Located in South-East Asia, Malaysia is like two countries in one, cleaved in half by the South China Sea. While the peninsula flaunts bustling cities, colonial architecture, misty tea plantations and chill-out islands, Malaysian Borneo hosts wild jungles of orangutans, granite peaks and remote tribes, along with some pretty spectacular diving spots.

Malaysia offers an impressive variety of microcosms ranging from the high-rises of Kuala Lumpur to the traditional longhouse villages of Sarawak.

If there was one thing that unites all its pockets of ethnicities, religions and landscapes, it’s food! Between the Chinese-Malay “Nonya” fare, Indian curries, Chinese buffets, Malay food stalls and Dayak specialties, with some impressive Western-style food thrown in for good measure, travellers will never go hungry here.

As the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur is a modern and multicultural city, packed with historic monuments, steel-clad skyscrapers, lush parks, megasized shopping malls, bustling street markets and lively nightspots.

Essential parts of the vibrant mix are the colourfully adorned mosques and temples of the country’s Malay, Chinese and Indian communities. Ancient cultures and traditions blend with modern and contemporary cultures, which is particularly reflected in the arts scene. 

The favourite pastimes of locals are shopping and eating, especially in the capital. Large shopping centres can be found next to smaller street markets selling locally made souvenirs.