pasir tengkorak langkawi beach - malaysia

chinese facades george town penang – malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia in brief:

Capital : Kuala Lumpur (historical capital) and Putrajaya (administrative capital)
Wide : 329 750 km²
Border countries : Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
Official language : malaysian
Currency : Ringgit (MYR, in 2019: €1 = RM4,6 approximately)
Religion : 55% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 10% Taoist, 8% Christian, 8% Hindu
Independence : from the United Kingdom in 1957
Diet : Constitutional, elective and federal monarchy
Administration : federation composed of 13 states + 3 federal territories
Population : 32 million inhabitants
Visa for French people : 3 months (except for the State of Sarawak: 1 month)
Average daily budget : 26 € / person
Time difference with France : +6h (summer time)
Best period : mainly from June to September
Flight duration : 16h minimum (flight Paris → Kuala Lumpur, with at least one stopover)
Electrical outlets : voltage – 240 V; plug type(s): G
Telephone code : + 60

Why visit Malaysia?

Malaysia is known for being a cultural melting pot offering varied landscapes, often seen as a good alternative to Thailand which some will find "too" touristy.

I would respond to the latter by saying that you just have to be a little curious and get out of the "classic" circuits. And Malaysia, with its 25 million annual visitors, is still much more visited than other countries in Southeast Asia. (for comparison, Laos only has 4 million!).

It simply seems "less" touristy, because 95% of visitors come from neighboring countries or, failing that, from Asia, thus going much more unnoticed by the few "white" tourists. The first in terms of numbers being the English with just under 400 visitors. (compared to the 10 million Singaporeans visiting the neighbouring country, we immediately understand the difference!).

We find everything like in Thailand, mountains, some of which are covered in multi-millennial jungle, although the latter are diminishing due to increasing agricultural exploitation. Yet these jungles are home to many animal species unique, some of which are endemic, it is also home to the last orangutans.

La Malaysia is also composed of multiple islands which have nothing to envy their Thai neighbors, with beautiful beaches and beautiful dive sites. The country is quite developed, so tourism is developed accordingly. It is easy to move from one place to another and there are hotels everywhere.

Its culture is a clever mix between the diverse origins of these inhabitants, linked to an important colonial history. First of all by an incursion of the Portuguese in 1511, who landed in Malacca, in the west of the Malay peninsula.

The latter was then an important port in the network of merchants of Southeast Asia. It was later taken back from the Portuguese by the Dutch of the Dutch East India Company (the famous VOC). Finally, it was the turn of the British to come and influence the history of the region, from the beginning of the 1957th century until its independence in XNUMX.

“Unexpected countryside landscape on the island of Langkawi”

"Red Square in Malacca, a mecca of Portuguese and Dutch colonial past"

Malaysia has a somewhat special status because, just like the United States, the country is made up of states, each having degrees of independence, but being federated around a central entity.

This is why we sometimes talk about Federation of Malaysia. Its geographical distance, shared between the Malaysian peninsula and the island of Borneo is precisely due to the junction in 1963 of the states of Sabah and Sarawak. These states, located on the island of Borneo, which later gained independence but decided to join the federation. The Little Sultanate de Brunei deciding to remain independent.

And speaking of sultanate, here is another peculiarity. Malaysia is indeed a constitutional monarchy. And if it works well with a monarch unique in the country, the latter is elected for 5 years, from among the nine Sultans of the nine monarchical states of the Malay peninsula. These states operate with a traditional monarch as well as a prime minister leading the local government.

One of these states, that of Perlis, is a somewhat special case, because it is not a Sultan, but a Raja (as in India). Other states are therefore not monarchical like Penang, predominantly ethnic Chinese et Melaka, still on the Malay Peninsula. On the Borneo side, the states of Sabah and Sarawah, with a Christian tendency, are led by governors.

WE love

Ease of movement
Culinary variety
Cultural variety
Variety of landscapes
Cost remains reasonable for Southeast Asia

We are less of a fan

The cuisine is certainly varied but not the most succulent.
Not great coffee (I know, average argument but I can't find any others!)
Indeed, to this day, I don't find many faults with it!

Preparing your trip: advice before you leave

Here is a summary of some essential information to know before any stay in Malaysia.

Do I need a visa for Malaysia?

No. Simple and effective answer. In addition to being visa-free, the advantage is that it is valid for a length of stay up to 3 months!

So that leaves plenty of time to explore. And this is valid for many nationalities, all countries of the European Union are concerned, the Swiss and Canadians also benefit from it. Even other nationalities likely to read this blog will have the same preferential treatment, I am thinking of Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccans.

On the other hand, there is still a whole list of countries that will only get 30 days instead of 3 months. (quite a few countries in Africa and Asia).

To see the countries concerned it's here (in English).

Transport in Malaysia

Coming to Malaysia

It is by its largest city and historical capital, Kuala Lumpur, which you are most likely to arrive at, at least before being dispatched via a secondary flight to your final destination in Malaysia, if you do not first visit Kuala Lumpur (or KL, for short) and its surrounding areas.

In my test carried out to write this page, 3 companies stood out in terms of interesting prices with a total flight time that was not too long, but with minimum one stopover (to my knowledge, there is no direct flight Paris – Kuala Lumpur).

Flying over Malaysia, here approaching Penang.

These three companies are:

KLM
Emirates
Qatar Airways

The latter two are in any case good choices for any destination in Asia. Normally, you should get by for rates around 500-550€ for the best rates, excluding any special promotions.

Search for a flight to Malaysia

Getting around Malaysia

The road network is generally good. I mostly used the bus for travel between different cities. It remains inexpensive and they are good buses, recent and practical. On site, I prefer (as often in Asia) renting a small motorbike or even a car, to get around my destination.

It's not essential, because otherwise you will have taxis and, the local specialty that is found almost everywhere in Malaysia, le trishaw, a kind of bicycle rickshaw (Well, must no rush and no need to go too far).

For taxis, you can use the local app, equivalent to Uber and which works very well, This is Grab (you can download the Grab app here).

Note that if you are coming from Thailand, there is also a train to reach and cross the border, so it is It is quite possible to do a Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok by train (afterwards you have to have time).

Road transport

The buses

I have been able to test bus journeys on several occasions. To get to Melaka from Kuala Lumpur on the one hand, and when we had gone to Cameron Highlands from Penang, duringa previous stay.

What I take away from it is that it's well-oiled. The bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur is well designed and super convenient, which is not as much the case with the one in Penang under the tower Komtar (but this is not the only terminal of theisland).

Inside a Penang – Cameron Highlands bus.

The buses themselves are nothing special, the ones I took were comfortable, nothing special to report, neither too old nor necessarily the latest.

To book, you can use the website of redbus, or this site Bus Online Ticket (which also allows ferry and train bookings). You can also search via the box below.

Taxis and trishaws (or Beca)

Taxis are quite cheap and can be found everywhere. The cars are often Malaysian brands, especially the famous Proton.

Taxis are usually red and white or red and blue, you can't miss them. I have had very little opportunity to use them, because in general I prefer to walk to cover most of the distances, supplementing with local buses.

Taxis remain the preferred means of transport between airports and my first accommodation and vice versa due to having luggage.

A taxi waiting at a traffic light in Kuala Lumpur.

The trishaw is the local means of transport par excellence. They are generally found (from my experience) in cities with a historical character, but may not be systematic everywhere.

A trishaw features in a Penang mural.

Since it is a vehicle without an engine (a simple bicycle coupled to seats, usually in front of the driver), you should not be in a hurry and it is almost more for fun or to help out if you ever get really tired from walking. As a matter of principle, it is obviously not a type of transport with which you will travel long distances.

To take a tour of an old town, it can be original, as is the case in Malacca or George Town in Penang. Expect to pay at least 40 to 50 RM for an hour's ride.

trishaw in georgetown penang - malaysia — A trishaw at work in Penang.

trishaw decorated malacca - malaysia — Typical decorated trishaws from Malacca.

Motorcycle and car rental

As everywhere in Asia, Renting a motorbike is a convenient way to get around independently. This is particularly useful on islands, some of which do not have public transport other than taxis.

