Malaysia: Itinerary Planning Guide

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's most rewarding and underrated destinations — a multiethnic country where Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures have coexisted for centuries, producing one of the world's most complex and delicious food cultures. It is also one of the world's most biodiverse countries, with ancient rainforests in Borneo that predate the Amazon, and orangutans surviving in the wild in Sabah and Sarawak. Kuala Lumpur is a modern, cosmopolitan capital with the Petronas Twin Towers as its most recognisable landmark — still the world's tallest twin towers at 451.9 meters. But Malaysia's appeal extends far beyond its capital. Penang's George Town is a UNESCO-listed city with the world's most celebrated street food scene. The Cameron Highlands grow tea just four degrees from the equator. Langkawi's duty-free islands sit in the Strait of Malacca with clear water and coral reefs. Malaysia works as a single-country itinerary or as a hub for regional exploration. The combination of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) within one country is unusual — travelers can move from a contemporary capital to ancient rainforest wildlife in under two hours by air. The country is also among the most affordable in Southeast Asia relative to the quality of accommodation and food on offer.