Often called the “Pearl of the Orient,” this northern gateway to Malaysia is the country’s oldest British settlement. Although this city is best known for its breathtaking beaches, sites such as Khoo Kongsi, a well-preserved ancestral Chinese clan house, and the Butterfly Farm, the world’s first tropical live butterfly exhibition, must-sees on the list for this amazing destination. Also visit Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the finest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, featuring among other things, a tortoise sanctuary.