I'm thinking in particular of Langkawi where I rented a scooter for three days to discover the whole island at my own pace. The prices were then a bit more expensive than what I was used to seeing in Thailand or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

On a small road in the Langkawi countryside.

Somewhere on Penang Island with the scooter of the moment.

Expect to pay around RM38 per day plus a deposit (personally it was only RM50 but it can go up to RM200).

Some basic rules to remember regarding two-wheel rental:

Have an international license, stamped for the two-wheeler (so with license A1 motorcycle minimum for French people)
Wear a helmet, it's mandatory and for your safety anyway!
Just like in Thailand, remember that here we drive on the left!

If you are not not comfortable on a scooter or have never done it, it's not on the other side of the world that I really recommend trying. Then prefer the car. We find small local models cheap like the Perodua Viva Elite I had rented in Ipoh 36 € per day.

The Perodua, a very practical little car.

Rail transport

As mentioned just above, the train network in Malaysia is not the most developed. With a total of 1 km, of which a little less than half (767 km) are electrified and double track, we are far from the 4 km of Thailand, whose network is connected by the cities of Padang Big to the west and Congested to the East. Even worse if we compare it to Japan, whose country is similar in terms of surface area and which has more than 27 km of rails!

The old Kuala Lumpur main railway station.

There are 2 main lines on the peninsular part of the country, which account for the majority of the entire network and total 1 km. The most important is the one in the west, which passes through Butterworth (a city on the coast opposite Penang) and ends its journey in Johor Bahru, a neighboring city in Singapore. The line passes through ipoh (near Cameron Highlands), Kuala Lumpur and Palau Sebang (40 km from Malacca) among other interesting points.

A third line, which would be part of the famous rapid train network linking China to Singapore, would serve the east coast from The place, passing through Kuala Terengganu before joining Kuala Lumpur. With another 350km high-speed line currently under construction to connect the capital and the city-state of Singapore, the journey would then take just1h30 salary. 6h40 currently (so it’s faster by bus because it’s more direct). YourThe downside is that it won't be before 2025 at best, more likely 2030.

On Borneo, there are no trains in Sarawak and there is only one 134 km line in the state of Sabah, in the north of the island.

Map of the railway network in Malaysia.

The White House, generally referred to by its acronym KTM is the national railway company of Malaysia. If you want to book trains, you can go through their website: http://www.ktmtrain.com/

An alternative, also offering other types of transport, is: https://www.easybook.com/en-my/train

To and Around Kuala Lumpur, there is a network of metros (Rapid KL) and intercity trains including the Klia Express, connecting the city centre to the main airport in Kuala Lumpur, more than 50 km away. In the city itself, it is a mixture of LRT (Light Rail), MRT and monorail while the Commuter acts as a local RER.

A useful app to help you find your way around: Kuala Lumpur Metro Guide and Subway Route Planner, I had used its equivalent in Seoul, super practical and well done.

klang-valley-integrated-transit-map kuala lumpur malaysia

Train and metro network in and around Kuala Lumpur.

The metro arriving at the platform.

The monorail passing through central Kuala Lumpur.

Shipping

Malaysia is made up of a number of islands, so there are a number of ferry terminals to get to them. Some are designed to transport vehicles while others are dedicated to people only.

Ferry dock in Penang.

On the peninsula, there are at least 3 important ports:

1. Langkawi, serving the coastal towns of Perlis and Kedah as well as the island of Ko Lipe in Thailand and the coastal town of Satun. (A little info in passing: the direct ferry connection between Langkawi and Penang has still not resumed since the covid)
2. Penang, most ferries depart from the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal in George Town. They serve destinations like Langkawi, Butterworth, but also Medan, in Indonesia (north of Sumatra).
3. Johor, in addition to the main city terminal Johor Bahru (good luck), there are several spread around the Strait of Johor. Among them, that of Puteri, And the one of Pasir Gundang. The 3 ports mainly serving Singapore and the island de Batam in Indonesia (south of Singapore and part of the archipelago of Riau).

There are of course other ports spread along the West and East coasts. We can mention the Dickson port, south of Kuala Lumpur and the country's largest, Klang port. But the latter is mainly used to accommodate cruise ships (and cargo ships).

The Queen Mary 2 visiting Langkawi.

Locally, it only serves the small Ketam fishing island, and it is possible to reach the city of Dumai, on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. A city that can also be reached from the port of malacca, where you can also travel through the old town via its main canal.

Canal open to boat traffic in Malacca.

On the west coast of the peninsula, the three platforms that will surely interest you are:

- Besut, serving the Perhentian Islands
- Merang, to go to Redang Island
- Mersing, for the ferry to Tioman Island

On the Borneo side you will find a major port on the Kuching, south of Sarawak, from where you can, for example, reach Sibu, a little further north.

Another spot, the Labuan port, Federal territory located on an island, you can reach it from several coastal cities like Limba, lawas or Sitipang, but also from Brunei. You can also reach the Jesselton Point, main ferry terminal at Kota Kinabalu, which serves nearby islands such as Pulau Gaya.

Au northern sabah, you have the Sandakan port, connecting the city of Zamboanga in the Philippines (see timetables and prices)

Finally on the coast East from Sabah, there is the city of Semporna, serving the islands of Sipadan, Bum Bum or Bohey Dulang among others. Further south, the port Laughter serves 3 Indonesian islands, Sebatik (partly discomfort too), Nunukan and finally Tarakan.

To book ferries, you can either go to the website BusOnlineTicket (which offer tickets for buses, trains and ferries), or use the search tool below directly.

Air transport

With 62 airports across the country (38 on Borneo and 24 on the peninsular part), there is still plenty to do to travel internally in Malaysia or easily reach another destination, whether regional in Asia or elsewhere.

Afterwards, of these 62 airports, a good fifteen are STOLports (designed for small aircraft so unlikely that you will use them) and others are dedicated to charter flights. This still leaves 38 airports that can accommodate large aircraft, including 8 international airports which are:

Langkawi
Penang
Melaka
Senai (next to Johor Bahru, which borders Singapore)
Kuala Lumpur
Subang (near Kuala Lumpur)
Kota Kinabalu
Kuching

plane airasia tarmac airport klia kuala lumpur

An Air Asia plane on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

To my great surprise in writing this page, I realize that it is becoming a little more democratic and we are arriving at prices similar to domestic flights in Thailand. However, given the limited number of airports and airlines, you will have not much choice for domestic flights.

Malaysia Airlines, la national company. Besides domestic connections, it is the main company serving all destinations worldwide.. Included in the price, 20 kg checked baggage + 7 kg cabin baggage. For comparison purposes with the prices mentioned in the “Getting to Malaysia” section, a Paris – Kuala Lumpur flight costs €600.
- Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysian Airlines. It mainly serves airports located in Asia and Australia. Fares are around €90 one way for internal flights and also give the right to 20 kg by default.
- MASwings, another subsidiary of Malaysian Airlines. It specializes in services to Borneo, including the Indonesian part of the island (a single connection to Tarakan, in North Kalimantan) and including the small independent state of Brunei. Most connections cost around €60 one way.
Malindo Air, company from the Lion Air group, based in Indonesia, it even uses its logo. This is a subsidiary created in partnership and for the Malaysian market, but which serves various destinations, mainly in Asia. You can find promotional fares starting from €17 for internal flights. (like Kuala Lumpur – Kuching) but not giving the right to checked baggage. To do this, and for a 20 kg bag, you should expect to pay €40 for a one-way ticket, which is still reasonable.
AirAsia (And its subsidiary long haul AirAsia X), probably the best known low-cost airline in the Southeast Asian region. It's a company that I personally use a lot, mainly for its attractive prices. Because afterwards, it remains a low-cost, so a plane without screens even for intermediate flights. (tested on a Bangkok – Osaka for example), quite narrow seat, no basic meals and checked baggage at an additional cost. With this company, a flight Kuala Lumpur – Kuching can be found from €27 without hold baggage and €33 with 15 kg (+7 in cabin).

Book a hotel in Malaysia

Malaysia being quite touristy, It is easy to find accommodation. There is something for every budget range with plenty ofhomestay and hotels with prices around 25 €.

But if you prefer luxury or on the contrary, are a fan of dormitories and others guesthouse cheap, there will also be everything you need.

