Unforgettable Malaysia: From Vibrant Kuala Lumpur to the Tranquil Perhentian Islands 

We flew with Etihad from Brussels to Kuala Lumpur, with a smooth stop over in Abu Dabi. 

Our adventure began in Kuala Lumpur,  where we stayed for two nights at the Marriot. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant metropolis with bustling markets and luxury malls.  The hop on hop off but made it easy to explore my son absolutely loved the Upside down house. We had a blast taking quirky photos in all sorts of hilarious poses. 

Next, we flew with Air Asia to Mulu National Park – but be prepared! Delays are pretty common, so it's wise to allow plenty of extra time. Once there, we stayed at the Rainforest Lodge, and I can't recommend it enough! Located right at the heart of the park, all the walks (both guided and self-guided) are just steps away, and the restaurant serves delicious meals at great prices. We were lucky enough to witness the incredible sight of thousands of bats leaving the caves – a truly unforgettable spectacle and we loved the walk through the Dear and Clearwater Cave. Please book before hand! You can find all information on the site. 

Next stop: Bako National Park, where we stayed in Kuching (the closest base to Bako Jetty) but also booked a stay right in the park itself – and trust me, you have to do this! The rooms are basic, but they're clean, and booking well in advance (10months) is a must since there are only a few rooms available. The boat ride from Bako Jetty to the park is chaotic, slow, and crowded – you'll need to team up with others to split the cost. I didn't expect how many people flock to the park during the day, but the real magic happens after 5 PM, when the last boat leaves and you're among the lucky few who get to stay. Within minutes of the boats leaving, monkeys started descending from the trees and putting on a show right in front of us – and then, the cherry on top: several proboscis monkeys strolled by at their own pace. It was an unforgettable experience and totally worth it. As Semenggoh is a great rehabilitation center for Orangutans at about 30 minutes from Kuching, we took our changes and went there (using Grab as usual). You know obviously there are no guarantees but man, we were not disappointed. Ok truth be told, the guards lure the Orangutan with bananas but it was wonderful to see them so close and you know they are fighting the good fight here.

From there, we embarked on an (loooong) journey to reach Perhentian, All costs were included in the rate provided by Tuna Bay resort. The journey involves a flight to Kota Bharu, a long taxi ride to Kuala Besut where the speedboat leaves to the Perhentians (packed with people, luggage and supplies). We stayed at Tuna Bay Resort, the perfect place to end this adventure – but be prepared, it's quite remote and pretty basic. The highlight? Staying in a beach hut where your toes are in the sand as soon as you step outside, and you're barefoot for the whole stay, only putting shoes back on when it's time to onboard the boat back in Kota Bahru. We went on two complimentary snorkling trips that were nothing short of world-class – we saw multiple sea turtles, and the underwater world here is absolutely stunning! I've snorkeled in many places, but this is hands down my number one. The only downside? You'll need to catch the boat back a day early to ensure you're in Kuala Lumpur for your international flight, since national flights can be unreliable, and the boat only runs a few times a day

The locals are so friendly and polite! I loved Malaysia and would recommend it to everybody! As a rep: Malaysia has it all. From the vibrant Kuala Lumpur, over the amazing National Parks to the tranquility of Perhentian's beach huts, it's a journey filled with incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes.