Malaysia is a nation defined by its colourful cultures, dense jungle interiors, incredible wildlife and out-of-this-world beaches.

Malaysia is an intriguing mix of old and new, enticing its visitors with vibrant cities, idyllic island escapes and wild forested landscapes. Made up of 13 states and three federal territories, Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures with Malays, Chinese, Indian and Europeans all living in harmony with indigenous groups throughout the Peninsular and islands of the Malay Archipelago.

Picture Malaysia and for most it would be defined by its wonderfully lush rainforests and jungle interiors. Boasting an incredible biodiversity, Malaysia’s forests play host to an exceptional variety of wildlife, while on its oceans are rich in coral reefs and exotic marine life. Throughout Malaysia, you’ll discover tranquil beaches and secluded hideaways that mesmerise with their beautiful locations. Discover the palm-fringed stretches of the west coast isles; marvel at the rugged long beaches of Malaysia’s unspoilt East Coast; explore the underwater marine life around the Tioman Islands; or head to the untouched rainforests on the secluded private island of Pangkor Laut.

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Perfect for

  • Cosmopolitan KL

    In Malaysia’s capital, colonial buildings sit shoulder to shoulder with glittering skyscrapers

  • Beautiful Borneo

    Seek out the ‘men of the forest’ in Malaysian Borneo, an adventurer’s paradise.

  • Jungle-backed beaches

    In Borneo and Langkawi, dense forests spill down to breathtaking bays and wide beaches.

  • UNESCO-listed heritage

    Penang’s capital, George Town, is a vibrant city with characterful and vibrant architecture.

Malaysia Regions

Our recommendations for the best places to visit in Malaysia

Borneo Holidays

Filled with ancient mist-drenched rainforest and some of the world’s rarest wildlife, Borneo is a...

Kuala Lumpur Holidays

A culturally rich city with a futuristic silver skyline, Kuala Lumpur is firmly on the travel map...

Langkawi Holidays

Tropical Langkawi pulls you into paradise with sugar-white beaches, warm blue waters and scores o...

Penang Holidays

Culture and visual drama meet beautiful beaches and rainforest spilling into the Andaman Sea. Pen...

Pangkor Laut Holidays

Coconuts and palm trees on the beach, restaurants made of granite and silk and sea eagles touring...

Terennganu Holidays

On Malaysia's unspoilt east coast

Holidays in Malaysia

hotel
  • Borneo
  • 5 Star

Backed by rainforest and overlooking a white sand bay, Shangri-La Rasa Ria is both escapist and adventurous.

From £1,353 p/p
hotel
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • 4 Star

In a prime city location with spectacular Petronas Towers views, Traders Hotel is convenient, comfortable and a little bit hip.

From £1,293 p/p
hotel
  • Pangkor Laut
  • 5 Star

An exotic hideaway set on an idyllic rainforest-clad island off Malaysia’s west coast.

From £1,738 p/p
hotel
  • Penang
  • 4.5 Star

A gorgeous resort with a family-friendly vibe, situated on popular Battu Ferringhi Beach.

From £1,267 p/p
hotel
  • Borneo
  • 5 Star

This sophisticated resort has excellent facilities including one of Borneo’s finest spas and fun water play areas.

From £1,460 p/p
hotel
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • 5 Star

A favourite choice in Kuala Lumpur, with award-winning dining and an outdoor pool.

From £1,292 p/p
hotel
  • Langkawi
  • 4.5 Star

This laid-back resort stretches over a half-moon bay and has a rustic chic vibe.

From £1,514 p/p
hotel
  • Penang
  • 5 Star

Beautiful grounds are scattered with century-old trees and tropical flowers at this classic Penang resort.

From £1,327 p/p
hotel
  • Terennganu
  • 5 Star

In a striking location on Malaysia’s east coast is a unique resort focused on wellbeing and relaxation.

From £1,297 p/p
hotel
  • Borneo
  • 5 Star

Where mangroves and endemic species meet, is an unspoiled hideaway connected with Borneo’s nature.

From £1,412 p/p

Take in iconic highlights and cultural treasures on a Malaysia escorted small group tour

Abundant in wildlife, spectacular natural landscapes and an incredibly diverse cultural heritage, an escorted small group tour of Malaysia is guaranteed to be rich in adventure. Discover Malaysia's most captivating sights, from the exhilarating metropolis of Kuala Lumpur and the breathtaking Cameron Highlands, through to historical Malacca, discovering exotic Borneo and relaxing on the sands of palm-fringed Penang. With our group sizes never larger than 16 guests, your tour will be a rewardingly intimate experience, perfect for those wanting an immersive exploration of this intriguing South-East Asia nation. 