As I regularly return to Malaysia, I will not list here all the hotels tested (you will find that on the page dedicated to hotels in asia).

I still offer you two favorites below.

B Street Hotel

Budget: from €26

There will certainly be cheaper options in Penang, but among the many hotels tested on the island, the B Street is clearly at the top of the ranking with a very good quality-price ratio (its overall rating of 8.8 is no mistake). Its only flaw is the somewhat cramped rooms. But I appreciated its location, not too far from the Komtar tower (which can be seen from their rooftop terrace) and remaining quite close to old George Town while being on a quiet street.

Learn more and book the B Street Hotel

The Cottage Langkawi

Budget: from €18 (single room)

During my stay on the island bordering Thailand, I tested the Cottage Langkawi. Among my criteria, being not far from a beach, with something to eat and do but without breaking the bank. It is a small basic guesthouse, a little set back from the main street but corresponding well to what I was looking for. It is managed like a guest house, in a cool way.

Learn more and book Cottage Langkawi

Book your hotel in Malaysia with Booking

Health and Safety in Malaysia

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance can often make a difference in the outcome of an unexpected mishap while traveling abroad. And especially if you are going on a trip of several months in Asia, good insurance can be more than welcome, because credit card insurance is limited.

The maximum amount for healthcare costs covered by traditional credit cards may prove insufficient (around €10 compared to €000 for dedicated travel insurance) and does not cover civil liability.

I advise you ACS Travel & Expatriation Insurance Solutions.

I would like to point out that if you subscribe to the insurance via the link, I will receive a small commission. This is a simple way to help keep the site running, because insurance is preferable anyway and it will therefore be beneficial for both you and me.

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

We find the same recommendations as for many Asian countries, with no compulsory vaccinations, but a whole series remaining recommended.

First, be up to date with your standard vaccinations (DTP for adults, MMR for children). Then, depending on local travel conditions (extended stay in the countryside for example) :

Recommended vaccines:

HEPATITIS A
HEPATITIS B
RAGE
TYPHOID
ANTITUBERCULOSIS
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is especially necessary in the event of a prolonged stay in rural areas. The latter being transmitted by mosquitoes, especially at the start of the rainy season, protection against them is particularly vital, because there are other diseases transmitted by these terrible pests.

Against mosquitoes

A good mosquito repellent will be your best friend, because in Malaysia, there is a risk of contracting several viruses linked to these insects. Starting with malaria. Most doctors prescribe Malarone when people ask about recommendations for a trip to Asia.

But be aware that the side effects can be disturbing. (nausea, fatigue, etc.) and should not be taken by women wishing to become pregnant within 6 months of stopping taking the medication. It is better to use a good mosquito repellent in general rather than undergoing restrictive treatment.

Malaria is only present in a few areas of Borneo, if you are staying in the city or along the coast you should not be affected and treatment is not necessary.

Apart from malaria, dengue fever can be a problem in Borneo. There is no specific treatment (a vaccine exists but not recommended by the WHO...) so once again, prevention is better than cure.

Chikungunya or the Zika virus (which pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to) are also other possible viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. In short, mosquitoes are not our friends, protect your skin, but also your clothes, choose pants over shorts, long sleeves in the jungle or at nightfall.

You can also impregnate them with repellents and prefer light shades.

If you develop a fever during your trip, do not hesitate to contact medical services.

In Sungai Bulot, not far from Kuala Lumpur, you will have a hospital establishment specialized in the treatment of dengue fever, if ever:

Hospital Sungai Buloh, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Useful in your kit:
– antiseptics
– treatments for intestinal disorders
- mosquito repellent
– sun creams
– creams for burns

Hygiene in Malaysia

Hygiene conditions are generally very good in Malaysia, which remains a relatively developed country. However, especially if you have a sensitive stomach, there are always hygiene precautions to take to avoid any problems.

Wash your hands frequently before each meal (possibly with an antimicrobial solution since it is used without water).
Tap water is not drinkable. Drink only capped bottled water or, if this is not possible, water boiled for 30 minutes and then filtered (Lifestraw straws can be an alternative).
Meat and fish/shellfish should be well cooked before consumption. There have been a few reports of food poisoning, sometimes serious, after eating limule, a crustacean typical of these South Asian regions (called "horseshoe crab" in English).

Market stalls in Penang.

And general hygiene rules:

Avoid swimming in stagnant water (risk of parasitic infection).
Avoid walking barefoot on sand and wet ground.
Do not pet animals you meet on the street, even if they do not seem aggressive.
Remember to wear a seat belt (if possible), wear a helmet on two wheels, this is valid everywhere in the world.

For testing a Malaysian hospital (following a bedbug infection), I can say that it is not at the same standard as the excellent hospitals Thai (recognized as 6th in the world, at least in the private sector), but it remains very correct. The pick up was just a little confusing as to where to go (it was at Penang), but once we've been taken care of, it's pretty quick and on a budget.

For your safety

If we ignore the risks associated with possible natural disasters (landslide, floods, possible earthquake, especially towards the Sabah region), Malaysia remains a generally safe country.

However, there are some reports of maritime piracy, if you are a recreational boater, avoid sailing in the China, Sulu and Celebes Seas, as well as night navigation in the Strait of Malacca.

Scams, fraud and crime

As everywhere, it is still possible to encounter snatch thefts, sometimes with violence in the big cities, notably Kuala Lumpur. There are occasional reports of credit card copies being made in hotels or restaurants so be careful.

Also reported, some cases of drugged drinks to commit thefts and/or rapes, caution again when you share an evening and drinks are required, always keep an eye on your glass.

Afterwards, from my personal experience, I never really felt in danger, during the day anyway, in the evening, I never had the opportunity to hang around.

A young homeless man met near a bridge in Kuala Lumpur, the latter was working but could not afford to pay rent.

Risk areas

We can distinguish two regions presenting a specific risk:

The northern and eastern coasts of the State of Sabah, surrounding islands and maritime areas. The area is prone to frequentation by terrorist groups linked to Daech who have been carrying out kidnappings, sometimes killing, as they venture along the coast of Sabah and into the sea off the coast of the region since 2013. Although the region is placed under the mandate of ESSCOM (Eastern (Sabah Security Command), which implies the establishment of a curfew and a strong military and police presence, this does not prevent these groups of insurgents, coming from the archipelagos under the sovereignty of the Philippines (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Nice) and southern Palawan, to engage in acts of piracy and kidnapping. Navigation in this area is therefore strongly discouraged.
The border area between Malaysia and Thailand is not recommended. This is for the same reasons that the three southern provinces of Thailand are also not recommended due to an ethnic and religious conflict that has affected the region since 2004. Due to these tensions, various forms of trafficking can be encountered there. (including human beings) in this region, but only in the mountainous areas of the border. No particular problems, however, in towns like Kangar in the west or City new to the east, due to a strong presence of law enforcement.

Pratical information

– Emergency numbers –

POLICE / AMBULANCE: 999 (from landline) / 112 from mobile phone
TOURIST POLICE: 03 2149 6590

Hospitals in Kuala Lumpur

General Hospital: +60 3 26 92 10 44 (public hospital)
Gleneagles hospital 282 & 286 Jalan Ampang (emergency +60 3 41 41 30 17 / +60 3 41 41 27 18 and ambulance +60 3 41 41 31 31)
Malaysian Red Crescent: +60 3 42 57 81 22

Hospitals outside KL:

Sarawak General Hospital (Kuching/Sarawak): 22 57 55 5
Gleneagles Hospital (Penang): 22 76 11 1

French Embassy in Malaysia:

Level 31- Integra Tower 348 jalan Tun Razak50450 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +60 3 20 53 55 00

Permanence (emergencies only): +60 12 201 35 40

Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Malaysia

What to see and do in Malaysia?

Let us summarize here the top attractions in malaysia, which can be roughly divided into four regions.

The West of the Peninsula

If I have to summarize In short, what are the destinations worth stopping along the way? la West coast of the peninsula, these would be, from North to South:

- Langkawi Island
- Penang Island
- ipoh
- Cameron Highlands
- Pangkor Island
- Kuala Lumpur
- Melaka

If we go into a little detail, Langkawi is a border island to Thailand, from which it is easy to reach Ko Lipe and the Tarutao archipelago or to come to Langkawi via one of these islands, the same from Satun, if you come or want to reach the continent.

