Malaysia Travel Guide

Weather - When to go

The country enjoys a tropical, humid climate all year round.
The weather is usually hot, with an average temperature about 30°C. The highland areas see cooler temperature which can be a bit freezing at night.
Heavy rainfalls on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak are expected from November to February.
April to October is the best time to visit Malaysia as the weather is pleasant, perfect for walking around in the cities and enjoying water sports.

Highlights

Kuala Lumpur: this bustling capital city features countless modern skyscrapers including Petronas Twin Towers, one of the world’s tallest buildings. Also an Asian hub of shopping and entertainment.

Penang: known as ‘Pearl of the Orient’, this charming island of Malaysia is famous for its natural scenic beauty, golden beaches and the laid-back capital of Georgetown, with its British Colonial character.

Langkawi: an ideal tropical island escape with fine beaches, azure waters, upmarket resorts, incredible karst seascapes and a good tourist infrastructure that isn’t overcrowded.

Malacca: with its architectural buildings influenced by the Portuguese and many tourist attractions such as zoos, farms, Mini ASEAN and Mini Malaysia.

Genting Highlands: in the populated Selangor state has become one of the top shopping destinations for Asian tourists, offering great bargains on brand-name goods. This hill-top resort town is also known for outdoor sports, golf course and casino.

Cherating: is an ideal holiday getaway venue for jet-setters, located about 45kms from Kuantan. The beaches are some of the finest on the east coast, popular among windsurfers.

Terengganu: in the east coast is peaceful with a variety of quiet streets, small villages and unspoilt beaches. Home to the lilting Gamelan and the impressive traditional ‘Ulek Mayang’ dance.

Sabah and Sarawak: located in East Malaysia on the tip of Borneo, these two states are home to orung-utans, the world's largest flower Rafflesia, flying squirrels and snakes, insect-eating plants and a variety of rich fauna and flora.

Recommended Itinerary

To cover both states, it is a good idea to separate the trip into two parts: one in the mainland Peninsula and the other in East Malaysia. Ideally, two weeks is enough to visit Malaysia highlights. Include more time if you want to relax in resort towns.

Malaysia Peninsula

Four days in Kuala Lumpur, exploring the bustling capital city with its modern architectural marvels. Hit the clubs at night and shop by day.

Three days in Penang, soaking up the sun at the beaches, visiting natural attractions and exploring laid-back Georgetown.

Three days in Malacca with its beautiful Portuguese buildings and unique tourist spots.

Three days in Genting Highlands in Pahang, for a refined escape.

Extra time

Five days in Cherating, indulging in relaxing atmosphere at some of the world-renowned beach resorts.

A week exploring East Malaysia, visiting Sabah and Sarawak and their unique eco-sites.

Four days relaxing on beautiful Langkawi.

Health and Safety

Recreational drugs of all kinds are strictly prohibited in Malaysia. Procession and trafficking can lead to mandatory death sentence. Malaysia has very low rate of crimes but pickpockets and snatch-and-run thieves are main problems in Kuala Lumpur and other big cities. Wandering around the city at night on your own makes yourself an easy target while spiking is not uncommon in big nightclubs and bars. If you aren’t used to the heat, drink a lot of fluid. Malaysia Peninsula is reported as malaria-free while there is significant risk in East Malaysia.

What’s cool

Dazzling hi-tech Kuala Lumpur, Petronas Towers (formerly the world’s tallest), gorgeous Langkawi, golden beaches and historical interest in Penang, colonial Portuguese buildings in Malacca, Trekking among Sabah’s and Sarawak’s fascinating plants and creatures, Genting’s casino, nightclubs in KL, authentic Asian cuisine and observe interesting festivals. 

What’s not
Mad traffic in Kuala Lumpur, air pollution, reckless drivers and motorcyclists, the heat, pickpockets, food that causes diarrhea, malaria in East Malaysia, bird flu, spiking in the clubs, illegal (unregistered) taxis.

Main festivals

Malaysia is a big melting pot where locals come from different religions, backgrounds and cultures, thus the country sees a variety of festivals.

February: is one of the most festive months as Chinese New Year is celebrated. Expect a lot of red colors, fireworks and lion dances and observe the tradition of Ang-pow (red envelop containing money) giving.

May: a fun Harvest Festival is to express gratitude to rice gods. Agricultural programs include shows, traditional games and buffalo races.

August: be amazed at a variety of parades, shows and a wide selection of authentic Malay, Indian, Chinese food on the National Day. Spectacular series of fireworks paint the skies at night.

September: a beautiful and also mouthwatering period, Mooncake-Lantern Festival is celebrated with mooncakes and lanterns hanging on the houses.

November: the Festival of Lights, or Deepavali, celebrated by all Hindus in Malaysia, boasts an array of dazzling beautiful lights from oil lamps.

Activities

Scuba diving: Malaysia offers some excellent spots for enthusiastic scuba divers including Layang Layang, northwest of Kota Kinabulu and Miri, north of Kuching.

Hiking and trekking: forests in Malaysia offer challenging trails for those into hiking. On Malaysia Peninsula, head to Taman Negara National Park, with canopy walkways while Sarawak, Borneo and Gunung Mulu National Park are famous are famous among hikers in East Malaysia.

Water sports: resort towns like Cherating provide an array of adrenaline-pumping water activities for active tourists. Find a variety of sports such as jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, and parachuting.

Casino: gamble away at the country’s only casino at Genting Highlands, Pahang. Try your luck on roulette, baccarat, French bull, blackjack and some interesting Chinese games.

Shopping: one of Asian’s top destinations for shopaholics, Malaysia boasts hundreds of shopping malls and shopping streets. KL features luxurious, high-end clothing boutiques while markets are bustling with local goods.

Dining: a mecca for food lovers, Malaysia is a great place to chow down on authentic Asian cuisines including Malay, Chinese, Indian or Thai. Tropical fruits include the king of all fruits, durian, mango, jackfruit, papaya and pineapple.

Nightlife: unlike many of its neighboring countries, nightclubs in Malaysia stay open until 5:00 or 6:00am. You can choose to hit the club after dinner or sit in one of many al fresco cafés. KL is sophisticated by Asian standards but the Muslim values of the majority make it rather subdued as a party country.

Food and Hospitality

The country’s infrastructure is one of the best in the region. As Malaysia is one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, you can expect an array of luxurious, five-star hotels and top-class restaurants. Malay food boasts a variety of exotic dishes. Each region has its own specialties such as Kajang satay, Ipoh chicken rice and Kelantanese nasi minyak (Malaysian-styled rice). Many restaurants also offer authentic Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean food and local beer brands, Tiger and Anchor.

Transportation

Malaysian Airlines connects Malaysia with many major countries in the world. You can fly to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Penang Airport on the mainland peninsula or to Kota Kinabalu Airport or Kuching Airport in East Malaysia. From the airports, pre-paid taxis are widely available. The world’s major ferry lines have a number of cruises to Malaysia while trains connect Thailand and Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Those wishing to drive can enter Malaysia Peninsula via Thailand and Singapore. Getting around in the country is an easy task. You can fly, hop on a local bus, take a train or drive. The country has an excellent highway network and all roads are in perfect condition. Just watch out for reckless motorcyclists and remember to drive on the left.