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SUP Boarding & Snorkelling Adventure

Explore Boneo from on and underneath the water with a fun SUP and snorkelling adventure. The seas are typically calm in the morning, so you’ll have a gentle paddle around sand bars, coral bars or floating pontoons, depending on the tide. Then it’s time to dip under the waves with your snorkel and mask. The area is known for its clownfish colony, so you’ll spot brightly coloured fish darting through the waters. Your guide will also capture the best moments on a GoPro.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll need a good level of fitness. Children must be at least 6 years old to take part. Children aged 6-12 must be accompanied by a guardian.

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Sunset SUP Boarding Adventure

Watch the sun sink into the ocean from your peaceful perch out on the water. Stand-up paddle boarding is a memorable experience at any time of day, but it’s particularly beautiful at sunset. You’ll paddle around sand bars, coral bars or floating pontoons, depending on the tide, and pause to appreciate the changing colours as the sky is reflected in the water. Your guide will also capture the best moments on a GoPro.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll need a good level of fitness. Children must be at least 6 years old to take part. Children age 6-12 must be accompanied by a guardian.

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Malaysian Cooking Class in Kota Kinabalu

Cooking classes are a wonderful way to delve deeper into the local culture while learning new skills at the same time. Your host begins the experience with a stroll through the local market. Finding the freshest local ingredients and chatting with the stallholders, you’ll learn which spices to use and buy the groceries needed to whip up a Malaysian feast back in the kitchen. At your cooking station, you’ll learn how to prepare traditional home-cooked dishes and understand how food is such a big part of Malaysian heritage. After an insightful morning, you’ll get to tuck into your creations.

• Departing daily from Kota Kinabalu
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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Kota Kinabalu – Step Back in Time

Leave the buzz of the city behind and take a journey into the past to see, hear, taste and feel the identity of Sabah. Meeting some of the people of the remote Mari Mari Cultural Village, you’ll get to understand what traditional daily life is like in this rural region. We’ll be welcomed into the homes of various indigenous people, who’ll chat to us about how their houses were built by tribal descendants and what the different architectural styles represent. As we explore the village, we’ll also stop at demonstration huts to see traditional activities such as blow piping, fire lighting and tattooing.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Kota Kinabalu Canopy Walks

The journey is part of the adventure on this full-day experience. A scenic two-hour drive will whisk us away from city life, as we pass villages and paddy fields and wind our way up the mountainous roads of the Crocker Range. A short stop at lively Nabalu Market will showcase local fruits, vegetables and handicraft souvenirs before reaching the main attraction: Kinabalu Park. The park has around 4,500 species of plant, including a whopping 1,500 species of orchid – 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu. It also supports more than 280 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies. You’ll notice the change in air temperature and enjoy the cool air as you set off on a walk along the botanical garden nature trails. On a clear day, you might spot majestic Mount Kinabalu in the distance. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll continue to the Poring Hot Spring for a canopy walk. Climb up to 41 metres above ground level and walk across the suspension bridges hanging in the tropical jungle treetops.

• Departing daily from Kota Kinabalu
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
There’s a small charge of MYR5 to use a camera and MYR3 to use a video camera at the canopy walkway (payable locally).

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Kota Kinabalu Street Food

A delicious melting pot of heritage and culture, Kota Kinabalu has a top street food scene. The markets come alive after dark, so put on your walking shoes and taste your way around the various influences. Your expert guide will take you around the best spots in the night market and tell you about all the foods on offer. You’ll have time to chat with the stallholders and get to know the subtle differences in food between Sabah’s tribes before tucking into authentic dishes such as noodle soup, hinava (a raw fish dish similar to ceviche) and pinasakan (braised fish with turmeric and fruit).

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Mangroves & Fireflies of Kota Kinabalu

A scenic day awaits on this blissful back-to-nature escape. On a two-hour drive through the Klias Forest Reserve, we’ll pass coastal views and picturesque villages on the way to the Klias River Village Jetty. Tea, coffee and cakes will be waiting to refresh you ahead of your river cruise through the mangrove forests of the Klias River. Keep your eyes peeled for proboscis monkeys, abundant bird species, monitor lizards, crocodiles and other wildlife. We’ll return to the jetty for a traditional Malay buffet dinner. Then, as dusk sets, we’ll hop back on the boat for the best vantage point to watch flickering fireflies light up the riverbanks.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Orangutan Encounter

Your wildlife adventure begins with a flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan Airport, where you’ll be picked up and whisked off to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. In this remarkable rehabilitation centre, which was set up in 1964 to help orphaned orangutans, you’ll be able to get up close with the orangutans and watch them being fed. Take a walk in Borneo’s lowland dipterocarp forest and visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which improves animal welfare and rehabilitates rescued sun bears. After lunch, the final stop is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can see hundreds of cheeky proboscis monkeys.

