11 days in Cook Islands & Malaysia Itinerary

Scattered across a 2,200,000 sq km (849,425 sq mi) zone in the vast Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, the Cook Islands are about as remote a holiday destination as you will find. With their pristine white-sand beaches, tranquil azure lagoons, lush tropical jungles, and teeming coral reefs, the 15 islands seem plucked from a picture postcard of paradise. Relaxation comes first and foremost, for locals as much as tourists, and you will find the laid-back lifestyle of the Cook Islanders as infectious as their warm smiles. As tempting (and fulfilling) as it might be to spend all day swinging lazily in a hammock strung between shady palm trees, plenty of adventures await exploring the idyllic scenery overland, on the waves, and undersea.

An unusual blend of a developing nation and the modern world, Malaysia ranks as one of the richest countries in Southeast Asia, its prosperity largely resting on thriving high-tech industries. Malaysia vacations remain a more affordable alternative to the expensive tourism in some neighboring countries. Take a trip to Malaysia to explore busy cities filled with colonial-era architecture, tranquil tea plantations supporting a large portion of the local population, and dozens of scattered islands happily evading the worst aspects of mass tourism. While there may be fewer visitors, there's no shortage of fine beaches, mangrove estuaries, and verdant rainforests filled with exotic wildlife.