A perfect mix and match of ancient cultures, traditions and modern innovations, Malaysia is truly a travellers’ delight. Famed for its buzzing cities, idyllic beaches, beautiful islands, wildlife-packed rainforests, hidden reefs, skyscrapers, minarets, and urban adventures, a trip to Malaysia is certainly an experience you can never forget. Read on to find out about the top rated travel destinations in the country.

Kuala Lumpur

Boasting colonial architectural marvels, natural wonders and gleaming skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur is a major holiday destination in the country. The capital of Malaysia, the colourful city is packed with numerous interesting engagements including interesting sightseeing, water sports and other recreational activities. Petronas Towers, Menara KL Tower, Batu Caves, Sultan Abdul

Samad Building, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park and Islamic Art Museum are among the top attractions in the city. Don’t miss a visit to the famous Chinatown and Central Market if you are looking for gifts or souvenirs. Street food like Bak Kut Teh, Chee Cheong Fun, and Clay pot Loh Shu Fun can be tried while roaming around in Kuala Lumpur.

Langkawi

Comprising of dozens of islands and several tiny islets, Langkawi is a stunning archipelago on Malaysia’s west coast. Famous for its turquoise blue ocean waters, picturesque paddy fields and powder fine sand, the island is perfect to enjoy the best of sun and sand. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Eagle Square, Underwater World Langkawi, Gunung Raya, Langkawi Wildlife Park and Bird Paradise, Palau Payar Marine Park, Langkawi Arts in Paradise 3D Museum and Taman Lagenda Langkawi are some of the popular attractions on the island.

Penang

A beautiful kaleidoscope of different cultures, customs and traditional practices, Penang is another well-known travel destination in Malaysia. Situated on the northern side of the country, the island is famous for its Chinese shophouses, exceptional art scene, ancient forts, minarets, free spirited carnivals, historic temples and other architectural wonders dating back to the early colonial years. Popular attractions on the island include Kek Lok Si, Khoo Kongsi, Penang Botanical Gardens, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Batik Painting Museum, Dhammikarama Burmese Temple and Wat Chaiyamangkalaram. While in Penang, you must enjoy dishes such as Nasi Kandar, Laksa, Char Koay Teow and Hokkien Mee.

Kota Kinabalu

A melting pot for different customs and traditions, Kota Kinabalu is a beautiful coastal city in Malaysia. Adorned with stunning beaches, tropical rainforests, broadways, bustling markets and a cosmopolitan culture, the city is home to some of the best architectural wonders and national parks. Mount Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Manukan Island, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, Atkinson Clock Tower and Menara Tun Mustapha are some of the must visit sites in the city. Prepared using traditional flavours and authentic spices, delicacies like Ikan Bakaris, Bak Kut Teh, fish noodles, and streamed prawns are quite popular in Kota Kinabalu.

Kuching

Kuching is another must visit holiday destination in Malaysia. With pleasant colonial vibe as well as an old world charm, the city is home to some of the most stunning Chinese temples, South Indian mosques, modern structures, Buddhist sites and several other interesting sites to visit. Bako National Park, Kuching Cat Museum, Sarawak State Museum, Chinese History Museum, Kuching Wetlands Chinatown, National Park and Textile Museum Sarawak are among the famous tourist attractions in the city. Narrating the story of the rich past and bygone era, villages like Sarawak Cultural Village are must visit places in Kuching. Kuching Festival, highlighting the spirit of the people, is a major event celebrated with much pomp and show in the city.

Malacca

Malacca is a beautiful quaint city located in the south of Malaysia. Known for its various cultural riches, the city is home to some stunning architectural wonders including A’Famosa Fort, Christ Church, The Stadthuys, St. Paul’s Church, Melaka Sultanate Palace and Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Make your way to the famous Malacca Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary to spot koi fish, snakes, lizards and crocodiles. Those who enjoy shopping, the vibrant night market located on Jonker Street is just the place to be. All over the city you’ll find several football stadiums and golf courses.

George Town

With a colourful influence of different cultures, George Town remains one of tourists’ favourites in Malaysia. Known for its unique styled colonial buildings and forts, the city is a great place to discover and learn about the bygone era. Apart from the ancient forts, minarets and royal complexes, temples are other impressive attractions in the region. Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, Wat Chaiyamangkalaram, Khoo Kongsi and Kek Lok Si are some of the most prominent temples in the city. George Town Festival, an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage, is a major event loved by the travellers.

