Malaysia travel guide

Like a clam shell open to the South China Sea, Malaysia is spread over two landmasses — the mountainous Peninsula Malaysia (bordering southern Thailand) and east Malaysia on the rainforested island of Borneo. On both you’ll find a dazzling array of cultures, cuisines, landscapes, languages, architecture and mind-blowing biodiversity.
It’s a majority Muslim country that has been shaped by the Indian traders, Chinese entrepreneurs and European colonisers who have washed up on its shores. Consequently, its cities display a rich cultural tapestry, apparent in their fabulous festivals and sensational food — roti canai for breakfast, dim sum for lunch, tea and scones for afternoon tea, and perhaps some Peranakan curried noodles for dinner — plus their eclectic buildings and Malay arts and crafts.
There’s no shortage of natural wonders either. In the northern Malaysia Peninsula, you’ll find one of the world’s oldest rainforests, 130-million-year-old Royal Belum-Temenggor, home to a variety of rare species, including wild Indian elephants, sun bears, tapirs, Malayan tigers, ten sorts of hornbills and the giant rafflesia flower, which unfurls to a metre in diameter.
Borneo’s lush jungles also contain a number of rare and endangered creatures — orangutans, clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, pangolins, flying squirrels — best encountered along the Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley. A 3,000-mile stretch of coastline also provides some of the best beaches, snorkelling and diving you’ll find anywhere on the planet.
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Your flight is probably going to arrive in Kuala Lumpur and it’s worth spending at least a few days in the capital, exploring its puzzle of gorgeous mosques, Crayola-coloured Hindu temples, Chinese shophouses, mogul-inspired railway stations, British-era neoclassical piles and gleaming skyscrapers. In between sightseeing, fill your suitcase with bargain shopping (the exchange rate is extremely favourable; shoes are a particularly good buy) and eat your body weight in street food; visit Petaling Jaya in Chinatown by day and Jalan Alor after dark.
On the subject of gastronomy, the island of Penang* — located between Kuala Lumpur and the blonde bombshell beaches of Langkawi — is famed across Asia for its exceptional food. Find the best in George Town*, alongside stylish coffee houses, eye-popping street art and an impressive collection of colonial-era architecture. Or, for a more offbeat foodie destination try Ipoh, a quaint town known for its moreish Hainan chicken rice, en route to the Cameron Highland tea plantations and Royal Belum rainforest. Those serious about their snorkelling and diving should make for the Perhentian Islands which teem with kaleidoscopic corals and Disney-worthy marine life. On the other side of the South China Sea, a trip to Borneo’s incredibly special wildlife reserves can be combined with some family-friendly beach time in Kota Kinabalu.
Kuala Lumpur has some of the most affordable luxury hotel rooms in the world, with facility-packed five-star fabulousness often coming in at less than £150 a night for two. High-end additions include a Four Seasons*, Banyan Tree*, Kempinski and Fairmont. Even better value for money are the capital’s hipster-ish design hotels — The Chow Kit*, KLoe* and RuMa*.
In Penang, old Chinese shophouses and British-era mansions have been converted into boutique hotels, while big brand beach resorts, of varying quality, line the Kota Kinabalu beachfront. Langkawi is home to Malaysia’s most glamorous (and expensive) hotels, including The Datai*, Four Seasons* and the St Regis*.
The best way to experience the wonders of Borneo is to immerse yourself in a rainforest-wrapped eco-lodge, such as Gayana Eco Resort* on the Kinabatangan River, Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the orangutan-filled Danum Valley conservation area and Iban Longhouse in Kuching, where you can stay with an Iban family in a traditional stilted home.
Sipadan is a volcanic island encrusted in pristine coral reefs, located in the luminous blue Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah — Jacques Cousteau described it as “an untouched piece of art”. It attracts a few more tourists than in the renowned explorer’s day, but numbers are carefully managed, allowing the surrounding marine park to retain its reputation as one of the world’s best conserved dive sites. Pull on your mask and flippers and brace yourself for encounters with huge numbers of sea turtles, cyclones of barracuda and the occasional pod of orca.
The best time to visit Malaysia is between December and April, between the southwest and northeast rainy seasons.
How much should I budget for a trip to Malaysia?A budget of £50 per person per day will cover stylish accommodation, meals and some tours.
Where should I avoid in Malaysia?Parts of Sabah are off-limits to tourists due to extremist attacks, piracy and kidnappings.
What should I know before visiting?Compared to its neighbours, Malaysia is a great destination for a driving holiday. Car hire is cheap, roads are modern, well maintained and the English-language signage is similar to Britain’s.
Currency Malaysian ringgit
Inspired to visit Malaysia but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from British Airways* and Expedia*.
• Discover holiday packages to Kuala Lumpur*• Discover holiday packages to Borneo*• Discover holiday packages to Langkawi*• Discover tours in Malaysia*
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