Honeymooner before or newlywed couples often chose to celebrate in the Caribbean or in some grand castle in Europe but the trends have changed in so many ways. Today’s couples are more adventurous and more open minded when it comes to choosing their honeymoon destinations.

They have come to realize that there are plenty of places worth discovering aside from the usual tourist spots. Today’s couples have open minds and adventure loving spirits. Regardless if you’re an outdoor person or not there are several honeymoon spots in Malaysia that you can go to. Let me give you the top ten honeymoon destinations.

1. Pulau Tioman, Pahang – Tioman Island has spectacular landscape. It is a volcanic area which was chosen as one of the best ten desert islands by Time magazine in 1970. It has white-sand beaches, rich flora and fauna in the jungle and of course several amazing waterfalls like the Mukut Waterfall which cascades down to a granite peak. The Nenek Si Mukut and Batu Sirau mountains also are exceptional. If you want to go trekking then there are numerous trails that lead from the main area called Tekek and northward to Salang and southward to Genting.

2. Redang Island, Terengganu – If you’re an avid fan of golf then this place is for you. It is a tropical paradise complete with an 18-hole golf course. This place has been awarded the “Best Tourist Attraction” prize twice, once in 1994 and in 1995. You can see the wrecks of H.M.S. Prince of Wales as well as H.M.S. Repulse, which are both World War II ships. Couples can lie under the sun on Pasir Panjang Beach. If you want to go snorkeling then you can try the islets of Pulau Pinang and Pulau Ekor Tebu.

3. Pulau Pangkor Laut, Perak – This place is just pure paradise. If you’re into diving then go to Coral Beach. Its beautiful coral reefs will satisfy your eyes. If you are a wind surfing enthusiast then go to Royal Bay. The place also does not disappoint in architecture and design. Most facilities there have Balinese and Malay origins but all were made with the couple’s relaxation and pampering in mind as the ultimate goal. A forty minute boat ride from the town of Lumut in Perak state will take you to the island of Pangkor Laut. If you’re one of the lucky few who have more than enough money then its best that you charter a plane and then take a fifteen minute boat ride.

4. Cameron Highlands, Pahang – This is the perfect place for couples who love the outdoors and for couples who are adventurous. Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s number one hill resort. It is located between 4,900 to 5,900 meters above sea level on the Titiwangsa Range. It is complete with lots of romantic places which honeymooners can go to. You can walk through rose gardens and nurseries, eat fresh strawberries and even go bird watching. You can stay in lavishly designed Tudor cottages while admiring the beauty of nature right outside your room. Cameron Highlands is an hour’s drive away from Tapah.

5. Pulau Langkawi, Kedah – This island is a very famous place for lovers. The two most famous spots are the Dantai Bay which is located in the northwest of Langkawi as well as Tanjung Rhu also called Casuarina Bay is nestled by a promontory. Tanjung Rhu is twenty kilometers away from Danati Bay. Dantai Bay has two high priced resorts where special guests can go out of their balcony and see for themselves the crystal clear waters that lead to Thailand. Couples can walk hand in hand on Pulau Gasing and Pulsu Pasir. There are also mangrove swamps in the area where both you and your loved one can see eagles and even feed them by hand. Do not also forget to go to Kuah for your souvenirs and bargain shopping.

6. Genting Highlands, Pahang – Located on the misty Ulu Kali Mountains, the Genting Highlands greets clients with a Las Vegas/Disneyland type of entertainment. If you want to try your luck then drop by the casino and play. You can enjoy various, amazing rides on the outdoor theme park but don’t forget to save some money for shopping. After all honeymoons is the time to forget about your worries and just relax with your better half. During evening you can either go to the disco or you can watch an international stage show. You can also try horse riding at Awana Horse Ranch. Genting Highlands is only 45 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur.

7. Cherating Pahang – You will also share with your loved one the unforgettable sight of turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs from July to September. Club Mediterranee is the most popular hotel but there are many others that you can choose from. Cherating is just 30 km away from Kuantan, capital of Pahang State.

Malaysia is a country located in the Southeast region of Asia. It is a constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and has three federal territories. Malaysia is just one of the many countries in Asia which are considered primary tourist destinations and visitor havens. It borders Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

Malaysia has often been considered a connecting point for visitors who wish to travel other nations in the Southeast Asian region. It offers amazing landscape and vies as well as a culture that has been around for many years. Many people may not know this but Malaysia is actually the 11^th most visited country in the world.

Malaysia is a country blessed with a lot of tourist destinations. Some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country are Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. Malaysia also has a lot of very nice beaches like Langkawi Beach, Perhentian Islands, Pelangi Beach and Kapas Island. Malaysia is not only a place to go if you want beaches; it also has a lot to offer when it comes to people who love nature and the outdoors.

The country’s wildlife is also exceptional. It is diverse and very unique.  It has a lot of national parks and nature reserves. Malaysia believes in merging industry with nature and the environment so they make sure to also take care of their surroundings. Malaysians believe that they can be a leading global industry but also remain committed to protecting and preserving Mother Nature. Some of the country’s most famous national parks include the Batang Ai National Park, Bako National Park and the Taman Negara National Park rain forest.

