Malaysia / Singapore

Highlights

Trekking & Caving
With nearly 75 per cent of Malaysia covered in rainforests, reputedly the world's oldest at 130 million years, the opportunities for trekking is almost limitless. There are seven national parks and many wildlife reserves and protected areas. Many of the parks offer excellent trails for jungle-trekking, as well as mountain and waterfalls treks. Taman Negara National Park ( peninsular Malaysia ) is a popular destination. The best time to visit is between February and September ( dry season ). Expert guides can be hired from the Wildlife Department at the Taman Negara Resort at Kuala Tahan, the park's headquarters. The trek up to Gunung Tahan mountain ( 2187-m ) is a classic; here, a guide is compulsory and the trip takes several days. In Borneo East Malaysia, the most famous trekking destination is the Kinabalu National Park, located in the state of Sabah, whose centrepiece, Mount Kinabulu ( 4095-m ), is reputedly South-East Asia's highest peak. Despite its size, Kinabulu is very easy to climb. No skills are required, but a guide and a climbing permit ( which can be bought on location ) are still compulsory. The climb involves an overnight stay in one of the resthouses along the route. Due to the altitude, people with high blood pressure or heart problems should not attempt the climb. In Sarawak, the best treks are in Gunung Mulu National Park - a World Heritage Site - which is renowned amongst caving enthusiasts for its magnificent limestone caves. The recently discovered Sarawak Chamber and the 51km (32 mile)-long Clearwater Cave ( accessible by boat only ) are favourite destinations. Permits for Gunung Mulu National Park must be obtained in Miri, reached either by a short flight or a couple of 3-hour boat trips.

Scuba Diving
Malaysia has some of the most beautiful tropical isles in the region which offers some world-class diving with their diversity of marine life and corals. Water visibility is often greater than 30m. Some of Malaysia's best dive sites are at the Pulau Redang Archipelago, and Pulau Sipadan, Labuan & Layaang Layang off Sabah Borneo.