Things not to miss

#01 The Perhentian Islands

A popular pair of islands off the east coast, with beautiful beaches, great snorkelling and accommodation for all budgets.

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#02 Traditional crafts

Malaysia boasts a wide range of crafts, from batik and songket (brocade) to rattan baskets and labu, gourd-shaped ceramic jugs.

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#03 Taman Negara

Malaysia’s premier national park, Taman Negara, is one of the world’s oldest rainforests, with hides for wildlife-spotting, treetop walkways and treks lasting from an hour to a whole week.

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#04 Sungai Kinabatangan

Cruise through pristine jungle along this spectacular river, spotting proboscis monkeys and, occasionally, orangutans.

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#05 Shopping in KL

Malaysia’s capital boasts a host of excellent malls, as well as vibrant street markets where bargaining is de rigueur.

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#06 Georgetown

A bustling Chinese-dominated haven with elaborate temples, colonial-era mansions and beaches galore.

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#07 Proboscis monkeys, Bako

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These odd-looking creatures roam kerangas forest and mangrove swamps in the national park, not far from Kuching.

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#08 Rainforest Music Festival

Held annually near Kuching, this world-music festival is an opportunity to see indigenous performers alongside musicians from across the globe.

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#09 Melaka

The city’s complex historical heritage is evident in its Portuguese, Dutch and British buildings and Peranakan ancestral homes.

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#10 Cameron Highlands

Misty tea plantations, afternoon tea and jungle trails in cool mountain air.

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#11 Mount Kinabalu

Watch dawn over Borneo from the summit of Southeast Asia’s highest mountain.

#12 Gunung Mulu National Park

A view of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles reward the challenging haul up Gunung Api, and the park also boasts underground caves that teem with wildlife.

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#13 Kelabit Highlands

These remote uplands offer excellent walks and hikes, plus encounters with friendly tribal communities along the way.

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#14 Langkawi

Luxurious resorts on sublime beaches pretty much sums up these west-coast islands, close to the border with Thailand.

#15 The Petronas Towers

KL’s iconic towers not only hold your gaze from all angles but also house one of the city’s best shopping malls.

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

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kudla/Shutterstock

#16 Food

Simple stalls in markets and malls and on the street serve up mouthwatering noodles, snacks and desserts.

#17 Diving at Pulau Sipadan

The spectacular islands off Sabah offer the thrill of swimming with sharks and turtles.

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#18 Longhouses in Sarawak

Large communal dwellings, home to members of indigenous tribes, are found along rivers and in remote mountain locations.

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Travel advice for Malaysia

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