It is a large island that remains surprisingly quite chill, not too crowded like some islands in Thailand, or its "neighbor" (100 km to the south) of Penang, which is more popular in terms of attendance.

Among its main attractions, we can mention the Langkawi Sky Bridge, a suspension bridge between two peaks overlooking the western part of the island. The site is reached via a cable car and although it is obviously not free (55 MYR), it is still worth the view!

The island is also quite rich in flora and fauna., which can be observed around several waterfalls the best known of which is the so-called "Seven Wells", which translates to "seven wells". There are also some beautiful beaches like the great beach of Cenang, where restaurants and seaside activities are concentrated, but also the quietest Tanjung rhu, bordering an area of luxury hotels. For more details, I refer you to my article on what to see in Langkawi.

departure boats kilim geopark langkawi - malaysia

Then comes the island of Penang. One of the most famous islands in the country, but also more crowded. But this is understandable and as the island is large, there is never a feeling of intense crowds so it remains nice to walk around there for a few days. You can browse the old streets of George Town in search of street art (murals) and works of " Making George Town", sculptures allowing you to learn more about the history of the island.

Visit Chinese clan temples like the one in Khoo Kongsi, take a look at the indigo house. Don't miss the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Complex and go up to admire the view Penang Hill by taking the old funicular. Finally, of course, take the time to relax on one of the island's beaches.

street art rue george town penang - malaysia

sculpture making george town penang - malaysia

blue mansion - indigo house - penang - malaysia

kek lok si buddhist temple - penang - malaysia

We come to ipoh, a short stopover, perhaps not essential, before reaching the Cameron Highlands, but which has its charm. Between its murals, its remains of colonial buildings including the atypical Kellie Castle, a rich Scottish merchant, but also its temples and caves at the foot of karst cliffs, Ipoh has some arguments deserving one or two days of visit.

The Cameron Highlands are the opportunity to take some fresh air. Located at an altitude of 1 m, they enjoy a mild climate all year round, normally not exceeding 25°C. Around Tanah Rata, the main base of Cameron Highlands, you will find several tea plantations and paths suitable for hiking, especially around the moss forest.

cameron highlands moss forest - malaysia

cameron highlands tea plantation - malaysia

See the island of Pangkor, back on the coast, as a seaside bonus before joining the capital Kuala Lumpur. Besides these two twin towers Petronas and its adjacent park (KLCC park), Kuala Lumpur is known for its Place de l'Indépendance, where you can admire the facades de Sultan Abdul Building Samad, dating from the colonial eraIts different districts offer an experience for everyone, from the Bukit Bintang centre, for shopping fans, to Petaling Street, Chinatown or its Central market, Kuala Lumpur should be able to keep you busy for at least 2-3 days.

petronas twin towers kuala lumpur - malaysia

near independence square kuala lumpur - malaysia

sultan building independence square kuala lumpur - malaysia

Last step, Melaka (locally called M), oldest port in Malaysia, at the strategic position in the Strait of Melaka. Founded at the beginning of the 15th century, it was already a prosperous city when it was taken by the Portuguese. After 130 years of Portuguese domination, Melaka passed into Dutch hands for 150 years before being incorporated into the British Empire shortly before the mid-XNUMXth century. The result a multicultural city.

Starting with the remains of the old fort nicknamed A Famosa locally and the church on the hill of Saint-Paul. Not far from there, you will find animation towards Jonker Walk, the main artery of Chinatown. On your way there, you should pass in front of Red Square, recognizable by its buildings such as thechurch and the clock tower in red colors.

Close to Chinatown, known for its antique shops and especially its night market, you can visit the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, a temple of the 17th century richly decorated while just a few steps away you will have Kampung Kling Mosque, dating from 18th century century, which features a Javanese style.

Not far from there, take a stroll along the Malacca River, which can also be visited by boat. If you are looking for an original accommodation, look for theApa Kaba Guesthouse, the latter is located in a neighborhood with some old houses in the Malay style, the guesthouse itself being in a typical residence and run by a welcoming family. You will find a similar atmosphere around Sentosa Villa.

If you are hitch with sand under your feet, you can consider a little trip on the neighboring island of island Big.

The East of the Peninsula

Same story, if I make a concise summary of what characterizes this region of the peninsula, here is what emerges:

- Royal Belum State Park
- National Park
- Terengganu
- The Perhentians and Redang Islands
- Tioman Island

Small disclaimer: not having yet had the opportunity to visit these regions, the photos from this section, concerning the East of the peninsula but also the States of Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo are the property of the Malaysian government, except for exceptions (which is specified in the credits). The images are made available without compensation for promotional purposes (by the Malaysian Tourism Board) and remain the property of their respective authors.

It is a region that encompasses several important national parks, starting in the north with that of Royal Not yet State Park, bordering Thailand. The latter houses one of the oldest rainforests in the world, which would be more than 130 million years old (just that).

On the banks of its lakes (artificial ones), you can find several villages housing Orang Asli (which can be translated as “men of origins”).

The artificial lake of Royal Belum State Park

The artificial lake at Royal Belum State Park.

Semang Village at Royal Belum Park.

In Malaysia, this term refers to the aboriginal populations present before the arrival of the Malays on the peninsula, from whom an ethnic distinction is made. It is a generic term that groups together several peoples who today mainly inhabit the central regions of the peninsula. Among these peoples, we can cite the Semangs or Senois, which have a respective population of 3 individuals for the former and more than 500 for the latter. Senois.

In the national park you can take great nature excursions (mainly by boat) to observe fauna and flora such as elephants, deer, wild boars, birds, and insects for the most common, as well as many tropical trees and plants among which Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that only blooms temporarily and rots, leaving a particularly strong odor.

There are also quite a few endangered animal species living in the national park; Malayan tigers, Sumatran rhinos, Malayan bears, tapirs and white-handed gibbons, but given their rarity, you're not likely to come across them.

River passing through Royal Belum State Park.

A rafflesia flower at Royal Belum.

The most famous national park is that of Garden Country, a tropical forest area covering 4 km² in the heart of the Malay Peninsula. She would form the oldest primary forest still present on earth, not having undergone the changes of the ice ages. The park offers similar features to the Royal Not yet in terms of fauna and flora although the latter is not particularly renowned for the observation of mammals, but it remains famous for its path in the canopy, Garden Country Canopy Walk

It is also a more visited park due to its central location, easily visited from Kuala Lumpur and/or in combination with the Cameron Highlands, or passing through from/to the perhentian islands. If you have time, you can complete your visit to the region by going to Lake Kenyir.

Lata Berkoh, at Taman Negara National Park.

Kuala Koh Suspension Bridge at Taman Negara National Park.

And speaking of Perhentians, this is without any doubt doubt uno step a must-see on the east coast of the peninsula.

These two islands (Perenhtian Big et Stop Small) will be able to satisfy both backpackers than families appreciating a minimum of comfort. Both islands feature white sand beaches and turquoise waters which is all you ask for se kind of heavenly place.

Beach on Perhentian Besar Island.

The islands Perhentians Being part of a marine park, visitors must pay a 5 conservation tax RM. Also note that they are almost closed to tourists during the monsoon season from October to March.

An alternative to the Perhentians being Redang Island, located less than 30 km further south. This heart-shaped island is particularly known for hosting a sea turtle sanctuary (Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary).

The island is also part of a group of other islands and islets forming the Terengganu Marine Park, a protected marine area which includes several diving spots, the most famous being around the island of Tenggol.

A view of Redang Island.

Beach on Redang Island.

Diving at Tenggol Island.

If you pass by city of Terengganu, don't miss its very photogenic "crystal" mosque (Mosque Crystal), modern, but the setting on the waterfront is not bad at all. Another interesting point, particularly due to its exterior architecture, the Terengganu State Museum. And on the small island in the middle of the river (Pulau Duyong), just before the big bridge under construction (Draw Bridge), you can go see a wooden boat factory, used by local fishermen.

From the city there is an island even closer than those already mentioned, Cotton Island.

