Solo female travel in Southeast Asia can feel daunting, but this route felt safe end to end. Petronas Towers lit up at night is the memory I keep coming back to.

Dayang Bunting's freshwater lake, swimming alone surrounded by those green hills, was the most peaceful hour of my entire trip. Worth the boat ride out on its own.

Langkawi hotel room felt tired and outdated compared to what we'd had in KL and Penang earlier in the trip. Wifi barely worked, which was frustrating when travelling solo and needing to stay in touch with family back home. Raised it at the desk and nothing much changed. Rest of the island experience was still lovely though.

Nine to ten days solo across three very different destinations worked out well for pacing. Kilim Geoforest's mangrove cruise and the eagles circling overhead stood out most for me. KL gave me the city energy I wanted at the start, and Langkawi was the perfect quiet close. Would happily do this exact route again.

Roaming KL's Chinatown after dark by myself was a joyful assault on the senses, all sizzle and neon and spice.

Penang Hill and the mangrove cruise were superb. My one gripe was the Petronas viewing deck being rammed by the time I got there, so go right at opening if you want it quieter travelling alone.