Malaysia in brief
- On the peninsula, combine Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang and Langkawi.
- For wildlife, fly to Sabah or Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.
- The west coast is best from December to March; the east coast islands from March to September. See the monsoon seasons.
- UK visitors don’t need a visa, but must fill in an online arrival card. There are direct flights from London.
Malaysia is two countries in one. Peninsular Malaysia, south of Thailand, has the modern capital Kuala Lumpur, the old trading ports of Penang and Melaka, cool tea hills, ancient rainforest and two coastlines of islands. Across the South China Sea, Malaysian Borneo (the states of Sabah and Sarawak) is wilder: orangutans, jungle rivers, caves and the highest mountain in South-East Asia. This guide covers where to go, the monsoon seasons on each coast, classic routes and what to know before you fly from the UK.
Where to go in Malaysia
Most first trips combine Kuala Lumpur with the heritage towns and islands of the west coast. Add the beaches of the east coast in the drier months, or fly to Borneo for wildlife. Domestic flights are short and frequent, so it’s easy to mix the two halves of the country.
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia’s capital mixes glass towers with Chinese temples, Indian streets and Malay markets. Walk the skybridge of the Petronas Towers, eat your way through Jalan Alor and Chinatown, and visit the Islamic Arts Museum.
Just north of the city, 272 rainbow steps lead up to the Hindu shrine in the Batu Caves.
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Melaka
About two hours south of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka (Malacca) was ruled in turn by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See the red buildings of Dutch Square, the Peranakan shophouses of Jonker Street and the weekend night market, and try Nyonya cooking.
Penang and George Town
George Town, on Penang island, is the food capital of Malaysia. Its hawker stalls serve char kway teow, laksa and roti canai, and its UNESCO-listed old town is full of clan houses, temples and street art.
Take the funicular up Penang Hill for views across to the mainland.
The Cameron Highlands
A cool escape at around 1,500 metres, the Cameron Highlands are covered in tea plantations. Walk the jungle trails, visit a tea estate and strawberry farms, and enjoy cool evenings after the heat of the lowlands.
Langkawi
An island of beaches and rainforest off the north-west coast, Langkawi is the easiest beach stop on a west coast trip. Ride the cable car to the Sky Bridge, take a boat through the mangroves to see eagles, and relax on Pantai Cenang or the quieter north-coast bays.
Langkawi is best from December to March.
The east coast islands
The east coast of Malaysia has the country’s clearest water. The Perhentian Islands and Redang, off Terengganu, and Tioman, further south, have coral reefs, turtles and white-sand beaches.
The islands are best from March to September. From November to February the north-east monsoon brings rough seas, and many island resorts and boats stop running.
Taman Negara
Taman Negara is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Take a longboat up the river, walk the canopy walkway high in the trees, and join a guided night walk to look for insects, birds and, if you’re lucky, tapirs.
It sits between Kuala Lumpur and the east coast, so it’s a good stop on the way to the islands.
Sabah, Borneo
In Sabah, see orangutans at the Sepilok rehabilitation centre, then cruise the Kinabatangan River for proboscis monkeys, hornbills and Borneo’s pygmy elephants.
Climbers take two days to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu (4,095 metres); permits are limited, so book early. The capital, Kota Kinabalu, has island beaches just offshore.
Borneo tours compared →
Sarawak, Borneo
Kuching, Sarawak’s relaxed riverside capital, is the base for Bako National Park, with proboscis monkeys and coastal trails, and the orangutans of the Semenggoh centre.
Fly north to Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO site with some of the largest caves in the world, or stay in a traditional longhouse in the interior.
Peninsular Malaysia or Borneo?
Peninsular Malaysia is best for a first trip: cities, history, food, the tea hills and beaches, all linked by good roads and trains.
Malaysian Borneo is for wildlife and nature: orangutans, rainforest rivers, caves and mountains. It’s about a 2.5-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu or under 2 hours to Kuching.
With two weeks you can do both: a week on the peninsula and five or six nights in Sabah. Compare small-group trips in our Borneo tours compared guide.
Things to do in Malaysia
- Eat: Malaysian food blends Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking. Try nasi lemak for breakfast, satay, laksa and roti canai, and eat at hawker centres and night markets.
- Snorkel and dive: the Perhentians, Redang and Tioman have easy reefs and turtles from March to September.
- See wildlife: orangutans in Sepilok and Semenggoh, proboscis monkeys in Bako and on the Kinabatangan, and hornbills across Borneo.
