KUALA LUMPUR, MALACCA AND LANGKAWI

Kuala Lumpur rises against the Malaysian sky with the Petronas Towers — for years the world's tallest buildings — dominating the KLCC district at sunset when the steel glows copper and gold. Malaysia's capital is a multicultural metropolis where Malay, Chinese and Indian communities coexist, each with its own flavours and rituals. Chinatown — Petaling Street — buzzes with spices and street food; Masjid Jamek marks the historic heart at the old confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers. Batu Caves, reachable by metro, shelter limestone caves with a forty-two-metre golden statue of the god Murugan. The MRT makes it easy to move between Bukit Bintang — with its malls and fine-dining restaurants — and Lake Perdana with its botanical gardens. Nasi lemak, roti canai and grilled satay tell centuries of cultural cross-pollination. A city that surprises at every turn.

In the center of Malacca, there are preserved historical buildings that allowed it to receive a historical recognition from UNESCO in 2008. The tour will begin with a walk along Jonker Street, the main street of Chinatown, renowned for its ancient shops. From here, we will continue to Harmony Street, so called because the temples of the major religions of the region peacefully coexist here; we will then visit the ancient Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese Temple and the Kampung Kling Mosque. We will continue towards the Clock Tower Square with the Dutch-style Stadhuys (Town Hall), and then climb up the hill of San Paolo with the ruins of the church of the same name, ending the city tour at the Porta de Santiago, the only remaining trace of the last bastion of the ancient Portuguese fortress "A Famosa" destroyed by the English. The day will conclude with a charming boat excursion on the Melaka River.

Langkawi is an archipelago of ninety-nine islands off the north-western coast of Malaysia, where the jungle descends directly to the sea and white-sand beaches stretch between limestone headlands. A UNESCO Global Geopark, the main island preserves ancient geological formations, mangroves and spectacular waterfalls such as Sky Waterfall. Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah are the liveliest beaches; those seeking tranquillity head to Tanjung Rhu, with crystal-clear waters and near-pristine nature. The Sky Bridge, a curved walkway at seven hundred metres altitude, delivers spectacular views over the bay. Langkawi is a duty-free zone and kayaking through the mangroves of Kilim Karst Geoforest Park remains an unforgettable experience.