• Departing daily from Kota Kinabalu, including return flights
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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Kota Kinabalu, Your Way

Join a private guide for a tour of Kota Kinabalu tailored precisely to your specification. Decide how long you want the time to last and where you want to go, and the driver will take you from place to place and offer expert commentary.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Kuala Lumpur Highlights in Half a Day

Take to two wheels and immerse yourself in Kuala Lumpur’s rich cultural landscape. On this leisurely bike tour, you’ll cycle around the city’s inner and outer districts, taking in the harmonious landscape of temples, mosques and other cultural influences. See the colonial-era architecture around Merdeka Square close to the Klang River, where Malaysian independence was declared in 1957, and head to lively Chinatown to explore the buzzing markets. Visit Moorish-influenced Jamek Mosque – one of the city’s oldest mosques – and join locals going about their day at Central Market. Then venture north to Little India, with its colourful maze of jewellery and textile shops, and upmarket Bukit Bintang, which dazzles with its glitzy restaurants and designer malls. Keep your eyes peeled throughout to see how many times you can spot the iconic Petronas Twin Towers that tower over the city.

• Departing daily from Kuala Lumpur
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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The Art of Batik

Get creative with a batik class, where you’ll learn all about this traditional wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik uses wax resists to create beautiful patterns and you’ll see examples of this clever ancient technique in homes all around the world. In this class, you’ll experience how to fill in colours on a fabric that’s been pre-waxed with a batik pattern. Mix primary colours to create secondary colours and shade in the material for a special keepsake.

• Departing daily from Kuala Lumpur
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Malaysian Cooking Class in Kuala Lumpur

Cooking classes are a fantastic way to delve deeper into the local culture and provide you with authentic recipes that can be shared for years to come. Home-cooked food is an important part of Malaysian life and you’ll get an insight into the culture and social structure of the country through its mealtimes. You’ll have plenty of help on hand as you whip up a selection of delicious dishes for an appetiser, main course and dessert. Enjoy tasting your creations and the bonus of not washing up.

• Departing Monday to Saturday from Kuala Lumpur
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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Kuala Lumpur Street Food

Enjoy the flavours of Kuala Lumpur on this mouth-watering evening street food tour. Your driver will expertly zigzag through the city as you experience the sights, sounds and tastes after dark as a passenger on the back of a Vespa scooter. Hang out with the locals at the best foodie spots away from the tourist trail, visiting a Malaysian night market and heading down to Brickfields: a vibrant maze of shops and street food restaurants serving dosa pancakes and Indian curries. Sample everything from hokkien mee and satay to the towering roti tissue. Then you can head back to your hotel or carry on to a local night spot to watch a live band.

• Departing daily from Kuala Lumpur
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Fireflies of Kuala Lumpur

Spend an evening in rural Malaysia to get an insight into local life outside of the city. Kuala Selangor is just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, but daily life here takes on a different atmosphere. This small tranquil town is where the Selangor River meet the sea. It’s known for fishing and farming, and on a visit to the hilltop fortress of Bukit Melawati, you’ll get to look out over the Straits of Malacca. Seafood is a staple food here, so you’ll tuck into a Chinese-style local seafood dinner before the highlight of this experience: firefly watching. Climb on board a boat and head upstream, where you’ll see thousands of fireflies flickering like Christmas lights in the mangrove trees that line the riverbanks.

• Departing daily from Kuala Lumpur
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Kuala Lumpur, Your Way

You decide how long you want your Kuala Lumpur tour to last and the places you want to see with a private driver to take you to the sights and offer expert commentary. This highly bespoke trip allows you to see the Mogul-style domes and modern skyscrapers, including the iconic Petronas Towers and visit the streets lined with food stalls shaded by banyan trees.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Batu Caves Tour

Your day begins with a visit to the Royal Selangor Pewter factory, where you’ll see the different processes involved in working with pewter, such as casting, filing, polishing, soldering, hammering, and engraving. Afterwards, you’ll briefly stop at the Batik Centre, a craft centre selling local handicrafts, before heading to the Batu Caves. This famous Hindu shrine features 272 colourful steps leading up to the site, which includes five limestone caves and several temples.

• Daily departures • Operates year-round • Private experience

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Nature Kayaking in Langkawi

Explore the natural beauty of Langkawi on a peaceful morning gliding across calm waters. You’ll be greeted by the sights and sounds of nature as you paddle through a small mangrove channel that’s inaccessible to boats for a secret journey under the shade of tropical mangroves. Your expert guide will take you to the best places for that particular day, introduce you to the local flora and fauna, and provide you with power snacks to help you keep up your energy levels throughout the morning. This tailor-made kayaking adventure is a beautiful way to see Langkawi from the water.

• Departing daily from Langkawi
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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Cycle Through Langkawi's Landscapes

Soak up the scenery from two wheels as you coast peacefully around some of Langkawi’s most spectacular natural landscapes. In the northwest of the island, Langkawi’s UNESCO Global Geopark is the first geopark in South-East Asia, renowned for its ancient rock formations and rich biodiversity. On this three-to-four-hour bike ride you’ll cycle around limestone formations, alongside river banks, past paddy fields and into forests to get an appreciation of the hundreds of millions of years of geological history here. There will be plenty of time to stop off in local villages too, for a glimpse into local daily life.

• Departing daily from Langkawi
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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Padi Fields of Langkawi

Get a better understanding of your surroundings on a visit to Laman Padi in Pantai Cenang. In Malay, ‘Laman’ means ‘field’ and ‘padi’ means ‘rice’, and at this open complex of rice fields, herb gardens, galleries and museums, you’ll get to experience the process of rice cultivation and harvesting. We’ll spend time among the lush greenery, learning how rice (Malaysia’s primary export product) is cultivated. We’ll also be shown the ropes on a guided tour of the padi planting process and padi museum.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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The Birds of Langkawi

This is the ultimate day in Malaysia for serious birders, travelling around Langkawi’s diverse habitats to spot many different species. Langkawi has more than 260 types of bird – about a third of these are migrants, who flock here between September and April. There’s an early start and an evening finish, as the best time to observe birds at the equator is either early morning or early evening when they are most active. In the rainforest, birds to look out for include flowerpeckers, hill mynas, dollarbirds, babblers, eagles and oriental pied hornbills. We’ll head on to a mangrove forest to spot the brown-winged kingfisher, collared kingfisher, white-bellied sea eagle and little heron. Our final stop for the morning is at the rice paddies to see paddy field birds such as sandpipers, lapwings, egrets, chestnut-headed bee-eaters and spotted doves. After re-energising with some lunch, we’ll travel up in the hills to a local village pond frequented by lesser whistling ducks, little herons, needle-tailed swifts and striated swallows. Afterwards, a drive to Langkawi’s highest peak holds the highlight of the experience: spotting the great hornbill, which measures 1.3 metres from the tip of beak to tip of tail.

• Departing daily from Langkawi
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
You’ll return to your hotel for lunch before the afternoon session.

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Discover Langkawi

This four-hour trip will reveal the stories of Langkawi, focusing on the locals and learning about Malay ethnicity. Away from the typical tourist trails, you’ll follow village lanes, passing paddy fields, and journey through jungles and past village houses. Along the way, you’ll witness the architectural designs influenced by the Chinese, Indian, Moorish and Europeans. You’ll see medicinal plants and taste exotic and seasonal fruits. The trip then ends with an authentic meal served by locals in Kuah town.

• Departs Wednesday and Saturday
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Langkawi, Your Way

Join a private guide for a tour of Langkawi tailored precisely to your specification. Decide how long you want the time to last and where you want to go, and the driver will take you from place to place and offer expert commentary.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Hidden Penang Photography Tour

The idyllic island of Penang is the ideal subject for keen photographers. A professional photographer will guide you around George Town’s heritage sites and local areas, where you’ll experience a diverse mix of cultures and religions. Highlights include narrow Armenian Street with its charming shophouses and cafés; the eclectic houses and street art of Muntri Street; elaborate Khoo Kongsi Chinese clanhouse; and Penang Chowrasta, one of Penang’s oldest markets. Taking your time to capture these sights will give you the chance to see Penang in a different light.

• Departing daily from Penang
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Penang Street Food

Put on your walking shoes and leisurely taste your way through Penang’s rich history and heritage. You’ll meet a local historian, who will be your guide during this informative evening tour, and take in the island’s kaleidoscope of cultures. As you sample tasty street food, your guide will help you understand the influences behind each flavour, tracing its culinary origins through links to the East, West and the rest of South-East Asia. You’ll also have the chance to see Penang’s many heritage sites and colonial-era architecture.

