Borneo

For a lot of travellers to Malaysia, Mt Kinabalu is the whole reason they visit: to get up at 2am, drink several cups of strong coffee, and watch the sun rise over Low’s Peak.

“My daughter loved the adventure of sleeping in the forest and, as it was a device-free zone, we could talk about the environment and what would happen to the wildlife if we cut down all the trees.”

From the weird and wonderful to the religious or spiritual, there’s one thing these festivals have in common: they’re all worthy of your time.

So you want to visit Malaysia? Nice choice. It’s a beautiful country. But being equatorial, it does get a little steamy from time to time.

Borneo’s got incredible wildlife, epic hikes and some of the world’s most wild jungles.

From buzzing cities to beautiful beaches, an incredible cuisine and verdant countryside, Malaysia has even more to offer – in my opinion – than its neighbours.

Malaysia is home to several standout experiences, but these seven will stay with you long after you savour your last nasi lemak.

While travel has changed (read: no more late nights on rooftop bars), it has changed in a way that is still rewarding and special.

Think back on your most treasured musical memories, your favourite festival moments. Then imagine they took place in a literal rainforest in Borneo…