One of the most pleasant, and laid back countries in South East Asia, Malaysia contains both deserted tropical paradises, alongside modern cities such as Kuala Lumpur. The country is made up of a mixture of Malays, Indians, Chinese and other ethnic groups, who govern the country in relative harmony. The country is divided into 2 areas, with peninsular Malaysia bordering Thailand to the North, and Singapore to the South, and Malaysian Borneo, occupying the northern side of the island of Borneo, alongside Indonesia and Brunei. The climate and geography of Malaysia is similar on both of the two area’s, with mountainous tropical rainforest bordering sandy beaches, and coral reef.

Though it may initially appear to be a small country, Malaysia contains a large amount of land within its two areas. To explore the many beauty spots of this country could take up a great deal of time. For this reason as well as the low cost of flights to Malaysia, the inconsistent transport infrastructure, and the low cost, the country is popular with backpackers, who have plenty of time to explore the country at their own leisure. But what if you don’t have that luxury. Most people’s holidays are restricted to between 1 and 3 weeks, so how do you choose what to do. Guidebooks to Malaysia contain masses of information, but are mainly directed at those who have at least a month. Flights to Malaysia take approximately 24 hours, and if you are restricted by time, you don’t want to be spending many extra 24 hour bus journeys. Once you’ve arrived, transport in Malaysia is fairly simple. On peninsular Malaysia, the transport system is developed, and buses and trains are regular and cheap. Malaysian Borneo is a completely different story though. Getting there is only possible by flight. Many of the roads there are winding mountainside gravel tracks, and the only quick way to travel is by flying or on fast river boats. If you are planning on exploring Malaysian Borneo, and have a strict time limit, it is imperative to plan well, and it would be advisable to choose one or two destinations, and have all transport pre-arranged.

It is entirely possible to plan a holiday in Malaysia without setting foot on Malaysian Borneo, and still to experience some of the best things about the country. Should you choose to stay on the mainland, you will have much more time to spare, and with the better transport facilities, will not have to plan so well, and can improvise your holiday slightly. Most people will experience the modern city of Kualar Lumpur, directly after their flight to Malaysia, but it is worth spending some time to explore the many attractions of this city. If you don’t get on with the beaches, visit the Cameron Highlands, the old tea plantations, and now a perfect place to relax and do not very much in this cooler, beautiful colonial area. Head to the Batu Caves, just north of Kuala Lumpur, for a geological experience, with these massive caves now with a Hindu temple inside them. Off the East coast of peninsular Malaysia is the island of Penang, once the Pearl of the Orient, and now Malaysia’s most well known tourist destination. Penang, contains many beaches as well as the lively colonial capital Georgetown. If you fancy a splurge, spend some time on the islands of Langkawi. Here, there are numerous luxurious resorts amid the tropical forest and beaches. It is possible to scuba dive, snorkel, and hike in the mountains.

If you are looking for a more remote destination, then head for Malaysian Borneo. The Malaysian section of the island, though difficult to navigate as it is mainly mountainous forest internally, contains some of the most enchanting spots of natural beauty in the region. It is split into two halfs, Sarawak on the West and Sabah on the East. The further East you travel, the more remote it becomes. Sarawak contains a great deal of area’s of natural beauty such as Kubah National Park, as well as the capital city of Kuching, and tourists mainly head there for eco-tourism such as forest and river tours, where you can stay in traditional longhouses. Highlights include Bako, where you can get very close to the monkeys, . Further east is Sabah, whose main attraction is eco-tourism. Sabah is renowned worldwide for being the home of the ‘old man of the jungle’, the Orang-utan, and there are numerous tours available into the forest, where you can stay in traditional long houses. Sabah contains many national parks including Mount Kinabalu – a world heritage site, thanks to the varied vegetation. In addition, Sipadan, a small island off the North East coast is one of the world’s best dive destinations, with coral reef, and it is possible to dive with many types of turtles and large fish such as barracuda and sharks. Many scuba fanatics head here as the focus of their holiday.

So, there are a number of different ways you can spend your short break to Malaysia. If you are after an eco-holiday, head to Sabah or Sarawak, and plan where to go before. Keen scuba divers have a number of possible destinations, with the highlight of Sipadan for the real enthusiasts. If however, you are looking for a less planned holiday, stick to peninsular Malaysia, where there is an attraction for everyone without having to travel so far.