Malaysia Holidays

Malaysia is split into two parts, separated by the South China Sea. East Malaysia is a blanket of untouched rainforests and mountains covering the northern reaches of Borneo. In the west, you’ll find the Peninsular Malaysia, where the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur sit shoulder-to-shoulder with vast national parks and jungle-like terrain.

Borneo’s setting on the equator and its rich rainforests make it a haven for the animal kingdom’s elite. It’s one of only two places on the planet home to 10 types of primate – including orangutans, big-nosed proboscis monkeys and Bornean gibbons. A cruise along the Kinabatangan River is one of the most popular ways to try to spot them, along with pygmy elephants and golden-faced sun bears.

Borneo doesn’t stop there when it comes to note-worthy natural assets. Keen walkers go wild for Mount Kinabalu, which is the highest peak in South Asia. Elsewhere on the island, you can soak in hot springs and delve into eerie caves. Kota Kinabalu, meanwhile, is a top choice if city sights are on your agenda. Here, shiny shopping malls sit alongside sizzling street food markets and Buddhist temples.

A five-hour flight west from Sandakan in Borneo lands you on Langkawi – one of 99 limestone islands of the same name. Paper-white beaches gild the coast, while the island’s core is carpeted in pea-green jungle. Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and colourful parrots, then splash the cash in places like Cenang where most of the shops are duty free.