Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It’s known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers.
Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast is home to Malacca, a former colonial port known as a center of Chinese-Malay Peranakan culture, and to Langkawi island, famous for beach resorts. Penang Island’s capital, George Town, is full of temples and street-food stalls. Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast is known for beach resorts, plus diving and snorkeling at Tioman, Redang and the Perhentian islands. Malaysian Borneo is covered largely in tropical rainforest with diverse wildlife (including orangutans), and offers many beaches, scuba diving off Sipadan Island and the city of Kota Kinabalu, gateway to Mount Kinabalu.
Langkawi International Airport. (Google Map)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Google Map)
Overall, the best time to visit Malaysia is between the months of December and February, if you’re planning on visiting the islands on the west side of Malaysia (e.g., Penang and Langkawi), or June through August if you’re planning to visit Perhentians and Tioman Island, on the country’s Eastern coast.
