Explore the captivating country of Malaysia

20 May 2024

If, like us, you’ve been glued to your screen watching Race Across the World Season 4, you may have been inspired by Episode 6, when contestants had to make a 2000km journey ahead across Malaysia – a spellbinding part of South-east Asia that many travellers don’t know a huge amount about. In this blog. We’ve showcased a couple of Malaysia tours that will really give you an idea about the fantastic sights and experiences that await you there.

Explore the captivating country of Malaysia

Classic Malaysia

You’ll start in UNESCO-listed Malacca, with its heritage houses, canal-side cafés and array of cuisines from restaurants and hawker stalls – traditional Malay dishes as well as treats influenced by visiting traders over the past 2,000 years. Sample the likes of asam pedas (fish stew), ad cendol (a dessert of coconut and caramelised palm sugar), Indian tandooris, Chinese dim sum, Peranakan food influenced by Cantonese, Portuguese and Malay ingredients and methods, and even warm Portuguese tarts.

Malacca was a trading post on the Malacca Strait and has substantial Portuguese and Dutch influences. Sights include the oldest remaining European architecture in South-east Asia, A Famosa, the Stadthuys (former Dutch City Hall), Temple Street with its temples and mosques, restored Peranakan buildings, and Baba-Nyonya Museum of Peranakan culture.

In Kuala Lumpur, your tour will include Thean Hou Buddhist temple, the modern National Mosque, the old train station built by the British, the ancient city with its typical colonial/Malay-style houses, the Central Market, Chinatown, and of course the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. You’ll also head to the outskirts of the city to see the Batu Caves, a pilgrimage site for Hindus.

From here you’ll transfer to Labu Sentral jetty to board a wooden longboat for a two-hour ride to your jungle lodge, where you’ll enjoy a nocturnal guided night walk, trek beneath the high-density rainforest canopy and along a canopy walkway, and boat upstream on the Tahan river with its rapids, to reach a waterfall and swim in a natural pool.

You’ll then travel to the Cameron Highlands, long regarded as a refuge from the lowland tropical heat, with tea plantations to visit and the Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang, where a nature guide will enlighten you about the medicinal plants that grow here and the eco-system of the rainforest.

Your final destination is UNESCO-listed Georgetown on Penang, where colourful sights include the Thai Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Burmese Temple, Khoo Kongsi Chinese clan house, and Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple.

West Coast Malaysia – Self-Drive

This tour allows you to discover many of Malaysia’s highlights under your own steam, starting out in Kuala Lumpur, where you’ll visit Chow Kit Market, Kampung Bahru traditional neighbourhood, Masjid Jamek at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers (birthplace of Kuala Lumpur), Little India, Sze Ya Taoist temple, and the nearby Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple.

From here, you’ll tour Malacca, have jungle adventures in Taman Negara, enjoy the Cameron Highlands (including a three-hour trek in the Montane rainforest), discover Ipoh with its Heritage Walk including its Railway Station, Town Padang Mosque, and Birch Memorial clock tower, and explore Penang, including a visit to Khoo Kongsi to learn about the practice of ancestor worship.

Having dropped off your hire car, you’ll hop aboard the public ferry from Penang Jetty to Langkawi for tropical-island relaxation and exploring the likes of the Kilim Geopark of mangrove forests, lagoons, and beaches, populated by monkeys, hornbills, cobras, sea eagles, and more.

To book your Malaysia tour, call your Travel Counsellor today.

A fresh look for paradise at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun

24 December 2025

Finding that perfect stretch of sand where turquoise water meets pristine white beach can feel like discovering paradise on earth. We believe holidays should be filled with these moments of pure bliss, where every detail is taken care of so you can simply relax and reconnect. That is exactly what you will find at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, a secluded, adults-only haven nestled on one of the most celebrated beaches in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. This resort has long been a favourite for those seeking a truly luxurious escape, and we are thrilled to share that it has recently undergone significant renovations, making the experience even more special. The team at Secrets Maroma has been busy refreshing its spaces to enhance the signature Unlimited-Luxury® experience. It is this commitment to constant improvement that allows us to recommend it with such confidence, knowing your stay will be nothing short of exceptional.

Discover the effortless luxury of Grecotel LUXME White

24 December 2025

Dreaming of a Greek escape where every detail is taken care of? At Grecotel LUXME White, the focus is on helping you create lasting memories, with every moment designed around your relaxation and happiness. As the showcase for ‘Luxury Made Easy®’, this resort blends attentive service with a relaxed, seaside atmosphere, so you feel genuinely cared for from the moment you arrive.

Your biggest Kenya safari questions – answered

24 December 2025

Dreaming of a safari in Kenya? You’re in for an unforgettable experience! To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve compiled expert tips and insights from our Travel Counsellors colleague Natalie, from the best time to visit and what to pack, to the amazing wildlife you can expect to see. Whether you’re dreaming of spotting the Big Five, exploring diverse landscapes, or unwinding on Kenya’s stunning coastline, this guide has everything you need to go on the safari of a lifetime.