With a string of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, Malaysia is a country teeming with exciting flora and fauna. Read on and find out about some of the country’s major wildlife hubs.

Taman Negara National Park

Established between 1938 and 1939, Taman Negara National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the country. Located close to Titiwangsa Mountains, the park protects several species of animals and birds including the famous Malayan tiger, crab-eating macaque, gaur, Indian elephant, Argus, red jungle fowl, and mahseer. The endangered Malayan peacock-pheasant can also be spotted here. Apart from observing the wildlife, you can enjoy numerous other outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, caving, fishing, and camping.

Endau-Rompin National Park

Nestled amidst the Tenasserim Hills, Endau-Rompin National Park is the second largest national park in Malaysia. Established in 1993 with an aim to preserve the country’s dwindling wildlife, the park boasts the largest population of threatened Northern Sumatran rhinoceros. Other animals living in the park include the white-handed gibbon, Malaysian tiger, wild boar, tapir, slow loris, deer, and long-tail macaques. Hornbills and Kingfishers can also be spotted in the park.

Turtle Islands National Park

Comprising of three small islands namely Selingaan, Little Bakkungan and Gulisaan and several tiny corals, Turtle Island National Park is a popular tourist attraction in the country. Set up in 1977 to conserve the endangered green and hawksbill turtles, the park provides its visitors an excellent opportunity to watch turtle landings, breeding and hatching. As the process of turtle landing takes places after dusk, an overnight stay in the nearby accommodation is usually recommended.

Kuching Wetlands National Park

Kuching Wetlands National Park is one of the famous parks in Malaysia. Made up of three major ecosystems – marine, coastal and freshwater, it has a large population of birds and animals including the endangered proboscis monkey, long-tailed macaques, silver langurs, mudskippers, white bellied sea eagles and horse shoe crabs.

Kinabalu Park

Located on the western coast of Sabah, Kinabalu Park is one of the earliest established national parks in the country. This popular UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to over 4,500 different species of birds, reptiles and animals including the ochraceous bulbul, philautus bunitus male, crested dragon, black and golden cicada and orb web spider. Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and Kinabalu Giant Earthworm are the two endemic reptiles found in the park. Also, Nepenthes rajah, the famous carnivore plant, is found here.

Malaysia is one of the most enchanting holiday destinations in the Fareast. The country has a vibrant atmosphere and thrives on its unrivalled amalgamation of the modern ideas and traditional ethos. As a tourist, there is a lot you can do in the country; here is just a fleeting overview of it all.

Malay Food

The Malaysian cuisine is predominated by seafood and rice. This is the staple food of the locals and there are a number of variations of the same that you can try while you are holidaying in the country. Nasi Lemak (rice dish cooked in coconut milk), Hainanese chicken rice, Wonton Mee (Cantonese noodle dish), fried chicken, fish head curry, chilli crab and black pepper crab are some of the most sought after delicacies in the country. Even for the vegetarians, there are plenty of options, such as soul food, green beans cooked in a typical style, and Chinese Celery.

Malaysian Sightseeing

When it comes to sightseeing, you are going to be spoilt for choice in Malaysia. The world famous PETRONAS towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world, is something you absolutely have to visit. The architectural wonder of the place will leave you mesmerized.

If you are inclined towards nature, you may surely want to visit places such as the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, the Gunung Mulu National Park, the Mount Kinabalu, and Taman Negara Rainforests. You will see how well the flora and fauna of the country are preserved by the people and how tranquil and peaceful these places are.

Islamic Arts Museum, Christ Church Malacca, the Putra Mosque, Penang Hill and Temple, and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple are some of the religious places you may want to visit. The architecture of these temples and mosques is certainly impressive.

Malaysian Shopping

Malaysia is a shopper’s heaven and there is no denying the fact that you can have a blast looking for anything you may want to buy. From bags to clothes, watches to shoes, and jewellery to electronic gadgets, you will find anything and everything here. Some of the best places to shop here are the Gurney Drive, the Surya KLCC, and Bukit Bintang.

There are several other things you can do here such as visit the beaches, the botanical parks, the zoo, museums and the Kuala Lumpur city centre which has a lot of fun and excitement in store for people.