Your road trip through Malaysia’s west coast begins in Kuala Lumpur. Your guide will take you through Little India and Chinatown before reaching Kampung Baru, a village set aside by the British in 1900 for the local Malay community. It’s still lived in today, with its low-rise, tin-roofed houses and palm trees in striking contrast to the towers surrounding them. Finish at Merdeka Square, where Malaysia declared independence in 1957.

Just south of KL, you’ll head out on a day trip to Malacca, where brightly decorated rickshaws and street art sit alongside the remains of centuries of Portuguese and Dutch trading communities.

Your hire car will be delivered directly to your hotel, and you'll set off to the Cameron Highlands at your own speed. Driving yourself in Malaysia is a great way to explore, with a well-kept expressway network, clean and tidy service stations, and plenty of sights to break up each journey and stretch your legs.

Your first port of call is Cameron Highlands: Malaysia's largest hill station that offers pleasantly cool temperatures, strawberry farms and tea plantations. First mapped by William Cameron in 1885 and developed during the British colonial period, this is a great place to explore with an afternoon tea scheduled in between your hikes or gentle strolls.

Drive yourselves over to Ipoh this morning, where a guide will be waiting to show you around town. Ipoh was once the world's biggest supplier of tin, but faded into obscurity in the 1980s after the market collapsed. These days, it's seeing somewhat of a resurgence, filled with trendy cafés and modern street art pieces, alongside the colonial architecture that remains. Finish up your afternoon with an Ipoh white coffee. Beans are roasted in palm oil margarine and served with condensed milk. A deliciously sweet caffeine hit.

Just a couple of hours on the road and you’ll hit Penang. Penang's George Town packs 200 years of trade history into one UNESCO-listed old town, Malay, Chinese, Indian and British influences overlapping in its street food and street art.

Your guide will introduce you to the Five Great Clans, Chinese communities whose fortunes were built on trades including coconut oil, opium and pepper.

Each of these clans built and maintained their own clan house, or kongsi: a fiercely insular, self-governing enclave within the city, with elaborate architecture designed to showcase their wealth and power. Step inside with your guide to hear the stories behind them and understand the role the clans played in shaping George Town.

A break from driving and a short flight brings you to Langkawi, a jungle-clad beach on the Andaman Sea. A stone’s throw (well, 30 kilometers) from Thailand, it has all the same DNA as Phuket or Ko Phi-Phi, and Langkawi’s beaches come in all shapes and sizes: some with fine, silver sand that squeaks underfoot; others black with granite sediment from Mount Raya; others still others powder-soft and white.

You’ll have a car here again, so we encourage you to explore the island and beach hop as much as possible. For something a little more active, hire a kayak or take a boat trip – we can help you book these in advance (if you’re feeling organized).