View of the “crystal” mosque in Terengganu.

Kapas Island Beach.

Finally, since we are still in the islands part, whose east coast lends itself well to it, we find further south the island of Tioman. Located off the coast of Mersing (in the State of Pahang), Tioman is the largest island of a group of 64 islands also making up a maritime park (so there is also an entry tax of 5 RM) is the most popular after the Perhentians et redang. The villages of Tekek et Salang offer all the amenities to enjoy the island, which has a small peculiarity since the latter is an area considered as " duty-free", meaning tax-free, as in the internal areas of airports.

From Tioman you can access one of the diving/snorkeling spots around, among the Notable islands in the area include Seribuat and Sembilang, or the Tula, Labas and Chebeh groupings.

View of Tioman Island.

Further south of Tioman are other lesser known yet closer to shore islands, Sibu and Tinggi, which can offer an alternative resting place. Further away from the coast in the same area, you have the beautiful islands of Pulau Aur and Dayang, also renowned for diving.

The State of Sarawak

We come to the island of Borneo and we start with the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak, a sort of country within a country. It is vast, but the main attractions remain concentrated around two cities:

- Kuching, the capital of Sarawak
- Miri, base for reaching the superb Gunung Mulu National Park

And we start with Kuching. The city, located not far from the sea, is bordered by canals and marshy areas with mangroves. Although there is not much in the city itself apart from the Chinatown district (China Street), its old fort (Fort Margherita) and its strange museum dedicated to cats, it is a city from which it is easy to get to the national park of Bako, the most famous in the region. It is located at 37 km Kuching and you reach its headquarters, which serves as the starting point for its many hiking trails, only by boat from the village of Bako.

Fort Mageritha in Kuching.

bakeo-national-park-kuching-sarawak-malaysia

Bako National Park.

The national park of Bako is a strip of land bordering the sea. It is renowned for its extraordinary diversity of landscapes, habitats, plants and fauna. Among the animals that can be encountered, the proboscis monkey, with its characteristic large nose. On the other hand, do not count to bathe in one of its beaches, they are today frequented by saltwater crocodiles.

The other important national park, close to Kuching is the one from Kubah, west of the city. One of the park's attractions is its waterfall near the top of Mount Serape. If you want see orangutans, one of the best centers is that of Semenggoh, South of Kuching (The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre).

Orangutan at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. Photo Credit Already (Flickr photo under creative commons license)

Finally, Kuching is a good starting point to visit one of the villages of the local tribes, living in the famous « longhouses« , long dwellings where several families live (sometimes bringing together up to 100 people). Among these tribes, we find the Ibans (former headhunters, I assure you, outside of hunting, they have since hung up their weapons long time), whose villages are located all around Kuching.

A longhouse easy to access are located at Annah Rais village, which also does homestay. However, to avoid falling into tourist traps, it may be preferable to use specialized agencies that can offer an immersion over several days in one of these remote villages. One of them is also French-speaking, Borneo on the map, created on the initiative of a French woman living in Sarawak and who happens to be married to an Iban (incidentally, I would like to point out another agency, this one English-speaking, with a good reputation, it is Rustic Borneo).

long-house-sarawak-cultural-village-kuching

Long house at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching.

Long House Homestay in Anah Rais.

The village they will take you to will be near Sibu, a town 300 km northeast of Kuching which can also serve as a stopover before reaching Miri, even further north. From Sibu (but also from Kuching), you can go to the Batang Ai National Park with its artificial lake around which Iban families are settled in their longhouses.

On your way back to Miri, you can possibly pass by Bintulu, a small seaside town, but the real interest in the region is the niah National Park, located 140 km north of Bintulu and about 90 km before arriving at Miri. This national park is famous for its cave complex, sheltering in particular swallows, which make their nests in the high walls of these caves.

batang-ai-national-park-sarawak-malaysia

At Bantang Ai National Park.

Interior of a longhouse in Batang Ai.

These are particularly in demand in Hong Kong and Singapore among the Chinese community, who see the health benefits of drinking juice extracted from these nests. A risky job for those who harvest them on bamboo ladders at dizzying heights, but a real boon for those who can get a price of up to $1000 per kilo!

The caves can be visited without a guide. One of the most popular being « Great Cellar », world famous after the discovery there of the oldest human remains in Southeast Asia (40 years). Following the trails behind the “ Great Cave”, you will come across an area called Padang before reaching the other popular cave, « Painted Cellar », where, as the name suggests, there are cave paintings dating back 1 years.

Entrance to a Niah cave.

interior-niah-miri-cave-sarawak-malaysia

Interior of a cave in Niah Park.

Finally, as mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph, Miri is the starting point towards the Mount Mulu National Park, one of the only sites in Borneo listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest park in terms of size and considered the most beautiful.

Its particularity being in particular these enormous caves of which the Clearwater Cave, the longest cave in Southeast Asia (and 8th longest in the world with its underground river running 108 km). The easiest caves to access are those of Gua Payau ou Deer Cellar and Along Cellar. Deer Cave is known for its daily spectacle of millions of bats leaving the cave to hunt in the evening.

interior clearwater cave mulu national park sarawak

Interior of Clearwater Cave, Mulu National Park. Photo credit: Sunrise Odyssey from Singapore [CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Other notable caves include Cave of the Winds, where there are beautiful stalagmites and stalactites and a cool wind blowing constantly inside (hence its name). Two hikes/treks are popular within the national park. The first, is called "headhunters trail", which consists of hiking along several authentic villages of former “headhunters”.

The other trek being the “ pinnacle trail », which leads to the Mount Api and its pinnacles (limestone rocks forming sharp peaks). Ce quite physical trek is not within everyone's reach and is generally done over 3 days and 2 nights, including an hour by boat, 9 km of walking in the middle of the jungle then 2,4 km of arduous climbing between ropes, small ladders and the few aids allowing you to reach the viewpoint on the pinnacles.

gunung mulu national park sarawak borneo

In Gunung Mulu National Park. Photo credit Luke Price (flickr photo under license Creative Commons)

pinnacles at mount mulu sarawak - malaysia

Pinnacles of Mount Mulu. Photo credit Paul White [CC BY 2.0 License], via Wikimedia Commons

The State of Sabah

Finally, we end this long section of things to see in Malaysia with the state of Sabah, on the northern tip of Borneo. The latter is more spared by the monsoon and has the advantage of being able to be visited more or less all year round. We can highlight 4 essential stages:

- Kota Kinabalu
- Sandakan
- Lahad Date
- Semporna

Its main city, Kota Kinabalu is the starting point for the mountain with the eponymous name, Mount Kinabalu, highest point in Malaysia at 4 m. Getting there is all the more of a challenge as places are limited to 185 people per day (more or less divided into half going up, and the other half going down). This is generally done on a 2 day and XNUMX night trek and will allow you to dominate the Sabah region.

Due to limited number of places, it is best to book months in advance if you count climb the mountain Kinabalu, knowing thata guide is mandatory as well as a permit.

These are normally included ins the packages that can be found on the net to carry out this climb. The rate is minimum 420 € for 2 days/1 night, vu on the official website du Mount Kinabalu ou Amazingborneo.com (not sponsored).

The best time to climb is between April and August.

View of Mount Kinabalu.

At the top of Mount Kinabalu.

If the mountains are not really your thing, then good news, there is also some islands nearby. Most of them are part of the national park of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the largest of which, the island of Style, is known for its floating village (Kampong Style).

The most conducive to relaxation being the island Manukan, true small heaven. Another island, further south, is nicknamed " Survivor Iceland", Island Tiga, since it was the scene for a season of the American equivalent of Ko lanta (the French name being named after a Thai island south of Krabi, near which the first season of the famous game took place).

Transparent waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

seabed-park-tunku-abdul-rahman-kota-kinabalu-sabah

Diving at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park off Kota Kinabalu.

Sapi Island Beach, next to Gaya Island.

La Kota Kinabalu region is also popular for making Rafting, especially on the Kiulu River, class I, II (difficulty accessible to children). If you like a challenge and are experienced in the discipline, you can try a descent on the Padas River, further south (near the small federal state of Labuan).

