Malaysia

Malaysia is a dizzying fusion of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures, where gleaming skyscrapers rise next to colonial shophouses and ancient rainforests. The country splits neatly into two halves: the Malay Peninsula, with its dynamic capital Kuala Lumpur and laid-back island beaches, and Borneo, home to wild jungles, orangutans, and tribal longhouses. It's one of the few places in the world where you can eat world-class street food in the morning, trek through a 130-million-year-old rainforest in the afternoon, and sleep in a luxury resort overlooking turquoise water at night.