Private Genting Highlands Day Trip with Cable Car from Kuala Lumpur

The road from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands

How to get to Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur? The easiest way is by road on the Karak Highway, which leaves the city's eastern edge and climbs into the forested Titiwangsa mountains. The drive to the Awana SkyWay station at Gohtong Jaya takes about an hour, depending on traffic, and the temperature starts to drop as soon as the road begins to wind upwards.

On a private tour there is no waiting for other passengers or fixed departure times: our driver-guide collects you from your own address and drives straight to the cable car. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the lowland heat, but it is worth packing a light jacket for the summit, where clouds often roll in and the air is noticeably cooler than in Kuala Lumpur.

The Awana SkyWay cable car

The Awana SkyWay is the modern cable car linking Gohtong Jaya with the summit of Genting Highlands. Over a ride of about 2.8 kilometres, which takes around ten minutes, the gondola floats above the canopy of ancient rainforest, with views back over the green ridges and, on clear days, towards the lowlands. On many mornings you rise straight through the clouds, which is a memorable sight in itself.

Your return ticket for a standard gondola is included. If you would like a glass-floor gondola for the view straight down into the jungle, it can be upgraded at the station at extra cost. The cable car is the most scenic way to the top and avoids the busy, winding summit road; queues are longest on weekends and public holidays, so weekdays are calmer.

Chin Swee Caves Temple

Halfway up, the SkyWay stops at the Chin Swee Caves Temple, a Taoist temple built into the hillside at about 1,400 metres. Its terraces hold a slender nine-storey pagoda, a large seated Buddha statue overlooking the valley and a colourful series of sculptures illustrating traditional teachings on right and wrong. Incense drifts through the courtyards, and the views over the misty mountains are among the best in Genting.

You can hop off at the temple station on the way up or down and continue with the same ticket. Plan about 45 minutes to an hour to walk the terraces. Please dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and be respectful of worshippers; photography is generally allowed in the outdoor areas.

The summit of Genting Highlands

At the top, the hill-top resort is a world of its own, at around 1,800 metres above sea level. Large indoor malls connect directly to the cable car station, with shops, cafés and restaurants serving everything from Malaysian to international dishes, including plenty of halal options. Prayer rooms are available, and the cool weather makes it pleasant to stroll even at midday.

Families can visit the indoor theme park with rides for all ages or the outdoor theme park with its roller coasters; entry tickets are not included and can be added. Is Genting Highlands worth visiting? For a break from the heat, the cable car and a few hours of rides, shopping and mountain air, it is one of the easiest and most popular trips from Kuala Lumpur.

Gohtong Jaya and the return

Gohtong Jaya is the mid-hill town around the lower cable car station, with an outlet shopping mall, restaurants and a strawberry farm nearby. Your driver waits here while you are at the summit, so there is no rush: you choose how many hours to stay, within the length of the tour.

Because the car is yours for the day, you can ask for a short stop at the outlet mall or the strawberry farm on the way down, time permitting. The drive back to Kuala Lumpur takes about an hour, a little more at rush hour, and we drop you at your door. The best time to visit Genting Highlands is on a weekday morning, when the queues are shortest and the views clearest.