “If you travel often and look for crucial components like internal and external pockets, laptop storage, and backpack and hip straps, consider the Matador GlobeRider 45. It’s a unique design in that the [pack] seems to have it all — every feature I’ve needed so far, both living out of it and in my travels — in a pretty packable size.”

What impressed us most was the way the GlobeRider was able to balance both an eye-watering amount of organization and versatility, and burly durability that ensures that this pack won’t shy away from tough travel conditions. In total (and we double-counted) there are 19 individual pockets on the pack, in all types of stretch mesh, zippered, and collapsible configurations. When good organization is key, the GlobeRider reigns.

On the back panel of the GlobeRider, one of the more novel stowage systems we’ve seen packs away the shoulder straps and hip belt for when you want to slim down the pack. Two zippered panels — similar to the structure of the Peak Design packs, save for the closure — envelop the straps when not in use, and provide a lump-free panel for toting around.

When it comes to downsides, the GlobeRider doesn’t miss much. The laptop sleeve aperture is a bit small at 9.5”, which in today’s age of mondo-screened computers may be limiting to some with larger devices. There also is no ability to convert the pack to a shoulder bag like the Patagonia MLC does, which can be handy when moving quickly through the airport.

Dang-near the top of the list, the Matador GlobeRider 45 would be an excellent choice for anyone who practices one-bag travel, or desires to have a place for everything in their journeys. The price does sting a bit, but based on the long-term testing we’ve completed so far, we’ve seen no indications that this pack will fade away anytime soon.

Read Review: I Lived Out of This Backpack for 3-Plus Months: Matador Globerider45 Review

Thule Aion 40L

Weight 3 lbs., 3 oz.
Dimensions 13" x 9.1" x 20.5"
Material Waxed P600 polyester canvas

Maxes out on carry-on-compliant space
Internal roll-top TPU bag separates the clean from the to-do laundry
Waxed canvas exterior has a classy look
Centered side handle carries well
Well-cushioned back panel
No shoulder strap stowage option
No hipbelt on a 40L is pushing it

Better known for their roof boxes and racks, it’s fair to say that Thule knows travel, and the addition of smart, organized, and comfortable travel packs like the Thule Aion 40L ($200) makes all the sense in the world to us. This pack is a finely-honed bag for international and local travel alike, and is decked out in some high-class materials.

Like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC pack, the Aion 40L aims to go for the maximum allowed capacity, and at our measurements (21.5” x 15” x 8”) the pack slides in just half an inch less than the normal 45 linear inches typically allowed. That’s efficient. The space is split up into two main compartments and a laptop sleeve, with the larger opening with a full clamshell zip.

This inner compartment hosts a few zippered pockets and internal compression straps, but the star of the show here is the integrated TPU rolltop bag. This sack can be used to cordon off your liquids (and easily presented for inspection), as well as separate your pile of ‘to-do’ laundry. This reminds us of the ActiveShield compartment in the Gregory Border Traveler pack, but we enjoy the removable aspect here even more.

Round the back of the pack, the spacer-mesh swaddled laptop sleeve rivals the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader , and has an additional sleeve for items like tablets, notebooks, or chargers. The back panel itself is impressively cushioned (one of the more luxe in our testing) and that extends to the shoulder straps.

Unfortunately, there’s no shoulder strap-stowage system here, so you’ll have to wrangle those yourself, and while we typically enjoy the lack of a hip belt in smaller travel packs, the absence in a 40-liter pack is a little puzzling. Fully loaded, the Aion could certainly benefit from one, and while a separate sling bag can be added to function as one, you’ll need to fork over $50 for it.

Ranking high up there with your Peak Designs and your Ospreys, the Thule Aion 40L nails the style and material departments, and with a full 40 liters of space on board, has all the room to pack for your week-long trips — no roof box required.

Osprey Archeon 30L

Capacity 30 L
Weight 3 lbs.
Dimensions 20.5" x 13" x 11.4"
Compartment access Zippered top-access
Material 840D ballistic polyester with carbonate coating

Extra-tough exterior fabric with carbonate coating
High-polish details such as seatbelt webbing straps
Mini-wing hipbelt tucks away easily when not needed
Smart internal storage pockets that lay flat when not needed
Laptop sleeve opening is a bit too snug
Compression straps lay over the main zipper

First off, one word: Rugged. The Osprey Archeon 30L ($250) is a high-end build that spares little in the material department, and looks dang good while it’s at it. The 30-liter size makes this bag weekend travel-ready, and we greatly appreciated the fit and finish.

The overall design of the Archeon reminds us a good bit of the Peak Design Travel Bag (certainly the all-waterproof exterior zippers and curved side-entry pockets), but it’s the exterior fabric that really impressed. The 840D ballistic polyester is coated with a carbonate polyurethane coating, a bolstered recipe that increases durability by a magnitude over traditional PU coatings. In testing, we wore out before putting a dent in it.

The pack itself breaks down into two main compartments, with the main pocket opening behind a curved clamshell zip (we did have a little trouble with the zipper passing behind the exterior straps. Removing them fixed that). Inside, three expandable tech pockets tuck away all of your small kit, and do a good job of keeping things tidy on the interior.

On the exterior, Osprey doesn’t disappoint when it comes to suspension straps, which are comfortable, adjustable, and stashable. The mini wing-style hip belt earns special praise on packed flights, where we find traditional hip belts to be a hassle to store, and combined with the slick shoulder-strap stash pocket, the Archeon converts to minimal mode in under a minute.

Something the Archeon certainly could use, however, is a slightly larger aperture into the laptop/tech compartment. As-is, the zipper doesn’t quite extend down far enough to truly open up the pocket, and as such it can feel a bit like rummaging around in the dark looking for cords and chargers in the bottom of the pack. Extending these zippers down to the middle of the pack would seem to fix the issue, and we hope a later iteration might address this.

Nonetheless, we were still impressed by the Osprey Archeon 30L . There’s also a 40-liter version if you’re looking for a max-capacity carry-on, and even a smaller 24-liter for kicking around coffee shops day-to-day.

Read Review: Hack Carry-On Rules: Osprey Archeon Kit Gives Power Back to Passengers

Arc’teryx Granville 25 Backpack

Capacity 25 L
Weight 1 lb., 14.5 oz.
Dimensions 22" x 12" x 9"
Compartment access Drawstring top-entry
Material N400r-AC² nylon ripstop

Tough and waterproof exterior fabric
White interior for easy viewing
Floating laptop sleeve
Not very much interior organization
Simple webbing waistbelt

Made for moving through the city over the concourse, the commute-ready Arc’teryx Granville 25 ($220) takes travel backpacks to the streets in a sleek and tough design that we couldn’t keep from grabbing every day.

Crafted from the same N400r-AC² nylon ripstop as Arc’teryx’s high-end climbing packs, the mountain DNA is strong in the Granville, with fully taped seams that make the pack highly weather-resistant. In our impromptu “rain” test, a garden hose fired directly at the pack wasn’t able to get a drop past the tough exterior.

On the front of the pack, a single water-resistant zippered pocket was practically made for your keys, and could accommodate a few other essentials for when you’re on the go. Tossing back the shaped lid, a single drawstring entry leads to the interior space, which is mainly one large pocket, with a few zippered and drop pockets to separate smaller items. If you’re looking for the same style pack, but with a bit more organization built-in, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 divides up its space well.

The padded interior laptop sleeve will accommodate up to a 16” laptop, and is suspended within the main compartment in a way that leaves us feeling confident in slinging our computer across a shoulder. Compared to other more airline-focused travel packs, the Granville 25 has its feet more firmly planted on the ground, and excels at bus, bike, or foot travel.

Whether your commute is just across town or across the country, the Arc’teryx Granville 25 makes for a good-looking carry-all that’s bound to be around for a while.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L

Weight 3 lbs., 10.4 oz.
Dimensions 22.5" x 14" x 7.5"
Material 1000D recycled nylon, 400D recycled nylon, 210D recycled nylon, 1680D recycled ballistic nylon

Overbuilt design with tough materials and chunky zippers
Plenty of organizational pockets
Bright interior
Not the cleanest strap stowage

Chunky zippers, an overhead-savvy profile, and multiple ways to sling it over your shoulder: The Topo Designs Global Travel Pack ($229) has honed in on much of what we love in a travel backpack.

During a recent trip from Seattle to Southern California we were heavily saddled with the maximum the airline would allow. But this pack made use of every inch of space and reached the allowance of what we could check as our carry-on. The 40 liters of internal capacity is broken down into a series of dividers and pockets, which made condoning off things like electronics from the rest of our kit easy. And the interior of this pack is a cheery canary yellow, which helps with ease and visibility.

On the exterior of this pack, three separate carry styles are available to get you through the concourse in whatever way you choose. We found the full-featured backpack straps to be our go-to, which even sport load-lifters for a comfy carry. This suspension system does tuck away for when you might want to check the bag, though we found the hipbelt to be a bit tricky to fully retract.

Rounding out this travel-ready backpack is a tough build that makes use of 1000D recycled nylon and heavy-duty zippers, and we had no qualms with tossing this bag around during our trip. Perfect for anyone who subscribes to the one-bag travel ethos, the Global Travel Pack from Topo Designs makes the grade for those who want the most out of their carry-on.

And if you’re only going to be away for a short trip, the Global Travel pack is also available in a 30L capacity .

Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack

Capacity 28 L
Weight 3 lbs., 4 oz.
Dimensions 19" x 12" x 9"
Material TPU-coated 1,000-denier polyester, 840-denier nylon paneling

Burly exterior material holds up for the long run
Plenty of zippered mesh storage pockets
On the heavier side
TPU-coated nylon can feel grabby

The Allpa 28L Travel Pack ($170) will change the way you travel. It’s sleek, durable, and able to fit an incredible amount of stuff in a small space. The zippered mesh pockets keep clothes organized. And the compression straps maximize what you can pack.

The tough polyester and nylon construction can take a beating without any signs of wear. And we appreciate that the externally accessed, padded laptop sleeve makes pulling out your electronics at security checkpoints a breeze. There’s also a small outer compartment to keep essentials at hand.

You can completely tuck away the backpack straps and carry the pack like a briefcase, or wear it comfortably as a backpack. We’ve stuffed this pack to the gills countless times and have never had a problem with the zippers. Light rain showers or spills roll right off the TPU-coated exterior, but for legit rainstorms, just pull out the included rain cover.

The Allpa also comes in 35L, 42L, 50L, and 70L capacities. As our editor noted in the 42L review , “Building on its fun and functional ethos, Cotopaxi beefs up its bestselling product. The Allpa Travel Pack earns big points for clever design, clean aesthetic, and a surprising number of handy — and hidden — features.”

Yes, the Cotopaxi Allpa packs are an investment, but anyone who travels regularly will find it a worthy one. These powerhouse travel backpacks are sturdy, versatile, and built to last.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25

Weight 1 lb., 13 oz.
Dimensions 13.4" x 20" x 9.1"
Material 400-denier Halcyon, 420-denier nylon ripstop

Many different fabrics and color schemes are available
Built to last design and materials
Removable webbing hip belt
Suspension doesn’t pack away
Side wing pockets are a little awkward to access

Refined and clean-looking, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 ($243) is a high-end travel backpack we just can’t stop staring at. It just looks that good. Made of burly textiles and zippers, this pack was built to stand the test of tough travel and come out shining on the other side.

The Synapse 25 is the larger version of Tom Bihn’s Synapse 19 , a popular backpack made for daily carry. The bump in volume is appreciated in this travel-oriented version and is doled out in one large compartment as well as a set of pockets on the front of the pack.

We found all the pockets easily accessible, save for the side wing pockets. While these were excellent for the organization of smaller bits and bobs, the openings were a bit awkward to jump into.

Topped off by a cushioned suspension (the foam is a half-inch of supple EV50), this travel backpack didn’t weigh us down on long days of travel when fully packed. And when we wanted to go light, even the webbing hip belt was removable. In terms of the ability to bop around town as a daily driver, this pack is up there with the TimBuk2 Never Check and Arc’teryx Granville packs (we liked the back panel on this pack the most).

Along with being carry-on compliant, the Synapse is also one of the few bags on our list that are compact enough to fit under most airline seats without hogging too much precious legroom.

Osprey Nebula 32 Daypack

Capacity 32 L
Weight 2 lbs., 1.7 oz.
Dimensions 19.2" x 12.2" x 11.4"
Material 420-denier recycled nylon

TSA-compliant laptop sleeve
Many options for organization
Water bottle pockets fit 32 oz. bottles
Need to release two buckles in order to unzip the main pocket all the way

When it comes to backpacks, Osprey has put in the time — and it shows. The Nebula 32 ($140) feels like it’s all the brand’s most popular packs morphed into one. Most of all, we love how it seamlessly goes from city streets to trails.

This backpack can do it all, whether you’re hauling your laptop and books around town; water, food, and layers on an easy hike; or all of the above and then some for a weekend away.

The internal storage pockets are great for organizing all of your things for easy access. And while the Nebula 32 is top-loading, the main pocket opens up wide enough so you won’t have to unload everything to get to the one thing you want at the bottom. The sternum strap and hip belt are comfortable as well, especially when carrying a heavy load.

On smaller volume packs like this, sometimes design concessions need to be made to accommodate all the functionality, and on the Nebula it’s in the side compression straps. Like on the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, the compression system of the pack overlays across the main compartment zipper, meaning you’ll need to undo some straps before rifling around in the storage area. Not a deal breaker, but a little annoying when the TSA line starts to back up behind you.

Overall, the Nebula 32 won’t disappoint if you make it your go-to smaller-volume travel backpack.

Travel Backpack Comparison Chart

How We Tested Travel Backpacks

The staff of GearJunkie is a hot-footed bunch, restlessly plodding across the country or around the globe in search of adventure and whatever else comes our way. And we have a lot of stuff, which necessitates having a travel bag or four in the stable.

Surely any old bindle will do in carrying your kit around, but having a travel backpack that is dialed into the needs of travel can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one. We’ve been testing travel backpacks since 2019 and have put the market slice through the wringer on thousands of miles of travel to weed out the best of the best.

Senior Editor Nick Belcaster has a zeal for international travel, and he leads up our current travel pack testing, logging almost 10,000 flying miles in the last year alone. From Iceland to Utah, Belcaster has carried these packs and lived out of them for weeks, relying on them to support back-to-back travel excursions. In testing, we looked for a number of features in our travel backpacks, including overall capacity, carry style, durability, and aesthetics. It’s important to think about how you’ll use your travel pack, and as such, every pack on our list is carry-on compliant for the worst-case scenario.

We know no trip will be like the next, so we took a broad swath of the travel backpacks on the market in order to create a list that will suit many different travelers. Packs in hand, over our shoulders, or on our backs, we hit the four corners and tested the best travel backpacks of 2024.

Curious about what we pack in our travel backpacks? We’ve penned up a list for both domestic and international trips .

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Travel Backpack

Travel backpack user profiles.

The International Jet-Setter: The term ‘One Bag Travel’ is no stranger to you, and you’ve just about got your life distilled down into 45 liters of space. If international travel is your bag, then a backpack that’s up to the task will be essential to see you through to further time zones. Efficiency will be the name of the game here, and going with a pack that is dang-near the carry-on maximums for international flights will mean you can make it through without checking a bag. Look for near to 45-liter packs with plenty of organization baked in, as well as a comfortable (and stashable) carry system.

For international travel, the bag we reach for most often had to be the Peak Design Travel Backpack , with a razor-thin second place going to the Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack . For an emphasis on organization, the Matador SEG45 splits up the volume well, and if you’ll be schlepping bags around a long way, the Osprey Farpoint & Fairview Packs have all the Osprey suspension we love.

The Weekend-Warrior: Maybe it’s a work trip, and maybe it’s just for fun, but it’s only going to take 2-3 days total, and you’ll need a bag that can pack it in. For weekend excursions, we find packs in the 25-35 liter range work well for the minimalists among us, and the 30-40 liter range for those who like a bit more options.

The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 is easily one of the most stylish packs in our review, only slightly edged out by the Timbuk2 Never Check , and both make the grade for a single overnighter in a foreign locale. For a bit more space, you can’t go wrong with the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L , a fun pack that is a lot tougher than the multi-colored exterior would let on.

Peak Design Travel Backpack on the Back of a Traveller in Seattle International Airport Looking out on the Tarmac.

The Commuter: No flight involved! Duty calls, and sometimes you’ll need to lug around a bit more kit than the old briefcase can allow for. Commuting with a travel backpack is a great way to stay comfortable on longer rides, as shoulder and handbags are cumbersome over the long run. Focus on a bag with a more traditional backpack shape that puts an emphasis on ease-of-access, and is in the 20-30 liter range.

For bumping around town, we’ve come to love the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24 , which not only lugs our remote office around with ease, but also looks pretty slick doing it. The drawstring opening here is a huge boon for quickly stashing a jacket, and the tough exterior fears no weather forecast. For a budget just-get-it-done choice, the Dakine Campus 33L will make it happen for less.

The right size pack for you depends on a few things. First, where are you going? And, how long do you plan to stay? Winter travel often comes with more gear, so you’ll need to pack extra layers. Longer trips often require larger bags.

That said, your personal packing style will be the most important factor. We know minimalists who happily travel for months with only a single backpack in tow and others who want the largest travel backpack possible in addition to a totally stuffed duffel bag . One method isn’t better than the other, but knowing your style is helpful when choosing a bag.

In general, we’ve found that something in the 28-45 liter range is ideal for comfort and packability. Many packs will also offer a compression system to allow you to limit the overall volume of the backpack. We’ve seen many different ways to accomplish this, but the most effective by far were the button snaps and expanding zipper of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Packs toward the 40-45 liter range will be your carry-on bags of choice, and the 45-liter Peak Design, Patagonia MLC , and Matador GlobeRider are perfect for maxing out your allowed space. The 40-liter Osprey Farpoint/Fairview packs give up a little internal room for the luxe suspension system they’re carried with.

Packs in the smaller end of the range, from around 25-30 liters, make better personal items, and the TimBuk2 Never Check , Tom Bihn Synapse , and Patagonia Black Hole backpacks all fit snuggly underneath an airliner seat. These small bags move through a city gracefully and look more like everyday carry backpacks than traditional luggage.

Peak Design Travel Backpack Clamshell Access

What good would a bag be if you couldn’t get into it? From a simple drawstring to a thicket of Velcro and zippers, there are plenty of ways to keep your bag closed while you’re on the go, but not every one will be amenable to travel.

Zippered Clamshells: Most travel backpacks will use a clamshell-style design that opens up the backpack like a suitcase, allowing you to pack intentionally as opposed to stuffing things in. Oftentimes, an internal strap system will help keep your items contained while you’re on the move.

Packs with this clamshell design may also opt to add internal dividers to the main storage area, and make these dividers removable — should you need the entire storage area uninhibited. For packs without internal dividers or straps, consider adding a few packing cubes to keep your items organized.

In addition to the rear entry, some backpacks will offer additional entry points through the top or front of the pack. This can be helpful when you need to quickly retrieve something like a passport from your bag, without the need to totally spill the contents. The majority of packs in our review close in this clamshell manner, and a few of our favorites are the Peak Design Travel Backpack , Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs , and Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack .

Zippered Top-Access: Much like many traditional backpacks, zippered top-access packs load and unload from the topside, and generally only offer one point of entry/egress into the pack. For this reason, packs of this flavor are generally left packed during travel, as digging around for something at the bottom can be a hassle.

Bags of this stripe, including the uber-nice Tom Bihn Synapse 25 and expandable Timbuk2 Never Check , most often make better personal items over carry-ons, as their smaller volumes make for easier searching within.

Drawstring Top-Entry: While not quite as common as a zippered clamshell or top-access pack, drawstring top-entry packs can make for very quick and easy access to your kit if you’re on the move. These packs will integrate an extended fabric collar to the top of the storage area, which can be compressed when needed, or overstuffed with bulky items like jackets.

Commuters will find drawstring entry bags the most appealing, and the Arc’teryx Granville 25 has become one of our dedicated laptop toters for everything from remote work stints at the coffee shop to jumping on a ferry for work.

Carrying Options

Patagonia MCL 45L Travel Backpack Carry Options

There are plenty of ways to lug your kit to your boarding gate, but not all of them will be comfortable for everything. Over-shoulder backpack straps can support a good bit of weight but typically will need some type of frame to truly be supportive. The Osprey Farpoint/Fairview packs were the best-carrying packs in our testing, owed largely to the wire frame and Airscape mesh back panels, but we also enjoyed the carry of the aluminum frame stays on the Matador GlobeRider.

A shoulder strap travel backpack, like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L , can be slung across your body and provide a great amount of accessibility on the go. Don’t expect to carry too much weight this way, however.

And then there’s the classic suitcase style, easily towed anywhere. It’s good to note many travel backpacks will have stowable straps to better streamline the pack for a trip through an X-ray machine or stowed under a seat. The strap storage design of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L impressed us most of all, utilizing magnetic closure flaps to pack away the shoulder and hip straps neatly.

Pockets & Organization

Matador SEG30 Travel Backpack Storage Options

There’s an organizational saying: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” And we couldn’t agree more. Keeping track of everything while you travel is key for organization. And while more pockets always seem better, there is a threshold where having too many simply becomes more places to misplace things. Instead, we recommend packs with three to six pockets.

The Cotopaxi Allpa and Topo Designs Global Travel Bags both have ingenious inner organization systems complete with large zipping “pockets.” It has just enough space to find room for everything but not so many compartments that you’ll be hunting all day for your misplaced passport. For even more organization, the Matador SEG45 splits into five different segments that are accessible from the exterior of the pack.

Bringing along a laptop is a necessary evil for some travelers, and having an incorporated laptop sleeve in your travel backpack can keep it safe during travel. Most laptop sleeves will be padded with some type of foam and nestle in close to the back for maximum protection. In order to be TSA-compliant, a laptop sleeve will need to fold entirely flat away from the pack to be scanned.

Because flying with liquids over 3.4 ounces is prohibited in the U.S., carrying all of these items in a separate toiletry bag can make your foray into the screening line a breeze. Many of the packs on our list incorporate many external pockets where such a bag could be stashed and produced when needed.

Travel luggage takes a beating, so durability is a top concern. Luckily, gear manufacturers realize this and are making increasingly burly yet portable packs. The fan-favorite Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L pack is made with a 900-denier ripstop nylon outer with a TPU laminate for extra durability. It’s nearly indestructible, water-resistant, and versatile.

If you’re traveling somewhere with inclement weather or if your pack needs to double as a climbing bag or hiking pack, durability is extra important. And it’s worth paying more for a backpack that is water-resistant.

Space Efficiency & Carry-On Compliance

Astute observers will note many of the packs in our review sport a rectangular shape, which is certainly due to designers aspiring to create a more space-efficient pack. This isn’t to say that more shapely packs won’t make it happen, but when you’re struggling to make every liter of space count, maximizing dimensions matters.

Carry-on luggage is any bag that you plan on bringing into an airplane and storing in the overhead bins. Because space is limited, airlines dictate the maximum size that any carry-on can be. In the U.S., the most common size is 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, or 45 linear inches (length + width + height). However, this is just a rough guideline; some airlines differ from these dimensions, and you should refer to their information directly.

In general, these dimensions provide a travel backpack with around 40-45 liters of internal volume, so buying a pack that’s as close to that as possible will provide the most space allowed. Many of the packs on our list have the ability to compress to a smaller size, such as the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L .

Be mindful as well, that any protrusions from your travel pack such as shoulder straps or handles will also need to fall within the maximum allowed size. Many travel backpacks today incorporate some type of strap-stowing ability, such as the magnetic panels of the Peak Design packs, the zippered cover of the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, and the hybrid zipper/panel of the Matador GlobeRider 45. All of these provide a more streamlined profile that should both hit the mark, and fit better into overhead bins.

Travel backpacks run the gamut of prices — from affordable to downright pricey. There are a number of factors that play into what you get for the money.

Budget-Minded Travel Packs

Travel backpacks, as a category, are generally a bit pricer than your average luggage, as they incorporate tough materials that can put up with extensive wear over the lifespan. Travel is tough on bags, so it’s unsurprising that even budget travel backpacks will cost you around $100-150. These packs often will incorporate more traditional architectures such as a zippered top access, as opposed to the more complicated (and spendy) full-zip clamshell designs. For example, the Dakine Campus ($75) is pretty much your average school bag.

Volumes, too, will be a bit limited in this price range — added material adds cost. The 32-liter Osprey Nebula ($140) is about the best price-to-volume ratio you can get.

Mid-Range Travel Packs

Mid-range packs make up the bread and butter of travel packs, and can be had for around $150 to $200. These designs are often more of the full carry-on variety, and aim to capitalize on permitted volume as much as possible. The 45-liter Matador SEG45 ($200), Patagonia Black Hole MLC ($239), 40-liter Osprey Farpoint/Fairview ($185), and Topo Designs Global Travel Bag ($229) all shoehorn in just about as much space as a friendly gate agent will let you get away with.

For the price, you also get a good variety of functionality that makes travel easier, such as stowable pack straps, interior segmented pockets and sleeves (done excellently on the $170 Cotopaxi Allpa ), and an external compression system that limits the space your bag takes up. Some packs, like the TimBuk2 Never Check ($209), don’t exactly hit these parameters, but instead make up for it in high-quality design and materials.

Premium Travel Packs

Above $250, you’re likely paying for premium materials or a to-the-hilt design that leaves absolutely nothing on the cutting room floor. The Peak Design Travel Backpack ($300) is a great example, and utilizes super high-quality nylon canvas, custom aluminum hardware, and supple seatbelt material webbing in its build, as well as fitting in just about every conceivable feature you could want in a travel pack. The same can be said of the Matador GlobeRider 45 ($350), which uses high-tech UHMPWE-reinforced materials and sports a total of 19 pockets.

The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 ($243) is a bit of an outlier, as it commands a high dollar amount not for the extreme amount of space it offers or amount of features, but for being a hyper-customizable, hand-made bag that uses the nicest textiles available, as well as the best zippers, webbing, and foam in its design. If you’re a fan of the finest materials, this is your daily driver pack.

What Is One Bag Travel?

The ‘One Bag Travel’ ethos and travel backpacks go hand-in-hand. Simply put, to travel in one-bag style is to be minimalist in your luggage choices, and only take what you can carry onto the plane/train/pack animal. Not only does this do away with the fuss of deciding what exactly to bring along with you, but it also allows for breezing through airports — skipping the need to check baggage, wait at baggage claim, or fear for lost luggage.

In order to most effectively travel with one bag, be sure to read up on exactly the baggage size allowances provided by your transportation. This can affect both overall size and weight, and having an expandable pack is a large benefit here. In this way, you can carry just enough to skirt through under the limit, and then expand the bag when you’ve hit your destination for more breathing room. If you aim for a 35-40 liter backpack, you’ll be right on the money for one-bag travel.

Finally, remember that this bag is going to be the only item of luggage you’ve got, so ensure it’ll be comfortable enough for the long haul. Look for padded back panels and hip belts that’ll transfer the load correctly, and if they stash away — all the better.

Our team unanimously agrees that the best travel backpack is the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . It’s extremely durable, and it offers plenty of organizational pockets to stash your kit away in. The clamshell opening makes packing a breeze, and we really appreciated the unique shoulder strap storage options available to turn the pack into a stripped-down bag that would slide into any overhead compartment.

The best size bag for traveling depends largely on your travel itinerary and mode of transport. The Cotopaxi Allpa packs range from 28 to 42 liters.

The 28-liter option makes for a compact and comfortable backpack that easily fits in overhead airplane compartments. The 42-liter option is a bit more like carrying a duffel bag on your back, but it still manages to fit in overhead compartments. It’s a great option for maximizing carry-on capacity in backpack form.

While both have their place in travel, a backpack can offer some advantages over a suitcase. Since they’re much more portable, backpacks can be brought to many more places where a suitcase won’t work. Suitcases can be your large load carriers, but a good travel backpack gives you the freedom to strike out on daily adventures.

Travel backpacks absolutely can be carry-on luggage, given they meet the size requirements. In the U.S., the most common maximum size is 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, or 45 linear inches (length + width + height). But this is only a common size, and different airlines will have different specifics. Consult with your airline specifically to determine what they allow.

While different body types will find different travel packs comfortable, we can all agree that a good support system and ample foam make for a comfortable carry. In our own testing, we found the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 Travel Packs were by far the most comfortable due to their plush suspension systems.

Because many different airlines operate a slate of different planes, there isn’t a standard under-seat luggage size, although there is an average: 16 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches. Some airlines allow personal items larger than this, but you should consult with their customer service for specifics. Our favorite personal item-sized travel pack was the Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack , which at 24 liters compressed easily slides under a seat.

The Best Laptop Backpacks of 2024

Whether you’re headed to the office, class, or even the trailhead, here’s our top picks for the best laptop backpacks of 2024.

The Best Daypacks of 2024

We tested the best daypacks of 2024 with options for every budget. Top picks include Osprey, Cotopaxi, and more.

Hailing from the hemlocks and hanging mosses of Washington State, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster is an adventure journalist following threads of stories across the West. Cruelly stolen from the alpine swales of rural Wisconsin at a young age, Nick made do ascending the snows and granite of the North Cascades while completing a journalism degree. A long stint on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 codified a life bent on sleeping on minor slopes and picking devil’s club out of his shoes.

