M’sian Travellers Share the Incredible Experiences They Would’ve Missed if They Only Travel by Plane

Choosing the right form of transportation is important when travelling. Sure, it’s easier to fly but you’ll likely miss out on the adventures and beautiful sights that land transportation provides. Just like the famous Robert Frost poem, sometimes the road not taken is the one we regret most not following.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, 
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

From the Glacier Lagoons of Iceland to a train escapade through the Sri Lankan jungles, these Malaysian travellers chose the path that led them into unforgettable adventures. Here are their stories.

1. Japan and their railways, simply word-class!

Source: Adrian Kan

Source: Adrian Kan

“Taking the train in Japan is a fantastic and fuss-free experience. It gets you to where you want to (literally!) and when you want to! During my time spending trotting around the Tokyo metropolis, Osaka and Kyoto, we spent a substantial amount on time on the trains, planning our journey and having sole reliance on our itinerary solely based on the train as our mode of transportation.”

“One misconception I heard about Japan is that their trains are super expensive but I’m actually quite surprised at how affordable they are. Especially if you have a Japan Rail Pass which you can easily purchase through Klook.”

Source: Adrian Kan

“With on-time alerts and schedules on the next trains in Google Maps, navigating around was a breeze in spite of the Japanese signed language around, and as one may expect the trains are right on schedule as listed, a Japanese hallmark. This ensured that our travels in and around Japan were fuss-free, and we managed to visit and experience the things we wanted and needed to see (this was our graduation trip!), ensuring that all of us are happy, satisfied and craving for more of Japan when we returned home.”

• Adrian Kan, 24, Subang Jaya

Source: Adrian Kan

Source: Adrian Kan

2. A man, his car and the scenic backdrop of Edinburgh

Source: Fathi Farouq

Source: Fathi Farouq

“I drove up to Edinburgh from Manchester to pick up my wife who at that time just finished a research trip. The drive up was special considering it was miles and miles of just a man, his car and the scenic backdrop of snow slowly melting away all around the countryside highlands.”

“Maybe it’s something I notice less as we tend to travel by train more often in places like Denmark where you experience crossing The Great Belt bridge (and tunnel) to get from the Danish peninsula to Copenhagen. It’s pretty affordable too as you can just buy an Eurail Pass with Klook! ”

“The return trip from Edinburgh was even more special as we arranged to go through the Lake District and spent a night there to enjoy the view. I was immediately taken in by the steep hills surrounding us as we neared out lodge somewhere in Ambleside. Pretty glad we decided to do a little hiking the following morning. There weren’t many people around and we just followed whichever path leads upwards.”

Source: Fathi Farouq

“That’s basically what you see in the picture- me taking in the smallness of whatever we are in this untouched piece of land. We only spent about half a day hiking as we promised a friend we would visit later that day, but I’d recommend doing a whole day if it’s not raining. Also, bring the right gear too. It’s not as steep as Bukit Saga, but you want to be as safe as possible out there on your own so hiking boots and a comfortable windproof jacket goes a long way to ensuring this.”

• Fathi Farouq, 31, currently residing in Denmark.

Source: Fathi Farouq

3. An unforgettable European adventure

Source: Anas

“Studying in the UK has many advantages, one of which is the easy access you have by land to the whole of Europe. I literally had an European road trip every semester break weh! Gotta make the best out of the opportunity, right? Oh, how I miss those student days. 🙂 ”

“From the Scotland highlands to the Icelandic glaciers, the majestic sights and experiences I’ve been through were indescribable. Regardless of the destination, you can bet that the journey is what makes them all the more memorable! That’s the great thing about Europe, it’s all really well connected and you can get to any country by just taking the train. Plus the Malaysian passport is super powerful, you don’t need a visa to visit almost ALL PARTS of the continent. Just Klook it and get your Eurail pass and you’re set for an adventure!”

Source: Anas

“I studied microbiology but ended up being a video producer when I went back to Malaysia and no, it’s not because of the lack of jobs in my field of study. The road trips gave me a time for self-reflection and inspired me to do what I’m passionate about, which is photography and creative content. No regrets!”

• Anas Rashid, 24, Bangi. 

Source: Anas

Source: Anas

4. The dream honeymoon in Korea

Source: Nasri Siru

Source: Nasri Siru

“My wife and I finally went on that dream honeymoon in Korea a year after we got married. As soon as we landed in Incheon, we feel like we’re dreaming as we’ve been discussing a trip to the land of K-pop since our dating days! Originally, I planned for us to just take flights to all the hotspots throughout the country like Jeju Island, Seoul, Busan and others. However, my wife insisted on us to take the train for the countryside views.”

“Well, gotta follow the missus, right? AND of course, the wife is RIGHT as always because the experience we had together taking the train throughout Korea was INCREDIBLE! We even managed to visit a Korean University on our way to Gamcheon, because why not? Let me tell you, even their education facilities were picturesque!”

Source: Nasri Siru

“Pro tip: Buy a railway pass if you’re going anywhere in Korea because it’s super worth it! We bought ours through Klook and it’s super easy and affordable.”

• Nasri Siru, 26, USJ. 

Source: Nasri Siru

Source: Nasri Siru

5. Off the beaten path in Sri Lanka

Source: Rozaini.zain

Source: Rozaini.zain

“When I told my friends I was visiting Sri Lanka, they thought I was crazy! Some say the nation doesn’t have internet lah, very dangerous lah but I encountered nothing but positive things throughout my time there. Y’all really need to brush out on your geography okay!”

“The highlight of my time there has got to be the train rides. My God, going through the lush greeneries of their countryside feels like something straight out of a novel! We stopped by the famous Nine Arch bridge and the view from its top was absolutely stunning. Learning its unique history from the locals really gave me the chills too.”

Source: Rozaini.zain

“We booked a safari tour through the Udawalawe National Park with Klook and experienced one of the most immersive tours I’ve ever been on! If you’re an adventure-seeker, Sri Lanka is definitely the place to be.”

• Rozaini Zain, 30, Cheras. 

Source: Rozaini.zain

Source: Rozaini.zain

Okay, all of these travel stories has really got us inspired. Well, if you’re planning to go on an adventure at your dream destination soon, you can’t go wrong by using Klook, just like what all these Malaysian travellers did! Just Klook it lah!

Get this, they have rail passes available throughout the globe in major destinations including:

• Japan Rail Pass.
• Eurail.
• Korea Rail Pass.
• Taiwan High-Speed Rail.
• China Rail.

Wah, super convenient! What’s more, besides travels and transport services, Klook also offers activities, experiences, tours, sightseeing, attractions, shows, WiFi and SIM card and much more. Now’s the best time to plan your travel plans too, as get this,

Klook is having a year-end promotion which lets you save up to RM350 when you book through their site!

Applicable for all activities except for Universal Studio Japan tickets, express passes, Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half-Fare Card, just use this promo codes below to enjoy:

1. Get RM100 off with a minimum spend of RM1,000 by using promo code “KLOOKIT100”.
2. Get RM250 off with a minimum spend of RM1,500 limited too booking on the Klook App by using promo code “KLOOKIT250”.
3. New to Klook? Enjoy 20% off your first purchase with discount capped at RM50 using promo code “NEWTOKLOOK20”.

Awesome weh! Looking for a hassle-free solution to your holiday plans? Just Klook it! For more information on the Klook year-end promotion or for other incredible deals on your travels, follow Klook on Facebook and Instagram or visit their official website here.