Today you fly to Kuala Lumpur.

In Kuala Lumpur your guide welcomes you, and together you drive to the historic coastal town of Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and one of Malaysia’s oldest cities. Malay, Portuguese, Dutch, British and Chinese influences shape its cultural heritage. Depending on your arrival time there is time to settle in. In the evening you get to know your fellow travellers at the first dinner together. 2 nights in Malacca. (D) (Distance: approx. 130 km; driving time: approx. 2 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Hotel Puri Melaka is located on Jonker Street in the lively historic centre. Its Straits Chinese architecture combines Chinese, Malay and European influences; you can relax in the courtyard garden. The elegant rooms have TV, minibar, safe and tea and coffee facilities; Wi-Fi is free.

With your guide you explore the old town on foot: from Dutch Square with its red colonial buildings to St Paul’s Hill and the remains of the Portuguese fortress A Famosa, through Jonker Street and Heeren Street. You also visit Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. In the afternoon you visit Kampung Morten, one of the few remaining traditional Malay villages right in the city, and see a typical house. The evening is yours – your guide will happily share a few insider tips. (B)

After breakfast you drive to Kuala Lumpur airport and fly in just under 3 hours to Sandakan on Borneo. The town in the state of Sabah on the north-east coast was once an important trading centre, which is still reflected in its townscape and cultural diversity. In the afternoon a walk gives you an overview of Sandakan and its history. You end the day with dinner at the hotel. 1 night in Sandakan. (B/D) (Distance to the airport: approx. 130 km; driving time: approx. 2 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Ormond Sandakan is located in the heart of Sandakan by the harbour, near Sandakan Harbour Mall and many restaurants. It has a restaurant, a bar, a fitness area and an outdoor pool overlooking the coast. The modern rooms with large windows have air conditioning, TV, free Wi-Fi and bathroom with hairdryer.

In Sepilok you visit one of the world’s best-known orangutan rehabilitation centres, where orphaned or injured animals are prepared for life in the wild. With luck you see a feeding, and your guide tells you about the conservation of these endangered great apes. Right next door, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is home to the world’s smallest bears. After lunch at a lodge you drive to the Kinabatangan, one of Borneo’s most species-rich regions with rainforest, swamps and mangroves. In the afternoon you set off on your first river safari, looking out for animals and birds from the boat – binoculars are worthwhile. In the evening you have dinner together at the lodge. 2 nights on the Kinabatangan. (B/L/D) (Distance: approx. 180 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast On the Kinabatangan you stay in a riverside lodge.

Very early on a river safari you experience the rainforest waking up. You look out for proboscis monkeys, found only on Borneo, and with luck for wild orangutans or Bornean pygmy elephants (wildlife sightings depend on nature). After breakfast and free time you meet for lunch at the lodge. In the late afternoon you head out on the water once more before ending the evening with dinner together. (B/L/D)

You drive to Sandakan airport and fly back to Kuala Lumpur. The rest of the day is free to discover the metropolis; your guide will gladly give you tips. In the evening you meet for a drink at the hotel’s rooftop bar. 2 nights in Kuala Lumpur. (B) (Distance to the airport: approx. 150 km; driving time: approx. 3 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Capri by Fraser is located in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur’s central shopping and entertainment district. On the roof terrace there is an infinity pool with city views, plus a restaurant and a fitness centre. The modern rooms have TV, free Wi-Fi and seating area.

In the morning you visit a village of the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of the Malay Peninsula. After an introduction at a small museum, the villagers welcome you, show you their daily life, weave a traditional headdress from pandan leaves with you and tell you about former hunting techniques – as part of an accompanied programme that respects the community’s daily life. Then you climb around 270 steps to the main cave of the Batu Caves with their Hindu shrines. On a city tour you see the Petronas Twin Towers from outside, visit Chinatown with its markets and temples, Merdeka Square and the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers where the city began. Along the way you can try street food. To finish, you enjoy a 360-degree view of the skyline from the 421-metre Kuala Lumpur Tower. (B) (Distance: approx. 70 km; driving time: approx. 2 hrs)

After breakfast you drive to the Cameron Highlands, where green hills and tea plantations lie at around 1,500 m; tea growing dates back to British colonial times. For the narrow, winding roads you switch to smaller vehicles. On a tea plantation a local guide explains how tea is grown and processed. Then you hike through the jungle to Parit Falls (approx. 3.6 km, approx. 1 hr). To round off the day you enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with scones, strawberry jam and tea from the highlands in an English-style colonial guesthouse. The evening is yours. 1 night in the Cameron Highlands. (B/S) (Distance: approx. 200 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Oakwood Cameron Highlands is located near Tanah Rata, surrounded by green countryside. It has a restaurant, a bar, a fitness area and a roof terrace with panoramic views. The modern rooms have a fan, TV, minibar, free Wi-Fi and bathroom with hairdryer.

On the way north you stop in Ipoh at Perak Tong cave temple, one of the region’s most important Buddhist sites, set in a limestone cave. In the afternoon you reach the island of Penang, known for its cultural diversity. After some free time you explore nearby street food stalls with your guide in the evening and try whatever you fancy. 2 nights in Penang. (B) (Distance: approx. 250 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Citadines Connect Bertam Georgetown is centrally located in George Town; many sights, museums and restaurants are within walking distance. It has a rooftop pool with city views, a restaurant, a gym and free Wi-Fi.

Today you discover George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. On a walk through the old town you visit Chinese temples as well as the Peranakan Mansion and the Blue Mansion, which tell the story of the Chinese-Malay community. You stroll through Chinatown and Little India and discover Penang’s famous street art. In the evening you try the food stalls and small restaurants on your own – perhaps with some of the specialities from the evening before. (B) (Distance: approx. 40 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr)

At the airport you say goodbye to your guide and fly in about an hour to the island of Langkawi. The rest of the day is yours – to arrive, relax on the beach and look back on the past weeks. 2 nights on Langkawi. (B) (Distance: approx. 11 km; driving time: approx. 20 min)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Danna Langkawi lies on the island’s west coast at Pantai Kok, right on the beach, between tropical vegetation, mountains and Telaga Harbour marina. It has three restaurants, a lounge, a wellness area, a fitness centre and a large infinity pool; the spacious rooms combine colonial-Mediterranean charm with modern comfort.

Enjoy the tropical island with its long sandy beaches, dense rainforest and offshore islands as you like. Optionally you can book excursions locally, such as a boat trip through the mangroves of the Kilim River. (B)

After breakfast you are taken to Langkawi airport and start your journey home via Kuala Lumpur. (B) (Distance: approx. 20–30 km; driving time: approx. 30 min)

Full of memories, you land back home today.