Planning a first family trip abroad to Malaysia

A first trip abroad feels easier when the plan is small. For a family leaving from Pakistan, Malaysia works well because the main stops sit close together and halal food is easy to find in most places you will eat.

Start with the number of days. Five days is enough for Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Batu Caves and a day at Genting, with a day at Sunway Lagoon if children are travelling. Seven days adds Langkawi, which means one more flight inside Malaysia, about an hour by air from Kuala Lumpur.

Think about the small things early. Kuala Lumpur is 3 hours ahead of Pakistan, so children may wake early on the first two mornings. Lunch and dinner are usually not part of a tour package, so budget for meals separately.

Ask whoever sells you the trip what is included. Check the return flight, hotel breakfast, airport pick-up, transport between sights and the Genting cable car. Also ask who applies for the eVISA and how departures from Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad are arranged.

If you want to compare a ready-made plan against your own notes, find out more about the 5 and 7 day Malaysia tours from Pakistan Travel Diaries. See the page for current fares.