Welcome to Penang: an island chock full of markets and hawker stalls. We’re taking you straight into the action – hop on board a beca (the local name for trishaw) with your guide and head for the Red Garden Food Paradise night market. On day two, encounter layers of history and flashes of modernity in the form of World Heritage-listed architectural wonders, traditional craft workshops and contemporary street art on a guided city walking tour. Finish on the city’s spiritual side as you get to grips with the local practice of ancestor worship at the imposing Khoo Kongsi temple, and then down the ‘Street of Harmony’ into Little India. You’ll leave with a taste of all Penang has to offer.

Moving inland, it’s on to Kuala Kangsar and then the SukaSuka Lake Retreat homestay, set at the edge of Lake Chenderoh, with its backdrop of forested mountains. We’re whisking you, first by boat and then on foot, to a traditional Malaysian village deep in the countryside. With a guide to act as navigator, translator and general font of local knowledge, wander between wooden stilted houses and drink Teh Tarik (tea and condensed milk, to the rest of us) with the locals. Each evening at SukaSuka, you’re free to enjoy those watery views, kayak the lake or hike to a nearby waterfall. A BBQ and traditional Malay dinner are both ample reward after days spent embracing country life.

On an island in the emerald Lake Temenggor, Belum Rainforest Resort is your base for exploring one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests. Head over to the herb garden to learn more about the aromatic plants that thrive here, then venture deeper into the forest on a guided night trek, watching out for Belum’s nocturnal inhabitants. On day six it’s onto the lake and into the wilderness in search of the world's biggest flower, spotting the local fauna from your covered boat. Your guide will take you into the farthest depths, trekking through this 130-million-year-old ecosystem to a paradisiacal multi-tiered waterfall. If Belum’s age doesn’t make you feel small, its towering flora will.

Getting you to the paradise Perhentian lslands involves a little complexity, so you'll stop in Kota Bharu for the night - your only night in Kelantan State. We’ve lined up a guided tour of a nearby village to really help you get a feel for the famous local delicacies. Try a coconut drink fresh from the tree, then snack on crispy keropok crackers – an east coast staple made from prawns or fish and served with sweet homemade sauce. Kota Bharu has a strong traditional food culture, too, and you've the whole evening to acquaint yourself with it.

It's time for one of the jewels in Malaysia's crown. Picture impossibly beautiful beaches, a jungle interior, startlingly clear waters and enough days here to explore it all. The name Perhentian means “stopping point” in Malay, though it's now up to you just how much stopping you'd like to do. Float about observing the fish, hike the forests (watch out for mischievous monkeys), drink in the sunsets and try to forget that you ever have to go home.