So many travellers breeze in and out of KL without getting to know what makes this city tick, but not you! Dive straight into its beating heart with a walking tour around the local market, then sample sweet-and-sour curry laksa at one of its coffee shops. We bet you didn’t know that KL had its own rainforest — that’s your next stop, as you walk for 200 metres through tropical treetops, surrounded by the buzz of insects and the hoots of monkeys. After that, get even higher as you zip to the top of the Petronas Towers for incomparable views over the capital. Thought you knew what to expect from KL? This visit will make you think again.

Banding Island (an artificial island on Lake Temenggor) was created by a dam in 1972 and now stretches its spidery tendrils into the Belum-Temenggor Rainforest. This primeval forest is the area’s main attraction, and Banding Island is the ideal spot from which to begin exploring. The forest has survived untouched for 130 million years, and is home to sun bears, tigers, tapirs, elephants and the largest flower in the world – the Rafflesia. There are over 3,000 different types of flowering plants, and naturalists suspect that the forest’s 300,000 hectares harbour many more species that you'll set out to discover during your stay.

Penang is an island of two distinct faces, and you’ll discover both over the next two days. First, explore the World Heritage centre of George Town, then checking out the contemporary scene on a trishaw street-art tour. After you’ve soaked up city life, it’s time to experience the rural side of the island with a visit to The Habitat. Overlooking Penang, it aims to preserve natural beauty through environmental education. You’ll soon find out that those who stick to George Town miss half the fun.

After ten days of action and adventure, we couldn’t let you leave without a bit of beach-bound downtime. Not many people realise that Malaysia has some of the most beautiful islands in Asia, and the Perhentians are as jewel-like as they come. Spend your time here chilling out on the sand and splashing in the waves (the snorkelling is incomparable — like Finding Nemo come to life), or go trekking into the jungle interior in search of monitor lizards and monkeys. Arachnophobes beware, there are some pretty chunky spiders round these parts! At dusk, toast the end of an incredible trip with a cocktail (or mocktail) in hand, as the sun goes down over the Gulf of Thailand.