A very and peaceful city called Alor Star is also famous to city dwellers because it offers comfort and respite from the busy city life. It is located in the middle of lush paddy fields, local tourists and foreigners alike frequent this place. The town offers a lot of tourist attractions like the State Art Gallery, the Paddy Museum, the Kuala Kedhar Fort, the Royal Kedhar Museum and the State Museum.

The very famous King George III of Britain also happen to be honored in Malaysia by having a toen named after him. There is a place called George Town located in the northeast of Penang. The places there are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites. This means that the United Nations considers it as an important place when it comes to culture and history. A large number of tourists flock to George Town each year to visit historical sites. The Fort Cornwallis, the Islamic Museum and the colonial Eastern and Oriental Hotel are just some of the most famous places in George Town.

The Malaysian government, with the cooperation of its people, annually organizes a large number of events to promote tourism in the country. These events aim to promote Malaysia to tourists and to entice people to travel to the country. The Gawai Dayak Festival, the Penang floral Festival, the Melaka River Festival and the Malaysia Sports Carnival are just some of the events that are aimed at getting more tourists to travel to Malaysia. Christmas and New Year are also famous occasions in the country.

Malaysia is a tropical country, very much like most of the countries located in Southeast Asia. The temperature can be hot throughout the year and there is a large amount of rainfall. Let me provide you a brief description of Malaysian weather and climate in the next few paragraphs.

Temperature

Just like any other tropical country, the temperature in Malaysia remains regularly hot throughout the year. There is no considerable difference between seasons, like summer and winter. Days are warm and usually humid but the nights are quite cool. The temperature also varies in different locations. At Penang, the temperatures stay close to 82F (28 C) and at Labuan the average temperature is 80F (27 C). The temperature in areas located above sea level is considerably cooler. The Cameron Highlands which are about 5000 feet (1500m) above sea level has a temperature of 64F (18 C) which is very much a good thing for foreigners.

Rainfall

The main raining season runs between Nov. and Feb. , while Aug. is considered the most humid and wettest period on the West Coast (Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang). Sabah and Sarawak have heavy rains during November to February. Rainfall, however, is heavy all year round in the country. Rainfall is heavy in the mountain areas. In the Cameroon highlands, the total annual rainfall is over 100 inches (2540 mm). No single month has less than 5 inches or 125 mm of rainfall. If you are planning on visiting a country it is important to consider the rainy months. June through August is considered the best time to visit Malaysia; this is the time when rainfall is not heavy and the temperature not so hot at only 64F or 18C.

Malaysia is a tropical country with warm weather and humid climate. Rainfall is also abundant. It is rewarding though to visit the highlands for their lush greenery.

Are you planning to visit Borneo?

Borneo, Malaysia is the third largest island in the world known as the tourists’ haven for leisure and amusement through its breathtaking scenery and wildlife adventures that the island offers. You will find in Borneo some endangered and exotic creatures like orangutans, tarsiers, proboscis monkeys, and many others.

Malaysian Borneo or also known as East Malaysia has two states, Sarawak and Sabah. You can go here through the two key cities, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. You will find here several beautiful parks and sanctuaries which are homes of many endangered species and various wildlife that rarely seen anywhere in the world.

Sabah Borneo

Come and experience Malaysia’s best nature of wildlife adventure with a ride on the Kinabatangan River. This enjoyable floating safari provides the opportunity to have a close encounter with kingfishers, hornbills, long-nosed proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants.

Another great place to visit in Sabah is the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. This main forest is home to Malaysia’s large animals like orangutans, rhinos, and elephants. If you love bird watching, you can find in the swamp lands and jungle some species and birds such as eagles, owls, and hornbills. You might as well take the chance to visit the mud volcano and immerse yourself in muddy pools during the day.

Experience close encounter with orangutans at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. You can stroll on the footpath through tall tropical trees to watch these fascinating endangered mammals. Sepilok is the right place to witness rare animals that you would not see anywhere else in the world.

If you love to venture underwater then you should not miss to visit one of the world’s top diving destination the Sipadan Island. Endless live scenes of various marine life that showcase everything from reef basking green turtles to schools of barracuda. This beautiful underwater world is filled with different coral formations and colorful scenes of angelfish, sea fans, anemones, triggerfish, and many more.

Witness and be amazed of the Hawksbill and Green turtles returning ashore to lay their eggs at Turtle Island Park. Know how these ancient creatures survived and the way how the locals conserve and save these rare turtles from extinction.

Feel the thrill being in the midst of the jungle and enjoy the forest trails at Danum Valley Conservation Area. Do trekking while bird watching, taking pictures, and observing wildlife.

Sarawak, Borneo

Do not miss to visit here the magnificent coastal reserve, the Bako National Park, just a few hours away from Kuching. Enjoy nature abundant of sand stone cliffs, mangrove swamps, and seaside forest loaded with bountiful living creatures like the flying lemurs, pit vipers, proboscis monkeys, and many others.

If you love to explore caves, go to Gunung Mulu National Park and explore the unique limestone structures covered by thick tropical forest. Witness bats in millions as they come out from the cave chambers at dusk. Trek through the midst of the jungle towards the mountains to see the stunning, dagger like, one-of-a-kind blade sharp Pinnacles.

