Malaysia is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries to visit in South-East Asia. Dense jungles, soaring peaks and lush tropical rainforests harbour an abundant flora and fauna. Tropical island resorts and endless white, sandy beaches offer a taste of paradise.

Malacca is the ancient heart of the Malay culture. Superficially, Kuala Lumpur may appear to be a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the character and local colour which has been so effectively wiped out in cities such as Singapore.

Taman Negara National Park, accessible only by boat, offers a rare opportunity to visit one of the most pristine primary rainforests in the world.

The Cameron Highlands, in the centre of Peninsular Malaysia, comprise a series of hill stations at altitudes between 1500 and 1800m. This fertile area offers jungle walks, waterfalls, tours of tea plantations, beautiful gardens and plenty of wild flowers.

Penang's outstanding beaches and exotic sights have made it one of the most popular destinations in the region. The island is linked to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, which at 13.5 km long is the longest bridge in Asia.

If you're travelling on a budget, you can get by in Peninsular Malaysia on about US$20-25 a day. This involves staying in cheaper Chinese hotels, eating in local restaurants or street stalls and travelling mainly by bus. If you want to stay in comfortable hotels with private bathrooms, eat out at mid-range restaurants and catch taxis to get about locally, expect to spend around US$65 a day.

If you have a credit card with a personal identification number (PIN) attached, you can obtain cash advances from ATMs.

Tentative plan (18 days): [bus from Singapore] Malacca (3 days) -bus- Kuala Lumpur (9 days), including visits to Taman Negara National Park and Cameron Highlands -bus- Penang (6 days) [bus and boat to Ko Samui in Thailand]