Malaysia Collection: Kuala Lumpur and the Perhentian Islands

We land in Kuala Lumpur and settle into the city center—four nights in the same spot, nice and easy. KL is one of those cities you just can't pin down: you’ll find a mosque, a Hindu temple, and a mall with arctic-level air conditioning all at the same intersection. And looming over it all? The Petronas Towers, popping up everywhere you look. For our first night, we’re hitting the streets—because that’s where the real magic happens. Think freshly grilled satay, nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves, and roti canai pulled by hand right in front of you. We’ll wash it down with some teh tarik, that frothy milk tea they pour back and forth between glasses like pros. Selamat datang!

The Petronas Towers held the title of the world's tallest buildings for six years, and yes, you can go up! Take the elevator to the skybridge on the 41st floor and then up to the 86th—the city looks like a miniature model from up there. In the afternoon, we’ll take a walk through Merdeka Square, where the British flag was lowered in 1957, and explore Chinatown and the Petaling Street market. In the evening, we’re heading to where KL really shines: Jalan Alor, the ultimate food street. Picture 200 meters of stalls, smoky grills, and tables set right in the middle of the street. Give the durian a try, if you’ve got the guts!

Just half an hour north of KL, you'll find a limestone hill with a massive cave inside, home to a Hindu temple. To reach it, you'll climb 272 colorful steps, guarded by a 43-meter golden statue of Murugan and an army of macaques ready to steal anything not nailed down. At the top, the cave opens up and light streams in in beams: this is a place of real worship, so we'll enter barefoot and in silence. We'll head back in the afternoon, and the rest of the evening is yours.

Day trip to Malacca, just two hours south. It’s the city that perfectly sums up Malaysia: Portuguese in the 16th century, then the Dutch, then the British. And in the mix? Chinese traders who settled down, married local Malays, and birthed the unique Peranakan culture. The result is a brick-red Dutch square, the ruins of a Portuguese fortress, a Chinese temple dating back to 1646, and streets lined with colorful, tiled shophouses. Lunch is a bowl of Nyonya laksa, followed by a boat ride along the river. Then, it's back to KL for our final night in the city.

A travel day, but one of those that are totally worth it. We’ve got a one-hour domestic flight to Kota Bharu, followed by a transfer to Kuala Besut port and a 30-minute speedboat ride that’ll have you bouncing over the waves. The Perhentians appear out of nowhere: two granite islands draped in jungle, pristine white sand, and water in three different shades of turquoise, depending on the depth. No roads, no cars—once you step off the boat, you can ditch your shoes for the next six days. Accommodation at the beach resort and straight in for your first swim.

The Perhentian Islands are one of the easiest places in the world to swim alongside a green turtle, and today we’re going on the hunt. We’ll head out by boat with masks, snorkels, and fins included, guided by someone who knows exactly where to find them: the seagrass meadows where they feed, the corals where parrotfish hang out, and the schools of sardines. If you're lucky, a blacktip reef shark might cruise by—they're shy, so they're more scared of you than you are of them. Enjoy a free afternoon on the beach, and in the evening, we’ll experience the bioluminescent plankton: we’ll jump into the water in the dark and watch it light up.

Boat day hopping between the two Perhentians, the Big and the Small. We’ll be stopping at all the bays worth seeing: Turtle Beach, where the turtles come to nest; Romantic Beach, accessible only by sea; and the best snorkeling spots on the sheltered side. And the evening? That’s our WOW experience: a fish barbecue right on the beach. Picture a long table set on the sand, fresh fish and squid straight off the grill, and lanterns hanging from the palm trees. We’ll be eating with our feet in the sand and the stars above.

Today is totally free, and that's the plan. The resort has kayaks, so feel free to paddle around the bay—the water is so crystal clear you’ll see the bottom the whole time. If you're up for a walk, take the jungle trail that cuts across the island; you'll reach Long Beach in about 20 minutes, surrounded by bird calls and the occasional lizard scurrying away. And if you’ve opted for a hammock, a book, and a mango smoothie today, you’ve chosen well: on a Collection trip, free time is an inclusion, not just a gap in the schedule.

Wake up before the sun—just once on the whole trip. We head out by boat while the sky is still purple, making our way to a sandbank that emerges at low tide right in the middle of the sea, just a few hundred meters from the coast: a white strip surrounded by shallow water, with absolutely nothing else around. We’ll have breakfast right there, coffee from a thermos and fresh fruit in hand, watching the sun rise. We'll be back by mid-morning, leaving the rest of the day completely free. Trust us, it’s worth every minute of lost sleep.

It's our last full day on the island, and everyone's free to do their own thing: some might head out for one last snorkeling session, others might try their first scuba dive—the diving centers here are legit and the water is super calm—or maybe just stay glued to the beach. In the late afternoon, we'll all meet up at the beach bar to catch the sunset—on the west side of the island, it drops straight into the sea. Time for our final group dinner at the resort, and tomorrow we're back on the boat.

Speedboat back to the mainland, transfer to Kota Bharu airport, and a domestic flight to Kuala Lumpur to catch your flight home. Eleven days, two worlds: a capital that never sleeps and smells like satay, and six days on an island with no roads where we swam alongside turtles. Jumpa lagi — see you soon!