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 it all 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.
Arriving at Gohtong Jaya Bus Terminal
The Gohotong Jaya Terminal is located in the Fashion Outlets and Awana Cable Car Complex offering a good spot to take a break after you trip and shop around in the massive shopping outlets.
I was too tired to take a break and stopped over briefly to enjoy deep-fried chicken at the Texas Chicken Branch located on the first floor near the escalator. The complex offers many nice restaurants, lockers and taxi services.
Where to find ATMs
Catching the Awana Cable Car to the First World Complex
Recently, the cable car drop-off point has switched from Awana Complex to First World Hotel, which makes it very easy to check into the hotel. There is a new entrance to the Skyworld Outdoor Theme Park located on the ground floor near The Skyworld Casino. This saves a lot of hassle where people had to walk from Awana Complex to First World Hotel, which would take over 20 minutes.
I was too tired to stop at Chin Swee Temple and decided to head to the First World Hotel directly, as I was required to check in manually at the lobby to obtain my swipe card for the room
Return Bus Ticket
Checking in at First World Hotel Genting Highlands
First World has had a serious glow-up, with automated check-in terminals now lining the ground floor, making arrivals faster and far less stressful than the queues of old.
Thanks to points racked up on my Genting Rewards Card, I scored a free 3-night stay at First World Hotel — and honestly, it made the whole trip feel like a win before it even started.
If you’re planning a visit, I can’t recommend signing up for the Rewards Card enough. It unlocks a steady stream of promotions and perks for the whole family — think complimentary hotel nights, gaming vouchers for the players in your group, and food vouchers that rack up simply based on how you use the card.
I got lucky on this trip, walking away with RM300 in gaming credit and another RM300 in food credit. I put the food credit to very good use with a memorable dinner at HIGHLINE, the restaurant perched on the top floor of the complex — the kind of meal that makes you glad you signed up for the card in the first place.
Bus Terminal at Gohtong Jaya
On your way back, you can book your cable car and bus tickets to KL at the automatic booking terminal in the First World Hotel Lobby. Alternatively, you can book your ticket from the ticketing station at the Awana Cable Car Station. The bus ticket back to KL costs RM 10. The bus frequency is approximately every 30 minutes, and services operate till 10 pm. The taxi ride from the bus terminal to KL Sentral can cost around RM80-100
