Kuala Lumpur & Singapore, 6 Nights

A private transfer from KLIA, about an hour, and an afternoon to rest. In the evening, a private tour shows the city when it is cooler and lit up: Merdeka Square, where the Union Jack came down in 1957, with the Sultan Abdul Samad Building floodlit across the lawn, the River of Life glowing blue where the two rivers meet, and the lanes of Chinatown and Petaling Street market. A good evening for a first dinner at a hawker stall.

North out of the city to Batu Caves for a short photo stop at the golden Murugan, one of the tallest statues of a Hindu deity in the world, and the stairway of rainbow steps. From there it is about an hour into the hills and the cable car up over the rainforest to Genting Highlands, at about 1,800 metres and cool enough for a light layer. Rides, shops and a casino at the top are paid separately; the Chin Swee temple just below has the view. Back by evening.

A gentler day. KL Bird Park in the Lake Gardens is a vast netted aviary where hornbills, storks and peacocks roam the paths, best seen in the morning when the birds are active. Then across town to Aquaria KLCC beneath the convention centre, where a long moving walkway runs through a tunnel with sand tiger sharks, rays and turtles overhead. The afternoon is free for Bukit Bintang's malls or an evening at KLCC Park under the towers.

An early breakfast and a transfer to the coach for the long road south. The journey runs through palm-oil country on the expressway to Johor Bahru and across the causeway into Singapore, with immigration on both sides, so passports need to be to hand; the whole trip usually takes five to six hours. Arriving in the afternoon, there is time to check in and walk out in the evening to Marina Bay, where the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay light up after dark.

A full day at Universal Studios on Sentosa island, the only Universal park in South-East Asia. Its zones are built around films, from the Far Far Away castle of Shrek to Ancient Egypt, and the Battlestar Galactica roller coasters are among the tallest duelling coasters anywhere. The live Waterworld stunt show is a favourite with families. Queues are shortest at opening and in the late afternoon; express passes can be bought on the day if you want to skip them.

A free morning, then back to Sentosa the long way round: the cable car from Mount Faber, swinging high over the harbour and the ships at anchor to the island. The afternoon includes two of the 4D attractions at Imbiah and time on Siloso or Palawan beach. At nightfall, the Wings of Time show on the shore at Siloso combines fountains, lasers, fire and music against the sea, and is a fitting last night. The show can be cancelled in heavy rain.

Breakfast and checkout, then the private transfer to Changi Airport, usually under half an hour. Changi is worth arriving early for: the Jewel complex beside Terminal 1 has the Rain Vortex, an indoor waterfall several storeys high in a glass dome, open to everyone before security.