Malaysia

Malaysia is a country of two halves: the Malay Peninsula and, across the South China Sea, Sabah and Sarawak in northern Borneo. Kuala Lumpur sets the Petronas Towers against the Moorish domes and arcades of its old centre and the food streets of Bukit Bintang, and nearby a long stairway climbs to the Hindu temples of the Batu Caves. George Town on Penang and Malacca are UNESCO World Heritage towns of Peranakan shophouses, temples and mosques.

Langkawi, an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea and a UNESCO Global Geopark, combines rainforest-covered mountains, Kilim’s mangroves and quiet beaches. On the east coast, Perhentian, Redang and Tioman are known for diving and beaches where turtles nest, and Desaru Coast in Johor lies about an hour’s drive from Singapore. Sabah is wilder: Mount Kinabalu and its UNESCO-listed park, the Danum Valley rainforest with orangutans, and the reefs of Sipadan.

Food alone is reason to come: nasi lemak, laksa, satay and roti canai from hawker stalls, Peranakan and Indian-Muslim cooking. The climate is tropical and warm all year, around 24–33 °C; the west coast and Langkawi are best from about November to April, the east-coast islands roughly March to October, after the monsoon. Malaysia suits beach-and-rainforest trips, families, food lovers and divers, and pairs easily with Singapore, Thailand or Bali.