- Take the train: fast electric trains link Kuala Lumpur with Ipoh and Butterworth, for the ferry to Penang.
- Festivals: Chinese New Year, Hari Raya at the end of Ramadan and the Hindu festival of Thaipusam at the Batu Caves are colourful times to visit.
Monsoon seasons: when to go
Malaysia is hot and humid all year, with highs of around 30°C on the coasts and cooler air in the highlands. It has two monsoons, so the best time depends on where you go. The west coast (Penang and Langkawi) is driest from December to March and wettest from September to November. The east coast is the other way round: the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas from November to February, and the islands are best from March to September. In Borneo, March to October is usually the best time, and Sarawak is wettest from December to February. Even in the wet season, rain often comes as a heavy afternoon shower.
Classic routes
Malaysian Borneo combines well with the Philippines and Palawan: see our Philippines holiday guide.
Peninsular Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur (3 nights)
- Melaka (2)
- Cameron Highlands (2)
- Penang (3)
- Langkawi (4)
Best from December to March.
The peninsula and Borneo
- Kuala Lumpur (3 nights)
- Penang (3)
- Sepilok (2)
- Kinabatangan River (2)
- Kota Kinabalu (3)
Cities and food, then orangutans and the river.
Rainforest and the east coast
- Kuala Lumpur (2 nights)
- Cameron Highlands (2)
- Taman Negara (3)
- Perhentian Islands (4)
Best from March to September.
Ways to see Malaysia with us
Stopping over on the way to Australia? Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Borneo make a good stopover. Our Australia holiday guide covers the regions, the animals and the best time to travel.
Practical tips
- Do I need a visa for Malaysia? Not for a holiday. British passport holders can normally stay up to 90 days without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, and you must fill in the online arrival card before you travel. Carry your passport between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, as Sabah and Sarawak have their own immigration checks. Check the FCDO Malaysia advice before you go.
- Eastern Sabah islands: the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah, from Sandakan to Tawau, which includes the Sipadan area. The mainland, including Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River, is not affected.
- Flights from the UK: there are direct flights from London to Kuala Lumpur, about 13 hours, and easy connections to Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
- Combine with Singapore or Thailand: Singapore is a short flight or a road journey from the south of the peninsula, and the railway runs north to the Thai border.
- Respect local customs: Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country. Cover your shoulders and knees at mosques and temples, especially on the more traditional east coast, and take your shoes off before going inside.
- Drugs: penalties are very severe, and you can be tested on arrival.
- Getting around: traffic drives on the left, and ride-hailing apps are cheap and widely used in the cities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to see Peninsular Malaysia?
Start in Kuala Lumpur, then go south to Melaka, up to the Cameron Highlands and north to Penang, finishing on the beach in Langkawi. Two weeks is enough by train, road and short flights.
When is the monsoon season in Malaysia?
There are two. The north-east monsoon brings heavy rain to the east coast from November to February, and the west coast is wettest from September to November. Sarawak in Borneo is wettest from December to February.
When is the wet season in Malaysia?
It depends on the coast. Penang and Langkawi are wettest from September to November; the east coast islands from November to February, when many resorts close. Kuala Lumpur gets rain all year, often as afternoon storms.
What is the east coast of Malaysia like?
Quieter and more traditional than the west, with clear water and reefs around the Perhentian Islands, Redang and Tioman. It's best from March to September; from November to February the sea is rough and many island resorts close.
Do I need a visa for Malaysia from the UK?
No. British passport holders can normally visit for up to 90 days without a visa, but must fill in an online arrival card before travelling. Your passport must be valid for six months from arrival. Check the FCDO advice for the latest rules.
How long is the flight to Malaysia from the UK?
About 13 hours direct from London to Kuala Lumpur. Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching are a short domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Is it worth going to Borneo on a Malaysia holiday?
Yes, if you love wildlife. Sabah has orangutans at Sepilok, the Kinabatangan River and Mount Kinabalu; Sarawak has Bako National Park and the caves of Mulu. Allow at least five nights.
How many days do you need in Malaysia?
Twelve to sixteen days lets you see Kuala Lumpur, Penang and a beach, or add Borneo. With a week, choose Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang or Langkawi.
Keep planning
- Malaysia holidays
- Escorted tours of Malaysia
- Borneo tours compared
- South-East Asia tours compared
- Indonesia holiday guide
- Escorted tours of Singapore
- Japan holiday guide
- Tailor-made holidays
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