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Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro Axoflux 600D (Army Green)

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The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

Opening up your favorite carry-on travel backpack—with all of your stuff in the right place and easy to reach—should feel like you’re opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk.

This is a moment to center yourself, no matter how chaotic the journey.

What we considered

A 45L bag maximizes overhead space but can get heavy when fully packed; 35L bags tend to be more manageable.

Clamshell designs open like a book and are easiest to pack, but bags that open traditionally tend to have more structure.

Ideally, a travel backpack has handles on all sides, especially the bottom, for pulling it out of overhead bins or from under seats.

Some internal pockets are useful, but major organizing is better managed on your own with packing cubes.

We spent six months testing 22 bags and flying across the country with all of our picks.

In the end, we chose two as our top picks: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization.

Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, they’re designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel.

This is not a style of packing that’s for everyone, but once some people try it , they’re forever hooked. However, finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone.

That’s why we have picks that are great for people traveling for work , others designed to be carried over long distances , picks for maximizing your packing space , and budget options for travelers who want to give the one-bag strategy a try.

The research

Why you should trust us, best small carry-on bag for most situations: cotopaxi allpa 35l, best large bag for most situations: peak design travel backpack 45l, best bag for document organization: topo designs global travel bag 30l, best bag for long journeys on foot: osprey farpoint 40 and fairview 40, best bag if you need a large suitcase on your back: tortuga travel backpack 40l, best affordable large backpack: ebags tls mother lode weekender, other good carry-on travel backpacks, who this is for, how we picked and tested, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve been covering aspects of luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade and have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. And as members of a remote organization, our editors and writers travel a lot and are continually testing the gear we recommend—our travel gear guide remains a perennial favorite among staff members. I personally try to do most of my travel with a single backpack whenever possible. I spent nine months roaming around Hawaii with not much more than that and another six months nomadically couch-surfing in New York City.

In addition to documenting our own experiences, I reached out to experts and writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag. Eytan Levy is the owner and operator of the Snarky Nomad travel website, which combines travel guides and tips with in-depth gear reviews. James Feess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget . And Sharon Gourlay is the writer of the Where’s Sharon? travel website. I also spoke with moderators of Reddit’s r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, as well as with Chase Reeves, bag fanatic, reviewer, and owner of Matterful .

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

The Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

Get this if: You want an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag with a rainfly for downpours or you want to support a B-corp and its related social and sustainable missions .

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. Handles on all four sides of this bag make it easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it. It’s also protected by a full lifetime warranty and has the build quality to back that up. After more than four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item ) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage I use.

Cotopaxi also makes the Allpa in 28 - and 42 -liter sizes. But the 35 liter is, for us, the best. At 42 liters, this bag becomes heavy for most people to carry when its fully packed, and for a bag that big, we’d prefer that it had a more-robust hip belt. At 28 liters, the bag becomes a touch small for most people, and its internal organization feels fussy for any shorter trip, such as an overnight. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack that’s designed to fit snugly into the Allpa’s front top compartment. It’s a neat little addition to the bag, and it is worth getting if you like wearing fanny packs while you travel.

The Allpa has a clamshell design, which means it opens like a hard-sided suitcase: A large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, letting it fall open into two halves when unzipped. On the right side is a deep compartment, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or half a suitcase’s worth of clothes (which you access through a mesh zippered flap). On the left, there’s space for one more medium-size packing cube behind a zippered flap. Above that are two smaller pockets with high-visibility backing—useful when you’re looking for hard-to-differentiate personal items.

The Cotopaxi Allpa open to show the zip-up compartments on both the left and right sides filled with clothes, packing cubes, and other gear.

The Allpa’s hip belt, which can be removed while the bag is on your back, is substantial enough that it’s comfortable to wear when you need it. With or without the hip belt, the Allpa is decently comfortable over long distances. However, folks who have longer torsos (over 19 inches) may find that the waist belt sits a little high off the hips, unless you fully extend the shoulder straps. Speaking of, unlike the shoulder straps on our other picks, the Allpa’s straps are contoured to fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The Allpa has two side-access zippers—great for on-the-go access, especially when the bag is hanging from your shoulder. One of these reveals a flat computer pocket with a padded false bottom, so if you drop the bag, it won’t land on the corner of your computer; the other reveals a “secret” pocket with a hidden zipper and access to the main compartment. All of the main compartment zippers are protected by security loops, which you thread the zipper through at the end of its run. This prevents anyone from subtly or quickly grabbing a zipper and opening your bag when you aren’t paying attention.

The Allpa is made with 1680-denier ballistic nylon, similar to the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag or the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . This feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. The Allpa is the kind of bag you can toss as easily into an overhead compartment as you can into the back of a rusty pickup truck. Uniquely in this category, the Allpa also includes a rainfly.

A person holding a gray Cotopaxi Allpa backpack in front of themselves by gripping the side handles.

Flaws but not dealbreakers The Allpa has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth. This is where a good personal item comes in handy. However, if you want to travel with just this one bag, there are a few nooks you can hide things in. The front organizer is deep enough that you can also fit several small organizing pouches, if you want, or the aforementioned fanny pack.

Cotopaxi does enjoy playing around with fabrics and colors. Sometimes the company has released the Allpa without the TPU-lined front panel. The TPU panel improves water resistance, but we’ve found after many years of travel with our bag that the TPU layering can begin to flake in spots. We’d love to see the all-nylon option return at some point, for people who prefer the added robustness and don’t mind sacrificing a bit of rain coverage.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight: 3 pounds, 5 ounces Main compartment access: Clamshell opening Style: Adventurous Colors: Assorted

A person in a gray tshirt and red shorts stands between a solid wooden fence and tall shrubs while wearing the 45 liter Peak Design Travel Backpack.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind, but most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility, clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

Get this if: You travel often with expensive camera gear and need easy access and many storage pockets, or you just prefer a backpack-based packing system with plenty of adaptability and customization.

Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely well—be luggage on your back. But the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built to adapt. It’s the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. Not so with the Peak Design: It looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack.

You can access the bag through a back panel, which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch, as well as a front one, if you unzip the pass-through divider. You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps that run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters. If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. It will still feel larger than a normal daypack in this configuration, but we think that’s a small compromise for being able to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400D nylon and polyester fabrics. It feels tough, but not as tough as some other bags we’ve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa .

The Peak Design lets you tuck its shoulder and hip straps away when you’re not using them. But unlike any other bag we’ve ever tested, this pack has magnetic flaps on the back panel that open and close with an almost magical snap. Once you’ve played with them, you’ll wonder why every backpack doesn’t have something similar. A small, childish part of me still gets excited about tucking away the straps when I put the Peak Design into an overhead bin. Although the straps are thin, they’re comfortable. The hip belt isn’t quite as plush as the one on the Tortuga ; still, even when the Peak Design is fully loaded, the belt doesn’t pinch or dig into the body.

If you travel with a camera, you don’t have to use Peak Design’s camera cubes , but they do make carrying that gear a whole lot easier. The cubes come in three sizes, and if they’re situated properly in the bag with the provided clips, they line up with the Travel Backpack’s side-access flaps for quick access. Caleigh Waldman (the photographer for this piece and, full disclosure, my spouse) took this bag across the country for a wedding shoot. “I want this backpack,” she said after three weeks of travel. “I want to travel with it everywhere. With my cameras. Without my cameras. It doesn’t matter. I want to travel with it.”

Peak Design also makes a line of ultralight packing cubes . They’re good cubes, and they compare well to the ultralight Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube set, our pick for light packers . However, the Peak Design cubes are sized specifically for this bag and fit just so inside it, especially when combined with other Peak Design gear cubes and accessories, like the toiletry bag . (Chase Reeves has done an in-depth video review of these cubes; it’s a good resource for anyone who’s on the fence about buying them.) After testing the cubes (and this is not a mark against the Eagle Creek or the Peak Design ultralight cubes, both of which are excellent), I personally still prefer the more-rigid Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal set, one of our longtime picks .

Flaws but not dealbreakers The Travel Backpack has few flaws. It is expensive—especially if you commit to the entire system of packing and camera cubes. The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses. Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty , which should alleviate most people’s concerns. But if you’re particularly hard on your gear and still need to carry as much as possible, you might consider the Tortuga instead.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: back-panel loader Style: minimalist and unobtrusive Color: Black, Sage

A person in a black jacket walks across a brick plaza while carrying the Topo Designs 30 liter travel bag over their shoulder with the optional shoulder sling. The bag is olive green with bright yellow and red accents.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L

Combines more organization with a simple interior.

This bag’s open interior makes packing easy. Those who travel for work will appreciate the Topo’s accessible front pockets and holders for organizing books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items.

Get this if: You travel often for work and prefer a bag that’s much easier to work out of than most of our other picks. The front panel and assorted pockets are like a small traveling office space.

Of all the bags we recommend, the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L comes closest to the style of an everyday carry backpack, due to its small size and minimal external features. This bag is perfect if you have to travel to a work event, get off the plane, and then use it as a daily backpack without drawing too much attention to yourself. Topo also includes built-in attachment clips, if you want to piggyback a smaller daily-carry backpack to your Travel Bag. I know people who love to do this. I personally do not. But it’s a good feature, especially if you’re committed to Topo gear in general. However, given its basic strap system and flat nylon back, the Topo is not built as well as our other picks for longer hikes.

The Travel Bag is one of the simplest bags we tested, with a main compartment and some basic document organization in the front pocket. This bag is a front-panel loader (which we find very easy to pack), organized around a main pocket that can fit two large packing cubes. Inside, the lid of the bag also has two mesh dividers, for a small amount of organization. Outside, the bag has two small zippered pockets for travel accessories (such as earbuds and a passport) and a larger organizer pocket for books, tickets, and snacks. The Topo is constructed with heavy YKK zippers and, similar to the Cotopaxi Allpa, has built-in zipper security loops (strong loops of fabric that secure your zippers when the bag is shut), if you want a touch more security.

Similar to our other picks, the Travel Bag is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty and repair program from Topo. However, Topo’s gear is made from 1000D nylon (a dense and very tough fabric) and built like a tank; it has rigid padding throughout, and there is an attention to detail (particularly in the stitching around the zippers and handles) that’s a mark of quality to any savvy bag enthusiast. The point is, you would really have to get into some trouble to need the repair program. But it’s there if you do need it.

If you want to carry as much as possible, the Travel Bag also comes in a 40L model . It’s a fine bag at that size, and it does include a small yet stowable waist belt to help carry the weight. But we prefer our larger picks, like the Tortuga (more carrying capacity) or the eBags TLS Mother Lode (less expensive).

The Travel Bag has a built-in laptop compartment that fits most 15-inch laptops and is situated close to your back; this protects the computer and keeps its weight closer to your body. The Topo is well padded on all sides, and it is stitched in a way that keeps the edge of your computer from the bottom of the bag and should protect your computer from all but the worst drops. This bag, like most of Topo’s gear, is designed to work with Topo dopp bags , accessory bags , and packing cubes . Fully packed, it can carry two large packing cubes, two medium accessory bags, and a dopp kit.

Flaws but not dealbreakers Despite its travel-document organization, the Topo bag lacks the large internal pockets of our other picks, and the bag’s main compartment isn’t quite as spacious as that of our other picks. People who like a deeper main compartment might prefer the Cotopaxi or Tortuga bags. The Topo bag’s compartment is a little tight for large laptops, so it isn’t the best when going through security. We’d love to see a little more attention paid to the back contouring and straps of this bag, to make longer walks more comfortable.

Capacity: 30 liters Weight: 2 pounds, 10 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: retro Colors: Navy, Black, Clay, Charcoal, Olive

A tester from behind, wearing the Osprey Farpoint

Osprey Farpoint 40

For long distances on foot.

A great starter option for one-bag travel, the Farpoint is easy to pack, adaptable to most situations, and sturdy enough to take with you as you travel the world. And it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Osprey Fairview 40

For smaller torsos.

A scaled-down version of the Farpoint, the Fairview has shoulder straps that are slightly lower, to keep the bag’s bulk more aligned with smaller torsos.

May be out of stock

Get this if: You’re starting out with one-bag travel and aren’t sure which style of bag is best for you, but you want one that’s easy to carry over long distances.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is well made, easy to pack, and comfortable to carry over most mid-length distances—such as walking across a city for an afternoon. (For simplicity’s sake, everything we say here about the Farpoint applies to the Fairview as well.) Osprey makes excellent backpacks for hauling around, and its lifetime warranty is renowned within the industry . The Farpoint also has an optional messenger bag–style strap, which offers some flexibility when you’re maneuvering tight spaces like subways or crowded city centers.

If you’re just starting out with one-bag travel, or you aren’t sure what type of travel bag best suits your needs, the Farpoint is an excellent first choice.

The Osprey backpack opened to show its neon-green interior mesh pocket on one side and a bright red packing cube strapped in to the other side.

The Farpoint is easy to pack. Opening the bag reveals a clamshell design; it’s deep enough to accommodate most large items, without your having to fumble awkwardly with zippers once it’s time to close up the bag. The feeling you get is not unlike packing a bit of sturdy luggage, which is something we love about bags like this—especially when you pack with packing cubes . Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. But after using the Farpoint for a few years, we’ve decided that its rounded shape seems to cut into that theoretical packable space more than other bags do. In practice, the available space in the Farpoint is closer to—but still less than—that of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Like all Osprey bags, the Farpoint has very comfortable shoulder straps. The years of design and consideration that Osprey has put into its line of hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint. After more than six years of long-term testing this bag, we’re still surprised by how great it feels to put on when it’s fully packed. Crucially, the straps of the Farpoint stow away neatly behind a zippered panel. However, when you’re using the shoulder straps, the design forces you to also use the hip straps. Though this isn’t a huge issue, if you prefer a sleeker look or would rather have the option of using shoulder straps without hip straps, the Cotopaxi Allpa is more flexible and lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back.

A black Klean Kanteen water bottle in the mesh water bottle pocket of an aqua colored Osprey backpack.

As some reviewers have pointed out, smaller individuals may appreciate the lighter weight and more-compact design of the Farpoint or the Fairview (which basically have the same design, but the Fairview is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso). On both, the chest-strap clip is also equipped with a small security whistle that’s surprisingly loud. It’s a handy feature for anyone traveling in unfamiliar environments.

Flaws but not dealbreakers For a smaller carry-on travel backpack, this one has little not to like. However, we do wish Osprey would trade some of the sleeker contours for a little more interior space.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight (Farpoint): 3 pounds, 3 ounces Weight (Fairview): 3 pounds, 2 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: active Colors (Farpoint): Gopher Green, Tunnel Vision Grey, Muted Space Blue, Black Colors (Fairview): Winter Night Blue, Zircon Red, Night Jungle Blue, Black

Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L

A suitcase to carry on your back.

For dedicated single-bag travelers, this water-resistant, durable bag is easy to pack and to travel with. And it’s comfortable to wear over endless miles—as long as you don’t mind the heavier weight.

Get this if: You want to maximize your packing space in a bag that’s durable, customizable to fit most torso lengths (there’s also a 30L version ), and water-resistant, and that has organizational features to suit any digital nomad.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L is built to occupy the maximum carry-on space available. It’s a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. On the outside, its tear-resistant sailcloth and sealed zippers provide ample protection from sharp objects and the elements. Opening the main clamshell zipper reveals a cavernous interior and a few organizational features that make the bag a cinch to pack. The front panel is a particular standout, great for keeping track of electronics and chargers. Of all the bags we tested, the Tortuga strikes the closest balance between the carrying comfort of a hiking backpack and the space and organization of a piece of luggage.

When it comes to packing, the Tortuga has a soothingly minimal interior, as any good suitcase should. In addition to the bag’s cavernous main pocket, its interior lid has a large vented panel. The panel is too narrow to hold additional packing cubes, but it’s great for holding light jackets or doubling as a dirty-laundry bag (if you’re really committed to one-bag travel). The Tortuga is available as a 40-liter bag (the max space for a carry-on bag), which we tested, along with the 30-liter version, which is compliant with some intra-European flights. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelers—but for those uses, we prefer the space-saving profile and extra internal organization of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

However, the Tortuga is the most adjustable bag we’ve tested five years in a row, thanks to its adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, and waist-belt system. The adjustable strap system lets you manipulate the location of the shoulder straps (video) to fit a wider variety of body sizes, in both the 30- and 40-liter versions. This design (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best of those we’ve tested at distributing the weight of the bag (4.5 pounds when empty—roughly a pound and a half more than most of our other picks, except the Peak Design.) The hip straps are removable if you need, but the shoulder straps are not stowable.

Flaws but not dealbreakers Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the Tortuga’s shoulder straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa) a disqualifying factor. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. Personally, it still makes me nervous to see the Tortuga traveling on the luggage belt toward mysterious machines and conveyors beneath the airport—all of which, in my imagination, are waiting to tear the hip belt from the bag or slice open the sailcloth exterior. But the Tortuga appears to shrug it all off with ease. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer our picks with easy-to-stow straps, such as the Peak Design Travel Backpack .

We’ve also fielded complaints from some testers that older models of this bag were too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. The additional padding does add weight. At 4.5 pounds, the new Tortuga is more than half a pound lighter than it used to be —the difference is noticeable—and it weighs the same as the equally large Peak Design . But if you feel like you would struggle carrying this model, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Capacity: 40 liters Weight: 4.5 pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: minimal, with a rigid construction Color: black

A person in a gray tshirt and red shorts wears the eBags TLS Mother Lode while walking outdoors next to tall shrubs.

eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender

Affordable capacity and organization.

The Mother Lode offers the organizational features most travelers want, at an affordable price. However, it’s not as comfortable to carry as pricier options, and it can expand well past the limits of most overhead bins.

Get this if: You want an affordable bag with a traditional look, to carry as much as you can—potentially more than you’re allowed by airlines.

If you like the concept of the large Tortuga Travel Backpack but not its price, the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender is a great option for infrequent travelers who are willing to give up some features, such as a decent hip belt. It’s not comfortable enough for trekking long distances on foot, but there are plenty of external pockets for organization, a laptop sleeve that holds the weight of your computer high up on your shoulders, and an easy-to-access main compartment. This bag also has the largest capacity of any of those we tested, expanding to 65 liters—well beyond any airline’s regulated 45-liter limit. However, the bag’s more-casual looks might not be to everyone’s taste.

The Mother Lode is a good suitcase built around a basic (if slightly underwhelming) backpack. That’s the tradeoff you make for its low price, which is less than half that of other models. Unlike our other picks, the Mother Lode is not for carrying over long distances, especially when it’s full. If you know you’re going to be walking long distances (say, over a mile or so) with your pack on, you might want to consider one of our other picks. That said, if you’re carrying your bag only from a taxi to the airport security line but you want to avoid checked-item fees, the Mother Lode might be the bag for you.

The best part of the Mother Lode is the interior layout: It is easy to pack, and it’s smartly organized but still adaptable enough to mold to your preferred style of packing (meaning you can find what you need when you need it). However, the intense design focus that’s evident in the interior of the bag seems to have slipped a bit when it came to the exterior. Compared with those of several other picks in this size, this bag’s slim straps and barely there hip belt are noticeably lacking, especially if you’ve maxed out the bag’s ludicrous capacity.

The clamshell opening of the Mother Lode is similar to the Tortuga’s or the Cotopaxi Allpa’s. This space is augmented by a separate front compartment and organization panel for quick access to mid-size items like a toiletry kit; a top compartment for keys, small books, or sunglasses; and a front pocket organizer for smaller flat items, like travel documents and wallets. The laptop pocket is large and well protected, and it has a strap to help secure and position your laptop’s weight higher up your back if you wish.

Flaws but not dealbreakers There are plenty of flaws with this bag, if you choose to see them as flaws instead of the necessary consequences of the Mother Lode’s inexpensive price. During testing, we packed as much into the Mother Lode as we did in the Tortuga (more, if we expanded the Mother Lode past strict carry-on dimensions). The problem with that much capacity? It becomes an absolute bear to carry. And the flimsy waist belt is almost useless at distributing weight across your hips. Several times during testing I considered just cutting it away. This is a shame, since the bag could go from “decent for the price” to “fantastic, especially at this price” with just a few upgrades.

Capacity: 45 liters (expandable to 65 liters) Weight: 4 pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: casual Colors: Eggplant, Garnet, Slate Blue, Heathered Graphite, Pine Green

If you want to travel like a backpacker but fit in at a board meeting (and have the budget to do so): Consider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 —its reputation for durability, adaptability, and a low-key aesthetic make it a favorite among many dedicated one-bag travelers, and after testing it, we think it’s a great bag too. That said, for the bag to really stand out against other backpacks, and to take full advantage of its carrying adaptability, you need to buy the $33 internal frame , the $33 hip belt , and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the $33 shoulder strap (all prices at the time of writing). This all adds up on a bag that already costs $330. Even though everything about the Tom Bihn (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, it’s simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people. The biggest flaw, from our perspective—apart from the price—is that the Tom Bihn lacks a dedicated laptop pocket. In its place, the company sells laptop sleeves (a fine version if you don’t have one) that clip into the bag’s central compartment. Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do.

Anyone who wants to travel light and stay flexible should seriously consider using a carry-on travel backpack. For some people, the challenge of cutting down a packing list is intimidating. But if you can get past that initial hurdle, traveling with a single bag is a revelation. With fewer items, you have more time to concentrate on and appreciate the journey. It’s easy to remain more mobile when you’re not loaded down by heavy luggage and easier still to adjust your plans mid-trip. If you’re willing to do laundry on the road, then one bag is all you need to travel indefinitely. And as airlines charge more and more for checking baggage, traveling with just a carry-on bag (frequently referred to as one-bag travel ) is becoming less of a lifestyle choice and more of a survival skill. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover more—not just about the places you’re going but about yourself and what you really need day to day.

If you desire more creature comforts or more gear, or if you plan to be away for a long time across multiple climates, you’ll want a bigger travel backpack . These larger bags are not carry-on-friendly, though, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them. We also have a guide to wheeled carry-on bags , which are designed to hold a lot of stuff while remaining easy to maneuver around airports. However, wheels, retractable handles, and frames subtract from precious packing space and add weight, and can make a bag difficult to manage on busy city streets.

There’s no single backpack that is perfect for everyone. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. How much can you carry? And where do you usually visit: city or outback? Travel gear should feel like a welcome companion—there to support you when you need it, but unobtrusive when you do not. The best bags are built to survive a lifetime of use and, if cared for properly, should be something you develop a bond with over time.

To compile our list of possible models, we scoured the world of travel blogs and product reviews (most driven by a similar affiliate revenue model to ours), including The Savvy Backpacker , Snarky Nomad , The Travel Hack , Nomadic Matt , The Travel Tester , Where’s Sharon? , Y Travel Blog , Lengthy Travel , and GearLab . Additionally, we lurked on Reddit’s r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, and emailed and had phone interviews with the moderators of those subreddits, Addison Ryan and Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, respectively. Additionally, we spoke with the prolific travel bag reviewer Chase Reeves to get his thoughts on what most great bags have in common. We ended up with a list of 60 candidates and then narrowed this list down to 22 finalists using the following criteria: capacity, compartment design, aesthetics, reviews, and reported comfort.

There isn’t one perfect bag to please everyone, but there are tools you can use to find what’s best for you. We did a lot of our own research to compare models of travel bags, but r/onebag moderator /u/-Nepherim created one of the best product-comparison spreadsheets we’ve seen . If you want to keep researching your own pick, this spreadsheet is a great place to start.

A graphic comparing 45-liter vs. 35-liter travel bags. The difference in size translates to fitting 4 large packing cubes, 1 medium packing cube, and a toiletry bag (45-liter) vs. 2 large packing cubes, 1 medium packing cube, and 1 small toiletry bag (35-liter)

Even if you aren’t convinced by our picks, we do think we can help you figure out what parameters are best for travel bags of any size. We’ve narrowed down our specifications to the following list of features, ordered from most to least relevant.

Panel-loading or clamshell opening for the main compartment: As with any good piece of luggage, with these bags, you want to be able to open them and see everything you’ve packed. A panel-loading or clamshell design—rather than a traditional top-opening design—lets you pack and unpack these bags just as you would a suitcase.

A graphic illustrating a clamshell bag opening

Backpack strap comfort and design: You never know when you’ll be walking farther with your bag than you’d intended. The more comfortable and well designed the straps, the easier traveling will be. “Ideally, you want a bag’s shoulder straps to adjust to the angle of your shoulders,” said Eytan Levy of Snarky Nomad. “Good shoulder straps are the difference between an easy trip and a hard trip.”
Hip belt comfort and design: A hip belt transfers heavy loads from your back and shoulders onto your hips, letting your legs—not your back—bear the brunt of the weight. Just having a waist belt is a plus, but having a padded and sculpted one—especially on bags with over 40 liters of volume—makes a world of difference.
Style: This is purely subjective. We preferred bags that had a minimalist exterior style, but not all of our picks will please everyone. Most of the people we spoke with, however, preferred not to stick out like a tourist wearing a large, colorful backpack, if they could avoid it.
Material quality: Durability is critical for any type of luggage, but especially for a backpack that will be your only bag. Most bags worth considering are made of nylon, which resists abrasion more than polyester fabrics of similar density. Spending more, however, can get you such exotic, light, and strong materials as Dyneema or sailcloth.
Weight: Once the bags arrived, we weighed each one ourselves. Most of the bags weighed within a few pounds of one another. But unless you’re very strict with yourself, by the time you’re packed for a two-week journey, all bags are going to feel equally massive, even if one is just 2 pounds heavier than another when empty.
Stowable straps: These are nice to have but aren’t absolutely necessary. “The more often you need to check a bag, the more often you need to hide away the straps,” Levy said. “But if the straps are tough enough, it doesn’t matter.”
Accessory pocket layout and design: Some people will love an accessory pocket that has a specific space for everything, while others may find that feature constricting and unadaptable. We prioritized simple designs that guided our packing without constraining us.

During testing, we flew with these bags across the country, took weekend trips to nearby cities, lived out of them on extended trips, and tried them locally in our daily routines. We also packed and unpacked each bag, using a standardized set of weeklong travel necessities and accessories, to see how well the internal organizational features (or lack thereof) aided or got in the way of efficient packing.

The Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L has an updated design featuring a new hip belt, which brings it back into class with many of its competitors in this category. In the past, the MLC’s straps were too slim and unsupported for the bag’s 45-liter capacity. Also, its lack of any framing gave the bag a soft and unsettling feeling if it was anything but fully packed. We’re looking at the newest model to see if some of these problems have been corrected and if a former champion travel backpack can regain the spotlight.

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack : This mind-bendingly inexpensive bag (which includes three packing cubes, all for $45 at time of publication) is a remarkable testament to the cutthroat logic and efficiency of a globalized free market. Is it attractive? No. Is it comfortable to carry? Not particularly. Is it durable enough to withstand years of travel? Unlikely. Is it $45? Yes! If you want the absolute least expensive carry-on travel backpack we’ve ever seen, this is it. But you’ll get more with the TLS Motherlode , which, although double the price, is still very affordable.

Away F.A.R. Convertible Backpack 45L : A rare miss from the Away team. This bag is resoundingly average for the price. Admittedly made of excellent materials, the bag is let down by its overall design, which lacks any kind of structure or attention to comfort. There are better options.

Cabin Max Metz (and the nearly identical AmazonBasics Carry-On ): This cheap, no-frills bag is enticing for the price. But after comparing these bags to the TLS Mother Lode, we think you’re better off paying twice the price for way more than twice the value. The Mother Lode is more reliable and built from stronger materials, and it will hold more stuff comfortably than either of these bags.

GeniusPack Travel Backpack: The GeniusPack is the only model we came across that tried to fit a suit into a travel backpack. Though some people might need this, we think those who have to travel with a suit (or clothes that require pressing) would be better off with a piece of carry-on luggage . (GeniusPack now has a version 2 of this bag, but our conclusion hasn’t changed.)

Goruck GR2 : I’m a big fan of Goruck bags, and I use the GR1 regularly as my daily work and travel bag. These bags will last a lifetime. However, the GR2 is too expensive and too large (its 40L size is a true 40L) for many people, especially since none of the three sizes (26L, 34L, and 40L) comes with a hip belt. We wish the GR2 had a removable hip belt, something similar to what’s on the GR3. That said, this bag is simple, sturdy, and stoic. There is a lot to love about it. And if you don’t mind the high cost, this bag will probably outlast your corporeal self.

Goruck GR3 : The GR3 is almost worth the cost for certain people. It’s strong and simple and covered by an iron-clad repair guarantee. The removable hip belt is comfortable to wear and good at displacing the weight of a 45-liter backpack. It’s a good bag. However, after testing it, we weren’t thrilled with the internal Velcro lining for compatible Velcro packing cubes. Velcro isn’t great: It wears out, is difficult to keep clean, and clings to dirt. That might seem like a small thing, but for the price, this bag should feel perfect.

Kelty Redwing 44 : When we got our hands on the Redwing, we realized that it was closer to a top-loading light camping backpack than to the panel-loading packs we tested. It didn’t quite fit the scope of this review because of its design.

