Things to do in

Malaysia

The Kilim river system on Langkawi's north-east coast runs through 550-million-year-old limestone karst formations, and a boat safari here is the island's best nature outing after the beaches. Fibreglass speedboats leave from Kilim jetty or Tanjung Rhu and weave through narrow mangrove channels where the guide cuts the engine to point out brahminy kites, white-bellied sea eagles, mudskippers, monitor lizards and long-tailed macaques on the exposed roots.

Standard tours cover the Bat Cave (a limestone cavern with fruit bats roosting overhead), the Hole in the Wall floating fish farm where you can hand-feed archer fish and see horseshoe crabs and baby sharks in pens, and a stop at Tanjung Rhu beach or the Crocodile Cave. Eagle feeding is offered by some operators, though responsible ones have stopped it and simply drift while eagles circle naturally.

UNESCO listed Langkawi as a Global Geopark in 2007, and the guides explain the geology in simple terms, which makes this good for families with school-going children. Boats are open-sided with a canopy, so you get breeze the whole way. Indian travellers combining Langkawi with Kuala Lumpur usually slot this on the day after island hopping, keeping the cable car for a separate morning.

Resorts World Cruises operates the Genting Dream out of Port Klang, about 90 minutes from Kuala Lumpur, on short sailings that Indian families increasingly add to a Malaysia itinerary. Typical routes are two-night weekend sailings to Penang or Phuket and three-night trips to Penang and Langkawi, with high seas sailings when port calls are limited.

The ship carries around 3,300 guests and feels like a floating resort: multiple pools and waterslides, a rock climbing wall, zip line, mini golf, a bowling alley, a spa, and evening theatre shows at the Zodiac Theatre. Food is the big draw, with buffet restaurants, Chinese and Malay outlets, and speciality dining that is charged extra. Cabins range from inside rooms to balcony staterooms and the Palace suites, which come with a private pool deck and butler service.

Indian travellers should note that vegetarian and Jain meals are available if requested at booking, and several sailings are chartered by Indian operators with Indian chefs and Bollywood entertainment on board. Drinks packages, casino and shore excursions are all separate costs. Port Klang embarkation usually opens in the early afternoon, so a morning transfer from KL works comfortably.

At 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest peak in Malaysia and one of the most accessible high-altitude climbs in Southeast Asia. No technical mountaineering is needed, but it is a genuinely hard two-day trek with fixed ropes near the top, and permits are strictly limited each day, so bookings are made months in advance through Sabah Parks approved operators.

The standard route starts at Timpohon Gate (1,866 m) and climbs about 6 km through mossy montane forest to Laban Rata or Panalaban rest house at around 3,270 m, where you sleep in dormitory or shared rooms and eat a buffet dinner. Wake-up is around 2 am for the summit push over granite slabs, holding on to ropes in the dark, timed to reach Low's Peak for sunrise above the cloud line. The descent back to the gate takes most of the same day.

Temperatures at Panalaban drop to 5-10°C and the summit can be near freezing with wind. A licensed mountain guide is compulsory. For Indian travellers, this pairs naturally with Kota Kinabalu city and a rest day afterwards, because your legs will be sore for two days. Fitness matters more than experience here.

The Perhentian Islands off Terengganu on Malaysia's east coast have the clearest water in the country and no cars, no big resorts on Kecil, and no nightlife beyond beach barbecues. Boats leave from Kuala Besut jetty and take about 30-40 minutes. Perhentian Besar suits families and couples with mid-range resorts, while Perhentian Kecil's Long Beach is the budget and backpacker side.

Snorkelling here is the main activity. Half-day and full-day boat trips cover Shark Point for reef sharks, Turtle Point where green turtles graze on seagrass, the Light House reef, Romantic Beach, and a fish feeding stop. Visibility is regularly 10-20 metres and you often see clownfish, parrotfish, bumphead wrasse and occasionally black-tip reef sharks in shallow water. Scuba diving and open water certification courses are also cheap here compared with the Andamans or Maldives.

The critical point for planning: the islands effectively shut from early November to late February because of the north-east monsoon, when boats stop running and resorts close. The season runs March to October, with the calmest seas from April to August. Bring cash, since ATMs are limited and card payments are unreliable on the islands.

Sipadan off Sabah's south-east coast is regularly listed among the best dive sites in the world, and for divers this is the single biggest reason to visit Malaysia. The island is the tip of an extinct volcanic seamount rising 600 metres from the seabed, so walls drop away just metres from shore. Sightings on a typical day include green and hawksbill turtles in large numbers, schooling barracuda and bigeye jacks at Barracuda Point, whitetip and grey reef sharks, and bumphead parrotfish.

Only 176 diving permits are issued per day by Sabah Parks, allocated to licensed operators, so you must book through a resort or dive centre well ahead. Most divers stay at Mabul or Kapalai, 15-25 minutes away by boat, and get one Sipadan day within a three or four night package. Mabul itself is a world-class muck diving site for frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and blue-ringed octopus.

Access is by flight to Tawau, then about a 90-minute road transfer to Semporna and a boat out. Certification is required for Sipadan, with some sites recommended for Advanced Open Water. Non-divers can snorkel at Mabul and Kapalai instead. Water stays around 28-30°C through the year.