Planning a trip to Malaysia in 2026? If Kuala Lumpur is on your itinerary, do yourself a favour and carve out time for Genting Highlands. My own trip came about almost by accident — I’d been racking up genuinely generous offers on my Genting Rewards Card all year, and when Batik Air rolled out surprisingly cheap discounted fares from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, I couldn’t resist booking on impulse. A few clicks later, I’d locked in 3 nights at First World Hotel — the world’s biggest hotel — for a total of RM0. Free. I still can’t quite believe it.
What followed was one of the most memorable weekend breaks I’ve had in years, and I captured all of it on my brand-new DJI Osmo Pocket, bought specifically for this trip. Best impulse purchase I’ve made in a long time.
Landing at Kuala Lumpur Airport and planning my trip to Genting Highlands
My original plan was simple: pick up a rental car at the airport and drive straight to Genting Highlands, roughly 1.5 hours away. But flight delays had other ideas, and by the time I touched down in KL it was already 6 pm. Tired and not keen on a mountain drive in the dark, I made a last-minute call to stay in the city for the night instead — pushing back my usual first-night booking in Gohtong Jaya, my go-to base whenever I’m in Genting Highlands.
Catching the Express Bus from KL Sentral to Genting Highlands
The next morning, I hopped on the LRT to KL Sentral from Pasar Seni Station — a bargain at just RM1.60. The bus ticketing counter is easy to find, tucked on the ground floor and just an escalator ride down from the main concourse. Pro tip: buy your bus ticket and Awana Cable Car ticket together here — it saves you from queuing all over again at the Awana Station chairlift.
The bus filled up fast and pulled out right on schedule at 4 pm. It was a smooth, comfortable ride, and honestly, I dozed off for most of it. All up, the combo ticket came to RM21 (RM10 for the bus, RM11 for the cable car) — great value for the convenience.
The bus drops you at the Fashion Outlets, right next to the Awana Cable Car Station. If you’re heading up for just a day trip, this is actually the smarter place to park — free parking here beats hunting for a spot at First World Hotel or elsewhere in the complex.
Checking In at First World Hotel
Checking in was refreshingly simple — scan your passport, punch in your booking code, and out pops a digital pass along with your room key card. No queues, no fuss. By the time I got to my room on the 18th floor, the day had well and truly caught up with me, and I crashed straight into bed.
The room itself was basic, but honestly, that’s par for the course here — most guests barely spend time in their rooms anyway. Genting Highlands is built for the outdoors and the attractions; your room is really just a place to shower and crash before heading back out again.