Hynes Eagle 40L Flight Approved Carry-on : This pack is very similar pack to the eBags TLS Mother Lode and the Cabin Max Metz models. It might be useful as a weekend traveler, but we don’t think it would hold up for longer trips.

MEI Voyageur : There’s a lot to like about this bag, especially for the price. It features 1000D Cordura nylon and YKK zippers, and it has a spacious design and decent shoulder straps. But we’re still on the fence about recommending it. The lack of recent reputable reviews gives us pause, along with the sparse Shopify website, which, the last time we checked, in 2024, wasn’t operational. (The company now appears to be selling directly via PayPal.)

Minaal Carry-on 2.0: This bag was designed to be the absolute best travel backpack for business people. But if you’re a business person, you’re probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldn’t use a backpack in any case. Even so, if you’re a business traveler who falls more on the casual end of the business-casual spectrum, and you’re not on a budget, you should know that many travel writers have spoken highly of this bag, despite its high price. This does look to be a well-thought-out pack, but we think our picks are more versatile for world travel. (Minaal has since introduced a 3.0 version ; our thoughts about it remain the same.)

Osprey Porter 46: This was a slightly larger sibling of the Farpoint 40 . It’s about 2 inches longer, and it pushes right up to most airline limits. If you don’t mind possibly having to gate-check your bag at the last minute, this would have been an excellent alternative to the Farpoint 40. (It has since been replaced by the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 ; we may take a look at it.)

Trakke Storr Carryon : Travel-bag enthusiast Chase Reeves used to list this bag as one of his top picks for a medium-size carry-on bag, and it looks very well built . But at $500, plus shipping from Scotland, it is simply too expensive for most people.

We also tested and dismissed The North Face Overhaul 40, which has since been discontinued.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Chase Reeves, Matterful.co , phone interview , October 10, 2018

Addison Ryan, moderator, r/onebag , email interview , September 8, 2018

Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, moderator, r/heronebag , phone interview , September 28, 2018

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

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I Took 5 Trips in 6 Months. My Go-To Weekender Bag Was This Surprisingly Spacious Backpack.

by Elissa Sanci

Struggling to pack for your weekend away? The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L fits so much more than you’d expect.

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Shop Backpacks and Travel Bags for Men and Women in Malaysia

268 products

(Clearance) Peak Design Everyday Carry 30L Backpack - Oribags.com

Are you ready for your next adventure? Whether you're planning a weekend getaway, a backpacking trip, or a business trip, having the right backpack or travel bag can make all the difference. Choosing the right backpack or travel bag can make all the difference when it comes to travelling. It can mean the difference between a comfortable, organised trip and one that's stressful and frustrating. With so many options available, finding a bag that fits your needs and style is essential.

Our collection of backpacks and travel bags, such as everyday backpack, hiking backpacks , and one-bag travel packs from some of the top EDC brands worldwide, offers quality products designed for various needs and lifestyles. Whether you're an adventure seeker, a business traveller, or a fashion-conscious jet-setter, we've got you covered. Let's explore our collection and find your perfect companion.

Featured Backpacks and Travel Bags

Looking for the perfect backpack or travel bag? Here are the top 5 backpacks and travel bags available at Oribags, along with their notable features and benefits:

Modern Dayfarer Backpack

The Dayfarer backpack is perfect for anyone carrying gym and work gear. It features separate compartments to keep everything organized and easily accessible, making it the ultimate multi-purpose backpack. Made from VX21, one of the most advanced textiles on the market, this backpack is exceptionally tear-resistant, waterproof, lightweight, and super tough.

One of the standout features of the Dayfarer backpack is its dual-zippered dropdown front panel. This unique design provides easy access to the backpack's contents, making it a breeze to grab your gym clothes or work supplies on the go. The backpack also includes a separate padded laptop compartment, a ventilated shoe compartment, and a spacious main compartment with quick access, interior, and front pockets. There's even an expandable water bottle pocket, padded mesh back panel, and shoulder straps for added comfort. It's versatile, durable, and designed to meet the needs of anyone who needs to carry both gym and work gear.

Evergoods Civic Travel Bag 35L

The Evergoods Civic Travel Bag 35L is an exceptional backpack designed with an intuitive, expansive 3D pocket layout and an exceptional fit. It comes with several notable features, such as a front exterior pocket with internal organisation, a fully suspended internal padded laptop sleeve that can protect devices up to 17 inches, and a top external 3D pocket with a key leash. There's also a front external oversized stash pocket, an internal 3D security pocket, and an internal stretch pocket for folders and books.

In addition to these features, the backpack boasts bias-cut panels that provide improved abrasion resistance and stretch. It also has differentially cut shoulder straps that naturally follow the curve of your body, and aluminium side stays that offer sturdy side carry. Plus, there are utility loops outside the top carry handle, allowing you to clip or secure smaller items temporarily.

Nomatic Travel Pack (V2)

This sleek and stylish travel bag is designed for everyday use and those shorter 1-3 day trips. It's the perfect choice for modern travellers who need to stay organised. Notable features include its 20L size that can expand to 30L, allowing you to pack more when needed. The patent-pending strap system will enable you to switch from backpack to briefcase carry, making it ideal for professional settings. The bag has 20+ noteworthy features, including a perimeter zipper, magnetic water bottle pockets, a shoe compartment, an innovative strap system, a mesh divider, RFID-safe storage, and hidden pockets.

The NOMATIC Travel Pack is incredibly functional while maintaining a minimalist design that gives you confidence for your life on the move. With this travel bag, you can easily find what you need while on the go and look stylish doing it.

Alpaka Elements Backpack Multicam Black - Limited Edition

The Alpaka Elements Backpack in Multicam Black is a limited edition backpack that offers a rugged and stylish solution for your everyday carry needs. Whether you're commuting to work or just grabbing coffee, this backpack is designed with organisation in mind, featuring pockets for your laptop and tablet and deep zippers to keep your belongings secure.

One of the standout features of this backpack is its comfortable design. The body is structured with contoured and padded shoulder straps and back panels, ensuring all-day comfort. Additionally, the shoulder straps are equipped with space cell foam padding to provide extra cushioning. Other notable features of the Elements backpack include a padded, suspended laptop pocket with soft lining, a quick-access hidden front pocket, a smart internal organisation for your everyday essentials, an internal modular system, contoured back panels for enhanced comfort and fit, two exterior water bottle pockets, a magnetic sternum strap, and anti-theft, lockable zippers.

Life Behind Bars The Peloton 30-42L Rolltop Backpack

The Peloton is one of the most versatile backpacks , loved by many. It is small enough to be used as a daypack when compressed and rolled. It is spacious enough for an eight-day trip when fully expanded and unrolled. The sleek and streamlined design of the Peloton makes it perfect for use in both office and outdoor environments.

It features a slightly tapered design that complements the user's body shape and forces items to stack upwards, promoting better load distribution. The Peloton has quick-access organiser pockets and polyurethane-covered, water-repellent YKK zippers to keep your things safe and organised. Its notable features include two waterproof compartments, a floating padded laptop compartment, light and attachment Molle loops, a quick access front pocket, a large flat document compartment, two external pockets with mesh drainage, a passport-sized incognito pocket, an interchangeable logo with Velcro, and heavy-duty bottom lining material to protect the bag from ground friction and liquid seeping through the bottom.

The Peloton's benefits include carrying everything you need for a short trip or as a supplement to your main luggage. Its spacious compartments can accommodate all your travel essentials while providing quick and easy access to them. These top 5 backpacks and travel bags are all crafted from high-quality, sustainable materials, and offer a range of features and benefits tailored to various travel needs.

Whether you prioritise security, organisation, or versatility, Oribags has a backpack or travel bag from some of the top EDC brands worldwide, such as Thule, Bellroy, Modern Dayfarer,Peak Design and more, that can meet your needs. So, select the one that aligns with your preferences and set out on your next adventure in style!

Choosing the Right Backpack and Travel Bag

When you're getting ready for your next adventure, choosing the right backpack or travel bag can make all the difference. But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one will work best for you. To help you out, here are some key factors to consider when selecting your perfect backpack or travel bag:

One of the most crucial aspects to consider is the size of the backpack or travel bag. You should consider the length of your trip and the amount of stuff you plan to bring. You can get by with a smaller bag if you only go away for a weekend. But if you're going on a more extended trip, you'll likely need something larger. Consider the dimensions of the bag and the capacity in litres. A carry on travel backpack with a larger capacity will allow you to carry more items, but remember that it will also be heavier.

Backpacks and travel bags come in various styles, each with unique features that cater to different travel styles. From minimalist designs to those with multiple compartments and pockets, consider your travel style and what features you need to keep your belongings organised and easily accessible. Some travel backpacks have separate compartments for laptops, cameras, and other electronics, while others have pockets specifically designed for water bottles or travel documents.

Intended Use

It's also important to consider where you'll be travelling and what activities you'll be doing. A backpack with a hydration system and ventilation may be necessary for hiking or outdoor activities. A bag with anti-theft features, such as RFID-blocking pockets or slash-resistant fabric, may be a better choice for city travel or weekend trips.

You'll want a comfortable bag to carry around all day. Ensure the backpack or travel bag fits you well and is comfortable for long periods. Look for padded shoulder straps, a chest strap, a waist belt or straps, adjustable straps, hip straps and a padded hip belt for added support. A backpack that distributes the weight evenly across your back and hips will be more comfortable to carry, especially for extended periods.

Consider the durability and weather resistance of the backpack or travel bag. For example, a waterproof bags or travel backpack may be necessary if you are travelling in rainy conditions. Look for backpacks made from materials like nylon or polyester that are lightweight, durable, and water-resistant.

Considering these factors, you can select a backpack or travel bag that meets your needs and helps you make the most of your travels. Choosing the right backpack or travel bag can make a huge difference in your comfort and convenience.

Top Reasons to Shop with Us

At our store, we strive to provide the best shopping experience for our customers. Here are some top reasons why you should shop with us:

Quality and Durability: We take pride in offering a selection of backpacks and travel bags made with high-quality materials and built to last. Our c are some of the top EDC brands worldwide designed with durability in mind, so you can confidently travel knowing that your backpacks or travel bag will hold up to your adventures.
Comfort and Ergonomics: We understand that comfort is key when choosing a backpack or travel bag. That's why we offer products with features like padded backpack straps, adjustable chest straps, and ergonomic designs that distribute weight evenly across your body. Our goal is to help you find a backpack or travel bag that is comfortable to wear, even for long periods.
Stylish Selection: We believe backpacks and travel bags should be functional and fashionable. That's why we offer a wide selection of backpacks in different styles, colours, and designs. From classic and minimalist to trendy and bold, we have something for everyone.
Exclusive Deals and Offers: We want to ensure our customers get the best value for their money. That's why we regularly offer exclusive deals and promotions on our backpacks and travel bags. Whether it's a limited-time sale, a special offer or a clearance sale, we strive to provide our customers with the best possible prices.
Wide Range of Products: We understand that everyone's travel needs are different, so we offer a wide range of backpacks and travel bags to choose from. Whether you're looking for a hiking backpack, a carry-on bag, or a duffel bag, we have you covered. We also offer products with various features, such as anti-theft technology, waterproof materials, and more
Customer Service: We value our customers and want to ensure they have the best shopping experience possible. Our customer service team is always ready to assist with any questions or concerns. We are committed to providing prompt and friendly service to ensure your satisfaction with your purchase.
Convenient Shopping: We make finding and purchasing your perfect backpack or travel bag easy. Our user-friendly website offers detailed product descriptions and images to help you make an informed decision. We also provide fast and reliable shipping so you can receive your order promptly.

Find Your Perfect Backpack or Travel Bag With Our Collection

Finding the perfect backpack or peak-design travel backpack for your next adventure is essential. At our store, we understand the importance of selecting the right gear to fit your unique travel needs. That's why we offer a wide selection of high-quality products, prioritising style and functionality.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a long-term excursion, our collection of backpacks and travel bags are designed to provide comfort, durability, and convenience. From ergonomic designs that evenly distribute weight across your body to anti-theft technology that keeps your belongings secure, we have everything you need to make your journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring that every customer has a positive shopping experience with us. We offer exclusive deals and promotions, a wide range of products, and convenient shopping options to make your search for the perfect backpack or travel bag simple and stress-free.

So why wait? Browse our collection today and find the backpack or travel bag that fits your unique needs and style. We're confident you'll find exactly what you're looking for with our exceptional selection and commitment to quality.

Travel Backpacks

Price - Low to high
Price - High to low

Polo SWAT Series 968 Mens Army Military Tactical Travel Backpack Top Quality Multipurpose Outdoor Sport Bag

Polo louie store.

NatureHike High Quality Outdoor Mountaineering Climbing Backpack Camping 65L 55L 45L Large Capacity Waterproof Hiking Backpacks with Rain Cover

Naturehike outdoor camp.

adidas Hybrid Backpack

Jack Wolfskin Alpine Trail 40L Trekking Hiking Mountain Travel Backpack

Rainforest outdoor.

Polo Original Mens Travel Backpack 60L Camping Extra Large Hiking Daypack

ME (Ready Stock in Selangor) Elegance Black Secondary Students / Business and Travel Backpack Bag

CAMEL Outdoor Backpack Large Capacity Hiking Travel Mountaineering Bag

Camel official store.my.

EcoSport Military M92 70L Waterproof Travel Backpack Bagpack Outdoor Backpack

Polo Original Men Large Travel Backpack Student Laptop Bag Business Office Bag

Sniper SB0024) FREE GIFT! HIGH QUALITY LARGE 24L WATERPROOF IP X6 BACKPACK DRY BAG HIKING BAG OUTDOOR BACKPACK CYCLING HIKING LAPTOP BAG

Sniperstore.

The North Face

Skechers Schoolbag Female Middle School Student College Student Racing Red Backpack Computer Travel Backpack Male

Osprey Kestrel 38L & 48L Hiking Mountain Travel Backpack

SAMEL FGD 490 TRAVEL HIKING BACKPACK 90 LITRE

Samelofficial store.

SENSOAM Backpack Trendy Leisure Travel Backpack Large Capacity Scratch resistant Campus Style Book Bag for Men and Women

Sensoam kedai beg lelaki.

MARK RYDEN Rolltop Backpack Men Expansion Travel Backpack Fits In 17.3 Inch Laptop

Mark ryden official shop.

MOUNTAINTOP TRAVEL POINT 40LITER HIKING BACKPACK FOR OUTDOOR CAMPING TRAVELLING WITH RAIN COVER

Travel point.

Dell Genuine 0C1FTY Cruiser Pro 15.6" | 17.3" inch Waterproof Gaming Travel Backpack - Black / White

LouisWill Shoulder Bag Unisex Textured Leather Film Bag Large Capacity Bag Multifunctional Computer Bag Travel Backpack Student Bag Laptop Bag Backpacks For Commuting Swimming Beac

Louiswill official shop.

Outlander Hiking Backpack 80LWaterproof for Men Women Light-weight Internal Frame Outdoor Camping Traveling Trekking Pac

SAMEL FGD 351 KEEP GOING SMART CASUAL TRAVEL BACKPACK

NatureHike Rock Hiking Backpack 60 + 5L with Dyneema Fabric

Vitaaura ventures.

CAMEL 25L Backpack Mountaineering Bag Light Outdoor Hiking Bag

IvyH 【Selangor Ready Stock】 6 Wheel Cute Girl Waterproof Trolley Bag Climb Stairs Cartoon Suitable For Children And Youth To Go To School and Travel

Ivyh & gogokids my.

Becute Mylilangelz Color Line 3-In-1 Backpack Baby Carrier Ergonomic Dukung Baby Breathable BB Travel

Mylilangelz.

The North Face The Not Face Hiking & Travel Backpack Electron 40L

MARK RYDEN 15.6 Inches Laptop Bag For Men Light Travel Backpack

OZUKO Large Capacity Travel Backpack Luxury Bag Travel Adventure Laptop Multi-Purpose Backpack

Avenir store my.

MOUNTAINTOP TRAVEL POINT 50LITER HIKING BACKPACK FOR OUTDOOR CAMPING TRAVELLING WITH RAIN COVER

Bebear Mylilangelz KA0142 Color Block 3-In-1 Backpack Baby Carrier Ergonomic Dukung Baby Breathable Comfortable BB Travel

Decathlon Trekking Travel Backpack 50L, Multiple Compartments - Forclaz

Decathlon official store.

The North Face [Readystock] Terra 50 Rucksacks Hiking Bag Outdoor Bagpack Travel Backpack

Thebackpack.

Local Lion WaterResistant Hiking Backpack HANDLESS 40L 108

Local Lion Camping WaterResistent Hiking Backpack HANDLE 40L 106

gogokids 【Selangor Stock】ivyh Kids Trolley Luggage Multi Functional Childrens Cartoon Suitcase With Universal Wheels For Travel

Local Lion FlameHorse Noctilucent Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 40L 151

Deuter Futura 27 Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover (New Logo) 100% Original

Backpack world.

FLAMEHORSE Steel Support Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 55L 156

The North Face Utility Travel Backpack For Men And Women With Laptop Compartment Single Shot

Haborobs.my.

FLAMEHORSE [6 Colours] Steel Support Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 60L 160

SAMEL FGD 375 TRAVEL HIKING BACKPACK 75 LITRE

Sifubeg Werocker Ladies Travel Backpack 1637 Men Bag Backpack Women Bag backpack Beg Galas lelaki Murah Beg Galas Perempuan Men Travel Backpack Women Travel

Sifubeg Floless Ladies Travel Backpack 1637 (Pink) Men Bag Backpack Women Bag backpack Beg Galas lelaki Murah Beg Galas Perempuan Murah Men Travel Backpack Women Travel Backpack Beg Balik Kampung Lelaki Murah beg Balik Kampung Perempuan Murah Beg Konvoi

FLAMEHORSE Steel Support Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 60L 154

Kingsons Anti-Thief 15.6 Inch Laptop Bag Work Travel Backpack USB Charge Slot Outdoor Business Casual Waterproof Beg Galas KS3143W

Deuter AC Lite 17 - 17L (New Logo) Hiking Backpack - 100% Original

Travel Star 401 Premium Laptop Double Strap Elite Backpack Travel Backpack

Sokano shop.

Deuter Futura 21 SL (Women Fit) Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover Lightweight (New Logo) 100% Original

Tucano DESERT Travel Backpack for Laptop 15.6 inch - Black / Blue

ab New Zealand Kids Travel Backpack Kids School Canvas Backpack (Amour Paris)

Local Lion Multi Purpose Lightweight Casual Daypack Cycling Hiking Backpack HIKING 25L (122)

ab New Zealand Kids Travel Backpack Kids School Canvas Backpack (US Camo)

ab New Zealand Kids Travel Backpack Kids School Canvas Backpack (Kitty)

Nobranded RockSeries Extra Large Travel Backpack 80L With Multiple Compartments

Rock and queen.

Local Lion Outdoor INOXTO Water Resistant Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 40L 127

Local Lion Steel Support Water Resistant Hiking Backpack STEEL 45L (120)

FLAMEHORSE Lightweight Camping Travelling Hiking Backpack 45L 155

Local Lion 3 Style Outdoor Camping Water Resistent Large Hiking Backpack 50L 125

Local Lion Steel Support Water Resistant Hiking Backpack STEEL 60L 121

Top trending in backpacks.

Backpacking Malaysia Packing List: The Best Guide for 2024

Putting together a Malaysia packing list is thankfully pretty easy. I spent 3 weeks here in October 2023 and realised I didn’t need all that much! Read through to make sure your trip to Malaysia is a breeze.

This post may contain affiliate links to things like hostels and products. These help me earn a small commission to keep the blog running at no cost to you!

Malaysia Packing List

Planning a backpacking trip to Malaysia but you’re unsure of what to bring? Don’t you worry my friend – i’ve got you covered with this Malaysia packing list.

I visited Malaysia for 3 weeks in September & October of 2023 and figured out exactly what is necessary and unnecessary! I simply fell in love with the country. Between some of the tastiest food i’ve ever had, the gorgeous nature and heritage of the cities – it’s a country I intend on going back to.

Let me get this out of the way first – don’t overpack! You’ll regret it. It can be very tempting to bring those few nice things, but are they really necessary? I’d recommend separating the “must-have” and the “nice-to-have” items.

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Budget Traveler Sean Kirby next to his bags

How To Pack For Malaysia In All Seasons

Mainland Malaysia, where most people travel (think Kuala Lumpur, Penang ) is unfortunately hot & humid year round. The rainy season is from April-October so if you’re planning to travel to Malaysia in those months, be prepared to get soaked!

Step 1: Travel Bags

You simply can’t travel without a bag! Choosing the right bag will make a huge difference when backpacking Malaysia and a must for this Malaysia packing list.

To start off with, you’ll need a larger backpac k and then a day pack for your day-to-day adventures.

Larger Backpack:

Malaysia is a country that allows you to pack light! You won’t need any huge jackets that take up a third of you bag. In that case, you don’t need a massive 75L travel backpack. Depending on how long you want to spend in the country, with most Western countries getting 90 visa-free days here, you will be completely fine with a backpack anywhere from 40-65L.

I included Malaysia into my long-term solo backpacking trip through Europe & South East Asia so I used a Black Wolf Cedar Breaks 65L Travel Backpack which fit everything I needed.

If I were to just be travelling in South East Asia, I could get away with a much smaller travel backpack.

Osprey are widely known to be the best brand for everything backpacking, and throughout my travels, I see their backpacks everywhere I go.

So, if you’re looking for the perfect travel backpack for Malaysia I highly recommend the Osprey Farpoint 40L Travel Backpack .

Day Backpack:

With anywhere you travel, if you head out for a big day you need some room for your camera, food & drinks and maybe a change of clothes!

When putting together your Malaysia packing list, I recommend getting a packable backpack. Something light that fits the essentials inside. The best one on the market right now is without a doubt the VEER Packable Bag .

Step 2: Choosing The Right Clothes

I remember the first time I was packing my clothes I packed wayyyy too much. For some reason, I was under the impression that having 3 weeks worth of clothes in my bag was a good idea! Wrong. My bag was too heavy and I carried around so many items I didn’t even end up wearing.

Because of this catastrophic error, my best advice for putting together your Malaysia packing list would be to pack light. You’ll be able to wash your clothes for a good price here!

The climate in Malaysia is generally a hot and humid so you don’t need any sweaters or thick jackets, but you will need breathable clothes.

Here are all the clothes people of all genders can bring when travelling Malaysia:

5 breathable t-shirts
3 pairs of shorts
1 pair of light long pants for entering some temples
5 pairs of underwear
When staying in hostels, I always recommend washing your underwear immediately after wearing them. You’ll essentially have an unlimited supply! Same goes for socks
3 pairs of socks
Most of the time I wore my sandals, so I didn’t need that many socks here
Walking shoes
Thongs (flip flops) for hostel showers and the beach
Sandals (for every day wandering)
Light rain jacket – the rain can come out of nowhere here!

Step 3: Toiletries

In this Malaysia packing list, toiletries are important! Whilst Malaysia is better than some other countries in South East Asia, for women, it can be harder to find necessary items in some places. So, it’s really important you bring them from home.

For storing your toiletries, I recommend using a hanging toiletry bag. I use Osprey’s Ultralight Washbag

Here’s what you can add, toiletry-wise for you Malaysia packing list:

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap & shampoo bars – I always get mine from LUSH .
Roll on or stick deodorant
Nail clippers
Trimmer/razor
Moisturiser

For women, add:

Menstrual cup & tampons

Step 3: Miscellaneous Essential Items

Throughout my travels, I’ve come across a bunch of different things that make my life a lot easier when staying in hostels. This Malaysia packing list is no different!

Here are some things i’d recommend bringing when you travel Malaysia:

Microfibre towel
I use this over a regular towel because they take up less space & are quick drying
Combination padlocks (don’t bring one that has a key!)
Not every hostel has keys for lockers, so bring a few padlocks with you that unlock through a combination so you won’t lose your key!
SPF 50+ sunscreen
The Malaysian sun is strong, so bring some high SPF sunscreen so you don’t burn
Mosquito spray that actually works
Whilst malaria isn’t common in Malaysia, dengue fever is. But of course, mosquitos are annoying regardless!
Travel first aid kit
Laundry bag
Water bottle
Filling up the water bottle at the beginning of the day with your hostel’s filtered taps means you don’t have to be constantly buying water!

Step 4: Electronics

As a photographer, I always bring my camera with my on my travels and it was a no-brainer for this Malaysia packing list.

But a camera isn’t the only electronic I brought with me to Malaysia. Here is everything I used here:

A good camera for taking photos, I use a Sony A7III
Laptop for editing photos & travel planning
Portable SSD for storing photos and video
Universal travel adaptor (I use EPICKA)
One of the best things i’ve ever bought. With one adaptor I can use all of my charging equipment pretty much all over the world
Charging cords
Portable charger
This is great for long days out and about, but also for charging my camera inside my dorm locker!

Malaysia Packing List: Final Thoughts

Malaysia is a country full of surprises and adventures waiting to be explored. But before you start your journey, make sure you pack smartly. Don’t forget your mosquito spray unless you want to be their target!

Remember, packing light is key because the feeling of dragging around an oversized bag is hell. So ditch the unnecessary items and embrace the minimalist traveler within. Happy packing!

Pin this for later!

Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:

Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!

Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld . Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.

Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.

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The 14 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

These spacious and comfortable carry-on backpacks can easily replace a suitcase.

Our Testing Process

Tips For Buying
Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Skip the stress of checking in a bag or lugging a traditional carry-on suitcase around an airport by adding a carry-on backpack to your travel gear. Practical, functional, and hassle-free, a carry-on backpack can fit up to a week’s worth of clothes, depending on your wardrobe and packing prowess. Whether you’re backpacking through Europe or embarking on a weekend getaway, this style helps make your trip as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

We tested dozens of carry-on backpacks and evaluated them based on traits like capacity, comfort, durability, and design. First, we tested the backpacks in our New York City lab and utilized our airplane set complete with row of real plane seats and overhead storage bins. We then took them out into the world for six months to further test each bag on a variety of trips. From rugged to sleek styles, we tested plenty of carry-on backpacks ranging in design and size that impressed us.

Best Overall

Cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack.

Capacity 5 /5
Design 5 /5
Durability 5 /5
Comfort 5 /5

The backpack has an unstructured style that makes it easy to pack clothing and accessories, plus a plethora of thoughtful features catered to frequent travelers.

There isn’t a designated water bottle holder.

Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear brand Cotopaxi builds brightly colored clothing and accessories to last. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack earned our top pick as the best carry-on backpack with its perfect performance in all categories of our testing. We loved its high capacity and thought the unstructured style was ideal for wedging clothes into every corner, maximizing packing space in the clamshell-style compartments. The shell is made of a TPU-coated 1000D polyester with a rubbery feel, and although it feels resistant to liquids, the backpack comes with a rain cover to ensure that your belongings stay dry while traveling. Handles on all four sides of the backpack make it easy to carry and lift into an overhead bin from any angle. The only downside to the bag is that it doesn't have a water bottle holder on the sides, so you'll have to carry one or try to fit it in the top pocket in the front.

We think this durable Cotopaxi bag will remain in excellent condition no matter how many times it hits the road, as it was not damaged at all after we repeatedly tossed it onto the ground. The rubber texture also seemed easy to clean and resistant to liquid spills. After six months of regularly using the bag, we found that it's the perfect size for long weekend trips and helps keep all of our items organized and easy to access. Both stylish and functional, this backpack can even be made one-of-a-kind by choosing the surprise colors option when purchased through Cotopaxi’s website.

The Details: 35 liters | 20 x 12 x 8 inches | 3.8 pounds | TPU-coated 1000D polyester, nylon | Padded laptop sleeve

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Travel + leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best Convertible

Away f.a.r. convertible backpack 45l.

Design 4.5 /5

We love how comfortable it is on your shoulders and back thanks to the soft materials and cushioned shoulder straps.

At nearly 22 inches tall, this pack may be too long for those with shorter torsos.

You'll be surprised by just how spacious this backpack is. The main compartment opens up like a clam shell for easy access to items that allowed us to fit an entire four-day packing list with ease — plus a few extra items. There are multiple large compartments, compression straps, and a few pockets in this backpack that are ideal for organizing clothes, gear, and accessories. While the 45-liter backpack can grow heavy when completely filled, the padded shoulder straps are supportive and keep you comfortable when walking for long periods of time. Plus, the convenient duffel handles allow you to switch up your carrying style if you do grow fatigued.

This backpack also sports a well-padded laptop sleeve that protected our testing laptop when we threw the fully packed bag off a counter three times. There was also no sign of rips, scuffs, or tears in the bag's fabric after our tests. This water- and abrasion-resistant backpack would be perfect for avid travels who are looking for a sleek backpack to take them from city explorations to camping adventures.

The Details: 45 liters | 21.7 x 13.6 x 9.5 inches | 3.32 pounds | Water-resistant

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best Budget

Asenlin 40l travel backpack.

It’s spacious and comes with three packing cubes to stay organized while traveling.

After six months of use, the bag is scuffed up with noticeable scratches.