There are also several villages of different ethnic groups in the region, such as the Rungus, although I could not put my finger on a particular place to recommend (apparently, at the foot of the Kinabalu mountain or not far away).

rafting-kiulu-river-kota-kinabalu-sabah-malaysia

Rafting on the Kiulu River.

Rungus Village near Kota Kinabalu.

Next step, Sandakan. From this coastal town, you will have easy access to turtle island (Selingan), one of the only islands in the region open to tourism (near the Philippines), the other being the island of Langkayan, further west.

Close to the city, at the level of the Sepilok village, there are several animal rehabilitation and conservation centres. One for orangutans again (Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre) even if the latter has a more commercial aspect than that of Semenggoh (south of Kuching) and also a centre for Malayan bears.

We also find the Rainforest Discovery Centre (DRC), which allows a walk in the middle of the canopy and makes it a good spot for observing tropical birds. On the coast 20 km from Sepilok, you can also see proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay.

Orangutans in the center of Sepilok.

rainforest-discovery-centre-sepilok-sabah-malaysia

Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok.

Proboscis monkey at Labuk Bay (north of Sepilok).

It is also from Sandakan that you can go to the other main attractions of the region, the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and Gomantong Caves.

Le Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctuary along the river of the same name, Kinabatangan. Its main access is from the village of Sukau. The tour is usually done along the river by boat and allows you to encounter many wild animals including orangutans, proboscis monkeys (long-nosed tree monkeys), crocodiles, elephants, snakes, insects and many species of birds, such as kingfishers and hornbills.

Not far from there, you can take a look at Gomantong, the largest cave complex in Sabah, known for impressive colonies of swallows.

tour-river-kinabatangan-sukau-sabah-malaysia

Boat tour along the Kinabatangan River from Sukau.

Gomantong Cave. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, via Wikimedia Commons

A possible stop before going to Semporna, Lahad Date. From this small coastal town in the east of Sabah, you can visit two important reserves, Danum Valley and Tabin Reserve. If you are not satisfied with animals, these can be two good options, although the chances of seeing them are lower compared to the Kinabatangan sanctuary. Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve are on the other hand two particularly virgin primary forests.

Danum Valley forms one of the most complex ecosystems on this planet, its jungle is particularly popular with birdwatchers. In addition to its flora and fauna, you will also find waterfalls and accommodation there.

Suspension bridge in the Danum valley.

The last stop before leaving Borneo from Laughter, is of will stop Semporna, from where it is possible to land on one of the islands off the coast of this town. Before you isolate yourself on the water, you can take a look at the local museum, located on a hill from where you will have a beautiful view of the region. (Hill Tengkorak Archaeological Heritage site).

Among these islands there is the large Bum Bum, to the south of which is located the most small island from Omadal. On the water, there is a floating village of sea nomads, the Bajau According to the (also called "sea gypsies", like the Mokens in Thailand).

There is also Bohey Dulang Island and its superb viewpoint and the most small island of Mataking, known for its sandbar connecting the smaller island of Mataking Kecil.

Finally, for diving enthusiasts, head south to Semporna on the island of Mabul, from where you can access the dive site of sipadan. An island considered mythical and therefore a must for divers, appreciated for its abundant fish biodiversity.

floating-village-semporna-sabah-malaysia

Floating village off the coast of Semporna.

Boat to the islands off Semporna.

Seabed at Sipadan Island.

The peninsula in summary

Destinations

Langkawi

Penang

ipoh

Tanah Rata

National Park

Perhentians

Kuala Lumpur

Melaka

Things to see / things to do

Langkawi Sky Bridge, Seven Wells Waterfall, Cenang Beaches, Tanjung Rhu

George Town (street arts, Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion), Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si temple

Karst cliffs with caves and Chinese temples, old town (street arts, colonial buildings)

Cameron Highlands: nature hikes, tea plantations, fresh air

Ancient tropical forest, nature hike, fauna and flora

Paradise islands with white sand beaches and turquoise waters

Historic capital of Malaysia, Independence Square, Petronas Towers, KLCC Park

Malacca river walk, old fort A Famosa, St. Paul's Church, Jonker Street (chinatown)

Borneo in brief

Destinations

Kuching

sibu

Miri

Kota Kinabalu

Sandakan

Lahad Date

Semporna

Things to see / things to do

National parks (Bako and Kudah), orangutans in Semenggoh, longhouse villages

Iban villages, Chinese temples (Tua Pek Kong, Yu Lung San Tian En)

Niah Caves, Gunung Mulu National Park (caves and pinnacles)

Islands (Gaya, Manukan), Mount Kinabalu

Turtle Island, Sepilok (Rainforest Discovery Centre), Gomantong Caves, Kinabatangan River

Danum Valley, Tabin Reserve

Sipadan Islands (diving), Mataking, Omadal (sea gypsy village)

Malaysia landmarks on a map

Here is a map to locate and summarize all the destinations and places of interest in Malaysia:

malaysia map - points of interest to see and do

Malaysia Itinerary Suggestions

Malaysia is divided into two distinct areas:

The peninsula, which extends from the south of Thailand and ends before the tip where Singapore is located
The northern part of the island of Borneo, shared with Indonesia

Therefore, it seems quite logical to choose one or the other of these areas to visit during a stay in Malaysia. Because unless you really have a lot of time to devote to it (like 2 months), it might be tight if we take an average vacation duration of 15 days.

If we have to summarize the characteristics of the country, in order to target a destination, we can simplify by saying that the peninsular part allows more culturally oriented visits. Obviously there is also a very present natural aspect, with some beautiful islands and beaches, but between Geoge Town in Penang, Ipoh, the capital Kuala Lumpur or the ancient port city of Malacca, there is still enough to satisfy your thirst for history and architecture.

Finally, Borneo is clearly more nature and landscape oriented, with its gigantic caves (national park of A heap), natural parks and its many animal conservation centers, notably orangutans, there is something to satisfy those passionate about observing fauna and flora.

Here again, culture is not necessarily left out, Borneo being mainly inhabited by Dayaks (indigenous population of the island), divided into 450 ethnic groups including the Iban, Bidayuh ou Fill among the best known.

If you only have one week:

A week is short, but everyone does what they can! So when choosing, you obviously have to target. Having done several weekly stays myself, here are some possibilities for visits over this duration:

In the north of the peninsula:

- - - Visit the island of Langakawi. Possible to combine with a few days on the Thai island of Koh Lipe or Koh Adang. But there is already plenty to keep you busy between the Sky Bridge and superb view of the island, waterfalls like those of Seven Wells, visiting the Kilim geopark in the north of the island, going up to drink tea at the top of the Gunung Raya tower or finally, island obliges, sunbathing on the beach of Cenang or that of Tanjung Rhu.
    - Penang Island Tour. You can do a mix between exploring the old town of George Town and street art, and do some temple tours and relax on one of its beaches. Possible to combine with the Cameron Highlands.
    - Relaxing at the Perhentians and Redang Island

In short, there are quite a few possibilities, it's up to you to target what you prefer in terms of atmosphere and type of vacation (more discovery, or relaxation)

South of the peninsula:

- - - Visit to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, which can be combined with another destination, such as Taman Negara Park or Malacca for example.
    - Visit the city of Malacca and then relax by going to the island of Tioman, on the east coast.
    - It is still possible to do a combo leaving from Kuala Lumpur, then Malacca and finishing two or three days in Singapore.

If you have two weeks in Malaysia:

From this duration, it starts to be enough to explore the country a little more. But as time flies, I tend to focus either on the peninsula or on Borneo. Trying to combine the two in this duration seems like a bad idea to me, as you will spend too much time commuting and flying over both.

In the north of the peninsula:

Langkawi (3 nights) – Penang (3 nights) – Cameron Highlands (1 night) – Kuala Lumpur (3 nights) – Taman Negara (1 night) – Perhentians (3 nights)

South of the peninsula:

Langkawi (3 nights) – Penang (2 nights) – Cameron Highlands (1 night) – Kuala Lumpur (3 nights) – Malacca (2 nights) – Tioman (3 nights)

On Borneo:

Basically I will target either Sarawak or Sabah region.

For Sarawak, that would be something like:

Kuching (3 nights) – Bako (1 night) – Sibu (1 night) – Iban Village (3 nights) – Miri (4 nights) – Labuan (1 night) and leave from this island.

