Kuala Lumpur/Singapore
 

We have 4 extra days to spend on vacation. Trying to decide between Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. We like to do outdoor activities. No museums or churches. Already planning on going to Bangkok, Phuket and Chaing Mai. Thanks

Two days each is perfect. You can either take the bus or fly Air Asia. Both cheap.

Personally, I'd opt for 4 days in Singapore. I find much more to do/see there than in KL.

I agree with Kathie. If you had 6 or more days splitting the two would be ok. But if you do 2+2 you would be in Singapore wondering why you even thought of doing KL.

The only reason I would ever recommend 2+2 is if finances are a major factor (because KL is dirt cheap).

I'd choose Singapore. Lots of fun outdoor stuff. Visit the botanical garden & orchid garden, night zoo, one of the outer islands, hike in the nature preserve area near the zoo. Eat great food. Wander Little India and Arab street. go to the beaches on the east side and eat seafood fresh from the ocean.

I was not all that enthralled with KL. I would go back to other parts of Malaysia though; Cameron Highlands, some of the islands, Kota K.

I would also pick Singapore over KL. I would not go try to include both in that short amount of time, as you will see little of either beyond the airports. That being said, I would be a bit concerned with going to either as you state that your interests are “outdoor activities” . I don’t know that the Botanical Gardens would really satisfy someone who perhaps wants a much more physical outdoor activity, and even the nature reserves in Singapore, while pretty, do not really offer much in terms of hiking opportunities. The walks are short and quite circumscribed, plus being virtually on the flat, albeit in the jungle which can be interesting for flora and fauna (but offering few views). If you are going be hiking in Chiang Mai, you may not find the flora and fauna to be all that different in Singapore, although Chiang Mai is hillier.

I would think that the coastal or rainforest areas of Malaysia might fit your interests better. I agree that areas around Kota Kinabalu might be very good, or someplace like Taman Negara rainforest.

However, if you are looking for someplace which is a non-stop fight from Bangkok and offers city plus outdoor activities, I would actually suggest Hong Kong. Lots of excellent walks and hiking (most offering fantastic sea/mountain/city views), good beaches plus city activities when you want them. You can take ferry trips or do kayaking in the New Territories (there is even a place to scuba dive). I know from your other posts that your trip is in December this year, and that is just about the best time weather wise in Hong Kong, as it is sunny and dry with very pleasant “winter” temps in the low 70s F. The skyscrapers are decorated for Christmas which lends a festive atmosphere. Singapore is actually in the rainy season then (although the don’t get monsoon rains which lasts for days, they can and do get days of clouds and then heavy rain lasting a few hours).

If you consider places in Malaysia like Taman Negara or Borneo, just look at weather websites as those areas can have some heavy rainfall in the winter months.