Bats go out at night to hunt for insects from the large caves of Niah National Park. Jungle pathways follow through hill and lowland rainforest to showcase various wild animals like hornbills, flying lizards, monitor lizards, monkeys, and many more.

A hydroelectric dam formed a lake reservoir that has become sanctuary of wildlife situated in the midst of the jungle and they call it Batang Ai National Park. You will see here rare rainforest animals like hornbills, gibbons, and orangutans. You can go with an Iban guide and learn the tradition lifestyle of the Iban as you spend time in a longhouse.

Are you looking for a unique wild experience? Go to Sandakan, Sabah to see wildlife at Sukau, to watch engaging orangutan, and see the fascinating live turtles at Selingan. Sandakan offers the opportunity for you to explore and experience exotic wildlife.

The Sepilok boasts of its 40 sq. km. permanent reserve with flourishing main jungle where the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is established. This is where the confiscated, injured, or orphaned orangutans take refuge. Visitors can enjoy watching them during feeding sessions twice daily before they go back into the jungle.

In Selingan where the Turtle National Park is situated consists of three islands where Hawksbill and Green turtles come to lay their eggs on the beaches.

The Malaysia’s top wildlife viewing location is in Sukau where the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary stretches as far as 27,000 ha along Sabah’s Kinabatangan River. You can find here four primate colonies living in the same area; the grey langur, maroon langur, silvered langur, and the proboscis monkey.

Around the month of June, you can see here the Borneon pygmy elephants which are considered distinct species of the elephants in Asia.

Variety of birds are also found in the area like the crow, oriole, drongo, spiderhunter, 8 species of hornbill, flowpecker, oriental darter, and many more.

Your entire adventure includes Sandakan City tour, watch ashore for egg laying turtles, drop by the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and wildlife viewing via river cruise. Sit back and relax as wildlife beauty gradually unfolds. The cost AS OF 2008 is around RM1,880 per person with a minimum of 2 persons.

Itinerary

1st Day: Sandakan – Selingan
At ETD 0740hrs you are expected at Sandakan airport. Then 30 minutes after, you will board the jetty for one hour travel to Selingan Island. Get a cottage. You are now free to explore the island. After dinner, the Park Ranger will guide you with others to watch the Green Turtle lay eggs.

2nd Day: Selingan – Sandakan – Sepilok
Go back to Sandakan by boat then go to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. See the feeding of the Orangutans while trekking through the forest. Proceed to Sandakan jetty to cruise along Kinabatangan, the longest river in Sabah, and take the chance to see wildlife and birds in rainforest habitats, wetland, and virgin mangrove. Cruise the river with electric motor in the late afternoon to view the ten species of monkeys including Proboscis monkeys.

3rd Day: Sukau
At 6 am you will board the river cruise along Kinabatangan River to view the wildlife and birds. Then you will head to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a brief walk in the jungle. The move on to see more wildlife through river cruise in the afternoon. After dinner, you can spot nocturnal animals, birds, and crocodiles via night safari cruise at additional fee. Spend the night in rainforest lodge.

4th Day: Sukau – Sandakan
You will then return to Sandakan by boat after breakfast. You will have a short tour at water village, The Australian War Memorial, and The Agnes Keith House in Sandakan town after lunch. You will then proceed to the airport for your departure flight.

You will be housed in Park HQ, a rainforest eco-lodge with 20 rooms which is world renown. Solar heaters supply hot water. All rooms are complete with hot shower, bathroom, mosquito netting, ceiling fan, and a twin bed. You will certainly find this as the most green and environmentally friendly lodge.

However, it excludes airfare of around US$58/person via Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan then back to Kota Kinabalu. You can visit here anytime of the year.

You can reach Sandakan by air from Kuching Airport at Kota Kinabalu. Daily flights are also available from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2). The flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is recommended so you can arrive on time during the 10 am Orangutan feeding at Sepilok Nature Resort, or you will have to stay overnight at Sepilok Nature Resort.

The entire tour starts and ends in Sandakan. You can also spend your leisure time at Lankayan Island Dive Resort at the end of the tour.

The Sukau Rainforest Lodge has its own power and water supply through solar energy and rainwater. It is made of hardwood stilts. There is a bathroom in each room with solar hot water shower. In order to minimize noise and air pollution, the river safari tours use electric motors.

The Sukau Rainforest Lodge was named “Tourism for Tommorow Award 1997” by British Airways. It has also garnered “Green Hotelier of the Year 1999” and “International Hotel and Restaurant Association Environment Award 1999”.

For every overseas guest who stays will correspond to a donation of US$1 (RM 3.2) for every adult to Sukau Ecotourism Research and Development Center (SERDC).

The lodge supports the local inhabitants of the area, the Orang Sungei, or commonly called the people of the river. Hiring and training of the locals are a priority. The community is the main source of other services and boats are also bought from them.

The special elephant pass is purposely built for the migrating elephants that move back into the jungle. This unique event happens every quarter.

Image by stephendoyle1981, cabreney.jm