Perfect for travelers on a budget, the Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack impressed us with its packing features and comfortable fit. We thought the bag provided excellent organization thanks to the interior and exterior compression that provided extra room for packing. The backpack comes with three different packing cubes in small, medium, and large. We also like that this backpack includes both a suitcase strap and a handle to hold it horizontally. The backpack itself also features straps inside and a laptop sleeve to easily hold down items and pack electronics.

The design didn’t blow us away like those from some of the more costly brands, but it does have a laptop sleeve and a water bottle holder. We also liked the flexibility of being able to wear the Asenlin as a backpack, hold it like a briefcase, or use the trolley sleeve to slide it onto a roller suitcase’s handle. However, a bigger adjustment range for the chest strap would have been ideal. During our durability tests, the backpack didn’t scuff or show signs of damage. We think this budget pick is well worth the low price for those looking to get a durable, comfortable, and spacious carry-on backpack.

The Details: 40 liters | 18.5 x 12.5 x 9.5 inches | 2.7 pounds | Polyester | 17-inch laptop pocket

Best Traditional

Samsonite silhouette 17 backpack.

Design 4 /5
Durability 4 /5

Thanks to its clamshell design, it’s like a suitcase without wheels.

Some of the straps weren’t intuitive to use.

The Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack is ideal for travelers who like the structure and sleek, minimalist style of a traditional suitcase but want the portability of a backpack. We love that this bag opens like a suitcase, making it easy to access everything inside. There was plenty of space leftover after packing the backpack, and the classic clamshell opening allowed for easy access to items in the compression-strapped main compartment and the zippered pockets on the inside of the front flap. All of the interior and exterior pockets, including the water bottle holder and padded laptop sleeve, are useful for traveling. You can convert the backpack to wear as a duffel bag or a briefcase, and it has a rear strap to place on a rolling suitcase if desired. The straps were easy to adjust, and it felt like the weight was nicely distributed thanks to the structured style of the backpack. There was a small scuff on the bag after we tossed it on the floor during our durability tests, but the contents of the backpack remained unharmed. When flying with the bag during our six-month testing period, we found that it easily fits in airplane overhead bins and under the seat. Overall, it’s a backpack with the features of a well-compartmentalized suitcase and much more.

The Details: 13 x 20.5 x 10.5 inches | 3.31 pounds | Polyester, recyclex | Padded laptop pocket | Convertible straps

Best for Photographers

Peak design travel backpack 45l.

Value 4.5 /5

You can access the main compartment on the bag from four different exterior zippers.

This is one of the most expensive backpack on our list.

This 45-liter backpack has a main compartment that is spacious enough to fit clothes for at least four days, and its expansive design is helpful for packing bulky items like jackets and shoes. Placing the clothes and shoes into the bag during testing was efficient and simple thanks to a removable divider sleeve and compression straps to hold everything down securely. Designed with photographers in mind, this backpack functions similarly to a camera bag . It can fit camera cubes, and it has four points of entry to the main compartment, allowing travelers to quickly grab clothes or accessories without unzipping the backpack. There is a padded laptop sleeve and stretchy side pockets for water bottles or a camera tripod.

Peak Design didn’t let any space go to waste on its backpack, so even the hip belt has a small pocket on it for storage and can be packed away when you’re not looking for extra support. It’s also easy to adjust all of the straps to prevent weight imbalances and pinching. Made of weatherproof and water-resistant recycled nylon, the bag held up perfectly after we tossed it on the ground, showing no signs of scuffs or damage — exactly what you want in a durable backpack . Although the price of this bag is steep, it comes with plenty of helpful features for travelers, and the stellar performance leads us to believe that it would last a long time.

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Best Compression

Tropicfeel shell backpack.

Comfort 4 /5

It can be converted from 40 liters for traveling to 22 liters to use as a daypack.

The handle on the top of the bag wasn’t as comfortable to hold onto as we hoped.

We love this backpack’s thoughtful features geared toward all types of travelers. The Tropicfeel Shell Backpack has the ability to store up to 42 liters worth of clothing for a weekend or week-long trip, but you can also use it as a 20-liter backpack for day trips, sightseeing, and everyday use. After regularly using the bag for six months, we found it to be incredibly sturdy and durable. We had no issues fitting our full packing list and found that there was plenty more room thanks to the variety of buckled straps that allow you to adjust the size of the bag. You can loosen the front buckle to allow the roll-up opening flap to expand to fit more items, and there is a kangaroo pouch at the bottom of the backpack that provides an additional six liters of space for shoes or other items you want to keep separate. There’s also a padded compartment in the back of the backpack that can fit laptops up to 17 inches long. We thought the backpack was comfortable to wear after adjusting the shoulder and waist straps, but we found that it might take some effort to get the buckles into your desired setting.

The Shell Backpack didn’t show any signs of damage throughout testing, and the material is weather-proof. For travelers looking to add upgrades to their backpack, the brand has an organization system and accessory pouches that you can add on for additional fees. If you need an all-in-one backpack, we think this backpack’s versatility makes it well worth the higher cost.

The Details: 20-42 liters | 12 x 20 x 7.5 inches

Best Organization

Topo designs global travel bag 30l.

Topo Designs

Capacity 4 /5

There are tons of pockets and a laptop compartment to help you organize your belongings.

After six months of use, we noticed the bag can feel quite heavy if packed full.

Packing for a trip can often feel tedious, but the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L helps make it easy and efficient. We loved how convenient it is to store a laptop up to 15 inches in the padded compartment in the back of the bag, and there are two front pockets for easy access to a tablet or phone charger. There are a ton of compartments and pockets that offer plenty of options for staying organized with small or loose items in the absence of packing cubes, with places to stash cords, travel documents, electronics, water bottles, and more.

The adjustable shoulder straps and straps that go across the chest and waist help evenly distribute the backpack's weight, making it more comfortable to carry around, although we noticed during our long-term testing that the bag can still feel heavy if you pack it completely full. The 100 percent recycled nylon material felt durable and would likely stay in good condition over time.

The Details: 30 liters | 12.5 x 20 x 7 inches

Best Customizable

Roam the continental.

Capacity 4.5 /5
Comfort 4.8 /5

You can choose from four colors to customize the shade of the front, back, sides, and straps of the backpack.

The laptop sleeve isn’t padded.

Customized luggage can be hard to come by, but Roam’s The Continental backpack makes it easier than ever to build the carry-on backpack of your dreams. The front, back, sides, and straps of the bag can be red, green, black, or blue, or you can keep the backpack all one color for a monochromatic look. We were a bit worried about the light colors when we first got our hands on this bag, but after four months of traveling, is has no signs of wear and tear, there are no stains or loose threads, and everything is still in good shape. We were also impressed by the exterior pockets to stash headphones, snacks, chargers, water bottles, or anything else you could need whether lounging in the airport or mid-flight. The bag is made with a lightweight, water-repellent fabric and YKK zippers so it easily handles temperamental weather while traveling. Spacious and easy to access, the front flap opens wide so packing the bag with clothes and shoes was a breeze, too. The laptop pocket in the back could easily fit a 17-inch device, but it isn’t padded, so you may want to store your computer in a case to be on the safe side.

The Details: 26 liters | 17.75 x 14 x 8 inches | 2.4 pounds | Water-repellent fabric | Laptop pocket

Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao

Best Expandable

Nomatic travel pack.

Capacity 4.8 /5
Comfort 4.5 /5
Durability 4.5 /5
Value 4.8 /5

The expandable zippers add an extra 3.5 inches of space which increases the capacity to 30 liters.

Some of the pockets feel unnecessary.

The Nomatic Travel Pack is the ultimate versatile carry-on backpack thanks to its expandable zippers that add an extra 10 liters of space. Ideal for an overnight trip or a long weekend getaway, the bag has a variety of pockets and compartments to efficiently organize shoes, clothes, accessories, and technology. While the number of pockets on the interior was a bit overwhelming at first, travelers who like to be extra organized will appreciate the designated padded laptop sleeve, sunglasses case, discrete passport pocket, and plethora of slip and zippered pockets in the main compartment. The handles and padded shoulder straps are comfortable for carrying the bag, and the small-to-medium size of the backpack makes it super comfortable to carry since it doesn’t feel bulky or heavy. We used this bag on a variety of international trips throughout four months of testing, and it still looks new, despite rough handling and being shoved under airplane seats.

The Details: 20 liters (expands to 30 liters) | 18.5 x 12 x 6-9.5 inches | 4.16 pounds | 16-inch laptop pocket

Travel + Leisure/Jessica Juliao

Matein Travel Backpack

Durability 4.3 /5

It has several compartments for keeping clothing, shoes, tech, and accessories organized.

The materials feel a little lower in quality than other backpacks we tried.

If you’re not ready to invest in a pricier carry-on backpack, you can always dip your toes with this functional and spacious one for under $60. This 40-liter backpack has one large main compartment that can fit several tops, bottoms, and a toiletry case without any issues. We particularly love the separate footwear compartment to prevent the bottom of your shoes from coming into contact with clean clothes and that storage can even fit pairs up to size 12. In addition, there is a laptop pocket and a large front pocket with spots to put items like phone chargers, headphones, and other small accessories that could get lost easily. Compared to the pricier bags we tried, this one feels a bit lower in quality, but none of the nylon fabric tore and scuffed during our durability tests, so we still think this bag has a good lifespan ahead of it.

The Details: 40 liters | 20 x 13 x 8 inches | 2 pounds | Water-repellent nylon

Best for Hiking

Kühl eskape 25.

The 25-liter capacity makes this backpack versatile for an airplane or the great outdoors.

It takes some adjustments to get it to fit comfortably on the back.

This rugged carry-on backpack from Kühl is the perfect option for travelers embarking on an outdoor adventure. The smaller size of this bag is its greatest strength since it can easily fit enough clothes for a weekend trip, or you can use it as an adventure pack for day hikes or camping trips. There are a variety of thoughtful features for hikers including a stowaway hip belt for extra support while trekking, load-lifting shoulder straps, and the bag is made with durable TPU-laminated nylon. Plus, the chest strap slides up and down the shoulder straps so travelers can get the most comfortable fit for their upper body. We found that it takes some extra effort to adjust all of the straps for the right fit, but once you do, the bag is comfortable to carry for long periods of time. For even more versatility, the bag has a padded laptop pocket and a variety of other small and large zippered pockets to stay organized if you’re commuting or traveling for work.

The Details: 25 liters | 20.5 x 9.5 x 12.5 inches | Waterproof nylon | 17-inch laptop pocket

Best Waterproof

Tortuga travel backpack.

This bag is basically a suitcase without wheels thanks to its large capacity and clamshell-style opening.

The bag can feel a bit heavy to carry when it’s fully packed.

If you’re traveling somewhere with a rainy climate, you’ll want a carry-on backpack like this one from Tortuga that can ward off the elements. It’s made with the brand’s 100 percent recycled and waterproof Shell200 or “sailcloth” material to protect your belongings and prevent bad weather from putting a serious damper on your trip. During a rainy overnight camping trip, the Tortuga Travel Backpack essentially sat in a puddle for hours, yet none of our gear or clothing inside got wet at all, and the bag was easy to clean with just a wet cloth.

This is a seriously spacious bag at 40 liters, so we found that you can seamlessly fit a week’s worth of clothing (or more) between the two clamshell compartments. Because of the split style of the bag, packing it up is hassle-free since it’s easy to see exactly how much space is left on each side. And if you run out of space in the main compartments, there are top, front, and side exterior pockets to store a laptop, accessories, water bottles, and more items that you’ll want to have handy while traveling.

The Details: 40 liters | 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches | 4.5 pounds | Waterproof sailcloth | 16-inch laptop pocket

Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox

Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack

This lightweight backpack has a sleek and contemporary design that comes in several earthy colors.

It has a smaller capacity than many backpacks and can only fit a day or two of clothes.

If you’re looking to travel in style, Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack is the perfect fit. Functional and contemporary, we found it to be best suited for weekend trips because of its smaller capacity. The bag fit all of the packing items during testing, but it would be difficult to fit much more in the main compartment. The ReNew Transit was comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight polyester material and compact build. The front flap of the backpack has an external pocket for smaller items, and it folds over to attach magnetically to the front of the backpack. During our durability tests, the front magnets stayed securely together, and the body of the backpack didn’t get crushed or damaged. We liked how it can fit under an airplane seat, making it a versatile backpack for traveling with or without other pieces of luggage. There is a laptop sleeve in the back of the bag as well as a water bottle holder on the side and a front zippered pocket below the folding magnetic lock. With four earthy tones to choose from, this is a bag to fit all travel style preferences.

The Details: 27 liters | 12 x 17.5 x 7.25 inches

Best for Foot Travel

Osprey fairview 40.

The compartments and various straps made packing effortless.

It’s a large bag, but it wasn’t so heavy that it was uncomfortable to wear.

For travelers journeying on foot, the Osprey Fairview wowed us with its spacious interior and comfortable fit. The straps for walking longer distances are really the best part — making your bag feel like you're carrying less since the weight is so well distributed. The bags have the same storage capacity and general style, but Osprey’s women’s backpacks are designed to fit a smaller torso with waist and chest harnesses that sit upward and outward for a more comfortable carry. In testing, the main compartment and mesh zippered pouch on the front flap proved to be spacious. There are two internal compression straps and one external strap that kept belongings secure through our rough handling, so we think the bag would provide sufficient protection if you do need to check it in for a flight.

We appreciated the padded shoulder straps and back that made wearing the backpack comfortable, despite the weight of its contents. The Osprey Fairview bags have an internal suspension the brand calls “LightWire” that distributes the weight from the harness to the hip belt, and our shoulders didn’t hurt after carrying the backpack since most of the weight shifted to the lower body.

The Details: 40 liters | 22 x 14 x 9 inches

Travel + Leisure /Jhett Thompson

Other Carry-on Backpacks We Liked

While we tested plenty of high-scoring carry-on backpacks, there were some that almost made our list but didn’t quite make the cut due to several weaknesses revealed during testing.

Bellroy Transit Backpack Plus : We loved the adjustable sternum and waist straps that you can tuck into the bag when not in use, but we think there are better bags out there for a fraction of the price.

AmazonBasics Carry-on Travel Backpack : It had plenty of compartments for staying organized and the material felt durable, but there weren’t any standout features that made it a must-have backpack.

Vancropak Carry-on Backpack, Extra Large 40L : This backpack fits all of the packing items, and it even fits under an airplane seat, but our budget pick performed slightly better and it costs less.

On two separate occasions, we tested carry-on backpacks in our New York City lab to make sure we were creating this list with the best options from trusted luggage brands. For our latest tests, we built a specially designed airplane set that includes a row of real airplane seats and an overhead storage bin. To date, we've put over 34 carry-on backpacks through a series of trials that compared capacity, design, comfort, durability, and overall value. After completing our in-house testing, we sent the backpacks out with our Travel + Leisure editors to give us insight on how they fared during real-world travel. We have been updating this article with long-term testing insights as soon as they become available.

To test for capacity, we began by packing the bags with three shirts, two pairs of pants, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and a toiletry bag. We noted if any space was leftover as well as how functional the compartments were for organizing the contents packed. We evaluated the overall design of the bags by paying attention to how they fold out, how well the zippers and buckles work, and the functionality of each pocket or compartment.

Next, we put on the backpacks and walked around for 10 minutes to rate comfortability. The highest scoring backpacks were exceptionally enjoyable to wear with the weight evenly distributed on the shoulders or hips.

Then, we threw the backpacks a few feet or off a countertop to test for durability. The highest-rated bags had no scuffs or tears after rough handling, and the packed items inside remained unharmed as well.

Our testers had no previous knowledge of the cost of each backpack until after testing was completed. This allowed us to give an unbiased rating of overall values, where the top bags were determined to be fairly priced based on a high-quality performance, especially for the pricier bags. After our lab tests, the backpacks were sent out for real-world testing for up to six months.

Tips for Buying a Carry-on Backpack

Consider under-the-seat versus carry-on bags.

Not all carry-on backpacks will fit under the seat of an airplane, but if that’s your intended use, we recommend checking an airline’s underseat dimensions before heading to the airport. Similarly, with a carry-on backpack for the overhead bin, you’ll want to double-check the airline’s carry-on size restrictions to avoid paying unwanted fees if the bag is stuffed full of clothes.

Keep in mind what the bag will be used for

For those traveling by foot, a smaller, lightweight backpack would be better for portability and comfort. For those traveling by air, a compression bag or backpack that has plentiful organization could be a better choice so you get the most out of the limited airline baggage space.

During our test, we packed three shirts, two pants, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and a toiletry bag into each bag and often had extra space for more clothes. Many backpacks come with a laptop compartment , but you’ll want to make sure that feature is included before purchasing yours.

Carry-on size restrictions vary by airline, and it’s possible for a carry-on backpack to not fit within some limits. Most bags will have a product details section highlighting the dimensions of the backpack. If you’re looking to fit the bag solely under the seat , you should check to make sure the bag fits the dimensions while it’s packed.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer at T+L, where she reviews travel products and writes the majority of the team's "Travel + Leisure Trusted" articles. Anna owns several carry-on backpacks, including the top pick from Cotopaxi, so she combined knowledge of traveling with just a backpack and the thorough lab testing and real-world insights to put together this list of the best carry-on backpacks.

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Global Gallivanting

The ultimate backpacking malaysia itinerary & route (including borneo).

seeing orangutans is the highlight of any malaysia itinerary or backpacking trip

Ancient rainforests, unique wildlife, and a diverse melting pot of cultures and food. Backpacking Malaysia is an amazing adventure. As the country is split into two; Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, it can be difficult figuring out how to fit all the best places to visit in Malaysia into one trip.

So, if you’re looking for the ultimate Malaysia itinerary, or ideas for an epic Malaysia backpacking route, then you’re in the right place! I’ve put together this blog post after several trips around this amazing, yet still underrated, country to help you out.

I’m going to share all my tips for backpacking in Malaysia, from where to go, where to stay, what to do and how to get there. I hope it will help you plan an unforgettable trip and that you’ll fall in love with this country as much as I have.

The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Malaysia

i love kl Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

Why I Loved Backpacking in Malaysia

Malaysia is so diverse and has so much to offer. From vibrant and multicultural modern cities, to charming, historic towns, tropical islands, scenic tea plantations, the oldest rainforest in the world, and Borneo !

I love the captivating fusion of Malay, South Indian and Chinese cultures, religions and food all over Malaysia. The people are really nice, many speak English, and are always happy to help you out.

Multicultural Malaysia is one of the most underrated countries in South East Asia. It’s no way near as touristy as neighbouring Thailand , but it ought to be with the diverse amount of incredible things to see and do here.

Backpacking Malaysia is easy, fun, affordable and safe – even for solo female travelers. There are plenty of cheap backpacker hostels, amazing and cheap street food, and lots of free things to do.

Malaysia is one of the easiest countries to travel around, with a modern and efficient bus and flight system. You’ll find taxis and Ubers in some of the bigger cities, along with metros and boats.

Tips for Planning Your Malaysia itinerary

Before you start planning your trip to Malaysia, keep in mind that Malaysia is divided into two parts, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The two are connected with low cost flights but it’s still like visiting two different worlds.

Entering Borneo from Peninsular Malaysia is like arriving in another country, with its secluded beaches, orang-utan sanctuaries, and national parks with caves and dense jungles.

If you’re not fussy and prefer to go with the flow you could probably wing it in the popular places in Peninsula Malaysia. However, if you want to visit the National Parks in Borneo accommodation and transport can be limited so you should book in advance.

How Long Should You Backpack Malaysia

The amount of time you have to backpack Malaysia will determine the best itinerary for you. Here’s some suggestions depending on how much time you have:

If you want to see everything and follow this ultimate Malaysia backpacking route you’ll probably need about 1 month to travel the length of Peninsula Malaysia and then travel across Borneo. You could do it quicker, if you don’t mind traveling at a faster pace.

1 month is ideal though and this will allow you spend a few days at each destination. This way you are not limited to just seeing the main sights but you can relax and really soak up each place and get off the beaten track to find some hidden gems and meet interesting people.

If you only have time to spend 2 weeks in Malaysia and don’t want to rush around too much then chose either peninsula Malaysia or Borneo Malaysia to explore and just follow half of this epic Malaysia itinerary.

Another option to see the best of both sides in only 14 days would be to just visit Kuala Lumpur and Penang and then head over to Kota Kinabalu and explore the North of Borneo.

7 – 10 Days

If you have planning a 1 week/ 7 days or 10 days Malaysia itinerary I would recommend sticking to one side and choosing three or four destinations to explore. You can take some day trips from Kuala Lumpur or domestic flights to enable you to see more in a short time too.

Or you could create your own Malaysia itinerary using the destinations and parts of my backpacker route that appeal to you the most.

My Perfect Malaysia Itinerary (Includes Borneo!)

Essential Info for Backpacking Malaysia

Best time to visit malaysia.

The weather differs on the west coast and east coast of Malaysia. It’s recommended to visit the west coast during the winter months of December to February, while islands on the east side are better during summer, from June to August.

The driest months in Kuala Lumpur are during summer, May to August, while in Penang it’s driest during November to January. Borneo has the best weather during the summer months, June to August. More info here.

Getting to Malaysia

Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a popular flight hub with plenty of transport connections. You can also reach Malaysia by bus, train or boat from Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

The huge Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLCC – the low cost carrier airport have cheap flights from around the world, so getting to Malaysia is really easy.

Visas for Malaysia

Many nationals from countries such as U.K., U.S.A., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand get 90 days visa free entry to Malaysia.

Getting around Malaysia

Malaysia’s transportation system is comparable to Western standards. Kuala Lumpur has a metro, and there are hundreds of flights every day around the country and some trains too.

Modern, high speed rail services connect Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Thailand on the West Coast. You can also take the Jungle Train to explore the less developed East Coast.

Luxury buses reach every part of peninsular Malaysia, and Uber operates in both peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. You can book buses and trains in Malaysia easily online using 12 Go Asia

Malaysia Backpacking Budget

From $25/day. Read More: My Malaysia backpacking budget.

Backpacker Accommodation in Malaysia

You’ll find everything from backpacker hostels and campgrounds to luxurious resorts in Malaysia. Backpacker hostels are great ways to meet other travellers and stay on a budget.

The best backpacker hostels often have a choice of dormitories and private budget rooms. There’s usually a communal area to hang out and make friends and a shared kitchen so you can save some money by cooking your own food.

Cities like Penang and Kuala Lumpur have everything from tiny guesthouses to modern hotels and upscale resorts. While more offbeat places like Borneo and the Cameron Highlands have mostly cosy guesthouses and budget hotels.

I use Hostelworld and Booking.com to find accommodation, check reviews and book at affordable prices online.

Tours of Malaysia

Day tours and trips.

City tours are popular in Malaysia; you’ll find tons of them in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, ranging from street food and history tours, to rainforest and tribal adventures. Having a local guide can bring the history to life and help you understand more about the culture.

Sometimes, public transport won’t get you everywhere so you might need to book a boat trip or jeep tour. You can book tours, trips and tickets online with Klook, a popular Southeast Asia travel site with affordable prices. Klook Passes offer good deals if you want to see multiple attractions.

You can also use Viator or GetYourGuide. Good backpacker hostels can often help to arrange tours too.

Multi Day Small Group Tours

If you want to join a group of like minded people to travel with (and let someone else do all the organising) then you could also join a small group multi day tour.

This is especially worthwhile if you are solo traveler and don’t want to travel alone. Taking a tour also allows you to see more in a shorter time without any stress. You can see all the Malaysia tours available and check reviews on Tour Radar .

Peninsular Malaysia is well developed, safe and easy to travel independently, but Borneo is a bit more difficult. Intrepid Travel run an amazing and affordable 10 day Real Borneo adventure tour from Kota Kinabalu specifically for young travellers and backpackers.

If you want to fun way to travel across mainland Malaysia with a young, fun group check out the 8 Day Malaysia to Singapore Highlights with Contiki.

Volunteering in Malaysia

Malaysia is an amazing country but there are still many poor communities who could really do with your help. Instead of paying 1000’s to volunteer sign up with Worldpackers and you can exchange your skills and time for free accommodation, food and many other benefits. Read more about volunteering for free with Worldpackers here.

By volunteering when backpacking in Malaysia you can get immersed into the local culture, make friends with the locals, learn new skills all while helping those in need and saving yourself money so you can travel for longer.

I prefer Worldpackers over other platforms as they offer great support and customer service, all hosts are verified to ensure they offer a safe and rewarding experience and you can also take advantage of the Worldpacker’s insurance should anything go wrong with your host.

If you want to join, click on this link and use my discount code GLOBALGALLIVANTING to save $20 on the membership fee.

Best Guide Book: The Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Guidebook is packed with loads of essential information for pretty much every tourist destination in Malaysia.

The Ultimate 1 Month Malaysia Backpacking Route

Most Malaysia itineraries will start in the capital Kuala Lumpur (KL.) But this Malaysia backpacking route gives a more relaxing introduction to Malaysia by starting on Langkawi island in the north.

My Malaysia backpacker route includes: Langkawi – Penang – Cameron Highlands – Kuala Lumpur – Taman Negara National Park – Melaka/ Malacca – Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan – Kinabatangan – Semporna and the Sipadan islands – Mulu National Park – Kuching.

This is the best route because it fits in all the highlights and avoids traveling back on yourself. This route is ideal if you are backpacking Malaysia after Thailand. (Check out the ultimate Thailand backpacking route here )

You can literally island hop your way from Thailand to Malaysia! Just get a boat from Koh Lipe island in Thailand to Langkawi in Malaysia. It only takes about 1 hour and you can book it on 12 Go Asia here.

If you’re not coming from Thailand don’t worry, just connect to a quick domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi’s airport. If you are coming from Singapore then simply take a bus to Malacca and start there instead and reverse the route.

Carry on reading and I’ll go through the route in more detail, letting you know what to do, where to stay and how to get to each destination.

Peninsula Malaysia

Langkawi island: 2 – 3 days.

Why not start your Malaysia backpacking trip on a beautiful tropical island!

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands surrounded by turquoise seas, abundant nature and a dramatic mountainous jungle interior that glistens with a hundred shades of green.

Unlike some of Thailand’s islands, Langkawi has not been ruined by tourism and still has a lot of natural beauty to explore and wildlife to spot.

One of the best ways to see the archipelago is with an island hopping boat trip for a fun day out on the sea visiting the beautiful islands and beaches and seeing the eagles soar over the water.

Another thing not to miss is a Mangrove Boat Trip in Kilim Geoforest Park where you’ll be able to spot wildlife and be immersed in the unique ecosystem.

You could spend a week or more chilling out on Langkawi island, but a couple of days is enough to relax, explore the beaches, jungles, national park and main attractions.

The most popular attraction on the island is the Langkawi Sky Bridge , a suspension bridge high above the jungle. It’s reached via the Langkawi Sky Cab, the steepest cable car in the world.

You get amazing views over the jungle and ocean from the cable car and the sky bridge feels like you are walking in the clouds. There’s also a waterfall and other attractions up here. (The cable car gets busy so book your tickets in advance here to avoid the queues.)

Where to stay in Langkawi:

The best place to stay in Langkawi is Cenang Beach which has plenty of eating options and accommodation for all budgets. Here’s my top 3 picks:

Bed Attitude Hostel Cenang : A huge, sleek, modern hostel with a lively vibe and a coworking space on Cenang beach. Choose from luxurious dorms or private budget rooms. Check Prices and Book Here.
The Cottage Langkawi: If you prefer something more low key and relaxed I loved The Cottage Langkawi. They have cute beach huts, dorms and budget rooms in tropical gardens with plenty of hammocks and lovely owners. It’s a short walk from Cenang Beach. Check Review and Book here.
Telaga Terrace Boutique Resort: A lovely little budget friendly resort with a swimming pool in a peaceful area near Cenang beach. Check Availability and Book Here.

How to get to Langkawi:

Langkawi island is about 1 hour by speedboat from Koh Lipe in Thailand and about 2 and a half hours by ferry to Penang. Book your ferry ticket here with 12 Go Asia .

Langkawi also has an airport with flights to Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other cities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Penang: 3 – 4 days

One of the best places to visit in Malaysia is Penang Island – a melting pot of Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian culture, food and tropical natural beauty that is one of the best places to visit in Malaysia.

The main town in Penang is UNESCO world heritage listed George Town – a compact, walkable, historic colonial trading port that boasts the best and most diverse cuisine in Malaysia.

There’s so much to do in Penang that you should spend at least 4 days here roaming the historic lanes, admiring the cool street art and eating yummy street food in George Town.

Head to the hawker centres or Chulia street night market for the best and cheapest street food. Or join the Georgetown Food Tour for a fun and tasty way to explore and learn about the city and it’s interesting fusion of cultures, food and heritage.

Wander around George Town exploring the historic houses, museums, cafes. Don’t miss Harmony Street where temples, churches and mosques can all be found on one street, and look out for the street art.

Also check out Fort Cornwallis, the Penang Botanical Gardens, and stroll down the Esplanade. The clan jetties – traditional stilt houses on the waterfront where Chinese communities still live are also interesting to see.

It’s also worth making a short trip out of the city to see the amazing Kek Lok Si temple – the biggest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.

Penang Hill is one of the top attractions on the island. Hike up or take the funicular railway – avoid the long queues by booking your ticket in advance here .

