Genting Highlands Guide: Awana SkyWay, SkyWorlds, Weather and How to Get There

An hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands sits at about 1,800 metres in the Titiwangsa mountains. Up here the air is cool, often 16 to 22°C, the clouds drift through the resort, and there is something for every member of the family: a scenic cable car ride over the rainforest, the Genting SkyWorlds theme park, indoor fun zones, shopping malls, temples and, for adults, Malaysia's only casino.

This guide explains how to get there, what to do, the weather and our tips for a Genting day trip or overnight stay.

The Awana SkyWay is the main cable car up to the resort, gliding about 10 minutes from Awana Station (at Awana SkyCentral, with parking and a bus terminal) to SkyAvenue Station at the top, often through the clouds. Gondolas run daily from about 7 am to 11 pm. A standard return ticket costs only around RM 18, and glass-floored gondolas cost a little more. There is a free midway stop at Chin Swee Station for the Chin Swee Caves Temple. Expect queues on weekends and Malaysian public holidays; weekday mornings are quietest.

All our Malaysia packages include a two-way Genting cable car ride.

Genting SkyWorlds, opened in 2022, is a 26-acre outdoor theme park at the top of the resort, with movie-themed worlds and rides for all ages, from gentle family rides to roller coasters. Day passes are sold online and at the gate, with combo tickets that include the cable car; prices vary by date, so check the latest before you go. Being outdoors and at altitude, rides can pause in heavy rain or mist, so plan a full day and keep the indoor attractions as a back-up. Our Malaysia Adventure: Genting SkyWorlds & Kuala Lumpur package includes a 1-day SkyWorlds pass and a night in Genting, so you can enjoy the park without rushing.

• SkyAvenue and SkyTropolis Funland: an indoor mall and family fun zone with rides and games, perfect on misty days.
• Chin Swee Caves Temple: a Taoist temple built into the hillside, with a nine-storey pagoda and a giant Buddha statue, reached from the cable car's midway station.
• Genting Highlands Premium Outlets: designer and international brands at outlet prices, near Awana.
• Casino de Genting: Malaysia's only legal casino, for adults over 21 with a dress code (no shorts or slippers).
• Strawberry farms and the Genting Highlands viewpoints on the way up.

Genting is much cooler than Kuala Lumpur: daytime temperatures are usually around 16 to 22°C and can drop lower at night, and mist and rain are common at any time of year, especially in the afternoon. Carry a light jacket or sweater, an umbrella and shoes with good grip. Views are often clearest in the morning, which is another reason to go up early.

• By car or tour: about an hour from central Kuala Lumpur to Awana SkyCentral, then the cable car up. This is how our packages travel, with private transfers and Batu Caves on the way.
• By bus: express buses run from KL Sentral and TBS bus terminal to Awana SkyCentral.
• By Grab or taxi: convenient for families; agree on the drop-off at Awana.

From KLIA airport it is about 1.5 hours by road, so some travellers go straight to Genting on arrival, as on our Malaysia Adventure package.

A day trip is enough for the cable car, Chin Swee Temple and a few hours of shopping or indoor fun. Families who want the SkyWorlds theme park should stay a night, so they can spend a full day in the park and enjoy the cool evening. Hotels at the top range from the very large First World Hotel to the premium Crockfords and Genting Grand; we can include any of them in your package.

The resort has food courts and restaurants serving Malaysian, Chinese, Western and Indian food, with vegetarian options. Prices are higher than in Kuala Lumpur, and queues can be long at peak meal times on weekends. On our private Singapore Malaysia family tour, dinner is included on the Genting day.

Genting works well for multi-generation families. Children love the cable car, SkyWorlds and the indoor SkyTropolis Funland, while grandparents can enjoy the cool air, the temple and the malls without long walks; the resort's indoor walkways connect the hotels, mall and cable car station. Older travellers who feel the altitude or cold should take it easy, drink water and carry a warm layer. Strollers are fine indoors, but the theme park has slopes, so a light, foldable stroller is best.

Genting is pleasant all year because of its altitude. Weekdays outside Malaysian school holidays and festivals such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya are the quietest and cheapest. Mornings usually have the clearest views; afternoons are more likely to be misty or rainy. December can be busy with year-end holidays, so book hotels and SkyWorlds tickets early. See our Kuala Lumpur guide for planning the rest of your Malaysia trip.

• Go on a weekday if possible; weekends and Malaysian holidays are very busy.
• Start early for clear views and shorter cable car queues.
• Carry a jacket, especially for children and older travellers.
• Keep a back-up indoor plan in case of rain.
• Combine Genting with Batu Caves, which is on the way from Kuala Lumpur.

Every Malaysia package we offer includes Genting Highlands with the cable car and a stop at Batu Caves: the Malaysia Highlights and Kuala Lumpur & Genting Family Escape as a full-day trip from Kuala Lumpur, and the Malaysia Adventure with a night in Genting and SkyWorlds. Genting also features on our Singapore Malaysia tour packages. Read our Kuala Lumpur guide for the rest of your trip. Indian passport holders currently enter Malaysia without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, under an exemption that runs until 31 December 2026. You must submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before arrival, and immigration may ask for your return ticket and hotel booking.