For the State of Sabah :

Kota Kinabalu (4 nights) – Sandakan (2 nights) – Sukau (2 nights) – Lahad Datu (2 nights) – Semporna (1 night + 2 nights on one of the islands) – Tawau (1 night) and leave Borneo from this city.

I would like to point out that this are not not “models” there, these remain suggestions of timing and possible destinations to see over this period. There are several parameters to consider, such as the activities you plan to do and your way of traveling. (total independence, towers locally etc.) which will influence the length of stay in each city.

If you have a full month in Malaysia:

From this duration, it remains possible to do a combined trip between the peninsula and Borneo, by making a mix between two possible itineraries over 2 weeks, one for the peninsula therefore and the other, either in Sarawak or Sabah.

Otherwise, there remains the possibility of focusing on one or the other.

Route to the peninsula

If we go on a route rather roadtrip, that is to say with a different point of arrival and exit from the country (for example, as part of a long-term trip to Asia), this could give this:

Day 1

Ideally, arrival in Langkawi.

Day 2 and 3

Visit Langkawi.

Day 4 to 7

Visit Penang.

Day 8 and 9

Drive to Cameron Highlands and visit the site.

Day 10 and 11

Visit Ipoh.

Day 12 to 14

Visit Kuala Lumpur.

Day 15 to 17

Visit to Taman Negara National Park.

Day 18

Return to Kuala Lumpur or direct travel to Malacca.

Day 19 to 21

Visit to Malacca.

Day 22

Journey to Tioman Island.

Day 23 to 26

Rest, diving in Tioman.

Day 27 to 30

Visit Singapore.

Itinerary for Borneo

If you decide to explore the island of Borneo, on the Malaysian side, here is what it could look like in one month:

Day 1 and 2

Arrival in Kuching and visit of the city (Chinatown, riverfront).

Day 3 to 6

Visit around Kuching (Bako, Kubah, Semenggoh)

Day 7 and 8

Passing through Sibu, visit to Batang Ai National Park (Iban longhouse).

Day 9

Journey to Miri.

Day 10 to 15

Visit to Niah Caves, Gunung Mulu National Park.

Day 15 to 19

Visit Kota Kinabalu and its islands or trek to the top of Mount Kinabalu.

Day 20 to 22

Drive to Sandakan and visit Sepilok.

Day 23 to 25

Tour along the Kinabatangan River and visit the Gomantong Caves.

Day 26

Drive to Semporna and transfer to one of the islands.

Day 28 to 30

Rest, diving in one of the nearby islands (Sipadan, Mataking etc.).

Day 31

Journey to Tawau, departing from Borneo.

Weather / When to go to Malaysia?

Climate:

Malaysia has an equatorial climate, which is characterized by constant heat and a high humidity level present all year round. There are two monsoon periods, which have a different influence on the amount of rain and depending on whether it is on the East or West coast.

Temperatures are around 31 degrees all year round, except for mountainous areas such as the Cameron Highlands, which, with their 1 m altitude, benefit from a milder climate all year round with temperatures around 400°C.

La winter monsoon. Also called the northeast monsoon, eIt runs from November to March. Rainfall is more intense, particularly in December, throughout the country and especially on the east coast..
The summer monsoon. Called the southwest monsoon, it takes over between the end of May and September. The latter rather waters the west coast, but in a less pronounced manner.

good weather langkawi island - malaysia — Good weather on Langkawi Island in mid May.

When is the best time to visit Malaysia?

The best time to experience Malaysia is during the summer monsoon, which brings less rain and more possible sunshine, overall, from June to September even if it remains relative after all.

Indeed, there are still disparities between the coastal cities and inland, but also between peninsular Malaysia and the part on Borneo, which is very spread out.

The west coast of the peninsula is less affected, especially in the north, so the good period can extend from January to August, this includes for example destinations like the island of Langkawi or Penang, very close to the south of Thailand and therefore with a similar climate, different from the rest of the peninsula.

The east coast of the peninsula will be significantly wetter due to the influence of the winter monsoon. What you need to remember is that The period to avoid in Malaysia is from November to January generally.

And that ultimately, what appears as the ideal months across the country are February as well as June and July.

Langkawi

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Langkawi

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	33	34	34	33	32	32	31	31	31	31	32	32
T°C Min	23	23	23	24	24	24	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	4	4	9	15	18	15	16	17	22	22	19	10
Sun**	8	8	8	8	7	6	6	6	6	6	6	7

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

LANGKAWI Weather

Penang

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Penang

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	32	32	32	32	31	31	31	31	30	30	31	31
T°C Min	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	23	24	24	24

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	9	9	12	17	18	14	16	18	23	24	22	14
Sun**	8	8	8	7	7	7	7	6	5	6	6	7

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

PENANG Weather

Cameron Highlands

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Cameron Highlands

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	21	22	23	23	23	23	22	22	22	22	22	21
T°C Min	14	14	15	16	16	16	15	15	15	15	15	15

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	11	11	16	17	18	13	14	16	20	23	21	17
Sun**	4	5	5	5	4	5	5	5	4	4	3	4

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

CAMERON HIGLANDS Weather

Kuala Lumpur

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Kuala Lumpur

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	31	32	33	33	32	32	32	32	32	32	31	31
T°C Min	22	22	22	23	23	23	22	22	22	23	22	22

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	15	15	17	20	16	12	14	15	18	22	25	21
Sun**	6	7	7	7	7	7	7	6	6	6	5	5

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

KUALA LUMPUR Weather

Black Sea Coast (Kuala Tahan)

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Kuala Lumpur

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	29	30	31	31	32	31	31	31	31	30	29	29
T°C Min	21	22	22	22	23	22	22	22	22	22	22	22

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	13	11	12	16	14	11	14	14	18	20	23	20
Sun**	6	7	7	7	7	6	7	6	6	5	5	5

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

KUALA TAHAN Weather

Redang (Perhentian)

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Redang (island near Perhentian)

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	28	29	30	32	32	32	31	31	31	30	29	28
T°C Min	22	23	23	23	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	13	9	9	11	13	12	14	15	18	20	24	23
Sun**	6	7	8	8	7	7	7	7	6	6	5	4

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

KUALA BESUT Weather

Melaka

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Melaka

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	31	33	33	32	32	31	31	31	31	31	31	31
T°C Min	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	7	7	10	13	12	10	12	12	13	14	17	11
Sun**	6	7	7	7	7	6	6	6	6	6	5	5

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

MALACCA Weather

Mersing (Tioman)

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Mersing (Tioman Island)

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	28	29	30	32	32	31	31	31	31	31	30	28
T°C Min	23	24	23	23	23	22	22	22	22	22	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	12	8	8	10	11	11	13	13	13	14	19	20
Sun**	5	7	7	7	7	7	6	6	6	6	5	4

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

TIOMAN ISLAND Weather

Johor bahru

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Johor bahru

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	32	32	32	33	32	32	31	31	31	32	31	31
T°C Min	22	22	22	23	23	23	22	22	22	23	23	22

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	11	9	13	15	15	12	13	13	13	16	17	15
Sun**	6	7	7	6	6	6	6	6	5	5	5	4

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

JOHOR BAHRU Weather

Kuching

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Kuching

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	30	30	31	32	33	33	32	32	32	32	32	31
T°C Min	23	23	23	23	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	22	17	16	17	15	14	13	14	16	19	22	22
Sun**	3	4	4	5	6	6	6	5	5	5	5	4

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

KUCHING Weather

Miri

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Miri (near Gunung Mulu)

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	30	30	31	31	32	31	31	31	31	31	30	30
T°C Min	23	23	23	24	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	14	10	9	12	13	12	11	12	14	17	17	18
Sun**	5	6	6	7	7	7	7	6	6	6	6	6

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

MIRI Weather

Kota Kinabalu

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Kota Kinabalu

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	30	31	31	32	32	32	31	32	31	31	31	31
T°C Min	23	23	23	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	8	7	6	8	12	13	13	13	14	16	17	13
Sun**	6	7	8	8	7	7	7	6	6	6	6	6

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

KOTA KINABALU Weather

Sandakan (Sepilok)

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Sandakan (Sepilok)

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	29	29	30	32	33	32	32	32	31	32	31	30
T°C Min	23	23	23	24	24	23	22	23	22	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	18	12	10	7	9	12	12	13	13	15	18	19
Sun**	5	6	7	8	8	7	7	7	6	6	6	5

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

SEPILOK Weather

Tawau (Sipadan)

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Tawau (Sipadan)

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	32	31	32	32	32	32	31	31	32	32	32	32
T°C Min	22	22	23	23	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	13	11	10	10	12	12	14	13	12	13	13	13
Sun**	6	7	7	7	8	6	7	7	7	6	6	6

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

SEMPORNA Weather

What budget for Malaysia?

