Malaysia is a unique country where ancient culture and high standards of living harmoniously coexist and complement each other. Building of modern cities doesn’t interfere with the wild nature, with its wonderfully rich flora and fauna.
Malaysia amazes with kindness of local people, with clearness of its beaches and seawaters, and perfect conditions for a quiet holiday. Mild climate and constantly good weather allows visiting Malaysia at any time of year.
Malaysian resorts are among a few places in the world, where you can fully relax and enjoy placidity of being alone (not in the crowds of the bustling cities). No prejudice and intolerance, only the sea, the sun and you.
Here is the list of the best Malaysian resorts that continue gaining popularity due to the effective combination of well-developed infrastructure, purity of the nature and, of course, a huge number of cultural and architectural attractions.
Langkawi
Nowadays, the island of Langkawi is a popular tourist and entertainment center of Malaysia with a good transport connection with mainland. There is no bridge between the island and mainland, but you can easily reach Langkawi by plane or ferry. Langkawi is a part of Malaysia, the country, which is woven from mosaic of religions, nationalities, cultures and traditions. Each region of this distinctive country has its unique features.
In case of Langkawi, it’s all about the nature. If you have arrived from overcrowded Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, you can say goodbye to the skyscrapers made of concrete and glass, since in a couple of hours you’ll find yourself in a wonderful land with pristine nature, mysterious caves, rare species of animals and birds. People in Langkawi deserve a special mention. Locals are friendly and openhearted people, who are never in a hurry.
Although, Malaysians are Muslims, you can walk here even in bikini, and no one will say a word.
The situation with the alcohol is more complicated. It’s hard to find shops selling alcoholic beverages, but on the one hand these are the good news. It’s a guarantee that no drunkard will spoil your peaceful pastime.
Since Langkawi is a popular tourist destination, it has become a real fair of cultures and traditions. Here are Muslim women in paranja walking with their husbands, noisy groups of Japanese passing by, some kids from Europe having fun on the beach.
However, you can meet a crowd of people only in the popular tourist attractions such as Oriental Village or Sky Bridge. In general, Langkawi remains the best place for secluded holiday. This resort perfectly suits those, who prefer to relax in a peaceful and comfort place away from the bustle and hustle of the big cities.
In order to reach the most secluded places of the island, it’s better to rent a car. The wider range of rental vehicles is presented at the airport, but still it’s better to reserve a car you like in advance to get a cheaper price. Nowadays you can do it even without making phone calls, just visit Langkawi car rental companies.
Pangkor
Pangkor is an island near the west coast of Malaysia. It’s located in about 200km to the north of Kuala Lumpur. Despite its small size (it has length of 12 km and width of 4km), it remains a popular destination among lovers of quiet and secluded rest.
All the beauty of visiting Pangkor lies in its fabulous nature untouched by human hands and unspoiled by crowds of tourists. Most territory of the island is occupied by thick tropical jungle with numerous small rivers. Ocean water here has a color of blue sapphire, and the coast is covered with dazzling white sand. There are many secluded coves that could be reached only by bike or on foot.
Image by Phalinn Ooi via Flickr
The most popular beaches of Pangkor are Pasir Bogak and Teluk Nipah. Pasir Bogak is the nearest beach to the main town of the island. It is considered the most crowded and noisy beach of Pangkor, but along with it, there is a wider range of various entertainments for tourists. Along Pasir Bogak beach there are many open-air food stalls, where you can taste fish, squids and other seafood. At the beach itself, you can easily arrange boat trip or try yourself in diving, snorkeling or kayaking.
Image by Ross Huggett via Flickr
Teluk Nipah is the most beautiful and clean beach of the island. It’s located in some distance from the villages, so here you’ll be able to relax in peace listening to the sound of ocean waves and gentle rustling of the jungle. You’ll be surprised, but the tiny island of Pangkor has even its own historical attractions. There is the Dutch fort built in 1670 and unusual Chinese Temple Lin Je Kong, which has a range of interesting statues of legendary heroes from Chinese folklore along with a quite large number of sculptures of Disney characters.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the city on the northwest coast of Borneo island. The city itself doesn’t have many cultural attractions, and usually it plays a role of a transit point for tourists eager to explore nature wonders of the island.
Image by Jo Schmaltz via Flickr
All interesting attractions are located in some distance from Kota Kinabalu. You can reach them on your own or to take a part in one of the numerous hiking, diving and fishing tours offered by different companies in Kota Kinabalu.
Among the companies arranging diving tours, the most popular are Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures, Sensi Borneo Diving Resort & Tours and Sabah Divers. If you are keen on deep sea fishing, then Borneo Crystal and 7 Star Fishing will help to arrange unforgettable holidays. If you want to explore exotic nature of Borneo, don’t miss a chance to visit Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Image by Andrea Schieber via Flickr
Tabin Wildlife Reserve is a home for rare animals such as Borneo pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhino and banteng bull. In addition, the reserve gives you an opportunity to watch nine rare species of primates a few species of cats and about 220 species of birds. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centregave shelter for about hundred of orangutans orphaned by poaching or forest fires.
Author Bio
Lily Berns is a travel writer. She uses every chance she gets to travel around the world with her family and friends.