Legends and Landscapes of Indonesia and Malaysia

Jakarta, located in Java Island, is known as one of the most developed cities and biggest cities in Indonesia. This city is a mixture of old heritage, cultural richness, historical places and modern recreation. Whether you are foodie lovers, culture enthusiasts or history buffs, our Jakarta tour holidays will make your travel wishes come true.

Yogyakarta (also known as Jogja) is located on the Java Island and this city is described as the traditional arts and cultural centres of Indonesia. From the popular magnificent temples of Prambanan and Borobudur to the living museum of The Kraton, from its cultural landmarks to many numerous forests and waterfalls, all will be added in our Yogyakarta Tours to help you discover this hidden gem.

Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial centre of Kalimantan and the main gateway to the new capital of Indonesia. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 2016 GDP at Rp73.18 trillion. The city has both the busiest airport and seaport in Kalimantan, namely Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport and Port of Semayang. With a population of 645,727 as of 2018, Balikpapan is the second most populous city in East Kalimantan, after Samarinda. Balikpapan has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in Indonesia

Tana Toraja, a landlocked regency of South Sulawesi Province on the island of Sulawesi, is home to the Toraja ethnic group. The local seat is in Makale, while the focal point of Toraja culture is in Rantepao. However, presently, Tana Toraja has been separated to two regencies that comprise of Tana Toraja with its capital at Makale and North Toraja with its capital at Rantepao. Starting around 1984, Tana Toraja has been named as the second tourist destination after Bali by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism. From that point forward, countless foreign visitors have traveled this region. Moreover, various Western anthropologists have come to Tana Toraja to concentrate on the native culture and individuals of Toraja.

Located on the southwest coast of Sulawesi Island, Makassar is the capital of South Sulawesi Province and is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia. Once an important trading port in the Dutch East Indies, Makassar is now not only the gateway of the cultural land of Sulawesi, but also the epicenter of West and East Indonesia, as well as between Asia and Australia.

Kuala Lumpur is a diversity cultural melting pot, where jade-topped Chinese gates open out onto palm-lined squares, Indian restaurants serve banana leaf curries in marigold-scented alleyways, and old-fashioned Malay villages lie squeezed between the skyscrapers. Founded in 1857 under British rule as a tin mining outpost, Kuala Lumpur is fairly new as far as Malaysian cities go and does not have the rich history like Georgetown or Malacca. After a couple of decades of fluctuation, Kuala Lumpur began to prosper and was made capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896. Today, Kuala Lumpur is the capital of one of the economic powerhouses of Asia. Kuala Lumpurites come in all sorts. Malaysian and Chinese make up 80 percent of the population, and about 7 percent are Indians. Among the rest are offspring of intermarriages between races. Most Kuala Lumpurites speak at least two languages, one of which is Malay, or Bahasa Malaysia, the national language; some speak up to five – including Chinese and Indian dialects.

Melaka, or Malacca as it is previously known, is one of the most important port cities in the history of world trade. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 2008, Melaka showcases a fusion of Asian and European influences. It is also a perfect example of the perfect mix of different cultures and religions in Southeast Asia. Melaka’s history started as an independent sultanate. Later on, the Portuguese conquered it during its explorations in the 16th century. Some signs of Portuguese occupation still remain. After that, it became part of the Dutch empire. Most of the colonial buildings in the city came from that period. Situated in the Malacca Strait that connects the South Asian Sea and Europe to the East, the city was once the seat of the Malay Kingdom and has gone through several periods of prosperity as well as neglect. The city now offers a blend of cultural heritage, vibrant street art, and mouthwatering cuisine. It is well known for its colonial architecture, unique Nyonya traditions and colorful old town. For a visit, the historic city of Melaka is divided into two core zones on either side of the Melaka River. The first is St Paul's Hill Civic Zone with a number of government buildings, museums, churches, urban squares and the original fortress town from the 16th century Portuguese and Dutch periods. The second, on the other side of the river, is the Historic Residential and Commercial Zone, with more than 600 shophouses, commercial and residential buildings, religious buildings and tombs. A visit on foot along the old streets of Melaka past its ruins reflecting the rich history of hundreds of years of Asian and European influence, that will showcase Melaka's cosmopolitan journey over the centuries.

Kuching is the capital of Sarawak State and the usual entry point into Borneo for travelers coming from mainland Malaysia. It has a fascinating history with the Brooke dynasty, the White Rajahs, who ruled this land until 1946. Today the legacy of the Brookes can be explored through many well-preserved architectural landmarks across Kuching, including the Old Courthouse, Fort Margherita and the stunning Astana palace. Kuching is a compact city and easy to explore on foot with narrow, bustling streets where flamboyant Chinese temples brush up against grand mosques, traditional wooden houses on stilts, colonial-era architecture and shops selling a myriad of exotic curios. The city is few of high rise buildings and has a multiracial population allows for a distinctive, diverse range of cultures with a welcoming approach to visitors. Divided into north and south by the sinuous Sarawak River, Kuching is ideally located for exploring both the coast and the interior with its ancient rainforests. Kuching is also the perfect base for exploring Sarawak. There are number of excellent national parks and wildlife reserves all located within a short drive from the city so there is a wide variety of day tours on offer. These include Bako National Park, home of the rare and endemic Proboscis monkey; Gunung Gading National Park where Rafflesia flowers bloom; the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre with its semi-wild orang utans; the Kuching Wetlands National Park with its mangrove attractions and diverse range of wildlife; Kubah National Park with its ferns and frogs; and Tanjung Datu National Park where the rainforest meets the South China Sea. Kuching as well is the jumping off point for the visits to Bidayuh villages and homestays such as Peraya; the Iban longhouses and rainforest attractions of the Batang Ai region.

Kota Kinabalu is a small city located in Malaysian part of Borneo. Its coastal location and mountain backdrop give it one of the most spectacular settings of any city in the country. As a growing tourist destination, Kota Kinabalu offers wide array of beautiful attractions over the city, powdery-white sand beaches, tropical rain forests, historical sites, amazing landscapes and its main jewel, the Mount Kinabalu. Surrounded by a wild and rugged national park of the same name, Mount Kinabalu stretches dramatically towards the heavens from amid the enormous Crocker Range that dominates Borneo’s skyline. Standing at 4,095 meters, the Malay Archipelago’s highest mountain is very popular with both hikers and rock climbers. It is said to be one of the easiest mountains in the world to summit, as no climbing equipment or special skills are required. Mount Kinabalu is also one of the most biodiverse places on Earth with thousands of fauna and flora species, including orchids and the carnivorous pitcher plant; more than 300 species of bird and over 100 mammal species. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 2000 for its outstanding universal values. Located 3km away from Kota Kinabalu, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a state park situated in Gaya Bay, home to five stunning islands namely Gaya Island, Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and Sulug Island. Each island is unique in its own way; all offer excellent diving, snorkeling, and sunbathing opportunities. Besides exploring its underwater wonders, one can go on a hike through the dense jungle that blankets the islands, or relax and lounge on one of its many gorgeous sandy beaches.

Ranau is located in the West Coast of the Malaysian state of Sabah and make up a majority of the Dusun community. Ranau is famous for it’s highland vegetables and aromatic local tea brand unlike any other.