Malaysia Rich multicultural heritage, ancient rain forests, beautiful palm fringed beaches, wild jungle and delectable and diverse cuisine.

Divided into two halves on either side of the South China Sea, Malaysia is a country with a rich multicultural heritage, ancient rainforests, beautiful palm fringed beaches, wild jungle and delectable and diverse cuisine. Malaysia successfully combines contemporary with carefully preserved tradition – from the towering, modern skyscrapers of the cities to the stilted longhouses of Sarawak and the charming Chinese shop fronts of Kuching. With sophisticated transport infrastructure, it’s easy to get around and it’s only a short flight to Malaysia’s islands and between the two sides of the country.

An easy day trip from Kuala Lumpur, you’ll find the Batu Caves, a place where hundreds of Hindu devotees descend for the annual Thaipusam Festival every January and February. Piercing their skin with hooks and needles in a ritual of penance, they climb the 272 steps to the main cave temple.

See Kuala Selangor on a nocturnal boat tour along the river, where you can see thousands of glittering fireflies that are attracted to the berembang trees lining the river. Take a tour of the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory where you’ll learn how the well-known pewter goods are made and also see the world’s largest pewter tankard.

South of Kuala Lumpur, visit the historic city of Malacca. The third smallest Malaysian state, it was one of the earliest Malay sultanates before it was conquered by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British at various times over 400 years or so. It became part of the Malayan Union in 1946 which then became Malaysia in 1963. With an interesting mix of the cultures of its former occupiers and Chinese descendants, it’s the delightfully charming red and white Dutch colonial buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city centre that are the highlight. Explore heritage sites such as St Paul’s Hill and the ruins of St Paul’s Church, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Jonkers Street. Sample some delicious street food in the markets and food stalls and visit the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, showcasing the history of the local ethnic Chinese-Malays.