Discover the beauty of Malaysia

At any time of the day, there’s always something happening around Malaysia. Places to explore, food to feast on, shopping to indulge in, or festivals to celebrate – it’s a non-stop adventure for everyone.

Putra Mosque

The pink-domed Putra Mosque is constructed with rose-tinted granite and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers at any one time. The basement wall of the mosque resembles that of the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

The mosque consists of three main functional areas - the prayer hall, the Sahn, or courtyard, and various learning facilities and function rooms. The prayer hall is simple and elegant, supported by 12 columns. The highest point below the dome is 250 feet above ground level.

The Sahn, landscaped with several decorative water features and bordered by colonnades, provides a huge yet welcoming and beautiful prayer space.

Its impressive minaret is influenced by the design of the Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad. At 116m, it is one of the tallest minarets in the region and has five tiers, representing the Five Pillars of Islam

Selecting Malaysia’s Best Beaches

Malaysia has a vastly varied shoreline, from the palm shaded nature-rich islands of Sabah and Sarawak off Borneo, to the vibrant and stylish coastal resort towns facing the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca on its Peninsula.

To make the search for your ideal Malaysian beach destination simple and easy, we have carefully researched and reviewed the best of the best beaches across every federal state of Malaysia, beach by beach. Here, 15 beaches are reviewed in detail according to sound criteria and thorough inspections and surveys.

But these destination winners will only whet your appetite to visit more Malaysian beaches, to experience the extraordinary diversity of cultures, coastline, and foods Malaysia is famous for. Malaysia’s renowned fresh seafood is best enjoyed fresh from the markets at any one of hundreds of beachside restaurants, picnic spots or resorts.

The varied locations of this final winning showcase of the Best Beaches of Malaysia offer everything from eco-nature exploring, world-renowned diving and snorkelling, hassle-free relaxing and beach and resort pool swimming, to water sports and simply the opportunity to slow down and make the best of your holiday. You could find yourself mesmerised by the enormity of the universe under a star-filled night sky as a fire crackles away on a deserted beach, or luxuriating poolside with a cocktail, or fine dining at a world-class resort of pure indulgence.

Gunung Mulu National Park

Mulu Caves National Park is home to one of the longest networks of caves in the world. Here lies the worlds largest underground chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, capable of accommodating forty Boeing 747 airplanes.

In Mulu, you will also find one of the worlds biggest cave passage, Deer Cave, which can fit five cathedrals the size of Saint Pauls in London. Another key attraction is Clear Water Cave, the longest cave in Southeast Asia. The massive caves here are home to millions of bats and cave swift-lets that swarm out into the jungle in great clouds every evening at dusk!

The outdoorsy type will be pleasantly surprised by some of the best examples of tropical limestone weathering in the world, including enormous razor-sharp pinnacles, deep-cut canyons, appropriately named The Pinnacles. There are tough but rewarding multi-day hikes available from the resort. A guide and porter are recommended.

Kenyir Lake

Tasik Kenyir is the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia, spanning 260,000 hectares. It is also Malaysia's largest rock filled hydroelectric dam. When the area was flooded, most of the hills were above the water level, thus creating about 340 man-made islands.

The rainforest that cradles the area furnishes the lake with an incredible assortment of flora and fauna. These include rare ferns, exotic orchids, hornbills, elephants, and panthers. It is also home to more than 8,000 species of flowers, 2,500 species of plants and trees, 800 species of orchids, and 300 species of fungus. It is a popular retreat for nature lovers as it is surrounded by lush tropical rain-forest.

It is also an anglers haven as the lake is home to hundreds of species of freshwater fish like Baung, Toman, Kelisa, Lampam and Kelah. Surounded by a vast tropical jungle, the lake area is a popular spot for angling, boating, canoeing, jungle- trekking, 4WD driving and golfing.

Accommodation varies from a 3 star resort, chalets on the islands, floating resort or houseboats where rooms and meals are provided. The houseboat travels to waterfalls and fishing sites providing an exhilarating adventure for nature lovers. Tasik Kenyir is also a gateway to Taman Negara through Tanjung Mentong.

Siti Khadijah Market

A good way to get to know a Malaysian town is to visit its markets, the economic centre of the community. The Siti Khadijah Market is named after Prophet Muhammad's entrepreneurial wife – a fitting name for a market mostly run by women.

This market has something for everyone, from fresh produce to traditional crafts and cakes. It is also a slice of life in Kelantan, abuzz with colour, scents and sounds of the local community.

Cameron Highlands

There are many things to see and do in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia's largest highland resort. Walks through lovely little villages, visits to the butterfly, strawberry, honey bee farms and sprawling tea plantations or meals at the delightful Tudor-styled country inns, are all pleasurable and relaxing activities to be experienced here. You can't beat the weather up here. A few days out of the sweltering lowland heat will surely recharge your batteries.

One other popular activity in Cameron Highlands, actually more of a tradition, is to have tea and scones. This very English tradition dates back to the days when English colonial officers used this hilly location as a cool getaway from the heat of the lowlands. Bird-watching and trekking are also popular activities here.

Situated 1,500 metres above sea level, Cameron Highlands comprises a series of little townships that include Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. What's more, it's easy to get to. Cameron Highlands lies less than an hour off the main North-South Highway, and is a pleasant, easy 3.5-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Stadthuys

Built in 1650 as the official residence of the Dutch Governor and his officers, The Stadthuys is a fine example of Dutch architecture of that period. It is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East.

An outstanding example of colonial Dutch architecture, this edifice now houses the History Museum and Ethnography Museum.

On display are traditional bridal costumes and relics from Melaka's over 400-year history. Both museums are well-laid out and offer detailed explanations of how these costumes and relics played their part in Melaka's glorious past.