Malaysia Travel Guide

Highlights

Kuala Lumpur: home to the 88-storey Petronas Towers and plenty of glitzy shopping malls, the lively capital is a worthy stop off and offers a good nightlife scene.

Penang: boasting an old-fashioned character and colonial charm as well as good shopping and fantastic beaches.

Langkawi: great beaches and water sports characterise this island, which is promoted as a duty-free haven. A host of manmade attractions also help to make this a popular holiday destination.

Malaka: is known for its Portuguese architecture and colourful culture and traditions as well as the delights of its markets.

Sabah and Sarawak: offer abundant jungle trekking and opportunities to get up close with nature. Highlights are their national parks, where turtles and orangutans thrive.

Pulau Tioman: soak up the sun on this idyllic island, with stunning palm-fringed beaches being the order of the day.

Taman Negara: trek through forests on canopied walkways and experience jungles and caves first-hand.

Recommended Itinerary

It is difficult to cover both the peninsula and the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in one trip, with most people choosing to explore these parts on separate holidays. Two weeks on the peninsula is sufficient for seeing all of the major highlights.

Spend a few days exploring the modern shopping malls and architectural highlights of the capital, not forgetting to sample the nightlife.
Hit Penang for three days, were you can soak up the temples and colonial features as well as the amazing beaches.
Relax on Langkawi’s beaches for three days, dine at top-notch restaurants and enjoy the island’s duty-free shopping.
Travel south to explore Malaka’s Portuguese leftovers and excellent shopping.
Head inland for two days of jungle trekking in Taman Negara and the Kenong Rimba National Park.

Extra time
Fly into Kota Kinabalu and trek to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. Spend time discovering the province’s local wildlife in the national parks.
Discover Sarawak’s delights with a trip to the capital, Kuching, and the beaches at Bako National Park.
Go diving at Pulau Tioman in the South China Sea, where jungle trekking, stunning beaches and excellent snorkelling await.

Health and Safety

While there is no need to be scared of getting eaten by a tiger in the jungle, there are some real threats in the form of snakes, malaria (East Malaysia) and rabies. Theft and violence are not common, but scamming is; so watch out for shady taxi drivers and card games with locals. Food hygiene standards are good and the risk of getting food poisoning is low, although caution when eating shellfish should be exercised. The roads are busy with reckless drivers therefore it pays to pay attention when crossing them. Always wear a helmet if you rent a motorbike. There are strict penalties with regards to the possession of illegal drugs.

Malaysia Travel

Transportation in Malaysia is efficient and reliable, with air, bus, rail and ferry services connecting the various regions. Most visitors arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), from where there are low-cost domestic links to various other destinations. Different class buses access virtually all destinations, while the Thai and Singapore borders can both be accessed by train as well as many other Malaysian destinations. Ferry services are in operation to some islands. Local travel can be done by taxi, or if you’re in the capital, by the KTM Komuter service, Light Rail or Monorail.

Why Malaysia?

What’s cool: The modern urban jungle that is Kuala Lumpur, cheap and tasty street food, colonial architecture of Penang and Melaka, deserted beaches of Langkawi, state-of-the-art Petronas Towers, trekking in Sarawak and Sabah’s jungles, value-for-money shopping and abundant festivals.

What’s not: Trying to cross the road in Kuala Lumpur, pollution, malaria in some parts, scamming taxi drivers, high humidity, the rainy season, dangerous sea life and pickpockets.

When To Go?

Rainfall is spread throughout the year, but the rainy season (October to April) has the most significant rainfall, which is particularly heavy on the east coast of the peninsular. Rainfall in Sabah and Sarawak is at its heaviest from October to March, hindering sightseeing.

Humidity is high year-round, with the country enjoying a tropical climate.

Perhaps the best time to visit is between April and October, when the weather is sunny and ideal for sightseeing and beach activities.

Main Festivals

The exciting combination of ethnicities in Malaysia means a broad range of religious and cultural festivals are represented. Don’t miss the lively occasions to learn more about these cultures.

January: Chinese New Year is celebrated with fervour; expect to see colourful lanterns, dragon dances and money-giving. Also celebrated in this month is the controversial Thaipusam Festival, where devotees can be seen piercing their bodies with skewers and needles.
March: the Malaysian Grand Prix is held at Sepang International Circiut to the delight of motor racing fans.
August: National Day (Hari Kebangsaan) is a lively celebration of Malaysian independence, with parades and performances held country-wide.
October: Deepavali has its origins in India and is a Hindu celebration of the victory of good over evil, which is represented through lanterns and fireworks.

Activities

Scuba diving: visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to dive, with popular places being Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, the Seribuat Archipelago and some more remote spots in Sabah and Sarawak.

Hiking and trekking: most of the national parks offer excellent trails, with Taman Negara’s canopied walkways, Gunung Mulu National Park’s stone Pinnacles and Kinabalu National Park’s mountain climbing all being favourite locations.

Water sports: are available at almost all coastal resorts, with popular beaches at Pulau Pangkor Laut, Langkawi and Pulau Tioman as well as dozens on the coastlines of Sabah and Sarawak

Casino: try your luck at Malaysia’s only casino, Genting Highlands, Pahang. Negotiate the tables and enjoy a game of roulette, baccarat or blackjack, then leave before you spend your winnings.

Shopping: Kuala Lumpur offers plenty of modern, glitzy shopping malls as well as the lively Petaling shopping area in Chinatown. Duty-free items can be picked up in Langkawi, while Penang’s malls and markets also offer an excellent selection of inexpensive goods.

Dining: expect to eat every meal accompanied by rice or noodle, along with some tasty and aromatic dishes that blend spices and herbs such as chilies, garlic, ginger and lemongrass perfectly. Don’t miss out on the excellent hawker food available at all markets.

Nightlife: Kuala Lumpur is the nightlife capital of Malaysia, with the city centre being home to some upmarket clubs that cater to the international crowd. The major beach resorts also provide lively entertainment, with bars and discos staying open until late.

Food and Hospitality

Food is available everywhere at every time of the day, with Indian, Malay, Chinese and Thai cuisine all featuring heavily. For cheap and delicious eats, head to any hawker market for an outstanding selection of spicy dishes. Like the food, accommodation here will not disappoint, with standards being high. The more luxurious hotels and locations will cost you, but budget stays at paradise-like spots are not impossible to find. Service is usually very good, as is cleanliness and safety at most locations.