Kuala Lumpur

Situated on the Malay Peninsula, the modern capital of Kuala Lumpur is relatively new compared to Malacca, being founded in the 19th century with Chinese and British influences. A forward-thinking business-orientated city of steel and glass skyscrapers and wide and clean bustling streets, it has also retained some charming colonial pockets, and neat traditional Malay villages still nestle beneath the towers. Luxury hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, Majestic and Shangri-La abound, alongside great restaurants, landmarks and shopping districts. Just out of town, the Batu Cave temples are a must-see for anyone staying in Kuala Lumpur.

Highlights of Malaysia

Eco tourism and wildlife

Sarawak

The state of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo is clothed in dense jungle home to traditional longhouse villages and myriad wildlife. From the coastal city of Kuching, you can visit nearby orang-utan sanctuaries, make forays into the rainforest, and visit an open-air museum showcasing the island's spectrum of tribal customs and styles.

Kota Kinabalu

The modern city of Kota Kinabalu sits on the coast of Sabah in north-east Malaysian Borneo, in a beautiful beachside location with plenty of accommodation options. High-end beach resorts in the area include Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa and Gaya Island Resort just offshore. Travellers flock here for the astounding wild wonders in the nearby national park surrounding Malaysia's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu. While some set their sights on scaling the mountain, nature lovers are content to roam the rainforest and simmer in hot springs, and adventurers raft the rivers, seek out waterfalls and venture into hidden caves.

Cameron Highlands

The cool hilltop climes of the Cameron Highlands provide a welcome respite from the heat and humidity at sea level. British colonial settlers built hill stations here, giving the area a suprisingly quaint old English feel in places, and there are great swathes of green tea plantations stretching between tracts of cloud forest inhabited by indigenous tribe people. Travellers can stay in English country houses and hike into the Mossy Forest or spend languid afternoons touring tea plantations and strawberry farms.

Taman Negara Rainforest

The Taman Negara Kuala Tahan Rainforest in the centre of the Malaysian Peninsula is said to be one of the world's most ancient jungles and is well set up for welcoming visitors on hiking tours and outdoor adventures. Monkeys and exotic birds haunt the canopy, which can be explored via a treetop walkway, and the national park is even home to tigers. You can join day tours of the region, but it's also possible to stay overnight in the forest reserve at the Mutiara Taman Negara Resort.