You can spend all day at Penang Hill soaking up the spectacular views of the city and exploring the nature trails. Don’t miss The Habitat – a rainforest discovery center, you can also check out the art galleries, temples, mosques and cafes.

If you want to spend more time in nature go trekking through the jungle to the unspoiled beaches of Penang National Park. Or just chill out at Batu Ferringhi beach which has cafes, bars and tourist amenities.

If you want an adrenaline rush brave Gravityz – the world’s highest rope course. And if you want to see ‘ real Malaysia’ a great way to explore the lush tropical countryside and traditional villages around Penang is on this Penang cycling tour . You even get to try goat milk ice cream!

Where to stay in Penang:

The best place to stay in Penang is Georgetown where there are plenty of backpacker hostels and affordable boutique hotels. Here’s my top 3 picks:

Red Inn Court: Located in an old shophouse in the heart of Georgetown, this popular backpacker hostel offers female and mixed dormitories and private rooms with shared bathrooms. There’s also a shared kitchen and a sociable friendly atmosphere which makes it the best place to stay for backpackers in Penang. Book here.
Aayu Chulia: One of the best value accommodations in all of Malaysia. They have clean and comfortable dormitories and private rooms in a great location close to all the best parts of Georgetown. There’s a shared kitchen a lounge and the owner is super helpful. Book here.
Muntri Mews: A beautiful boutique heritage hotel in the heart of Georgetown if you want something a bit more upscale. It’s decorated with artwork from local artists. Book here.

How to get to Penang:

From Langkawi, the best way to get to Penang is by short flight or ferry. You can also get to Penang from Singapore or Thailand by land, or neighbouring islands via boat

Penang island is easily accessible from the mainland via two bridges. You can reach Penang from Kuala Lumpur via a short flight, bus or train via Butterworth Station. Sungai Nibong is the main bus station in Penang. Book your tickets online with 12 Go Asia.

Cameron Highlands: 2 – 3 days

Rolling green hills, tea plantations, and valleys make up the Cameron Highlands , where you’ll find the freshest and coolest climate in all of Malaysia.

If you enjoy beautiful nature and the humid, tropical heat is getting to you then don’t miss the Cameron Highlands from your Malaysia itinerary.

Some of the best places to visit here include the Mossy Forest, BOH Tea Garden and Factory, and Strawberry Farms. There’s limited public transport so I visited these places with this fun Jeep Tour .

You can also pick your own fruit, enjoy fresh strawberry ice cream at the strawberry fields, taste honey at the honey farm, and see colourful butterflies at the butterfly farms. If you love flowers check out the new, and very instagramable, Cameron Flora Park.

There are also tons of treks and hiking trails in the Cameron Highlands to choose from, the most popular is trail 6- 10. In the evening there is a night market in Tanah Rata.

Where to stay in the Cameron Highlands:

The main town in the Cameron Highlands is Tanah Rata which has a range of budget guesthouses, hostels and luxurious vintage country resorts like The Cameron Highlands Resort.

Here’s my top picks for backpackers:

Traveller Bunker Hostel: Sociable backpacker hostel in Tanah Rata with well equipped dorms, a common area and cafe. They organise free morning hikes too. Book here.
Backyard Glamping Cameron Highlands: Stay immersed in nature at this cute campground just outside Tanah Rata. They have furnished bell tents with a shared bathroom, kitchen and lovely views. Book here.
Highlanders Garden Guesthouse: This peaceful guesthouse is surrounded by nature yet still within easy walking distance to the center of Tanah Rata. There’s a variety of private rooms, a communal lounge and kitchen, plus friendly owners who will help you out. Book here.

How to get to the Cameron Highlands:

Multiple daily buses leave from Penang to Tanah Rata for the Cameron Highlands. The bus takes about 5 hours. Book your bus online here.

Kuala Lumpur: 3 – 4 days

petronas towers kuala lumpur backpacking Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

No Malaysia itinerary or backpacking trip is complete without a visit to the capital Kuala Lumpur, often simply called KL.

Malaysia’s capital is a business oriented, multicultural modern city with interesting skyscrapers, mosques and temples, lively nightlife and a diverse food scene.

One of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur is simply to walk around soaking up the city’s mix of cultures. It’s quite easy to walk around the main sights. Start by exploring places like Petaling street in Chinatown, the Central Market, Merdeka Square and Little India.

You’ll see beautiful Chinese temples, mosques, Hindu temples, colonial architecture and churches, all within walking distance of each other. There’s plenty of street art to spot and street food to try too. Take the Sambal Streets – Kuala Lumpur food tour to discover where and what the locals eat.

My favorite experience in KL was visiting the Batu Caves , one of the largest Hindu temples outside of India. The cave temple is accessed by 272 rainbow coloured steps which are guarded by a huge golden statue. Also don’t miss the most impressive Chinese temple, the six tiered Thean Hou Temple.

If you want to understand more about the different cultures and religions, take this Batu Caves and Cultural Tour which visits the most important places of worship.

batu caves Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

The landmark of the city is the famous Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. You can go up to the skybridge and observation deck for amazing views.

If you want to go up the Petronas Towers or the KL Tower you can save money and skip the queues if you buy your tickets in advance here . A Klook KL Pass could be better value if you want to see several attractions.

It’s also great to just admire the towers from KLCC park below. There is a free sound, light and water show every evening and the towers are illuminated at night. KL is also now home to the new second tallest building in the world – Merdeka 118.

For nightlife, check out the bars and clubs at Bukit Bintang, treat yourself to cocktails at one of the rooftop bars, or have dinner with 360 degree views in the revolving restaurant at the Menara / KL Tower.

Kuala Lumpur also has many parks and museums. The KL Forest Eco Park has nature trails and canopy walks. There’s also a huge botanical gardens near the National Museum of Malaysia.

kuala lumpur Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur:

The best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for backpackers is Chinatown or Bukit Bintang. This is where you’ll find plenty of backpacker hostels and budget hotels, street food and nightlife with easy access to the rest of the city via public transport.

China Town Hostel by Mingle : Friendly, laidback backpacker hostel in a super convenient location. It has a cafe and a cool rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi where it’s easy to meet other travellers. Choose from shared dorm rooms or affordable private rooms. Book here.
La Vista @ Regalia Residence: Sociable hostel located in a luxury penthouse apartment with amazing views of the skyline from the rooftop infinity pool. Choose from dorms or private rooms and share the lounge, kitchen and pool. Not the most central location but the views are worth it. Book here.
Eaton Suites KLCC: Apartments with iconic Petronas Tower views from the pool! These private fully equipped modern apartments and suites are conveniently located for KLCC and Bukit Bintang. The stunning views from the infinity swimming pool on the 52 nd floor are the highlight. Rates start at only $45 making it amazing value, but book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Book here.

See more recommendations – The 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Kuala Lumpur.

How to get to Kuala Lumpur:

KL is 5 hours by bus from the Cameron Highlands. Click this link to book tickets.

KL is easily accessible via flight from hundreds of international locations, as well as domestic locations over the entire country. The city has a good public transport network making it easy to get around.

There are two main international airports in Kuala Lumpur, KLIA and KLIA2. There are buses from KL sentral to and from Singapore and Thailand.

Taman Negara National Park: 2 – 3 days

Taman Negara National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. It’s an astonishing 130 million year old tropical rainforest , older than the Amazon!

If you’re a nature lover, this is somewhere not to miss when backpacking Malaysia – especially if you aren’t able to make it over to Borneo.

The national park boasts exotic wildlife, flora, and fauna, and some of the best opportunities for trekking in the entire country. You’ll find tigers, elephants, rare birds, and more in Taman Negara.

There’s loads to do in Taman Negara National Park. It’s home to the longest canopy walkway in the world where you can walk above the rainforest amongst the towering trees. There is also river safaris and rapids, ziplines, indigenous villages and floating restaurants.

You can also do multi-day trekking trips in Taman Negara where you sleep overnight in a tribal village or cave, or you could climb Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in peninsular Malaysia.

The easiest way to see the highlights is to visit Taman Negara on a day tour from Kuala Lumpur. But if you have time it’s cheaper and less rushed to spend a few days here.

canopy walkway taman negara national park

Where to stay in Taman Negara:

The small town of Kuala Tahan is the gateway to the national park and has some hotels and restaurants along the riverside. Accommodation is limited so book in advance.

Tekoma Resort: Affordable resort near the riverside with an outdoor swimming pool, simple private chalets, dorm rooms and a restaurant. Book here.
Tebing Guest House: Great family run guesthouse with a restaurant overlooking the river and comfortable private rooms. Book here.
Mutiara Taman Negara Resort: The only accommodation within the national park offers cute jungle chalets and can arrange trekking tours and activities. Book here.

How to get to Taman Negara:

Getting to Taman Negara can be a bit of an adventure.

From Kuala Lumpur, you’ll need to take a bus to Jerantut , which takes 3 hours. Then take another 1 hour bus to Kuala Tahan.

There’s also a bus from the Cameron Highlands but it takes 6 hours.

Malacca/ Melaka: 2 – 3 days

The charming, old colonial trading port city of Melaka (also known as Malacca) shouldn’t be left off your Malaysia itinerary.

Like Penang, it has a UNESCO World Heritage old city . You can see, taste and feel the multicultural history of Malacca by exploring the historic lanes, colorful street art, mosques, temples and churches of the old town.

The best thing to do in Melaka is taking a river cruise and wandering around the historic old town. The Dutch Square is full of red colonial buildings and churches including Stadthuys and Christ Church.

Explore the ruins of A’Famosa Fort and St. Paul’s Church and check out the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum to learn more about Malacca’s unique culture and history.

You can also ride on a colorful trishaw, or go up the Menara Taming Sari for panoramic views. The Melaka Straits Floating Mosque is also worth a visit.

In the evening head to Jonker Street night market to try Nonya food and check out the cute cafes.

Where to stay in Melaka:

The best place to stay in Melaka is inside the old town where there are hostels, boutique heritage hotels and plenty of cafes and street food stalls. Here’s my top 3 picks:

Sleep Here Hostel: Good backpacker hostel with comfortable dorm beds and a basic breakfast within short walking distance from everything. Book here.
The Rucksack Caratel: Unique, funky place with a pool near Jonker Street. Choose from ‘caravan style’ cabins and private rooms with floor to ceiling windows. Book here.
Gingerflower Boutique Hotel: Charming, centrally located, heritage guesthouse with private rooms. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the river. Book here.

How to get to Melaka:

There are many buses that leave from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca and takes 2-3 hours. You can get tickets here.

You can do day tour to Melaka from KL, but I would recommend staying a few days and soaking up the relaxed vibes if you have time.

Malaysian Borneo

Any Ultimate Malaysia itinerary wouldn’t be complete without Borneo! Many travellers only see Peninsula Malaysia but don’t miss you chance to explore Borneo – one of the last remaining really wild places on earth.

To continue your epic backpacking Malaysia Itinerary head back to Kuala Lumpur and get a cheap Air Asia flight over to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo – check Skyscanner for the best prices.

The massive island of Borneo is shared by three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. The Malaysian section is split into two states, Sabah and Sarawak.

Borneo is a paradise for wildlife and nature lovers. Backpacking Borneo offers an off the beaten path adventure through exotic natural landscapes, ancient rainforests, incredible dive sites, and pristine beaches.

You can take a river safari to spot wildlife, visit orangutan sanctuary, trek to the island’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, met tribal warriors and mysterious head hunters.

Venture deeper into the jungle to dive at Sipadan Island, or take a propeller airplane to Mulu National Park to trek to bat caves and waterfalls.

The best place to start your Borneo backpacking adventure is in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah or north Borneo.

Kota Kinabalu: 2 – 5 days

Kota Kinabalu (also refereed to as simply KK) is the capital of Sabah state. It’s a great city to fly into and start the Borneo part of your Malaysia itinerary as you’re near most of the best places to visit in Borneo.

There’s plenty to do in Kota Kinabalu , stroll the waterfront, see the impressive waterfront mosque, visit bustling markets and beaches. To learn about Borneo’s indigenous culture visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village to meet tribal people and see a traditional longhouse.

Just off the coast, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park consists of 5 paradise islands with amazing underwater life only 15 mins boat ride away from the city. They make easy day trips or you can stay on Gaya Island for a tropical island escape.

This snorkelling trip takes you by boat to three amazing spots and includes lunch on the beach on one of the islands. If you’re lucky you may even see whale sharks.

If you don’t have time to go further into Borneo, it’s even possible to do a river cruise day trip from KK to spot wildlife and fireflies in the Klias Wetlands.

In the evening stroll along the waterfront, choose your dinner from the seafood markets who will grill it for you, and then check out the bars and nightlife.

Mount Kinabulu Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

About 2 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu is the starting point for the famous trek to Borneo’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu. A steep 2 day climb where you watch the sunrise above rolling clouds. You need to register before climbing and take a guide.

This G Adventures small group 5 day Trek Mount Kinabalu Tour . Just bring your hiking shoes and arrive in Kota Kinabalu and they will sort everything else out. It’s quite a tough trek so it’s better to have the support and camaraderie of a like minded group.

Where to Stay in Kota Kinabalu:

The best place to stay in Kota Kinabalu is along the waterfront or near Gaya Street. Here’s my top 3 picks:

Homy Seafront Hostel : Cosy, centrally located waterfront hostel with friendly, helpful staff. Offers dorms and private rooms – some with sea views. Book here.
TOOJOU Kota Kinabalu: Large colorful, modern backpacker hostel on the outskirts of the city. Choose from dorms or delux private rooms and enjoy the social vibe, rooftop bar, hang out areas and games. There’s even an indoor slide! Book here.
Horizon Hotel : Good value centrally located hotel with a pool and multiple dinning options. The more expensive rooms even have sea views. Book here.

How to get to Kota Kinabalu:

Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines operate daily domestic and international flights from KL to Kota Kinabalu, you can also fly from places like Brunei, Jakarta, and Taipei.

There are many buses leaving from Kota Kinabalu to various destinations around the island, as well as a port to take boats to neighbouring islands as well as Brunei.

Sandakan: 2 – 3 days

orangutans Malaysia itinerary and backpacking route

Sandakan is the former capital of Sabah and makes a great base for exploring some of Borneo’s best wildlife sanctuaries.

Just outside the city is the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre . This renowned sanctuary is a haven for orphaned and injured orangutans. You can see these amazing animals up close during feeding time and support their conversation.

Next to the orangutan sanctuary is the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre . The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is also in the area. This Sandakan Tour visits all three wildlife sanctuaries and includes a city tour and lunch.

Sandakan is also the jumping off point for Selingan island, better known as Turtle Island , a conservation project for endangered green and hawksbill turtles.

Stay at Turtle Island Resort and witness turtles laying eggs on the beach at night and help to release the hatchlings into the ocean to help their survival odds.

Where to stay in Sandakan

There’s no hostels in Sandakan, there are some nice jungle resorts and some budget hotels along the waterfront of Sandakan City. Here’s the 3 best options:

AeCOTEL: Decent budget hotel with comfortable rooms and helpful staff.
The Elopura Hotel : Popular mid range hotel on the harbour in the heart of Sandakan City with music and movie memorabilia and a great restaurant with sea views.
The Sabah Hotel : Great resort with landscaped pools, bars and eateries, surrounded by rainforest just above Sandakan City.

How to get to Sandakan

Sandakan is about 7 hours bus ride from KK It’s also possible to fly between the two in less than 1 hour. See the options and book on 12 GO Asia.

Kinabatangan: 2 – 3 days

Kinabatangan-river-safari-borneo-malaysia-OP

One of the best ways to spot wildlife in Borneo is on a river cruise through the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary , about a 2 hour drive from Sandakan.

This is one of the highlights of Borneo, so stay a few days in a riverside rainforest eco resort and do a couple of river safaris in the early morning and sunset time.

This gives you a good chance of seeing Borneo’s Big 5:– The great hornbill, proboscis monkey, orangutang, crocodile and pygmy elephant. You can also do a guided night walk to see all the nocturnal creatures.

How to do it

Most people take a 3 day 2 night Kinabatangan package which includes transfers from Sandakan, accommodation in a rainforest eco resort, meals and river safaris.

Book in advance because places are limited and this is the highlight of most travellers Borneo experience.

Some other accommodation options include:

Sukau Backpackers B&B : Good budget choice on the river with basic air-conditioned rooms. Meals and boat rides can be arranged.
Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge : Good value jungle lodge. AC rooms have big windows with nature views.
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort: Lovely river eco resort on stilts in the jungle with an open-air riverside restaurant. They offer packages for both dorms and wooden cottages.

I didn’t find any public transport into the wildlife sanctuary. You might be able to get a taxi, but better to ask your accommodation to provide transfers – most do as part of a package.

Semporna and The Sipadan Islands: 2 – 3 days

view-over-islands-near-semporna-in-sabah-borneo-malaysia-OP

Semporna, on the eastern coast of Sabah, is the gateway to some of the most beautiful islands and diving sites in the world.

Nicknamed the Maldives of Malaysia, you can go island hopping and snorkelling in the Tan Sakaran Marine Park and see visiting islands like Timba-Timba, Pom Pom and Mataking Island

Sipadan island is one of the best scuba diving sites in the world where you’ll see turtles, sharks and huge schools of fish . There are limited dive permits issued each day which are issued by dive resorts and tour operators so book in advance.

You need to have an Advanced Open Water certification to dive at Sipadan, but you can try scuba diving without any previous experience at other dive sites in the area.

Check out this guide to diving Sipadan on a budget for more info.

Where to stay in Semporna and the Sipadan Islands:

Semporna town is the cheapest place to stay but for an island escape you can stay in an overwater bungalow or resort on the islands.

For conservation reasons, you’re no longer allowed to stay on Sipadan island, but there are a couple of options on the nearby Mabul island or Kapalai islands.

Here’s my top picks:

Island Backpackers : Friendly, clean, hostel with dorms and privates centrally located in Semporna.
Mushroom Inn : Stay in your own toad stall room in a cute mushroom village!
Dragon Inn Floating Resort : Basic hotel and restaurant on stilts over the water by Semporna jetty.
Maglami-lami Water House : Top rated reasonably priced over water resort on Bum Bum island
Sipadan Kapalai Resort: Best dive resort in the area located on Kapalai island.
Mabul Backpackers: Basic, budget dive resort built on stilts over the water on Mabul island.

How to get to Semporna:

From Sandakan the bus to Semporna takes about 6 hours. Boats to the islands leave from Semporna jetty.

To return to Kota Kinabulu, the quickest way is by a short flight from either Tawau or Lahad Datu.

In KK either change to a plane back to KL or head deeper into the jungle to Mulu National Park – only accessible by flight.

Mulu National Park: 3 or 4 days

the pinnacles at mulu national park borneo malaysia

Home to Gunung Mulu National Park , Mulu offers spectacular outdoor adventures. From trekking through jungle to climbing through caves, this national park is one of the most unique in the country.

The National Park is home to the biggest underground cave chamber in the world, Sarawak Chamber, as well as Mulu caves and the Deer Cave, the entrance to the largest cave passage in the world.

You can also trek to the Pinnacles at Gunung Api or summit Gunung Mulu Mountain , both multi day treks.

Where to stay near Mulu National Park:

There is a small village around the airport with a handful of homestays. Accommodation is limited and it’s a very remote area so book well in advance.

Mulu Village : Friendly homestay just outside the national park with incredible hosts.
The Benarat Lodge: Jungle lodge with air conditioned rooms, a restaurant and refreshing swimming pool.
Mulu Mariott Resort: The only upscale option. It’s located along the riverside with a beautiful restaurant in the middle of the jungle.

How to get to Mulu National Park:

Getting to Mulu is quite the adventure as it’s not accessible by road. You’ll have to take a small propeller airplane for the 1 hour flight from Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. Check current flight times and prices here.

Kuching: 2 – 3 days

The capital of the state of Sarawak, Kuching is a diverse city located along the beautiful Sarawak River. that’s a mix of colonial and modern architecture. You’ll find massive buildings as well as tiny old houses in this city, which is located along the beautiful Sarawak River.

You can take a two-day trip to Bako National Park for trekking and wildlife, or visit Fort Margherita, The Astana, or even the Kuching Cat Museum.

You should also take a trip to the incredible orang-utan sanctuary, Semenggoh Nature Reserve , where you will get to watch these massive creatures climb the trees and eat.

Where to stay in Kuching:

Treehouse Hostel: Homely BnB style hostel in a good location near the waterfront. Budget rooms have shared bathrooms and there’s also a kitchen and small terrace.
Kuching Waterfront Lodge: Good value heritage hotel in an atmospheric old Chinese building on the Sarawak River. Great location close to night markets and everything in Kuching.
The Borneo Hotel: Modern, mid range hotel if you’re craving mod cons and comfort after your jungle explorations.

How to get there:

Kuching is home to one of Borneo’s busiest airports. You can fly to Kuching from Mulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and many other destinations.

There are also buses from Kuching that operate around various places in Sarawak.

If you’re Malaysia and Borneo trip ends here then take a flight back to Kuala Lumpur to catch your onward flight home.

Read More: My Ultimate Thailand Itinerary and Backpacking Route.

Final Thoughts on Backpacking Malaysia and Borneo

Wow, that was a long blog! But there’s just so much to see and do in Malaysia. Make sure your itinerary or backpacking route contains a bit of everything this amazing country has to offer.

Visit the buzzing, multi-cultural cities, taste the diverse food, wander historic old trading ports, relax on tropical islands, explore ancient rainforests and spot wildlife – backpacking through Malaysia is sure to be an amazing adventure!

I hope this blog has helped you plan your Malaysia backpacking trip – if you have any questions leave a comment below.

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Perfect this is exactly what I was looking for!

Awesome! Glad it helped 🙂

Nice blog.Thanks for sharing

There is just so much to see in South East Asia! I love travelling this part of the world, and hope to see as much of it and as many countries as possible.

Hello! Finally planning a trip for May 2022 and this has been so so helpful, thank you x

really a amazing post about malaysia thanks for sharing

Hi, Thank you for sharing with us your amazing experiences in Malaysia. I can’t wait to explore these amazing destinations and experience all that Malaysia has to offer.

Asia Guides

The most exciting 3-week backpacking malaysia itinerary.

Here is a fun, jam-packed 3-week backpacking Malaysia itinerary, that will take you through the vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the street art paradise of Penang, stunning tea fields in the Cameron Islands, and the Dutch colonial city of Melaka. Find the ultimate route to take, costs, tips & more!

The boy on a motorbike street art in Penang

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Getting to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur’s airport is well-connected with nearby countries, making flights into the capital city very cheap. We recommended checking Skyscanner for the cheapest fares. Once you arrive at the airport there are many transfer options to the city centre.

Apart from taking a flight into Malaysia, the only route overland/ sea would be from Thailand or Singapore. Boats depart from Langkawi to the Thai Islands, so this is an option to consider if you prefer not to fly. If you are entering Malaysia from Singapore, there are regular local buses that connect Singapore and the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Malaysia backpacking itinerary

Below you will find the perfect itinerary for backpacking in Malaysia over 3-weeks. This route will have you see the best that Malaysia has to offer and is perfect for first-timers to this intriguing Southeast Asian country.

Places to visit in Kuala Lumpur – 5 days

The first stop on this backpacking Malaysia itinerary, is, of course, the vibrant capital, Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is a modern city, and there are plenty of things to see and do in the capital alone. Here are just a few…

Petronas Towers

The towers are a must-see; particularly at night when they are lit up. There is also the option to view the city skyline from the observatory deck and the sky bridge. We did not do this, so we are unable to comment on the price or if it’s worthwhile. Either way, be sure to experience the awesome views of the towers from KLCC Park.

The Discovery Centre

The Discovery Centre is an interactive science museum that is situated in the Petronas Towers. It’s a great experience, particularly on a rainy day. There are plentiful interactive displays, interesting designs and information about science. The admission price for an adult is RM 30 ($6.96).

The discovery center - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is a very popular area with backpackers! Here you will find a range of hotels and hostels to meet your needs. There are plenty of shops, nightclubs and other forms of entertainment. There is also a buzzin’ strip filled with local eateries and food stalls. This place is perfect for those who want to go on a foodie adventure and try out some local food.

A trip to Batu Caves is a must! Getting to the caves is relatively easy, using the metro system. First, you will need to go to KL Sentral Railway Station, to hop on the train to the terminal station; Batu Caves. The journey takes 30 minutes and costs RM 4 return.

Upon arriving at the caves, you will first notice (what feels like) a million steps up towards the well-known Hindu shrine. But no worries, there are plenty of monkeys chilling out around you, keeping you entertained whilst you make the leg-aching journey towards the top. Climbing the steps and admiring the caves from the outside is free. You can also opt for a guided tour inside the caves.

Kuala Lumpur is a huge city with so much to see and do. Make sure you have a belly full of food to start your day! Check out these must-try breakfast and brunch spots to get you started.

If you only have 2 days in Kuala Lumpur, make sure to check out our ultimate Kuala Lumpur itinerary!

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur

Big M Hotel – Conveniently located by Jamek Mosque and Masjid Jamek Station. From the hotel, you can easily access Kuala Lumpur’s main attractions; the Petronas Towers, Bukit Bintang and China Town.

Big M hotel staff - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Big M Hotel is a perfect budget hotel for couples and families. The rooms are well-decorated and very clean. The hotel provides amenities such as free coffee, toiletries, a safe, hairdryer and a kettle. Furthermore, there is a rooftop area where you can see out to the nearby mosque. The staff at the hotel are very friendly and helpful. We fully recommend staying here if you are visiting Kuala Lumpur.

Penang itinerary – 5 days

Penang is probably going to be the most popular stop on this backpacking Malaysia itinerary! To reach George Town from Kuala Lumpur, you will need to take a bus to Butterworth, which costs RM 40 ($9.28) and takes 4 hours.

At Butterworth, you will need to walk just a few minutes to the ferry terminal. Take the 15-minute ferry across to Penang at a small cost of RM 1.20 ($0.28). When you arrive on Penang Island you will exit the ferry terminal by the Rapid Penang Jetty Bus Terminal. From here you can take the bus to anywhere you would like to go on the Island.

Penang street art

Penang is a street art paradise, there are many 3D wall arts to take awesome creative pictures with. As there are so many, we recommend grabbing a map that pinpoints where they are located. You can easily spend half a day strolling around trying to tick them all off. Or…you could rent one of these if your legs start to hurt…

Upside down museum

Does as it says on the tin; keep with the creative trend and take some more cool pics of yourself hanging upside down. It takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour to walk around the museum, and it costs RM 27 ($6.26) per adult.

Ghost museum

For those who are interested in ghost and horror stories. Take a walk through the ghost museum and hear about local ghost stories, along with other traditional horror tales. The cost of admission is RM 36 ($8.35).

For more things to do in Penang at night , check out this awesome post!

Where to stay in Penang

Rainbow House – Small but cosy clean rooms that are within walking distance of the main attractions and street art in Penang. It’s perfect for couples!

Langkawi itinerary – 4 days

Next on this itinerary is Langkawi, which makes for a fantastic honeymoon destination in Asia . The easiest way to reach Langkawi from Penang is to take the ferry. The ferry costs RM 60 ($13.92) one way or RM 120 ($27.84) return. The total journey length is 3 hours. The ferry gets booked up quite quickly, so it is best to book in advance from either a travel shop in Penang or online . If you wait too long, you run the risk of not securing your seat, meaning you will have to hang out in Penang for a while longer, or make the long, pain-in-the-ass journey back to the mainland and then to another ferry terminal.

Island wildlife

The best things in life are truly free! Rent a scooter for the day and take a drive up the mountains that surround the island; marvel at the stunning scenery and spot the beautiful wildlife.

Cable Car & Sky Bridge

The views are incredible! The prices vary depending on the type of car you choose; private or clear bottom. You can also buy package deals that allow you entry to other attractions, such as the 3D art museum. Once you exit the cable car, don’t miss one of the best activities to do in Langkawi – a walk along the iconic Sky Bridge for more breathtaking views.

3D art museum

This museum is an art paradise where pictures come to life! You could spend hours here having fun and clicking away on your camera.

Where to stay in Langkawi

Rainbow Lodge – We arrived in Langkawi late at night without accommodation pre-booked. We ended up spending over an hour walking around trying to find accommodation that was within our budget. Luckily, after a while, a local man showed us to Rainbow Lodge, situated a 10-minute walk from all the bars and eateries. The surrounding area is very peaceful and quiet. The room was spacious, clean and had a private bathroom.

Cameron highland trip – 3 days

Reaching the Cameron Highlands from Langkawi can be a bit of a pain, but it’s worth the effort! First take the 1-hour 15-minute ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis, which costs RM 20 ($4.64). From Kuala Perlis, you can board a bus to Ipoh. The bus takes 4 hours and 20 minutes and costs RM 30 ($6.96). Finally, take the bus from Ipoh to the Cameron Highlands. The bus takes 2 hours and costs RM 16 ($3.71).

Take a countryside tour

The countryside tours can easily be booked from your accommodation, from nearby travel agents or online . You will be picked up in a minivan from your accommodation. The day consists of your guide taking you to the rolling green tea plantations, a butterfly farm, a strawberry farm and more.

Tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Where to stay in the Cameron Highlands

Traveller Bunker Hostel – A modern, lively hostel! You can choose from male, female or mixed dorm rooms. Each bed has a curtain for added privacy. There is also a social space for you to meet other travellers. Perfect for the social butterfly!

Melaka trip – 4 days

The last stop on this backpacking Malaysia itinerary is the Dutch colonial city of Melaka. To reach Melaka from the Cameron Highlands, you will need to take a bus to Kuala Lumpur. The bus takes 4 hours and costs RM 40 ($9.28). From Kuala Lumpur take another 2-hour bus that costs RM 13 ($3.02) to Melaka. When you arrive at Melaka you will need to then take a local short bus to the backpacker area. You can easily get an overview of Melaka in 2-days , but 4 days are the perfect amount of time for a combination of exploring and relaxation.

Explore the UNESCO City

Melaka is a small place, so you can easily explore on foot. As you wander around, make sure to admire the European-style buildings. A particular place of interest is the red-washed square, which is home to the Dutch-built church.

Ride a trishaw

It’s hard not to notice the many tacky-themed trishaws that roll around Melaka, whilst blurring out all kinds of music. It may sound silly, but a short ride on these funky vehicles can be a bit of fun. The cost of a trishaw ride is RM 25 ($5.80), and the journey lasts about 15 minutes.

Hang out at the shopping mall

The shopping mall has everything you need, and plenty of entertainment. There is a bowling alley, cinema, arcade, karaoke booths, and even indoor archery. So, if you want to get away from the outside heat, this place is perfect to spend a few hours having fun.

Where to stay in Melaka

The Pillohouzzze – Highly rated, but cheap accommodation in the heart of Melaka! The hotel offers all types of rooms; dorms, single, twin and double. The rooms are clean and are equipped with the essentials. Perfect for couples on a budget!

Cost of Malaysia backpacking

Currency: The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). £ 1 is equal to 5.36 RM and $1 is equal to 4.31 RM.

Daily budget: We recommend a budget of $25 per person. This budget should be enough to use local buses and stay in cheap accommodation. When we arrived at our destination, we often rented a motorbike to explore the area to keep the cost of local transport and taxis down.

For more tips on ways to handle your money & budget whilst on the road, click here!

Accommodation: A double bed in a private room with a bathroom, on average, costs RM 50 ($11.60). Melaka was slightly more expensive and cost around RM 60 ($13.92) for a private double room.

Food and drink: The average cost of local food ranges between RM 5-10 ($1.16-2.32). Food across Malaysia is generally cheap. Even popular fast-food chains, such as Nando’s, are cheaper than in the USA and UK. Beer is more expensive than in the rest of Southeast Asia due to high tax rates. A pint of beer averaged RM 15 ($3.48).

Motorbike: The average cost of a motorbike rental is RM 15 ($3.48).

Backpacking Malaysia travel tips

Take a cardigan – Buses, museums, cinemas, shopping centres, you name it, anything inside is freezing! The air-con is turned up so high, it often gave me a headache from shivering. Make sure to bring a cardigan to slip on when you decided to take part in indoor activities.

Hostel barter – Don’t feel cheeky to ask for a lower rate if you plan to stay for a couple of nights. Places will often give you a discount, if you stay for more than 2 nights, and are willing to pay upfront.

Book a 2 by 1 seater bus – If you can, try to book the buses that have two seats on the left, and one on the right. They allow you more leg space and are roughly the same price as buses that have more seats.

Monorail in KL – Make use of the simple and easy-to-use monorail system in Kuala Lumpur. No need to spend money on taxis. The monorail is very easy to use and can get you almost anywhere you want to go to the city at very cheap prices.

Cut down on alcohol – Alcohol in Malaysia is quite expensive compared to its neighbouring countries. Try to drink less, so you have more money for other fun activities that you can’t do elsewhere.

Wrap up in the Cameron Highlands -The Cameron Highlands are very cold in comparison to the rest of Malaysia. Trust us, you do NOT need accommodation with air-con. We spent ages trying to find somewhere with an AC unit, but nowhere has it, because it isn’t needed when dawn falls. Make sure to bring a jacket and even a thing scarf to keep you toasty during the chilly nights.

Essential resources for travelling in Malaysia

Travel Insurance – No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is Safteywing . You can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.

Visa – Before you travel to any country, make sure to check if you need a visa. iVisa is a fantastic website that is super easy and quick to use. Just type in where you are from. and where you are going. to check if you need a visa. If you do, you can quickly make an application online.

Accommodation – Booking .com is our go-to when looking to pre-book accommodation online. Booking.com tend to almost always have the best rates and a FREE cancellation policy for most properties.

Overland transport – Our go-to website for overland transport is Bookaway . Bookaway offers multiple forms of transport, from buses, mini-vans, trains, and ferries. The routes on offer are extensive and certainly cover most of the backpacker trails. Bookaway works a little like Skyscanner but for overland transport. You will find plenty of transport options from a range of companies. All you simply need to do is book online and receive your ticket by email. The email will contain essential information, such as where the bus leaves from and departure and arrival times.

Tours & Activities – If you want to book tours and activities online, make sure to check out Get Your Guide . Get Your Guide takes the stress out of booking activities abroad. You will also find a range of benefits, such as skip-the-line passes, lunch included in your tours, and so much more.

Travel tips ebook -Before you head off on your adventure, make sure to download our free ebook. It has a whopping 109 budget travel tips to help you make your hard-earned cash go further. Click here to download your FREE ebook.

We hope you enjoyed this backpacking Malaysia itinerary. Of course, it isn’t fully comprehensive and doesn’t explore everywhere in Malaysia. But we believe it is the perfect itinerary for first-timers with only 3 weeks in Malaysia. So, don’t hang around, put Malaysia firmly on your Southeast Asia trip! It’s the ultimate location for art lovers, foodies and cultural enthusiasts.

Heading to Singapore next? Check out our backpacking Singapore guide.

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The Ultimate Malaysia Travel Itinerary + Guide

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The ultimate backpacking guide to Malaysia

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on April 26, 2019 |

Malaysia is the fiercely underrated, cultural melting pot of South East Asia. A heady combination of Malay, Indian, Chinese and European influences, result in a distinct culture unlike any other in the region.

Malaysia is equally diverse in landscapes as it is in culture. Visitors can enjoy anything from charming heritage towns and historical cities to tropical rain forests and pristine beaches. It is also a country where you can experience world-class diving, encounter endangered orangutans, and sample an amalgamation of cuisines.

With vibrant culture, rich history, delicious food, budget-friendly prices, and endless opportunity for adventure, Malaysia should be on every backpacker’s bucket list. So, to make the most of your trip, we have put together this ultimate guide to backpacking Malaysia.

Jump straight to:

The best time to visit malaysia.

Malaysia visa

Travelling around Malaysia

Backpacking malaysia budget, where to go in malaysia, malaysia itinerary.

Accommodation Malaysia

Malaysian food

Malaysia travel advice, malaysian culture.

backpacking Malaysia - coloured building - two girls

Malaysia weather tends to be hot and humid all year round; however, the best time to visit will depend on what you are looking to do. The seasons vary drastically on the east and west coasts; therefore, you will want to plan your trip accordingly.

The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur and other areas located on the west coast of the Malaysian peninsular, is between November and August. Although temperatures rarely fluctuate from the 30-degree mark, you will avoid the worst of the monsoon season during this time. Some rain is expected all year round – particularly in the capital where thunderstorms occur regularly. On the other hand, Penang weather is generally cooler and there’s less rain.

The best time to visit Langkawi and other islands on the West Coast is between November and April. The weather is dry and calm during these months, making it the perfect time to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities on offer.

Conversely, to take advantage of the world-class diving opportunities along the East Coast, you should plan your trip between March and September. This is also the best time to visit the tropical rainforests in Borneo where you can encounter the endangered orangutan and other fascinating wildlife.

It’s well worth planning your trip to coincide with one of the many festivals that take place throughout the year. For example, Malaysia is one of the best countries in the world to celebrate Chinese New Year. Spanning across 15 days throughout January & February you can expect to see the country in a whole new light. Streets, malls, and temples are decorated in red lanterns, while traditional celebrations take place around the cities. It is a wonderful experience; however, prepare for the country to become increasingly busy during this time.

Another exciting and slightly unusual event, is the Tamil festival of Thaipusam. Held annually at the Batu Caves – during the full moon period of late January – early February, Thaipusam is renowned to be somewhat gruesome. The festival involves devotees piercing parts of their body, cheek, and tongue; therefore, it is recommended that visitors research before attending.

Other significant festivals include Wesak Day AKA Buddhas Birthday in May, Deepavali (the ‘Festival of Light’) in November, and the Penang Dragon Boat Festival in December.

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backpacking Malaysia - best time to visit Malaysia - woman on bridge

Malaysia Visa

Malaysia visa requirements.

Malaysia has a very laid-back policy when it comes to tourist visas. Many nationalities including all European, United States, Australian and South African citizens are granted visa-free entry into the country for 90 days.

For more information regarding visa requirements for your country, please check with the Immigration Department of Malaysia ahead of travel.

Malaysia work visa

Boasting a low cost of living, tropical climate, and a mix of vibrant cultures; working and living in Malaysia is an attractive prospect for many foreigners. As a result, despite the many opportunities for skilled workers, it can be difficult to secure a job among the soaring competition.

First of all, to be granted a work permit for Malaysia, you must first secure a job. Sounds easy enough; however, for any organisation to offer you a position, they must then prove that a Malaysian national is unable to fulfil the role. If this is successful and you have a job offer, it is then up to the company to apply to the Immigration Department of Malaysia for a work permit. If accepted, you could be offered one of 3 options: An employment pass; a professional visit pass; and a temporary employment pass. It’s then up to you to submit the necessary information required to move forward.

Read this article on securing a job in Malaysia .

1. Public transport in Malaysia

In our experience, the easiest way to explore the big cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang is to take advantage of the bus and rail networks. As well as being extremely reliable, they are also super cheap.

The metro system in Kuala Lumpur puts the London Underground to shame with comfortable, air-conditioned carriages and boasting routes to all the must-see spots across the city. There are even ladies-only carriages for female travellers who may feel uncomfortable in the mixed carriages.

2. Taxis in Malaysia

Grab Taxi operate around the country and are a safer, cheaper alternative to hailing down a local taxi. If you do take a local taxi, be sure they use the meter, or agree on the fare in advance to avoid being ripped off.

3. Travelling across the country in Malaysia

By Bus – After covering most of Peninsular Malaysia on a budget, we found the easiest way to travel from place to place was by tourist bus. Granted that it isn’t exactly the quickest way, however, the buses are comfortable and you’ll get to see some pretty epic scenery along the way.

It is worth noting that the road conditions are generally very good in the tourist regions of the west, but once you start travelling east to Borneo, they become more treacherous. We recommend avoiding bus travel in these areas as there is a history of accidents on the roads.

By Train – There is also a cross country rail network, although the prices tend to be more expensive.

By Air – If you are on a tight time frame and money isn’t too much of an issue, you can also travel via domestic flight to most parts of the country.

4. How to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi

By Air – The most efficient way to reach Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur is to fly, although, this is generally the most expensive option.

By Bus/Ferry – If time permits, it is possible to reach Langkawi Island by bus and ferry at a very reasonable price. First, you take a bus from Kuala Lumpur (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) to Kuala Perlis. From there, you can take the ferry to Langkawi Island. The journey takes you on a scenic route of beautiful green landscapes and is around 9 hours in total.

5. How to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor Island

By Bus/Ferry – The quickest and cheapest way to reach Pangkor Island from the capital is by bus and ferry. First, you take a bus from Kuala Lumpur (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) to Terminal Lumut which takes approximately 4 1/2 hours. From there, you can take the 20-minute ferry ride to Pangkor Island.

6. How to travel from Penang to Langkawi

By Air – Domestic flights between Penang & Langkawi are generally pretty cheap, although, once you have considered travel time to and from the airport, it may not be the quickest option.

By High-Speed Ferry – An easy, yet relatively expensive option is to take the high-speed ferry boat from Georgetown. The total journey time is around 3 hours but can be a little bumpy, so it may not be the best option if you are prone to sea-sickness.

By Bus/Ferry – If you are on a budget, this will be your cheapest option. First, take the ferry from Georgetown to Butterworth, where you can catch a bus to Kuala Perlis. From there you can take the 1-hour ferry to Langkawi.

7. How to book transport in Malaysia

Easybook is a reliable website who make it super easy to organise transport not just across Malaysia, but most of SE Asia. It may be cheaper to turn up at the station without a ticket; however, on popular routes, you run the risk of the seats being sold out.

Domestic flights within Malaysia tend to be cheapest using Air Asia , but it’s always worth checking on SkyScanner to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Travelling West Malaysia is suitable for a wide range of budgets, and if you are sensible with your cash you can comfortably live on £20/25$ a day. Decent hostels can be found for as little as £5/7$ and often include breakfast, while budget private rooms are available for £10-20/15-25$.

Food in Malaysia can also be very cheap. Noodles or fried rice can be picked up at hawker stalls for as little as 5 MYR, while a good meal at a food court will set you back 10-15 MYR. If you want to dine at restaurants, expect to pay between 30-50MYR for a meal.

Entry prices for attractions will heavily depend on your interests. Most of the mosques/temples, museums, and nature areas, are very cheap if not free to enter. But if you wanted to experience the view from the KL Tower, for example, it would set you back around £15/$20.

Alcohol in Malaysia can be almost prohibitively expensive for budget-conscious backpackers. It’s best to limit your consumption if you want to keep your daily spends down.

If you are thinking of heading east to Borneo, you should consider that your daily spend will double if not triple, if you want to make the most of the attractions in the region.

Malaysia currency

The currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit denoted as MYR. At the time of writing 5 Ringgit is equal to £0.93/1.23$.

The best places to visit in Malaysia will highly depend on your interests; however, with as equally diverse landscapes as there is culture, you can be sure there is something for everybody. If you are hoping for an educational or cultural experience, you should consider heading to Penang and Malacca. If adventure or nature is your thing, perhaps Borneo and the Cameron Highlands would be more suited. Or for quality beach time and world-class diving, you won’t want to miss the pristine islands. Here are some of the best places to visit in Malaysia along with the top things to do there.

1. Kuala Lumpur

Your Malaysian adventure will inevitably begin in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, and here you are immediately welcomed by the enthralling hotbed of culture and ethnicity. The nation’s capital has vivacious energy, encouraged by striking architecture, creative street art, bustling markets, and verdant nature. In short, walking the streets of the bustling metropolis is a show-stopping delight. Below is a list of our favourite things to do in the city.

Top things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves – If you are only going to have a short time in Kuala Lumpur, we highly recommend making the Batu Caves a priority on your list of things to do. The mystical caves are a whopping 400 million years old, and are built among a colossal limestone cliff – they are truly magnificent. As well as a popular tourist attraction, the caves are a significant religious landmark, housing numerous Hindu temples and shrines.

In 2018 the entire complex was reconditioned, and the striking, rainbow design has made the attraction even more enticing to visit. We recommend arriving early, as the grounds fill up quickly after the 7am opening time.

backpacking Malaysia - things to do Kuala Lumpur - Golden statue

Petronas Towers – The Petronas Towers stand proudly as the landmark of the city, and at a soaring 450m high are the tallest twin towers in the world. It pays to see the towers in both day and night; yet, at night, when the buildings are illuminated, is when they appear most impressive.

For around £15/$20 you can walk the sky bridge between the 2 towers positioned at 175m. It makes for a great view of the city, but the price is a little steep. If you are keen to get a good view of the capital, we recommend checking out the KL Tower Sky Deck for the same price.

backpacking Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur - Petronas Towers

Eco Forest & Botanical Gardens – If you crave a touch of nature among the hustle and bustle of big cities, you will be pleased to learn that Kuala Lumpur hosts several stunning nature parks.

We recommend the Botanical Gardens, which host a serene lake and beautiful gardens. Also, the Eco Forest, where you can venture across the canopy walkway through the city’s preserved forest.

Merdeka Square – Probably the most historically significant spot in the city, Merdeka Square is where Malaysia declared their independence in 1957. You can find awe-inspiring architecture surrounding the square, including the spectacular Sultan Abdul Samad Building. These heritage buildings are a stark contrast to the contemporary architecture seen throughout the rest of the capital.

Mosques and Temples – As expected from such an ethnically diverse nation, mosques and temples can be found in abundance throughout the capital city. In addition to the mystical Batu Caves, no trip to Kuala Lumpur is complete without a visit to the striking Thean Hou Buddhist Temple and the grand Federal Territory Mosque.

Although Kuala Lumpur is generally quite relaxed regarding dress code, you must ensure that your shoulders and legs are covered when visiting any religious monuments. At the mosques, be prepared to wear robes and a headdress which will be provided free of charge.

backpacking malaysia - kuala lumpur - temple by water - reflection

Shopping – If you like to shop till you drop on your vacay, then you will be in your element in KL. Luxury shopping malls to budget thrift stores are overflowing in the city, as well as a choice of lively markets.

Cafes – The weather in Kuala Lumpur can, at times, be unpredictable. One minute you will be sweltering in the blazing sunshine, and the next you will be dodging lightning bolts (slight exaggeration)! Either way, you will often find yourself on the lookout for a good cafe to either cool down or shelter from the storm.

Luckily there are plenty of good cafes around the city. As well as popular chains such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean, you can also find a number of chic, privately owned cafes. Some of our favourites include Lucy in the Sky , ETC , and Merchants Lane .

Where to eat in Kuala Lumpur

Any city you visit in Malaysia is a foodie paradise, and Kuala Lumpur is no exception. This is the city where you can eat for $1 or $100 depending on your budget. Either way, you can almost guarantee that the food is going to be good.

We are big foodies on a small budget, meaning we are always on the lookout for the best affordable food in the area. For a cheap yet delicious sit-down meal, we recommend heading to the food courts in Little India or China Town. Or for delectable street food, you cannot miss Jalan Alor Street.

For those a little shy of sampling the local cuisine, you don’t need to worry. Although slightly more expensive than the local food, many restaurants offer tasty western options. You can also find many of the popular fast food chains here.

Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a nocturnal hub for party seeking travellers, and you’ll find countless bars, nightclubs and rooftop establishments dotted around the city. Although we usually try to avoid partying in Malaysia due to the hefty price of alcohol, we can certainly recommend some cool places worth checking out.

The best spot for sunset is undoubtedly the HeliPad Bar . The drinks are expensive, and you will need to arrive early to reserve a spot, but for the views, it’s worth it. Another trendy and unique venue is Attic Bar . The only one of its kind in Kuala Lumpur, this intriguing cocktail bar is hidden on the rooftop of one of the capital’s hippest hostels. Finally, if you are looking to party through until the early hours, you may want to check out clubs such as Zion and Play Club at the Roof .

If you are even slightly interested in Malaysian history and culture, you should make Penang a priority on your itinerary. The city is located along the coast and once served as a major trading hub; however, it is the beautiful colonial district of George Town, which attracts most visitors to the city.

Renowned for its fascinating heritage houses, vibrant street art murals, and unrivalled street food, George Town is classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. There are a number of attractions to cover in Penang, so let’s get right to it.

Top things to do in Penang

George Town Street Art – One of the key elements that attracts visitors to Penang is the creative and vibrant street art of Georgetown. Surprisingly, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic was only commissioned in 2012; however, the revamp has, without doubt, injected a new lease of character into the city.

With an array of iconic murals hidden throughout a labyrinth of lanes and alleyways, finding them becomes an explorer’s treasure hunt. Some of our favourites include the famous ‘Brother and Sister on Swing’, ‘Kids on a Bike’ and ‘Stealing Baos’.

backpacking malaysia - Penang - street art - motor bike

Tour the Heritage Houses -The pre-war heritage houses which can be found all around Georgetown are a true reflection of the city’s rich history. Oozing charm and authenticity, it almost feels like you have stepped back in time to another era. As well as admiring the dilapidated houses, you can also visit more affluent properties such as the Pinang Peranakan Mansion – once home to a 19th-century Chinese tycoon.

Penang Hill -Penang Hill has been heavily developed at an attempt to attract travellers. Along with outstanding panoramic views over Georgetown and the surrounding ocean, there are numerous attractions to keep you entertained.

With the area covered in rainforest, nature walks are a popular activity here. You can also find a myriad of temples, heritage buildings, bars, restaurants, and even Penang’s own version of the Love Lock bridge. To reach the peak, visitors can choose to take the cable car or hike the strenuous climb.

*For more pristine nature opportunities in Penang, you shouldn’t miss the Entopia sanctuary and the Botanical Gardens.

Kek Lok Si Temple – Kek Lok Si or “Temple of Happiness” is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is also a significant pilgrimage centre for Buddhists across South East Asia. Even if you are not an avid temple lover, the grandeur and intricate design of the temple complex make it well worth the day trip from Georgetown.

If temples are your jam, then there are many others that you can enjoy closer to Georgetown. Some of the most impressive include Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple, Khoo Kongsi Temple, and for something a little bit different, the Snake Temple!

China House Georgetown – Said to be the longest cafe in the country, China House is a charming establishment serving some of the best cakes in South East Asia. This place is fiercely popular so be prepared to wait for a table; but, we can assure you it is more than worth it.

*Georgetown, in recent years, has become quite the hipster spot. As a result, there has been a surge of chic coffee shops popping up throughout the town. Head to Love Lane for your pick of quirky venues.

Celebrate Chinese New Year – If you have carefully planned your trip around Chinese New Year, or just so happen to be in the country for the festivities, then Penang is where you should be to immerse yourself in the celebrations. From the enchanting red lanterns that adorn Georgetown, to the wild street parties and lively atmosphere, it is a truly wonderful time to be in the city. Be sure to visit Kek Lok Si after dark at this time of the year. For 33 nights, tens of thousands of lights illuminate the enchanting temple complex.

backpacking Malaysia - Chinatown - Chinese lanterns

Beaches – If you are looking for the best beaches in Malaysia, then Penang probably isn’t your best option. That being said, the city does host some attractive beachside locations. Batu Ferringhi hosts powdery golden sands and is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Georgetown.

Where to eat in Penang

Known as the street food capital of the country, you are never short of mouth-watering food options in Penang. Hawker stalls can be found everywhere in the city, but for a sprawling choice of options under one roof, head to the New World Park or Red Garden food courts.

Gurney Drive, located a little outside of George Town, is a popular spot for street food, while China Town bursts into life with its bustling night markets. Finally, if you are seeking delicious Indian food, you can try out any of the restaurants located in Little India.

Nightlife in penang

While there is a vibrant nightlife scene in Penang, it tends to sway more towards a laidback rather than an all-night party kind of vibe. Some of the top things to do of an evening usually include something to do with food; however, you can also take part in a sunset boat tour, watch a live band play at China House, or enjoy a drink at one of the many bars and pubs.

3. M alacca city (otherwise known as melaka)

In the years before Georgetown prospered, Malacca City served as the historical hub of Malaysia. This UNESCO heritage, riverside town, is oozing with culture and charm, yet many travellers erroneously miss it off their itinerary.

From ambling the colonial streets and cruising along the river; to visiting museums and sampling the local cuisine; Malacca City offers the perfect blend of serene and educational activities. Here are our favourite things to do in the city…

Top things to do in Malacca

Take a river cruise – One of the best ways to take in the sights of this picturesque city is to enjoy a peaceful cruise along the river. The river is the focal point of the city, and on the cruise, you can enjoy the multitude of beauty that Malacca has to offer. Look out for the vibrant street art that adorns many of the buildings, as well as popular landmarks such as the Clock Tower and Ghost Bridge.

Immerse yourself in the rich history – The diverse history of Malacca is present throughout the heritage city, and walking the streets will transport you back in time. Along with numerous museums, history buffs will relish the European influence present in the colonial architecture. You will also learn more about the extraordinary Peranakan culture that prevails in the city.

For those who want to learn more about Malacca’s rich history, you should visit the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, the Malacca Sultanate Palace, and the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum.

Jonker Street Night Market – Located in the heart of China Town, Jonker Street is the cultural hub of Malacca. Most days, you can meander amid the historical buildings and local boutique stores. Although, at the weekends, Jonker Street bursts into life when it hosts its atmospheric night market. Expect a mosaic of delicious food stalls, along with local goods and entertainment.

backpacking Malaysia - Malacca - Jonker Street - Chinese lanterns

Take a Trishaw ride – Malaysia is a country obsessed with ‘Hello Kitty’ and it doesn’t get any more obvious than in Malacca. As well as a Hello Kitty hotel, many of the Trishaws are elaborately decorated in the theme, making this an entertaining way to explore the city. As well as Hello Kitty, you can expect Pokemon, Disney, and other flamboyant Trishaw designs.

Visit The Huskitory – Not an attraction you would expect in a historical city like Malacca, the Huskitory is a cafe swarming with Siberian Huskies. While you enjoy a coffee or beverage, the dogs roam free around the cafe, allowing you to stroke, play, and even feed them.

Dog lovers will not want to miss the opportunity to interact with this beautiful breed, but you should book in advance to avoid disappointment.

backpacking Malaysia - Malacca - The Huskitory - huskeys

Where to eat in Malacca

While you can expect the same diversity in food as other parts of the country, you cannot leave Malacca without sampling the traditional local cuisine. Peranakan AKA Nyonya, is a delightful combination of Chinese and Malay flavours, resulting in delicious dishes. Although there are many restaurants specialising in Nyonya cuisine, some of the local favourites include Nancy’s Kitchen and Amy’s Heritage .

Nightlife in Malacca

Malacca has a limited nightlife scene relative to other cities in Malaysia, yet you can still expect a fun-filled evening here. Head to the nocturnal hub of Melaka Raya for a pick of pubs, bars, nightclubs, and karaoke.

4. L angkawi

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands located off the west coast of Malaysia. Famous for its endless natural landscapes, the main island hosts some of the best beaches in Malaysia. In 2007, Langkawi was declared a UNESCO World Geo Park for its pristine beaches, majestic waterfalls, mysterious caves, lush rain forests and verdant mangroves.

One of the things that attracts visitors to Langkawi is the harmonious combination of relaxation and adventure. So, without further ado, here are the top things to do in Langkawi…

Top things to do in Langkawi

Beaches – As previously mentioned, Langkawi has some of the best beaches in Malaysia, so naturally this is the number 1 thing to do here. With many incredible beaches to choose from it is worth renting a scooter for a day and discovering which one you like best.

The most popular beach on the island is Pantai Cenang. Positioned amid the tourist hub of the island, here you will find the island’s top shops, bars, and restaurants. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, you should check out Tanjang Rhu or Pantai Tengah.

Waterfalls – There are a number of waterfalls to be found on Langkawi; however, Telaga Tujuh is arguably the most beautiful. The name, meaning ‘Seven Wells Waterfall’, refers to the seven connected natural pools fed by seven separate waterfalls in the mountain. Adventurers can climb to the peak of the waterfall where magical views support the local legend that the area is home to fairies.

Other notable waterfalls on the island include Air Terjun Temurun and Durian Perangin. Though be aware that the best time to see the waterfalls in all their glory is during the rainy season. During the dry season, you may find that there is no water at all.

Mangrove Tours – Mangrove Tours are a fiercely popular attraction in Langkawi which allow visitors up close and personal to some of the islands most extraordinary nature. As well as lush mangrove forests, you can expect to see plenty of wildlife. You can either opt for a boat tour through the mangroves or if you are feeling more adventurous, why not try kayaking instead.

backpacking Malaysia - Mangrove Tours - girl kayaking

Skytrex Adventure – One for the intrepid travellers, Sky Trex Adventure is an adrenaline pumping assault course in the heart of the Langkawi Rainforest. With a choice of circuits depending on your capabilities, brave participants are faced with a number of challenging obstacles and zip lines. Don’t look down!

backpacking Malaysia - Skytrex Adventure

Island Hopping – Being part of an archipelago of 99 islands, it is no wonder that island hopping tours are popular in Langkawi. Most of the surrounding islands are uninhabited and extremely picturesque. You can opt for a boat tour, or to make things more interesting, a guided jet ski tour.

Duty-Free Shopping – Yes, you read that right, Langkawi is a duty-free island, meaning you can pick up cheap as chips booze, tobacco and confectionary. Just be aware that there is a limit to how much you can buy, and you will need to present your passport if you want to make a purchase.

Where to eat in Langkawi

Langkawi is as equally diverse in its culture and cuisine as the big cities. Here, you can enjoy a variety of night market treats – although be sure to check the location as it changes each day. Or for affordable yet delicious Indian food, ‘Tomato 24’ has a cult following on the island. Finally, for a delicious sunset dinner where you can bring your own (duty-free) alcohol head to Nest Rooftop Bar.

Nightlife in Langkawi

Evenings in Langkawi generally consist of laid-back sunset drinks, good food, and a trip to the night market. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t party on if you wanted to. Lively beachfront bars such as Yellow Bar and D’Reef stay open past midnight, and there are also a select few nightclubs on the island.

backpacking Malaysia - Langkawi - sandy beach resort - sunset

5. P angkor Island

Positioned further South, Pangkor Island is a quieter alternative to favoured Langkawi. Although only small, the island sports beautiful beaches and stunning natural landscapes, where visitors can snorkel, hike, and kayak. This island is a winning choice for anybody looking to get off the grid and completely unwind.

