Exploring Malaysia

Malaysia is one of Asia‘s most diverse travel destinations: from lush hills and tea plantations to modern cities, ancient rainforests, pristine beaches, and vibrant cultural cities. This Malaysia travel overview is designed to help you explore the best of the islands: from the best time to travel, to transportation, Visa, medical know-how, and travel tips.

Best time to visit Malaysia?

Malaysia is a tropical paradise with warm weather all year round. The best time to visit Malaysia is between November and December. The weather is hot and humid, with an average of between 25 °C and 35 °C. Rain normally occurs during the late afternoon, but it lasts for a short period.

Tip: There is a time difference (GMT+8)

How many days do you need in Malaysia?

Malaysia can be done in 2 weeks easily, but if you want to take your time, you should take 3 weeks. We’ve seen Malaysia in 2 weeks, and I can say the itinerary was quite full but doable! We had to make some tough choices, like skipping the rice fields and the mainland of Malaysia, as we really wanted to go to Borneo and take our time there.

Visa Malaysia

Most travelers do not require a visa to enter Malaysia for social visits, tourism, or business meetings for stays up to 90 days. A valid passport with at least 6 months’ validity, a return ticket, and the completion of the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) three days before arrival are required. Always check the latest requirements for your nationality before traveling.

Currency & Voltage

Malaysia is budget-friendly to suit the varied types of travelers. You can find low-cost accommodation with great, cheap food when visiting KL. At the same time, KL is also full of high-class luxury activities and accommodation choices for your holiday gateway. Flight tickets will take a huge part of your budget, though.

Malaysia uses the Malaysian Ringgit (RM or MYR). Cash is widely used, especially in smaller towns, but credit cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants. ATMs are available in most cities.

Only plugs from the UK (3 flat pins) will work in Sri Lanka, it’s type G according to this website (230 V, 50 Hz).

What should I pack for Malaysia?

The weather in Malaysia is scorching and humid all year long, especially during the afternoon. Please wear lightly but appropriately when traveling in Malaysia. Use my ultimate packing list to make packing easy!

Transportation

Before embarking on a tour in Malaysia, the first logical question is: how do you get there? Fortunately, traveling from Europe to Malaysia is easy.

Flying to Malaysia

Most travelers fly into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). Kuala Lumpur is the largest city in Malaysia and is known for its iconic Petronas Twin Towers. We flew with Etihad Airways from Brussels to Kuala Lumpur via Abu Dhabi in about 14 hours.

Tip: Booking early is often the cheapest option. Check now for a cheap ticket.

Transportation in Malaysia

Popular modes of transport in Malaysia include Grab taxis, private drivers, tuk-tuks, boats, flights, and buses. We hired a driver during our Borneo part as it was comfortable and affordable.

Our transportation in Kuala Lumpur was mainly by foot, Grab taxi, and tuk-tuk. To get to Borneo and Langkawi Island, we took a plane. In Borneo itself, you can get around by Grab taxi, private drivers, tuk-tuks, boats, ferry boats, planes, and buses. We used a private driver for convenience. To get to Sandakan in Borneo itself, we took another plane. To get to the jungle, we took a small boat.

Medical

It’s also recommended to be vaccinated when you’re visiting Malaysia. It’s recommended to have the following vaccinations: Tetanus (lockjaw), Diphtheria, Polio, Chickenpox, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B.

In Borneo, particularly in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, there is a moderate to high risk of malaria. You’ll have to take Malaria prevention tablets. You start taking it 2 days before you enter the region until 7 days after you’ve left the region. I recommend taking Malaron as it has the least side effects (and I didn’t have any side effects when taking it in Senegal, Kenya, and Gili Meno). It’s a bit more expensive, but it’s the malaria prevention with the fewest side effects possible. Make sure to have mosquito sprays with DEET, wear pants and shirts with long sleeves in the evening, and sleep with mosquito nets.