Where to go in Malaysia

Malaysia’s capital and largest city, Kuala Lumpur is defined by its colourful culture and friendly locals. You’ll find a mix of towering skyscrapers, gleaming malls, colonial architecture, a strong Islamic influence in its mosques, minarets, and Mughal domes, plus a wealth of cultural attractions. Notable landmarks include the Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers, and the Batu Caves which date back more than 400 million years. While there is a reverence for ancient culture, it’s balanced with a plugged-in modern world and a contemporary art scene. Visitors can mingle with the locals in their favourite pastimes – shopping and dining – in air-conditioned malls and the popular Central Market.

Around three hours’ to the north of KL, Ipoh is the capital city of central Perak state. It’s known for a large ethnic Chinese population, evidenced in several colourful temples and a distinctly Chinese-influenced cuisine: noted dishes include Chicken Rice, Hor Fun noodles, and caramel egg custard tarts. Just outside Ipoh you’ll find the luxurious Banjaran Retreat – an exclusive retreat in a dramatic limestone setting which offers hot spring pools, natural cave saunas, and a lengthy spa menu. Ipoh’s central location makes for a convenient mid-tour stopping point, with easy onward travel to Penang, Pangkor island, and the Cameron Highlands.

The ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Penang is a tropical city which offers it all: home to gastronomic delights, a mix of historic and modern architecture, soft white sandy beaches, and numerous excellent hotels. It has a diverse mix of cultures, with modern developments juxtaposed with mosques, temples and historic buildings, while the coast is lined with sleepy fishing villages and luxury resorts. The colonial city of George Town is its multicultural capital with historic British buildings, magnificent mosques and crumbling shophouses in its oldest section. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s also one of the top spots in all of Southeast Asia for mouth-watering street food.

Taman Negara is Peninsular Malaysia’ premier rainforest reserve. Housing patches of the world’s old primary rainforest – outdating the dinosaurs – the park has simple accommodation but a range of enticing jungle activities. You’ll arrive at the park via a long road journey into the jungle and then a dramatic longtail boat transfer up to your lodge. The most popular attraction here is the canopy walkway, the longest in the world, which spans a distance of 1,738 feet while hovering 147 feet above the forest floor. From here you can watch for the park’s famous flora and fauna, which includes tapirs, long-tailed macaques, hornbills, pygmy elephants, and – allegedly – a tiny remaining population of leopard and Malayan tiger.

Sitting off Malaysia’s lower east coast, around 5 hours’ transfer from Singapore and 6 from Kuala Lumpur, Tioman is a small volcanic island with barely any tourism (or other) development…and all the better for it. The challenging transfers mean you’ll need to make a little extra effort to get here but it is absolutely worth it, with the island offering totally pristine and near-deserted white sand beaches and a mountainous interior which begs for exploration. The luxurious Japamala Resort is our pick here – one of the very best boutique beach retreats in all Southeast Asia.