6. The Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands is a picturesque region in the West of Malaysia. Hosting verdant nature, scenic views, and a bunch of adventure opportunities, nature lovers and intrepid travellers shouldn’t miss it.

Historically, the highlands were discovered by an English colonialist, resulting in a significant British influence throughout the region. Along with traditional cream teas and strawberry picking, ironically the weather is colder here too! Let’s look at some of the top things to do.

Top things to do in the Cameron Highlands

Tour Boh Tea Plantation – In keeping with its British influence, the highlands are famous for the lush green tea terraces that sweep the region. As well as beholding the breathtaking views, you will learn how one of the most popular teas in Malaysia is grown and harvested.

Jungle Treks – With one of the world’s oldest rainforests located nearby, jungle trekking is a popular activity here. Tours range from half a day to 7 days plus, so there are suitable options for all capabilities. From the tour, you can expect to see some of the incredible scenery the highlands are famous for, as well as learning about the region’s nature.

backpacking Malaysia - things to do Cameron Highlands - green landscape

Hunt for the Rafflesia Flower – The Rafflesia flower is known to be one of the largest flowers in the world, and Malaysia is one of few countries where you can find it. Growing up to 3ft in diameter, the extraordinary specimen is also known as the corpse-flower, thanks to its pungent odour.

*Your best chance of a seeing the Rafflesia flower is during the rainy season and with the assistance of an experienced guide.

Orang Asli Villages – Orang Asli, meaning ‘original people’ in Malay, refers to the indigenous groups living in Malaysia. The Cameron Highlands is one of few places in Malaysia where you can visit traditional villages. While these tours provide insight into a fascinating side of Malay culture, it is imperative to always be respectful.

7. M alaysian Borneo

Borneo, the world’s 3rd largest island, is divided among 3 countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Hosting pristine rainforest, world-class dive sites, towering mountain ranges, and some of our planet’s most unique wildlife, it is a destination that screams adventure.

While 73% of the island is dominated by Indonesian territory, Malaysian Borneo (otherwise known as East Malaysia) comprises of 2 states – Sawarak and Sabah. To experience all the wild attractions that Borneo has to offer, you will want to spend time in both. Here are some of the top things to do in Malaysian Borneo:

Top things to do in Malaysian Borneo

Encounter Wild Orangutans – There are only two places in the world where you can encounter endangered orangutans. The first is Borneo, and the other is Sumatra. Sadly, with deforestation for palm oil plantations proving catastrophic to the orangutan population, it is uncertain how much longer the species will survive.

There are centres throughout Borneo working to protect the future of the species. While visiting one of these centres gives you the best chance of a sighting, but you can also take your chances of seeing them in the wild. Trekking through the rainforest or a river cruise on Kinabatangan River both come with a good chance of spotting the orangutans.

backpacking Malaysia - things to do in Malaysian Borneo - wild orangutans

Scuba Diving – Encompassed by some of the most pristine ocean in the region, Sabah boasts some exceptional diving opportunities. Despite the high demand, only a limited number of dive permits are issued each day to help protect the fragile ecosystem. Although diving here is relatively expensive, the rare opportunity to encounter the flourishing coral reef, several species of sharks, turtles, and other tropical marine life, make it worth the money.

Climb Mount Kinabalu – At 4095m, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Malaysia. To do this climb will require both mental and physical strength, not to mention money to spare. The cost of a permit alone is £85/$110 and you will need to hire a guide. A relaxing alternative to the strenuous climb is to spend the day at Kinabalu Park. Kinabalu Park boasts jungle trails, beautiful plants, and views of the prodigious mountain.

Spot Wildlife on the Kinabatangan River – Considered a highlight when visiting Borneo, river cruises along the Kinabatangan River allow visitors the rare opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife. These include the endangered proboscis monkeys, orangutans, crocodiles, pythons and elephants.

Rainforest Trekking – The national parks in Sarawak provide unbeatable trekking opportunities, and with camping available in most places, avid adventurers could get lost for days amid the wilderness. Some parks require a hired guide, therefore be sure to do your research before you head out.

8. P erhentian Islands

Located off the East Coast of Malaysia, the Perhentian Islands are famous for their pristine beaches, azure waters, and spectacular diving conditions. The largest island, Perhentian Besar, is the quieter and less crowded island. While Perhentian Kecil is livelier and more popular with backpackers. Other than diving and snorkelling, there isn’t much else to do on the islands other than to immerse yourself in the tranquillity – heaven!

backpacking Malaysia - Perhentian Islands - beach - turquoise sea

Now we have covered the best places to visit in Malaysia, here are some tailor-made Malaysia itineraries to help plan your travels.

10 day itinerary – The cultural tour

Day 1 – Arrive into Kuala Lumpur and spend your time adapting to the culture. Mooch around the various markets in the city and enjoy the fusion of cuisines.

Day 2 – Wake early and take a Grab to the Batu Caves ahead of the 7 am opening time. Enjoy the vibrant temple located at the entrance and witness the early morning rituals of the brahmins. At 7 am , walk the 272 rainbow stairs into the cave temple, but be aware of the pesky monkeys!

Next, take the direct train to Kuala Lumpur Railway station and visit the National Mosque. Spend some admiring the majestic architecture before heading to Merdeka Square.

Once you are done marvelling over the heritage buildings in the square, it should be time to grab some lunch. The Central Market is located nearby hosting a variety of hawker stalls. Otherwise, the insta-famous Merchants Lane Cafe is a great spot for relaxing refreshments.

Once fed and watered, you are likely to be feeling weary from your early morning start. Take the afternoon to have a relaxing stroll in the Botanical Gardens, or for something educational, the National Museum.

In the evening, head to Jalan Alor Street, to round off the day with a delicious meal.

Day 3 – Start your day at the vibrant Thean Hou Temple – one of the largest and oldest Buddhist temples in South East Asia.

Next, head to China Town. Check out the various temples and heritage buildings in the area, before doing a spot of shopping on Petaling street. Get your haggling head on in order to snag yourself a bargain.

For lunch, find a hawker stand or head to one of the many cafes in the area. Then in the afternoon, go street art hunting in Bukit Bintang and take to the skies at the Eco-Forest Park.

Finally, head to the Petronas Towers an hour before sundown. This will give you the opportunity to see the iconic towers in both day and night.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia itinerary - temple - two girls

Day 4 – To continue your cultural tour of Malaysia, take a bus in the morning to the UNESCO city of Malacca. You won’t be on the road for long – around 2-3 hours – so when you arrive, enjoy a relaxing trishaw tour of the city. End the day by sampling some traditional Nyonya cuisine.

Day 5 – For a tranquil start to your day, begin with a gentle boat cruise along the river. Along the route, look out for the city’s significant landmarks and vibrant street art.

After the revitalising journey, spend the rest of the morning meandering the museums and learning about the city’s heritage.

Once you are refreshed from lunch, take the afternoon to explore the city. Visit Christ Church, one of the most beautiful and significant buildings in Malacca. Then head to Jonker Street for some shopping.

If you are in the city on a Friday or Saturday, enjoy the food at the Jonker Street night market. If not, head to Jalan Kee Ann for a choice of restaurants.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia itinerary - Christ Church building pink

Day 6 – Your 6th day in Malaysia is going to be dominated by travel as you make your way to the Cameron Highlands. The journey is around 6 hours, enjoy the picturesque landscapes that you will pass along the way.

Day 7 – Spend your 7th day enjoying the lush nature and traditional culture of the Cameron Highlands. Start by visiting the Boh Tea Plantation, where they harvest one of the most famous teas in Malaysia, followed by strawberry picking at Raajus Hill Strawberry Farm.

After a traditional English cream tea at Jim Thompsons Tea House, take a tour of the Orang Asli Villages. Here, you will get an insight into the lives of the indigenous groups who reside in the area.

Finally, head to the night market for dinner and spend 1 more night in the Cameron Highlands.

Day 8 – With the cultural highlights of the Cameron Highlands covered, take a morning bus to Penang. All going well, you will arrive in around 3-4 hours and consequently make the most of the afternoon. Spend this time to mooch around charming George Town on the lookout for iconic heritage buildings. You can eat at one of the many hawker food stalls.

Day 9 – Start your day on a treasure hunt for the prolific street art in George Town. Most hostels will provide a map, but it’s more fun to lose yourself amid the labyrinth of lanes and alleyways. Take your camera and snap as many murals as you can find.

For refreshments head towards Love Lane. Here you can immerse yourself in the hipster culture at one of the chic cafes. Otherwise, head to the famous China House Cafe for some of the best cake in all of South East Asia.

In the afternoon visit the fascinating Chow Jetty waterfront village, before boarding a boat for the sunset cruise. End the day with a delicious Indian meal in vibrant Little India.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia Itinerary - Duishan lee jetty

Day 10 – On your final day, wake early to visit the awe-inspiring Kek Lok Si Temple. Then, if there is time, take the cable car to the peak of Penang Hill. To conclude your time in Malaysia, enjoy the astonishing views over George Town and the surrounding ocean. Leave Penang Airport feeling educated and revitalised.

2 week itinerary – For the nature lovers

Day 1 – Fly into Kuala Lumpur and spend some time adapting to the culture. Mooch around the various markets in the city and enjoy the fusion of delightful cuisine.

Day 2 – Explore the city’s nature spots. The serene Botanical Gardens offer a perfect escape from the bustling metropolis. As well as a number of verdant gardens, you will find a peaceful lake, a butterfly farm, and a bird park.

Next, take to the skies at the Eco-Forest Park and stroll the canopy walks atop the cities preserved rainforest. Finally, end your day with an astonishing view of the city at either the KL Tower or Helipad Bar.

Day 3 – For a taste of culture and nature combined, wake early and visit the 400 million-year-old Batu Caves. Then in the afternoon, take the 4-5 hour bus journey to the Cameron Highlands.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia Itinerary - coloured steps

Day 4 – Spend your 4th day enjoying the lush nature and traditional culture of the Cameron Highlands. Start by visiting the Boh Tea Plantation, where they harvest one of the most famous teas in Malaysia, followed by strawberry picking at Raajus Hill Strawberry Farm.

After traditional English cream tea at Jim Thompsons Tea House, take a tour of the Orang Asli Villages. Here, you will get an insight into the lives of the indigenous groups who reside in the area.

Day 5 & 6 – The Cameron Highlands is the perfect spot for nature lovers, and with a multitude of trekking experiences to choose from, you will want to spend at least 2 full days on this activity. If it is the right time of year, hire a guide and go in search of the Rafflesia Flower – known to be the largest flower in the world. The search will take you through the depths of the jungle where you will also encounter the abundance of flora and fauna in the area.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia Itinerary - jungle

Day 7 – With the highlights of the Cameron Highlands covered, take a morning bus to Penang. All going well, you will arrive in around 3-4 hours and consequently make the most of the afternoon. Spend this time to mooch around charming George Town on a lookout for iconic heritage buildings and street art. You may also want to try out many of the hawker food stalls.

Day 8 – To begin your 7th day, take the bus to picturesque Penang Hill. If you enjoy hiking you can choose to walk to the peak (around 3 hours) or otherwise, take the cable car.

After enjoying lunch with a view on Penang Hill, take a Grab to Malaysia’s largest butterfly farm – Eutopia. A tropical indoor ‘natureland’, Eutopia has lush gardens, artificial waterfalls, fluttering butterflies, and awesome reptiles.

In the evening, if you have time, enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise before a delicious dinner at one of the food courts.

Day 9 – On the 9th day travel from Penang to Langkawi Island. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon and head to Yellow Bar for sunset cocktails.

Day 10-13 – Langkawi is a nature lover’s paradise. Oozing in natural landscapes, you can spend the last days of your holiday relaxing on pristine beaches, discovering waterfalls, kayaking through mangroves, and so much more.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia Itinerary - sunset over beach

Day 14 – Return home feeling revitalised.

* If you find yourself with extra time, head to the Perhentian Islands for some of the best beaches in Malaysia and epic diving spots.

2 week itinerary – Intrepid adventures

Day 1 – Fly into Kuala Lumpur and spend some time adapting to the culture. Mooch around the various markets in the city and enjoy the fusion of delightful cuisine.

Day 2 – Spend a day exploring the city’s more adventurous highlights. Visit the Batu Caves, the Eco Forest and the Petronas Towers. End the day with sunset drinks at the Helipad Bar.

Day 3 – Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu and go sightseeing in the city. The majestic City Mosque is worth a visit, as are the picturesque Botanical gardens. Finally, end your day with dinner and drinks on the waterfront.

Day 4 – If you haven’t pre-organised to climb Mount Kinabalu, you may wish to enjoy some world-class diving instead. Sipadan Island is famous for its underwater ecosystem; however, limited permits are issued each day, so you will need to organise in advance. A good alternative is Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, located just a 20-minute speed boat ride from Kinabalu.

Day 5-8 – Spend 2-3 nights alongside the Kinabatangan River. You can opt for a live-aboard river cruise, or otherwise stay in lodges at the riverside village of Sukau. Spend your days wildlife spotting and soaking in the serene nature.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysia Itinerary - orangutan

Day 9 – Make your way back to Kota Kinabalu and rest up for the night.

Day 10 – Fly to Kuching in Sawarak and take the afternoon to explore the city.

Day 11-13 – Spend these days exploring Sawaraks national parks. Bako is the most popular where you can enjoy hiking trails in the rainforest, boat tours through the mangroves and a variety of endemic wildlife.

Day 14 – Return home exhausted, ready for another holiday!

Accommodation in Malaysia

The best hostels in kuala lumpur.

Paper Plane Hostel – Sporting quirky wall art and a chic modern design throughout, it’s no wonder that Paper Plane hostel is a consistent favourite among backpackers. Along with a choice of comfortable dorms or private rooms, guests can enjoy socialising on the rooftop and the common glass room. Hungry? The hostel is located within walking distance of Bukit Bintang, Chinatown and the Central Market.

Tuxedo KL – If you’re not on too much of a budget, you should consider Tuxedo KL for an unforgettable stay in Kuala Lumpur. The highlight of this award-winning hostel is undoubtedly the rooftop infinity pool, where guests can enjoy breathtaking views over the cityscape. Furthermore, you can take advantage of the gym, steam room, and 5* amenities.

Step Inn Hostel & Guesthouse – On the other end of the scale, Step Inn is an affordable yet highly rated hostel in the city. Guests love the friendly and sociable atmosphere, as well as the excellent location just minutes away from China Town. The cheap private rooms make it a great option for couples, while the working space & high-speed WIFI makes it the perfect choice for digital nomads. Not to mention the free breakfast included in the unbeatable price!

Mingle @Chinatown – If you are keen to ‘mingle’ and get involved in group activities, then you will not be disappointed at Mingle @Chinatown. There is something going on every day of the week, including street food tours and days out in the city. In addition, you are sure to love the 1920’s colonial building, incorporating rustic modern interior for a truly chic yet traditional feel.

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The best hostels in Penang

The 80’s Guesthouse – A popular choice for travellers seeking an authentic experience in the city, The 80’s Guesthouse is housed within a 100-year-old shophouse. Located in the heart of George Town, the hostel has managed to integrate modernity, while still preserving the charm of the original building. Guests can expect comfortable dorms or private rooms, amazing facilities, and a laidback atmosphere here.

House of Journey – Set within the walls of a 150-year-old heritage building, House of Journey is located near the ever-popular Love Lane. You are sure to love the quirky decor and comfortable rooms, not to mention the yummy free breakfast!

Tipsy Tiger Party Hostel – Yep, you guessed it, this hostel is the top choice for all of you party animals out there. But this isn’t your typical party hostel. You can still look forward to a good night’s rest in the comfortable A/C dorms. Plus, when you wake up a little jaded from the night before, there is a free buffet breakfast and swimming pool to help pull you around.

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Other hostels in Malaysia

Tubotel – Langkawi – With only a few hostels to choose from on Langkawi, Tubotel is without a doubt the number one choice on the island. As well as a perfect beachfront location, their innovative pod-style rooms resemble giant drainage pipes. Alternatively, there are cheaper dorm rooms available.

backpacking Malaysia - Accommodation in Malaysia - Tubotel

Ringos Foyer Guesthouse – Mallaca – One of only few hostels in Malacca, Ringos is the perfect place to stay when exploring the heritage city. They offer a variety of rooms, all including free breakfast, plus you are sure to enjoy the group activities and laidback atmosphere.

Hikers Sleep Port – Cameron Highlands – In this rural part of the country, Hikers Sleep Port is the perfect combination of comfort and affordability. The convenient location means you can easily enjoy the attractions in the area, and the delicious free breakfast will help fuel your adventures.

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backpacking Malaysia - Accommodation in Malaysia - Hikers sleep port

Malaysia is a country obsessed with food, and they have every right to be. This multi-ethnic society has created one of the most diverse and exciting cuisines in all of Asia. The endless dishes of Malay cuisine mean you can try something different every day for a month. Here is a list of foods that you MUST try when travelling in Malaysia.

Traditional Malaysian food

Nasi Lemak – You could say that Nasi Lemak is the ‘national’ dish of Malaysia. Traditionally, the dish is served with coconut rice, dried anchovies, a boiled egg, cucumber slices, and a spicy sambal sauce. Sounds interesting, but the combination of strong flavours creates a mouth-watering delight.

Hokkien Mee – Hokkien Mee is the staple noodle dish of Malaysia. Combining soy glaze noodles alongside squid, pork, and cabbage, it can be a heavy dish rich in flavour. If this sounds a bit much for you, you can also request a vegetarian option. Rather than the meat, the noodles are served with a delicious mix of fresh veggies instead.

Laksa – Laksa is an adored dish throughout Malaysia; however, it can be transformative depending on the region. This delicious noodle soup can be served coconut based, in a curry sauce, or with a light, hot and spicy broth.

Banana Leaf Rice – A dish inspired by South Indian cuisine, this celebrated rice dish is served on top of a green banana leaf. Traditionally, the rice will be accompanied by a selection of vegetarian curries, poppadom, and a spicy sambal sauce. The local way of eating this meal is with your hands, so don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Roti Canai – A simple yet delicious dish in Malaysia, is the iconic Roti Canai. A light, crispy, flatbread is served alongside a selection of spicy sauces or a curry.

Malaysian street food

Satay – Satay is arguably the most popular Malaysian street food, and stalls containing a selection of meat skewers can be found everywhere. Skewered on a bamboo stick, the chicken, beef, or lamb, is seasoned then grilled for a delicious BBQ taste.

Rojak – Rojak is quite the mystery dish, and by that, I mean you never quite know what’s going to be in it. The base is consistently a fruit and vegetable salad; however, it is always a lucky dip with what else you’re going to find in there. Squid, dough balls, and shrimp paste are all possible accompaniments.

Lok Lok – One of the more unique ways of eating street food is at Lok Lok stalls. First, you choose a selection of skewered meat or vegetables, and then you cook them yourself in a pot of boiling water. Lok Lok is traditionally enjoyed alongside a mix of delicious sauces, including spicy and peanut.

Apom Balik – This roadside delicacy consists of a rice flour pancake stuffed with creamed sweet corn. The corn is added to the batter mix, cooked until crispy, and finally folded to resemble a taco. Simple, but delicious!

Noodle/Rice Dishes – For a cheap, delicious meal, rice and noodle dishes are prolific in the street food realm. Roast chicken & rice, or Char Kuay Teow (stir-fried noodles) are simple, yet tasty. Or for something slightly more experimental, try the Koay Chiap (duck and noodle soup) or Koay Teow Th’ng (noodle soup with fish balls.)

Malaysian desserts

Cendol – A favourite among locals and tourists, Cendol is the perfect way to cool down after a spicy meal. The dish contains ice cold coconut milk mixed with sugar syrup, then topped with green jelly noodles, kidney beans, and other condiments.

Ais Kacang – Not too dissimilar from Cendol, but instead of the coconut milk, the ingredients are combined with a mountain of shaved ice. The ice is laced with sugar syrup and added food colourants give it a vibrant appearance.

Apom Balik – After a heavy meal, Apom Balik makes for a light and delicious dessert. As well as creamed sweet corn, you can find the pancakes stuffed with caramelised peanuts, coconut, or other sweet treats.

Durian – Crowned the King of Malaysian fruits, durian is slightly controversial in the sense that it rises very mixed opinions. The thing about durian is that it smells bad – as in banned from hotels and public transport bad – and while it tastes better than it smells, it isn’t for everybody. Malaysians love it though, and you will find anything from durian flavoured coffee and ice cream to the actual fruit itself. It’s kind of a bucket list item to try while you’re here, so pinch your nose and go for it!

Malaysian vegetarian food

As a rule, Malaysian food isn’t particularly vegetarian-friendly. Although meat and fish are staple ingredients in most signature dishes, it is usually possible to ask for a vegetarian option. It may prove more difficult at street food stalls; however, certainly at restaurants, they are generally very accommodating. In big cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, you’ll have no trouble at all finding dedicated vegetarian restaurants.

1. Is Malaysia safe?

One of the most common questions we get asked about our experiences in Malaysia is “is Malaysia safe to travel”? There is some media stigma attached to Malaysia and other Islam countries; however, I am here to tell you that YES, Malaysia IS safe to travel.

That is not to say that crimes against foreigners doesn’t ever happen. Particularly in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, petty theft offences such as pickpocketing and purse snatching aren’t uncommon. It is therefore a good idea to adopt extra care and vigilance when you are out enjoying the country.

*We recommend checking the foreign commonwealth website ahead of travel to any country, to check the current situation is stable and safe to visit.

2. Is Malaysia safe for women?

As two females travelling throughout Malaysia, we personally never felt unsafe. We would advise respecting the Islam tradition of covering knees and shoulders to avoid unwanted attention; however, in tourist hotspots such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the dress code is generally very relaxed. Furthermore, if you are a solo female traveller, we would recommend avoiding isolated areas and travelling alone at night.

3. LGBTQ in Malaysia

There are laws applying to LGBTQ travellers in Malaysia that are important to be aware of. With the predominant religion of the country being Islam, LGBTQ is still very much a taboo subject. In short, acts of homosexuality are still illegal.

Unfortunately, the LGBTQ community have little political or social support, and there is little hope of change in the near future. That being said, there is an active gay scene in cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

In conclusion, LGBTQ travellers should not be deterred from visiting Malaysia; however, it’s important to be conscious of your behaviour in public.

4. What to pack for Malaysia

Generally, Malaysia is a hot and humid country, so you are going to want to pack plenty of cool clothing. At the same time, bear in mind that it is a Muslim country, and in many places, it will be respectful, if not required, that you cover up.

You can also expect to encounter some rain, no matter what time of the year you visit, and it often hits unexpectedly. It is therefore recommended you carry a lightweight rain jacket and waterproof cover for your bags at all times.

If you plan to visit the Cameron Highlands or areas of the rainforest, you should also bring some warmer clothes in preparation for colder evenings.

5. Vaccinations for Malaysia

You should always consult with your healthcare practitioner at least 6-8 weeks ahead of travel, as the vaccinations required will be dependent on the individual. As a guide, here is a list of the recommended immunisations for Malaysia.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B (optional)
Rabies (optional)
Japanese Encephalitis (optional)

6. Internet in Malaysia

WIFI is extremely reliable in the big cities of Malaysia, and can generally be found in all hostels, cafes, and restaurants. In the more rural areas, you should be prepared for there to be no internet at all.

If you rely on the internet for work or other means, it is worth purchasing a tourist sim card. We use U Mobile and experienced good signal throughout West Malaysia.

7. Tap water in Malaysia

There seems to be some inconsistency on whether the tap water in Malaysia is safe to drink, so we advise not to take the chance.

8. Single use plastic

It is no secret that single-use plastic is causing irreversible damage to our ecosystems. Akin to other countries in Asia, it is prolific when purchasing local goods in Malaysia. There are, however, many ways you can avoid contributing to the problem. For one, don’t buy single-use plastic water bottles if it can be avoided – find a hostel that provides a refill station. For two, do not accept plastic bags when doing your shopping – always have a reusable bag handy. And lastly, ask for your drink without a straw – if you need one, carry a reusable bamboo or metal one with you.

Malaysia is a land of cultural diversity. In fact, it is one of the things we loved most about the country. From the Islamic architecture and mystical Chinese traditions; to the tantalising Indian aromas and esoteric tales of the indigenous; the plethora of influences create an intoxicating cultural melting pot.

Malay, Chinese, Indian and many other ethnic groups, have lived together harmoniously in the region for generations. The first indigenous tribes arrived during the 13th century and were closely followed by the Malays. Later, the significant Chinese and Indian population settled during the British colonisation in the 1800’s.

Historically, the Malay peninsula was colonised first by the Portuguese, closely followed by the Dutch, and finally the British from the 15th to 19th century. As a result, European influence is significant throughout much of the country’s architecture.

While the official religion in Malaysia is Islam, you will find that the majority of religions are practised here to some extent. In fact, it is one of few places where you will see an amalgamation of religious temples located along the same street. Not only is this heart-warming to see, but it serves as a reflection of how these distinctive cultures have unified.

Food plays a huge part in the Malay culture and any conversation you have with a local will inevitably end up on the topic. Malay people are very passionate about food, and while there is generally some crossover in this multi-cultural society, cuisines tend to remain divided.

Particularly in rural areas, folklore is another notable aspect of the Malay culture. The enchanting fables involving animals, humans, and mythical creatures, usually relate to one of the country’s natural wonders.

backpacking Malaysia - Malaysian culture - wooden signs

M alaysian language

Malay or Bahasa Melayu is the national language of Malaysia. While the majority of the population speak English, it is always beneficial for learning some key phrases in the local language. Not only will you gain respect from the locals, but it will also enhance your travel experience. Here are some key Malay phrases to help get you started.

Selamat Pagi (s’la-mat pag-ee) – Good Morning

Selamat Tengah hari (s’la-mat teen-gah har-ee) – Good Afternoon

Selemat Petang (s’la-mat puh-tong) – Good Afternoon/Evening

Selemat Malam (s’la-mat mah-lahm) – Good Night

Selamat jalan (s’la-mat zha-lan) – Goodbye

Terima kasih (te-ree-mah ka-seh) – Thank you

Tolong (toh-long) – Please

Ya (yah) / Tidak (tee-dak) – Yes / No

Sama-sama (saa-ma saa-ma) – You’re welcome

Saya Tak Faham (saa-yah tak faa-haam) – I don’t understand

Di mana tandas (dee ma-na tan-das) – Where is the bathroom?

Berapa (be-raa-paa) – How much?

Mahal (maa-hal) – Expensive

Satu (saa-too) – 1

Dua (doo-aa) – 2

Tiga (tee-gaa) – 3

Cantik (chan-tek) – Beautiful

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A Guide to Backpacking Malaysia: Itinerary, Tips, + Costs

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Malaysia must be one of the most diverse countries in the world.

People, cuisines, languages, and religions all gather here from different areas of the world and make up this wonderful country teeming with character, adventures, and discoveries for curious backpackers to unravel.

And you won’t have to shell over your life’s savings to experience it either.

Backpacking Malaysia is very affordable and experiencing it for a few weeks will only set you back a few hundred bucks if you play your cards right.

I hope this guide piques some curiosity and encourages you to spend a bit more time exploring. Below is a 2-week Malaysia itinerary, some tips, and scams to watch out for, transportation info and some estimated costs for your travel in the country.

Table of Contents

Backpacking Malaysia

Backpacking malaysia: how to get there, kuala lumpur – 2 days, perhentian islands – 3 days, penang – 3 days, ipoh – 1 day, cameron highlands – 3 days, tips for booking your trip:, food to try on your backpacking malaysia itinerary, backpacking malaysia: how to get around, best time to plan your backpacking malaysia trip, costs for your malaysia itinerary, scams to avoid, tips, + thoughts for backpacking malaysia, read more about what to do in southeast asia:.

Malaysia, the country at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, just across a narrow strait from Sumatra, delicately perched between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman sea is lovely, tropical, and highly developed yet beautifully untouched.

But what makes Malaysia stand out, and what makes backpacking Malaysia so appealing, amongst all of its Southeast Asian neighboring countries is one thing: its melting pot of diversity.

Malaysia is home to such an exciting and widely varying mix of cultures from Chinese to Indian, from European to dozens of other Asian ethnicities. Add to that the range of religions welcomed and celebrated–They’ve got Buddhists and Muslims, Christians and Hindus. This land is my land. This land is your land—for real.

On just a two week Malaysia itinerary you’ll trek through rainforests, dance through tea fields, and sun your buns on beaches. If you only book one two week vacation this year and want a bit of everything, I’d be hard pressed to find you a better spot.

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A Guide to Backpacking Malaysia: Itinerary, Tips, + Costs

RELATED: Backpacking Southeast Asia: Itinerary, Costs, And Tips!

Most people fly into the international terminal of Kuala Lumpur, the capital. Penang and Langkawi also have domestic and international terminals.

