Destinations

A garden city with plenty to see and do: frenetic Chinatown, the National Museum and National Mosque; the splendid Moorish architecture of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the railway station; the Petronas Twin Towers, the Lake Garden with its Butterfly Farm, Deer Park, Bird Park, Orchid Garden and Hibiscus Garden…and much more. Explore behind the modern, high rise, well-organised exterior and discover a charming, colourful melting pot of Indian, Chinese and Malay cultures. If you enjoy cities, this one won’t disappoint.

Modern-day Malacca is a vibrant old city that believes its wealth of history. Visiting Malacca is a unique experience; its rich historical background earned it a World Heritage Site designation in July 2008. A fascinating blend of Portuguese, Dutch and British influences have made this one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia.

Malaysia's premier hill resort was attractive to the colonial British because of its cooler temperatures. Its modern appeal now lies in the sprawling tea plantations dating back to 1929; the strawberry farms; vegetable gardens and nature trails. Most unusual are the mock Tudor style hotels found dotted between the three main towns. N.B. Hotel standards may not be as good here as most other places on the Peninsula. Although the recently opened 5* Cameron Highlands Resort is an excellent property with excellent facilities.

Georgetown is the capital of Penang and full of cultural discovery, with plenty of museums, sites and shopping. Batu Ferringhi on the island’s north coast is one of the leading international resort areas in South East Asia. Along this 2-mile stretch of beach you will find a selection of well spaced-out hotels and restaurants. There is a wide range of watersports to choose from during the day, and a sophisticated nightlife centred around the hotels and restaurants. The island is like Asia in miniature – history, culture, shopping beaches – it is all here and cannot be beaten for variety in one destination.

Langkawi is the largest of 100 palm fringed islands, islets and sandbars off the Malaysian peninsula’s northwest coast. Apart from lazing on the beaches, visitors can trek through the jungle on photo safaris, scuba dive or sail around the neighbouring islands to find more secluded bathing. With a population of 2,000 Kuah, the capital, is expanding on the waterfront with several good Chinese, Thai, Indian and Malay restaurants and a row of duty free shops. The two main beaches are Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang, in the south-west corner of the island (beware of occasional strong currents). Further north Pantai Kok is in a large bay with a beautiful backdrop of limestone cliffs covered in dense jungle.