• Departing daily from Penang
• Operates year round
• Private experience

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Discover George Town’s Heritage

Spend a few hours exploring the beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town and its indigenous and colonial architecture. You’ll begin at Pinang Peranakan Mansion, which displays over a thousand pieces of Peranakan antiques and collectable items. Next, you’ll take a short walk to the colourful enclave of Little India, which sells colourful sarees and aromatic Indian spices. You’ll pass Penang’s oldest Hindu temple, then continue to Teochew Temple, with its ornate rooftops and intricately carved dragon pillars, before learning the history of Dr Sun Yat-sen at the Sun Yat-Sen Museum. You’ll hunt for Penang’s famous street art before continuing to one of Penang’s ancient traditional clan houses. The tour concludes with shopping for some local goodies at Cocoa Boutique.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Penang, Your Way

Tailor your perfect tour of Penang, deciding how long you want your time to last and where you want to go. A private driver will show you the city and provide expert commentary. Visit the temples in Little India and the mosques in Chinatown, both hives of activity in the shadows of looming skyscrapers. Take snaps of the vibrantly-hued Blue Mansion and observe the colonial architecture — pausing to taste the famous street food.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Get to know Malaysia, its cities, islands and beaches, and those important practicalities when planning your next adventure.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +8 hours

CURRENCY

Malaysian Ringgit

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

13 hours (to Kuala Lumpur)

RELIGION

Majority Muslim; Buddhism, Hindu and Christianity

LANGUAGE

Malay (Bahasa Melayu)

Where is Malaysia?
Malaysia is a nation of two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, separated by the South China Sea in South-East Asia. It shares land borders with Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

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Capital city
Once just a small Chinese tin mining town, Kuala Lumpur has grown to become a major 21st-Century Asian city and a popular destination for stopovers when travelling to and from Malaysia’s exotic beach destinations. A unique capital city dominated by iconic skyscrapers and exquisite shopping malls that sit happily alongside Moorish buildings, colonial architecture and more traditional street markets, Kuala Lumpur is a city emerging gracefully into the modern world while holding true to its long-held traditions and ancient cultures.

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Wildlife
One of the best wildlife destinations in the world, Malaysian Borneo is a dream for any naturalist or wildlife lover. The picturesque states of Sabah and Sarawak offer incredible rainforests and wildlife-rich jungles, fringed by an underwater world that rivals the Earth’s finest. Those with an adventurous spirit can climb to the summit of Mount Kinabalu on an intrepid expedition, while wildlife lovers can glimpse an endangered orangutan swinging through its native environment, or snorkel with hawksbill and green sea turtles in the South China Sea.

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Islands
The strikingly beautiful archipelago of Langkawi is made up of 99 islands, situated off the west coast of mainland Malaysia. Blessed with sleepy fishing villages, pure white sand beaches and lush jungle vegetation, you’ll find yourself amid clear, calm waters with the opportunity to relax in total tranquillity, or head out for a spot of spontaneous rainforest exploration. The popular island of Penang is rich in sightseeing opportunities from Hindu temples, Buddhist statues and colonial life in the capital of George Town, through to exquisite luxuries provided by the hotels lining the famous Batu Ferringhi Beach.

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Diving & snorkelling
With incredible coastlines across the peninsular and Borneo, Malaysia offers some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in South-East Asia. Tioman Island is one of the best areas to go snorkelling; off the south-eastern side of the peninsula mainland, you’ll find a high concentration of colourful coral reefs and very rewarding marine-life diversity. Within the Terenngganu Marine Park, Tenggol Island is another offshore highlight, famed for its beautiful white sand beaches and untouched coral gardens. There are over 20 different dive sites to explore around the island, offering you some of the most incredible underwater explorations; teeming with exotic marine life, sightings of sea turtles, reef sharks, humphead parrotfish and eagle rays are not uncommon.  

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Food & drink
With such a diverse melting pot of cultures, it should come as no surprise that Malaysia is a gastronomic hub of flavours and vibrant cuisine. Malay cuisine is mostly fusion food, drawing on neighbouring influences like Indian, Chinese, Indonesian and Thai. While in the big cities you’ll find a diverse selection of gourmet and upmarket restaurants, across the peninsular some of the most delicious food can be enjoyed at street stalls and diners called ‘kedai kopis’. Often the best places to try local Malay specialities, these are exceptionally great value and offer a vast selection of noodle and rice dishes all day long.

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