This itinerary begins in Kuala Lumpur, so if you fly into one of your other options, bear travel time in mind. Alternatively, you could fly into Singapore, just south of Malaysia, spend some time there, and then hop a flight or a train north to Malaysia.

bandar tasik selatan Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Also, note that there is two international airports in Kuala Lumpur and MANY people get these mixed up. Double and triple check your itineraries to make sure you know which one you’re flying in and out of.

If you’re coming from Thailand, I’d suggest starting Penangang. The trains from Hat Yai, Thailand to Penang, Malaysia re quite comfortable, relaxing, and best of all, very cheap. The only thing it, it drops you off at Butterworth station and then you’ll need to find a van, taxi, or ferry to take you over the bridge to get to Penang.

Another cheap but quicker option is taking a bus . You’ll only need a few hours and next thing you know; you’re in Malaysia! Super easy and this way, you go straight to Penang. Check Prices Here

RELATED: Southeast Asia Packing List: Everything You Need (For Men and Women!)

2-Week Malaysia Itinerary

You should give yourself at least two days to travel from here to there and there to here if you want to fit your backpacking Malaysia trip all into two weeks. This 2-week Malsyai itinerary allows for some padding and depending how cheap (aka slow) your transport choices are will determine how much extra time you’ll need for transportation.

When we talk about diversity, culture, and the melting pot that is Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is where you will get all of this in high concentration. You are in this big, bustling, thriving city to soak it all in.

If you’re into heights, you have to check out the Petronas Towers , twin towers that boast the title of tallest twin towers in Asia, with a bridge that spans the distance between the two.

And then the Kuala Lumpur Tower , where you can sit 335 meters above the ground on a glass floor, looking down at the city and its wonders with seemingly nothing beneath you. Eek!

For a bit of natural history on your Malaysia itinerary, you can head just outside the city to the Batu Caves , limestone cliffs that include caves and carved cave temples. You can check out wild monkeys and bats while you’re there.

And of course, you know I’m going to tell you to eat street food! Hutong is a food court housed in the Lot 10 mall is one of the best around. You can engorge yourself on the wide variety of food offered across Malaysia that has come to have its flavor distinct from the cultures they originated from.

Personally, my favorite thing to eat in Malaysia is all the Indian Food . Being vegetarian and living on fried rice and noodle from being in Southeast Asia so long, the Indian food here was a welcomed break from the standard Asian fare I was used to. Give me all the naan!

If you have some extra time, you can even go hiking just outside KL !

Recommended Kuala Lumpur tours:

Private Half-Day Batu Caves Waterfalls and Hot Springs Tour
Small-Group Food Trail Walking Tour
Private Tour: Kuala Lumpur with Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck and Batu Caves

Alright, you guys come here for the truth, and I’m going to give it to you: I did not fall in love with the Perhentian Islands.

However, I will say that upon reflection this could very well be because every single person I know built it up so high before I got there that Perhentian Islands was bound to fall short in my estimation unless it literally shot butterflies and rainbows from every corner and had a beach full of puppies for me to cuddle with.

It could also be because I have traveled extensively for years and It’s not easy to blow me away, especially when it comes to beaches.

These islands are nice. The beaches are likable (but nothing majorly special for me), and the sun and sand are warm. I’m giving you three days here because you’re ready for some chill time after all your biking and trekking and because you absolutely must snorkel with reef sharks…

Yes, the reef sharks saved my visit to the Perhentian Islands from being just “OK.” I would go again just for the experience of getting to swim with these super docile and gentle black sharks along the coral reef in crystal clear blue water. It was gorgeous. Oh, and there are turtles too!

Let’s also just make sure you understand this was a personal opinion, I’m including this on my Malaysia itinerary because almost everyone I spoke to loved the Perhentian Islands and chances are you haven’t grown up on the beach and traveled for years like I have prior to visiting, so you’ll probably love them.

Side note: There are TWO islands that make up the Perhentians. Basar and Kecil. Those backpacking Malaysia tend to stick to Kecil and those with bigger budgets and families usually flock to Basar.

Recommended tour:

Half Day Snorkeling at Perhentian Island

Jump on a bike and hit the streets. Why? Two reasons: art and food. The street art is everywhere, it is fascinating, and it includes legitimate artistic murals and what amounts to really good graffiti. Finding all of it could take you days on end.

After pedaling like a maniac to hunt down as much street art as you can, you’ll be working up an appetite that will be perfectly and consistently satiated by street food . Eat. Everything. Seriously.

Penang is home to awesome good eats found right there at the next stall you hit on your Malaysia itinerary.

Trek through one of the world’s smallest national parks, Penang National Park .

It’s tiny relative to most national parks, but it still packs a punch with lakes, wetlands, and coral reefs to explore. And at the end of it all, you can head over to Batu Ferringhi Beach for a relaxing cocktail as you watch the sunset.

There are so many temples, adorable souvenir shops stocked with beautiful handmade items (and I usually don’t care for this time, but Penang would be the place to get souvenirs!) and little alleyways to make your way down and stumble upon some cute coffee shops.

Recommended Penang tours:

Penang National Park Half-Day Trek
Food and Culture Tours in Penang
Half-Day George Town History Private Tour
Penang Hill and Temple Sightseeing

I’ll give you one day of your Malaysia itinerary to spend in the city of Ipoh before rushing you off to the mountains of Cameron Highlands. You will likely need to stop here before heading out to the Cameron Highlands unless you time it just right and can make your way out!

If you have to spend the night in Ipoh, check out some more street art , enjoy the local food , and wander down Concubine Lane. Ahem, yep. Concubine Lane .

This street was once where British dignitaries used to keep their mistresses. Now, you can stroll through this pretty little street and shop for knick-knacks and eat local goodies.

I stumbled upon this area on accident and was looking for a room. Let’s just say my room went at a rate by the hour and I was happy for an early check out to catch my bus to Cameron Highlands!

Ah, fresh mountain air!

Yes, if you’ve spent any time in Southeast Asia, you know it can get hot, humid and sweaty in most of these lovely tropical climates. Cameron Highlands gives you a much-welcomed break from all that. I know I was happy to don my scarf and long pants for a change.

The Mossy Forest was one of my favorite hikes. It is exactly what it sounds like, a forest covered in moss. And one of the most deadly plants on earth, The Pitcher Plant.

It’s a horrible plant that works its death magic very slowly. Local tribes used to use it as a weapon against each other, allowing enemies to erode and die over a month or two of agony—per my guide. Yea. I did not get near the plant.

The Mossy Forest is an easy hike that includes a few adventurous points where you need to drop down rocks or climb up mossy areas. In the end, you’ll get awesome views and a nice workout,

You can also visit a strawberry field, where you can pick and eat your berries, and haul a bag or two back to your hostel. Wander through a tea factory to see how tea is processed, from freshly picked plant to dried, bagged and shipped. While you’re there, take a twirl through some of the richest and verdant tea fields in the world.

Finally, take the trail to Robinson Falls. It’s a beautifully scenic walk that was relatively quiet and secluded when I was there and takes you to an abundantly flowing river that practically sings to you while you trek. It’s a super mellow way to end this part of your Malaysia itinerary.

I got lost here for a few days simply enjoying life in a quaint little mountain village, drinking lots of tea, and going on trails. There are 14 or so trails that snake around the village.

While here, you can just pick up a map almost anywhere and then use Maps.Me to make your way around.

Cameron Highlands Day Tour

I’ll leave you with this one last note for this Malaysia itinerary… This is just scratching the surface. I’m DYING to go to Malaysia Borneo, that huge island, shared with Indonesia and the country of Brunei to the right of the mainland. If you have extra time, hop over and tell me all about it so I can be super jealous!

RELATED: How Much Money Do I Need to Travel Southeast Asia

TRANSPORTATION – 12Go

The best way to get bus, train, and ferry tickets around Asia. Check here .

Agoda may not be well known to you, but this is a popular site to book your accommodation around Asia. Booking still works as well!

Things to do

You’ll want to book a few tours! A popular site to book tours for Asia is Klook but I also use Viator and GetYourGuide .

Don’t forget insurance!

Get a quote with the best and easiest travelers insurance: Safety Wing

Travel deals to anywhere! Look here .

Most of the food listed here are local dishes, but as you may know now, there are plenty of Chinese and Indian food options as well!

Nasi Lemak : Fat rice is how this is translated, and it includes coconut rice, prawn sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber slices, and Ayam rending.
Nasi Kerabu : Blue rice. You must try it just because it’s blue. But it also happens to be good. Served with fried chicken, eggs and fried keropok, you get a little bit of everything.
Assam Laksa : Rice noodles in sour tamarind broth. And on top, you’ll get mackerel and veggies with a touch of spicy paste. Yum.
Bak Kut Teh : Ak Kut Teh is a pork rib stew with a salty broth that comes in a large pot and bowls of rice. Eat your heart out on this hearty dish.
Soupy Lou Shu Fan : Mouse tail noodle soup. Don’t worry. It’s not made with mouse tails. It’s just called that because of the shape of the noodles. This meal is delicious, super fresh, and low in spice.

Seriously, don’t miss out on Indian food—naan is life for me, and order a masala dosa! (or like, literally anything.) Vegetarians, rejoice! Malaysia is one of the easiest places in the region to be a vegetarian and I attribute a lot of that to the wonderful Indian food that’s found everywhere.

Chinese restaurants are abundant as well and they usually have great fresh seafood options.

As with getting into Malaysia, you can fly throughout Malaysia, especially if you are short on time. There are numerous airports around the country, and a quick search on AirAsia will reveal some cheap and easy options for you.

You can also take the train. Note, this will be the lowest option, but it is an experience too. The train in Malaysia are quite nice, actually, and are a good choice if you’re heading up to Thailand.

TIP: 12go.asia is the best way to book ferries, buses, and trains ahead of time in Malaysia!

I’ve taken the night train from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai, Thailand many times. If you have a decent amount of luggage, this could be a cheaper option that was paying for all your checked-in bags.

Choosing a bus is also very easy and reliable in Malaysia. Pretty much everyone I’ve ever been on was clean and decent.

The temperature varies between the east and west coasts of Malaysia. The west coast is driest from December to April, and the east coast is driest from April to October.

So, if you want to hit that sweet spot, April is a great month to take your chances with. But overall, April to October are the best months.

January and February are often good months too. However, these are also the busiest months for Malaysia.

Below are some averages for you to work with. Prices can get significantly cheaper and much more expensive, again, these are just averages to get the wheels turning on how much you’ll need to backpack Malaysia.

if you’re traveling with someone, prices will be much less as well since you’ll be sharing costs.

The prices below are in USD.

Transportation wise within the towns and cities: Bus/Taxi: $.50/$2.50

Transportation from city to city: $3-$9

The meal range is from cheap street food to mid-range sit-down restaurant: $1 – $8

A good average budget would be around $40 and a $20 budget could be done if you’re on a super shoestring and are very careful.

Check the visa requirements just in case! Luckily, many countries are visa-free (Americans, that includes you!) but it’s always important to double-check.
Dress conservatively. This is a Muslim country. Swimsuits are fine at the beach only. Obviously, cover up at temples every more, as this is the case for any temple in the region.
Get Ringgit IN Malaysia, not before you go, unless you love getting crappy exchange rates that is.
Unsolicited tours offered by “friendly locals” or usually, taxi cabs, will end up bring a trap as they will try to get you to go elsewhere, usually a friend’s place in hopes of a commission. Only book tours and trips through reliable companies. Klook is one of the best places to book tours through in Aisa.
ATM skimming is on the rise here, only use official bank ATMs and don’t pay attention to random texts about “fraudulent usage” on your card, they hope you call their number and offer secure info. Only call the number on the back of your card if there are any issues.
Online hackers LOVE people who log into free wifi networks. Don’t do it, or at the least, have a VPN !
Petty theft happens all over the world, you can help avoid it by using anti-theft gear when traveling.
Make sure to enjoy ALL the different cuisines in Malaysia or you’ll be missing out on one of the best parts of the country.
It’s actually really easy to get around Malaysia, many people you’ll encounter will speak a decent level of English.
Use Grab to get around if you hate haggling with taxis and want an upfront price, it’s one of the easiest ways to get around Malaysia!

→ Check out EVERYTHING you need to know about Southeast Asia → Here’s the only Southeast Asia packing list you need

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I’ve been to Malaysia twice – both times to visit my friend in Penang. I love the diversity of religions and cultures. I think Malaysia must be one of the most diverse countries in Asia.

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8 Places Every Backpacker Must See On Their Trip To Malaysia

21 Jun 2023

Planning a budget friendly backpacking trip to Malaysia? Malaysia has a warm welcoming nature to its visitors to explore their culture and habitations. The rich flavor of their heritage has tried to stay in contact with nature. The Islands and the holistic places are a must try for everyone. Here are few places to visit on while you’re backpacking in Malaysia. This will also help you to travel to places that are worthy and time saving.

Places To Visit When Backpacking In Malaysia

If you do not know where to go when in Malaysia, do not fret. You will have enough to see and do, it is only a matter of making a list that will get you going. As backpack trips are more budget-friendly, it is important to choose a hotel accordingly.

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Reaching Melaka from Singapore will kick start your trip. There are numerous options for one to try at Melaka. But for the backpacking trip one can limit the place to see to the most prominent ones. Such as to the Melaka Wonderland, Big Island, A Famosa, Stadthuys, and Cheng Hoon. For all solo backpackers in Malaysia , Melaka is the place you shouldn’t miss.

Must Read: 14 Top Festivals In Malaysia To Witness Its Vibrant Culture And Rich Traditions, All At Once!

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2. Port Dickson

Traveling north from Melaka, reach the Port Dickson town. If you are a beach person, try going to the Blue Lagoon beach, it’s among the best places to backpack in Malaysia. There is also an adventure park with animal encounters the ‘9 wonders of Port Dickson’. Cape Rachado lighthouse and Tanjung Tuan are top most places to visit in Port Dickson. This is at the south of Kuala Lumpur.

Must Read: 25 Honeymoon Destinations In Malaysia To Visit That Will Surprise Your Partner

3. Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur being the national Capital of Malaysia, it is the center of attraction for the tourists. The most eye-catching places here are the Petronas towers and Batu Caves. You can stay at KL for three days and explore the places. From KL travel to the east coast Jerantut. Travelers who’re planning to go backpacking in Malaysia for 2 weeks must explore the beauty of Kuala Lumpur.

Suggested Read: 8 Serene Lakes In Malaysia Which Cannot Be Missed On Your Next Getaway!

4. Taman Negara National Park

experience the flora and fauna in this jungle

On the way to Jerantut, one can try to visit the Taman Negara National Park. It is the best opportunity to experience the flora and fauna in this jungle. There is a safari available for easy travel over the entire jungle. While you’re backpacking through Malaysia, you can also lose yourself amid solitude and wilderness of Taman Negara. If you are thinking of a place that will perfectly fit the backpacking budget in Malaysia , Taman Negara National Park will fit the bill.

5. Jerantut

The Jerantut district is very close to the Taman Negara. After reaching Jerantut, have a stay here and visit the local attractions. Most of the tourists go for camping in Kem Nusa Forest an Eco park. You can also choose to go to the Kota Gelanggi Caves complex. For a simple visit, the Tekai Lake and Kuala Tembeling Jetty. From Jerantut plan the next visit to the Kota Bharu. You can reach Kota Bharu by the jungle railway.

Suggested Read: 10 Majestic Waterfalls In Malaysia That Are Mighty Beyond Words!

6. Kota Bharu and the Perhentian Islands

In Kota Bharu the key places are the Istana Jahar and Temenggor Lake. The Istana Jahar is a museum in Kota Bharu. The Temenggor lake is located in Hulu Perak District of Perak. The Perhentian island is a paradise in reality. You can try the best seafoods of the Island. Towards the south east, travel to the local towns like Kuala Terenggannu and Kuantan. Islands in K.T. such as Redang Island and Lang Tengah Island is a must try. After these small trips, have stopover in Cherating

Suggested Read: Top 6 Theme Parks In Malaysia That Are Perfect To Beat The Summer Heat In Style

7. Cherating

Here you can check out the local beaches like Chendor Beach. It is also known as the resort town on the east coast of Malaysia. The Cherating has a high rainfall throughout the year. Planning for outing is not advised. However, the beach can be visited for few hours.

Suggested Read: 12 Malaysian Street Food Dishes That You Should Try

8. Tioman Island

Tioaman Island is one of the most popular islands in Malaysia. It is known for the corals, dive sites, shipwrecks, etc. The place is apt for a rest and to go on hiking around the rainforests surrounding the island. There are facilities for rock climbing on the cliff. You can stay at one of the highly rated resort, the Melina Beach resort. the view from the resort is to live for.

Further Read: 7 Nature Suffused Soul Enchanting Hill Stations In Malaysia

Additional Tips For Backpacking In Malaysia

If you want to experience the grassroot of Malaysia, rent a car
If you have not hitchhiked before, you can try it here
Don’t rush through the experience; savor it and see it grow on you

The above places are best for a budget-friendly trip. So, Book your next trip to Malaysia and get ready to enjoy an enticing trip to the island nation. Malaysia is one of the best places to enjoy a unique blend of culture and tradition. If that was not enough, there are so many places to see and an array of things to do, you will be spellbound by the beauty of this country. If backpacking in Malaysia was not on your list, it better be now!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Backpacking In Malaysia

What can you do in 3 days in Malaysia?

There are a number of things that you can do in Malaysia in 2 days. Some of them are listed below: You can visit Kuala Lumpur, with highlights of your vacay being the Petronas Towers, Merdeka Square, KL Tower, KL Central Market and Petaling Street. If you have a little more time and budget for cheap shopping, Suria KLCC should be your go-to the next day along with paying a visit to Batu Caves. You can also visit Sungai Pusu – 9.4km from Kuala Lumpur, Klang Gate Dam lake, Pulau Ketam, Port Klang – 38km south west from Kuala Lumpur or Templer’s Park – a tropical rainforest some 21km away from Kuala Lumpur.

What should I wear in Malaysia?

Malaysians do not care about how tourists dress. However, it is a Muslim country and it will be better if you respect their culture by dressing up conservatively while visiting a religious place or going to meet a local family. Rest assured, think light with all your sun-dresses and summer clothes.

Is Malaysia safe to visit?

Malaysia is relatively safe in comparison to many other countries. While there are some dangerous areas here, like any other place, you should take advice from authorities and local residents.

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Buy travel backpack Online This April 2024 On Shopee Malaysia

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10 Best Stores for Backpacks in Malaysia | Best of Lifestyle 2023

Whether you’re using backpacks for daily commutes or to travel the world, getting yourself a good backpack makes a world of difference. Not only is it more durable, but a good backpack also gives you an efficient way to organise your things, keeps your laptop safe, and more importantly, takes care of your back, too. With an extensive variety of stores for backpacks available in the market, which then is the best store to buy a backpack in Malaysia? In our Best of Lifestyle series, we have curated the latest 10 Best Stores for Backpacks in Malaysia, providing quality recommendations to suit your budget and lifestyle. For the ultimate guides, also check out our best luggage and rollerblades recommendations!

This article was last updated on 10 January 2023

Best Stores for Backpacks in Malaysia

1. fjallraven kånken.

Fjallraven Kånken carries a line of premium backpacks designed to be tough for outdoor standards. What really separates the brand from the rest is their ability to create high-end products that are also environmentally-friendly, using materials that only have low impacts on nature. This Mini Backpack , for example, uses polyester recycled from plastic bottles and SpinDye technology that radically reduces the amount of water, energy and chemicals used during the process.

Founded in Sweden, the brand’s backpack range also reflects the clear influence of Nordic design: their bags are simplistic in beauty and effective in functionality.

2. Herschel

Exclusively creating bags and its accessories, Herschel’s backpacks are some of the most well-rated in the world. Founded in Canada, Herschel is known for its fine regards for details, consistently creating quality products that are durable, functional and stylish. If you’re looking for a backpack that’s solid for any occasion, Herschel is definitely the brand you should look into.

Among a plethora of backpacks on their collections, this Travel Heritage Backpack recently attracts a lot of fans. Designed in a trendy youthful style, this back also comes with an internal media pocket and a headphone port while also being good to use in rain.

3. Under Armour

Under Armour UA Women's Favorite Backpacks

Under Armour is well-known for its outstanding running shoes, but its backpack range cannot be underestimated. Great for everyday life, their backpacks are tough, can hold a lot of stuff, looks great, and most importantly, feels good on your back. This UA Women’s Favorite Backpacks is a perfect example of that; it’s water-repellent for the rain too! Surprisingly, you don’t have to empty your pocket for an Under Armour backpack as their products are available at only around RM129!

4. Mark Ryden

Mark Ryden creates classic, minimalist backpacks in the finest materials that stand the test of time. Their products are hand-designed, rigorously-tested, and manufactured at their own production house to create backpacks that are cutting-edge in design and outstanding in quality.

Perfect for semi-formal and formal occasions, Mark Ryden backpacks are great for commuters or businessmen often on the move. One of their recent arrivals is this Men’s Backpack Expandable , and it has similarities with their other backpacks: plain black in colour with minimal detail, made from quality nylon material, water-repellent, and has a special room for laptop and tablet.

Known for its quality laptop range, Lenovo knows how to make backpacks that keep your laptop safe. Take a look at this Legion Gaming Armored Backpack . It features a rock-solid EVA-moulded front shield and a double-layered protection in the laptop compartment to keep the laptop safe from impact, and has a ventilated back to keep your gear in cool condition. On top of that, the adjustable shoulder straps allow comfort for the wearer. Combining durability, convenience and style, Lenovo’s backpacks are best for those who’re often travelling with a laptop.

6. Skip Hop

If you’re parents to babies, Skip Hop baby accessories are a must-have, and so are their backpacks. Creating backpacks that are practical and safe to use, Skip Hop designers really know how to make life easier for parents. Like this Forma Backpack , it offers everything parents need to bring their babies essentials for travel, including a pair of insulated bottle pockets and multi-purpose packing cubes. Even better, they’re also attachable to strollers to put the weight away from the parents’ back. Functions meet fashion!

Thule Subterra Backpack - Dark Shadow (25L)

An outdoor brand from Sweden, Thule creates a range of outdoor backpacks that are outside of the mainstream outdoor design; their backpacks are modern and minimalist! This Subterra Backpack is made with the same ideas, while also has good versatility and functionality in its core. Plus, it’s also great for laptops as it has a bumper protection in the laptop compartment. Thule’s backpacks are high-priced, but if you’re often exploring wilderness while bringing all your modern devices, it’s definitely a must-have!

RUCINI Giorgio Handle Backpack RHB2-0B-1032

Women looking to integrate vegan products into their outfits and accessories should look to Rucini. An exclusive bag brand, Rucini creates bags from vegan leather that have the same element of refined styling, practicality and versatility to the real leather. This Giorgio Handle Backpack is one of our favourites from their latest collections; it’s chic and cruelty-free!

9. Arctic Hunter

Upholding the motto “ Backpack is the Greatest Companion of all Traveller ”, Arctic Hunter sells some of the best value-for-money backpacks for travelling. Available at just around RM120 to RM300, their backpacks can withstand the rigours of travel and offer great functionality to the user. Take this i-Xventure Backpack . Not only it’s made from tough materials, but it also features a TSA-lock to keep your belongings safe, a built-in USB port, and water-resistant coating for use in rain.

10. Carlo Rino

Founded in 1986 in Singapore, Carlo Rino has always been a brand that caters the desire of cosmopolitan ladies who seek for the latest trends and colourful fashionable items. Their backpacks range is no different; they’re youthful, trendy and chic, those that will elevate your casual outfits! Also, what separates it from the rest is how they make their stuff affordable while still offering a high-end luxury quality. Their recent bestseller Book Smart Backpack is perfect proof of that!

We hope that our guide on the 10 Best Backpacks in Malaysia will help you to buy the best backpack in Malaysia. Do also read our other buying guides too. Please do share this along with your friends if you have found this useful. Do look forward to more buying guides that we will be releasing soon!

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Disclosure: All opinions remain the writer’s own. There may be paid or sponsored mentions in the above article, but we believe in honesty of relationship, opinion, and identity. We will only recommend services that we have tried and tested ourselves or have done extensive research and find them to be useful recommendations. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright & disclosure policy .

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12 Best Travel Backpack Reviews in Malaysia 2024
Mark Ryden's travel backpack is an expandable backpack that offers more storage for your travels. It comprises 3 main pockets with 7 compartments. That includes a laptop compartment that can fit up to a 17.3" laptop. On top of that, this backpack also comes with a front zipper pocket and an anti-theft backside pocket.
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Peak Design Travel Backpack. 7. Thule Subterra Travel Backpack. 8. Bobby Explore Backpack. 9. Giordano & W. Polo By Poly Pac Waterproof Trolley Backpack. Have No Baggage Worries With These Best Travel Backpack Options In Malaysia. The year-end period is when many Malaysians will jet off to various destinations on the world map to fulfil their ...
Backpacking Malaysia
This 2-3 week itinerary gives you a taste of city and island life on Malaysia! This itinerary is perfect if you have 2-3 weeks to backpack Malaysia. With three weeks you could take your time, and spend more time on the islands. Start your trip staying in Kuala Lumpur, also known as KL.
From Cities to Trails: The Best Travel Backpack for Asia [My Picks
Get Price. 5. Tortuga Travel Backpack: 40L Backpack. The Tortuga Setout travel backpack is just the right carry-on for city travelers who prefer a sleek version that doesn't look like a hiking backpack. If you are frequently flying and taking only carry-ons, this is hands down the best backpack to take on your flight!
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Best Budget Travel Backpack: Dakine Campus 33L Backpack. Best Carrying Travel Backpack: Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs. Best Organization in a Travel Backpack: Matador SEG45 Travel ...
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Best small carry-on bag for most situations: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. Best large bag for most situations: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. Best bag for document organization: Topo Designs Global Travel ...
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Best Travel Backpacks 2024 Buyer's Guide (Tips + Top Picks)
For example, the Osprey Farpoint 40 is incredible and costs $185. I've used one for many years — they're truly built to last. Cotopaxi Allpa is another great example of an affordable yet highly reliable pack. $200 - $300. The sweet spot for a high-quality pack with premium features and materials.
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Backpacking Malaysia Packing List: The Best Guide for 2024
Step 1: Travel Bags. You simply can't travel without a bag! Choosing the right bag will make a huge difference when backpacking Malaysia and a must for this Malaysia packing list. To start off with, you'll need a larger backpack and then a day pack for your day-to-day adventures. Larger Backpack: Malaysia is a country that allows you to ...
The 14 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear brand Cotopaxi builds brightly colored clothing and accessories to last. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack earned our top pick as the best carry-on backpack with ...
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Ancient rainforests, unique wildlife, and a diverse melting pot of cultures and food. Backpacking Malaysia is an amazing adventure. As the country is split into two; Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, it can be difficult figuring out how to fit all the best places to visit in Malaysia into one trip.. So, if you're looking for the ultimate Malaysia itinerary, or ideas for an epic ...
The Most Exciting 3-Week Backpacking Malaysia Itinerary
First take the 1-hour 15-minute ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis, which costs RM 20 ($4.64). From Kuala Perlis, you can board a bus to Ipoh. The bus takes 4 hours and 20 minutes and costs RM 30 ($6.96). Finally, take the bus from Ipoh to the Cameron Highlands. The bus takes 2 hours and costs RM 16 ($3.71).
Backpacking Malaysia • Most Extensive Guide 2023 • Hostelworld
Backpacking Malaysia budget. Travelling West Malaysia is suitable for a wide range of budgets, and if you are sensible with your cash you can comfortably live on £20/25$ a day. Decent hostels can be found for as little as £5/7$ and often include breakfast, while budget private rooms are available for £10-20/15-25$.
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RM 535.00. VANSA Fashion Canvas Cylinder Backpack VBM-Bp6051.S. RM 244.00. VANSA Casual Travel Backpacks VBM-Bp6201A. RM 302.00. VANSA Expandable And Practical Travel Backpacks VBM-Bp88752. RM 407.00. Shop Men's Travel Backpacks Sale & Discounts Online @ ZALORA Malaysia & Brunei. Buy Now Pay Later 30-Day Free Return Free Shipping T&C Apply .
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The west coast is driest from December to April, and the east coast is driest from April to October. Statue outside of Batu cave. So, if you want to hit that sweet spot, April is a great month to take your chances with. But overall, April to October are the best months. January and February are often good months too.
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1. Melaka. Image Source. Reaching Melaka from Singapore will kick start your trip. There are numerous options for one to try at Melaka. But for the backpacking trip one can limit the place to see to the most prominent ones. Such as to the Melaka Wonderland, Big Island, A Famosa, Stadthuys, and Cheng Hoon.
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Free delivery within West Malaysia ... Whether it be for carrying your laptop to an important business meeting or slinging your daily essentials in, find a backpack to suit every need. Read more > Close. ... Best Seller Samsonite Red DUMFRI BACKPACK. RM799.00 RM279.00 Compare
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10 Best Stores for Backpacks in Malaysia
9. Arctic Hunter. Upholding the motto "Backpack is the Greatest Companion of all Traveller", Arctic Hunter sells some of the best value-for-money backpacks for travelling. Available at just around RM120 to RM300, their backpacks can withstand the rigours of travel and offer great functionality to the user.

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12 Best Travel Backpack Reviews in Malaysia 2024 - Top Brands

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