You can start just about anywhere and best time would be wither before 12pm or after 3pm when the sun is not so hot!

The Heirtage Walk is not a place per se. Rather, it is a walkabout on the side of the Old Town nearer to the Old Railway Station to look at the old colonial buidlings built by the British. (1) Assuming that you start with the Railway Station - which is still being used and is one of the buildings included in the Heritage Walk - as your starting point for your walk, that would be 2 km from French Hotel. (2) Very safe. That area is not crowded at all, and at some places, you may find that you are the only person (or family). (3) No. It is not a museum. It is a WALK along the roads to see one old building to another. PS: Not everybody would find the walk interesting especially if they come from a country with similar buildings.

If you cannot find a map, the Padang ( behind Royal Ipoh Club) in Ipoh town will be a good landmark Its just walking distance from the Padang towards Little India Explore by foot !! You may find another attraction !!

Suggest having lunch at the Thean Chun (天津茶室). Chinese Restaurant and Coffee Shop. 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Recommend to eat Hor fun, pork satay, egg custard, chiong fun and popiah (call from the next door).

No need at all to employ a guide in this walk - a detailed brochure is available free from the Perak Tourism Information Office on Jl Bandar (next to the Padang in the Old Town). the always pleasant and helpful office staff will also give you a big map of Ipoh if you ask. The walk is interesting if not exactly exciting. It covers an area of about six by eight streets and it can be done in about two hours at a leisurely pace and with a stop for refreshments at one of many cafes. The once-charming Concubine Lane still rates a walk-through but is now infested with shops selling cheap (and mostly manufactured in China) souvenirs. Sadly the more interesting shops along with the well-known John's Bar at the eastern end, have closed or moved on and what is left is now mostly Discount shop sellers at inflated prices. The heritage hustlers basically get their info the same way you can - on the internet. A lot of historical data available online and an hour on your laptop will let you easily map a satisfying tour of your own. . Ipoh was a tin town and really came into its own after 1900. It has a handful of noteworthy early 20th century buildings but nothing to match the sheer number and architectural variety of Penang. As such it's worth a day (and maybe an overnight stop) but sadly there is nothing here on the scale of the charming old 118th and 19th century architecture in Georgetown (Penang). Sad but it's the reality. Where a guide could be useful would be if you want to get out and about and go 'upcountry' for a day tour to some of the more remote areas. Be prepared to bargain as many quote rates that are over the top.

yes you can do it with proper planning. I think you can cover(assuming you are driving) 1) one of the popular cave 2) heritage walk 3) dim sum lunch 4) sight seeing again 5) hawker dinner or dine at indulgence(very nice the tarik and bread)