Perlis Travel Guide: Malaysia's Smallest State

Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, covering just 819 square kilometres in the north-west corner of the peninsula. This Perlis travel guide is short because the state is, but it is worth more than the quick taxi ride most people take from the train station to the Langkawi ferry. The scenery of sheer limestone outcrops rising from rice fields is some of the prettiest in northern Malaysia, and you will see very few other tourists.

Perlis is also the only Malaysian state whose ruler holds the title Raja rather than Sultan. The administrative capital is Kangar, while the royal town is Arau.

Perlis travel guide: what to see

Kangar and Arau

Kangar is a small, tidy capital with a few government buildings, a mosque and a central market. A short drive away, Arau is the royal town, home to the Istana Arau palace and the royal mosque; the palace can be seen from outside only. Kota Kayang Museum, the state museum, covers local and royal history in a garden setting near a royal mausoleum.

Perlis State Park and Gua Kelam

In the north, Perlis State Park protects about 5,000 hectares of limestone hills and forest along the Nakawan Range and the semi-deciduous forest that grows on them, rich in birds and wildlife, with short forest walks. Nearby, Gua Kelam near Kaki Bukit, a cave once used by tin miners, has a wooden walkway following an underground stream through the hill. It is the most visited sight in the state and an easy half-day trip from Kangar.

Border towns

Padang Besar, on the main railway line to Thailand, is a busy border town with markets selling Thai snacks, clothing and household goods. At Wang Kelian, further north, a weekend market sits right on the frontier.

Kuala Perlis

The fishing port of Kuala Perlis is where ferries leave for Langkawi. Before or after the crossing, try the local laksa and grilled fish at the stalls near the jetty.

Food and harumanis mangoes

Perlis is famous across Malaysia for the harumanis mango, a fragrant, honey-sweet variety grown in the state’s orchards. The main season usually runs from around late March to June, when roadside stalls and festivals appear and prices peak. Outside the season, the food is classic northern Malay cooking with Thai influences: spicy laksa, grilled seafood and rice dishes.

When to go and how long to stay

Perlis has a distinct dry season, with January and February usually the driest months. December to April is the best period for walking and caving, and it overlaps with the start of the mango harvest. Heavier rain falls in the second half of the year.

One day is enough to see Gua Kelam, Perlis State Park and a border market, ideally with a hired car or driver since public transport is limited. Combine it with neighbouring Kedah and a few days on Langkawi; our 4-day Langkawi itinerary and getting around Malaysia guide help with the logistics.