Head to Northern Malaysia for heritage buildings, archaeological sites, primary rainforest, idyllic beaches and delicious food

The four states of Northern Malaysia — Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Perak  — are all diverse and distinctive in their own right. Penang island’s resorts line its famous Ferringhi Beach but it’s the UNESCO World Heritage Site George Town of pre-war shophouses, Chinese temples, murals and traditional hawker fare that keep the visitors returning. The most well known part of Kedah is the island of Langkawi for its crystal clear waters and world-class resorts, while the top attraction in Perlis is the 370m-long Gua Gelam limestone cave with its underground river and tin mine. A limestone cave attraction features in Perak as well — the 1km-long Tempurung cave while its island resort Pangkor Laut has been winning accolades since opening.