Diverse doesn't begin to describe the wonders in store during this 27 day Malaysia and Indonesia tour.
National parks teeming with wildlife, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Malacca, a teeming potpourri of Asian and aboriginal culture and the Old and New World collision that is Kuala Lumpur beckons in Malaysia.
Indonesia, for its part, offers far more than just the legendary beach in Bali. This equatorial country features awe inspiring sights at every turn, whether it's an intricate Hindu temple surrounded by lush, terraced rice paddies or a laconic orangutan reaching for a tender shoot in the jungles of Borneo.
Combined, the countries form the crux of a once in a lifetime vacation that should be on any adventurous traveller's to do list.
In Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, you'll be hard pressed to miss the iconic Petronas Towers, the tallest pair in the world at 88 stories each. Particularly impressive at night, Islamic influences can be seen in each of the tower's five tiers representing the five pillars of Islam. Unparalleled shopping experiences can be found in the glittery malls or street-side in bustling Chinatown. Included in the city tour is a visit to the National Museum.
Up next, Malacca, that features a dizzying array of cultural touchstones owing to its history as a trading port and successive colonial occupations, each one leaving its mark. See the Stadhuys, a collection of red hued buildings from the 1650s that once housed the Dutch town hall.
Also in the famous town square is the Portuguese fortress of Porta de Santiago and St. Paul's Church, resting place of St Francis Xavier. Nearby, the 17th-century Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng temple has ornate decorations and multiple prayer halls. And don't forget to try some of the ubiquitous spicy food that often combines influences from disparate culinary traditions.
Our Malaysia and Indonesia tours continues on to Kuching and a visit to the nearby, living museum of Sarawak Cultural Village that depicts the heritage of the myriad ethnic groups known to the region amid a spectacular equatorial backdrop. A second day trip from Kuching saves time along the way to better understand some of the jungle produce so crucial to the local economies and culminates with a visit to a longhouse dwelling typical of the area. Finally there's a tour of Kuching proper, a city noted for the bustle of its many artisans and tradespeople practicing their craft in ways virtually unchanged since the 19th century. Other highlights here include a Taoist temple and the breathtaking Catholic Cathedral.
Onwards to Miri, the gateway to Borneo, for an overnight before driving to Niah National Park. Featuring remains of people dating back 40,00 years, and the spectacular Grand Cave with its Iron Age cave paintings, the site is among the world's most important archeological sites.
Day 8 brings you to the heavily forested Brunei and a sightseeing tour of the imposing golden-domed Jame Asr Hassani Bolkiah Mosque, ahead of an afternoon cruise to the enormous water village of Kampung Ayer. Also on the itinerary in Brunei is Istana Nurul Iman, largest, residential palace on Earth and a visit to the Royal Regalia Building.
A drive through the Crocker Range soon immerses tour participants in the abundant biodiversity of Kundasang's Mountain Garden, followed by an exhilarating rainforest canopy walk in Poring.
Your immersion in the jungle continues in Sandakan, home to the world's largest orangutan sanctuary with plenty of time allotted to familiarize yourself with these iconic, orange, forest dwellers and their care. That's followed by stay at a rainforest lodge and a cruise up the Kinabatangan River to view even more of the fauna and flora of this astonishing region including the aptly named proboscis monkey.
Following a return to the teeming waterfront markets of Sandakan, our Malaysia and Indonesia tour continues in Sumatra's largest city, Medan, with its remnants of Dutch colonialism and plethora of shops. A short city tour is followed by a boat cruise and full day at Samosir Island; an island within an island in Lake Toba formed by a super volcano some 75,000 years ago. Of note here is the distinctive animist culture of the local Batak people.
Next, it's on to Beraslagi, after crossing from the island on a narrow land bridge and with time for a stop at the impressive and picturesque (nearly 400 foot tall) Si Piso-Piso Waterfalls. On the same day visit a Karo Batak village in this highly volcanic area.
Yogyakarta, in the heart of Java at the base of a volcano, is the next destination. It's the base for visitation of Indonesia's most famous and extensive Hindu temple site Prambanan. Built in the 10th century, this UNESCO Heritage site is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia.
Three tall and pointed temples are decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana, in honour of the three great Hindu divinities and three temples are dedicated to the animals who serve them. Back in Yogyakarta sightseeing continues with The Sultan's Palace -that includes the Golden Pavilion - and the nearby Taman Sari (Water Castle) with its ruins, pools and underground passages among the highlights.
Prepare to be impressed by the next attraction, Borobudur, largest stupa-style Buddhist monument in the world. Laid out in the form of a lotus, the temple compounds with its stepped, unroofed pyramid consisting of ten terraces, crowned by a large, bell-shaped dome is a harmonious marriage of stupas, temple and mountain and a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture.
Iconic Bali (home to the majority of Indonesia's Hindu population) follows, beginning in the east coast town of Candidasa. After a visit to the native, walled village of Tenganan, its on to the ancient law courts of Klung Klung and finally Bali's most significant temple Besakih.
En route to Lovina, located on the northeastern side of the island, stops are made at the village of Penglipuran; Kintamani, with its scenic views of Mt. Batur and Lake Batur and Beji Temple, notable for its Barong architecture and stunning relief carvings.
A day is then set aside back in Lovina for exploration of nearby markets and exploration of the Buddhist monastery Brahma Arama Vihara.
After travel through the amazing rice terraces at Pupuan, it's on to the mysterious and alluring artists' village of Ubud. Ubud is known for its spiritualists and seekers. The size of the town's expat community attests to this, as do the many novels and films set here.
It's a place where traditional Balinese culture imbues every waking moment. An artist's haven, it's the best place to buy Balinese handicrafts and a fitting place to end what will surely be remembered as the holiday of a lifetime.