Banknotes used in Malaysia: 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Ringgits will be the denominations you will encounter the most. They also use coins as cents, but are often more bulky that useful.

Credit cards in Malaysia are quite commonly accepted, at least on the peninsula it was common in well-established businesses. Obviously, for street restaurants or simpler, the cash remains roi.

With a rate of approximately 1 € = 5 RM The conversion is pretty easy, basically you divide the prices by 5 to get an idea of the price.

Hotels / Accommodations

Tourism being quite developed locally (Asian market for many), the offer there is extensive, the other good news is that it is generally very cheap.

If you are an AirBnb fan, you can usually find apartments in the main cities.

Obviously, prices will go up a notch on the islands and during peak periods. (especially in July/August). Basically, in this case you will have to count on prices starting around 160 RM for simple bungalows and around 700 RM for the top of the range.

Below, I give you some average price examples, more for the city, where the choice of hotels makes the prices attractive.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

For single room guesthouses and motels, possible from 40 RM (9 €)
For guesthouses with air-conditioned rooms and basic hotels, it varies around 60 RM (13 €)
For mid-range, more cosy hotels, expect to pay around 100 RM (22 €)
For the highest end, you can find deals starting at 160 RM (35 €), with many offers around 220 RM (50 €)

Meals / drinks

Like all Asian countries, you can find cheap snacks and eats. There is often this system of "food courts", where you can choose simple dishes from a row of stalls.

A basic small fried rice usually costs around RM12, which is the same as the basic small dishes, which cost around RM10-15. The cheapest is the fried noodles, Mee Goreng, which cost around RM7.

There are also many Indian restaurants offering tray sets, too. about 12 RM. Although it is a Muslim country, you can find everything due to the Chinese influence as well, so it is possible to eat something other than beef or chicken, although these will be the most common meats.

For a more international restaurant, expect to pay around RM60 for a full meal such as starter-main course-dessert. There is also beer, although it is a little more expensive than in other Southeast Asian countries.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

A small bottle of water costs on average RM1,3 (€0,3)
A meal costs on average 12 RM (2,5 €) per person
Snack (samosa, roti canai) RM4 (€0,9)
Coffee (local coffee) 1,5 RM (0,4 €) / real coffee (like Starbucks, because difficult de find otherwise) 10 RM
A local beer 15 RM (0,33 liters)

Transport

Transport is generally inexpensive and quite well developed. It is easy to get from one city to another, especially by bus. Fares will depend on the type of bus and the route in question.

For example, a trip from Penang to the Cameron Highlands costs 40 RM (8,5 €), which took 7 hours (including a break), while a trip from Kuching to Miri, which takes 14 hours, costs 90 RM (19 €), which remains reasonable and inexpensive.

Taxis are also found everywhere, with good rates, starting at RM3 and then RM1.25 per kilometer. You can usually get by for RM15 for a 10 km trip.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

Motorbike rental: usually RM35 per day (€7,5) + RM2,2 per litre (€0,5)
Local bus: for long journeys, expect to pay around RM50 (€11) per person on average
For city buses, expect to pay around RM3 per trip (depending on distance)

Small budget
^€ 15
jour
13 € for 2

5 € per person

3 € per person

Free activities

Medium budget
^€ 33
jour
22 € for 2

11 € per person

7 € per person

4 € per person

Comfortable budget
^€ 45
jour
40 € for 2

20 € per person

8 € per person

7 € per person

Minimum daily budget suggestion / person - 26 € (Note: budget for a mid-budget holiday, with 1* or 2* hotel, otherwise mostly guesthouses; meals mainly in simple restaurants and use of public transport. Some paid visits but not too many).

Articles about Malaysia

My articles about my stays in Malaysia.

08/04/2019

Malaysia

Discover Ipoh in 2 days: between colonial past and street art

Ipoh is an ancient town that emerged from the tin mines that dotted the valley of

Continue reading...
27/06/2016

Malaysia

Langkawi: what to do and see on the island of the Malaysian archipelago

Continue reading...
09/07/2014

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: the must-see places in the Malaysian capital

The complete guide to Kuala Lumpur: from Batu Caves to the Petronas Towers, with practical tips for an unforgettable visit.

Continue reading...
18/05/2014

Malaysia

Cameron Highlands: Malaysia's Tea Plantations

I appreciated that morning of the tour not having to get up at the crack of dawn. In addition, we came

Continue reading...
14/05/2014

Malaysia

Tanah Rata: the base for exploring the Cameron Highlands

We were leaving very early that morning from Komtar Tower in Penang. Without knowing exactly where the bus stop was

Continue reading...
09/05/2014

Malaysia

Penang: George Town's history through street art and sculptures

An original way to discover the old town of George Town, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Find the best

Continue reading...

Any opinions, suggestions? Leave me a comment!

Asia Country Guide Malaysia

Roman

16/09/2019

Romain B.

When I discovered Thailand in 2006, I certainly didn't expect to settle down there 2 years later! Since then, I've been based in Bangkok and I regularly travel throughout Asia. I share my stories, photos, advice on expat life in Thailand and on Asian countries, for those who want to discover the land of smiles, who are looking for a bit of adventure and those who dream of Asia (or those who just want to dream ;-)

Cookie	Duration	Description
yt-remote-cast-installed	Session	The yt-remote-cast-installed cookie is used to store the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video.
yt remote connected devices	never	YouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt remote device id	never	YouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-fast-check-period	Session	The yt-remote-fast-check-period cookie is used by YouTube to store the user's video player preferences for embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-session-app	Session	The yt-remote-session-app cookie is used by YouTube to store user preferences and information about the interface of the embedded YouTube video player.
yt-remote-session-name	Session	The yt-remote-session-name cookie is used by YouTube to store the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video.
ytidb :: LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY	never	The cookie ytidb::LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY is used by YouTube to store the last search result entry that was clicked by the user. This information is used to improve the user experience by providing more relevant search results in the future.
_lscache_vary	2 days	Litespeed sets this cookie to provide the prevention of cached pages.
_mcid	1 year	This is a Mailchimp functionality cookie used to evaluate the UI/UX interaction with its platform

Cookie	Duration	Description
visitor_id	1 year 1 month 4 days	Set by Pardot, this cookie is used for visitors. The cookie contains a unique ID and identifier for the account which is derived from the Pardot tracking code placed on the site.
_ga	1 year 1 month 4 days	Google Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_UA- *	1 minutes	Google Analytics sets this cookie for user behavior tracking.n
_gid	1 day	Google Analytics sets this cookie to store information on how visitors use a website while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data collected includes the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
_sp_id.*	1 year 1 month 4 days	Snowplow sets this cookie to store user information that is created when a user first visits a site and is updated on subsequent visits.
_sp_ses.*	1 hour	Snowplow sets this cookie to store user information that is created when a user first visits a site and is updated on subsequent visits.

Cookie	Duration	Description
NID	6 months	Google sets the cookie for advertising purposes; to limit the number of times the user sees an ad, to unwanted mute ads, and to measure the effectiveness of ads.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	6 months	YouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA	6 months	YouTube sets this cookie to store the user's cookie consent state for the current domain.
YSC	Session	Youtube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt.innertube :: nextId	never	YouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has watched.
yt.innertube :: requests	never	YouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has watched.
_pin_unauth	1 year	Pinterest set this cookie to group actions for users who cannot be identified.

Cookie	Duration	Description
agoda.analytics	1 hour	No description available.
agoda.prius	1 year	No description available.
agoda.user.03	1 year	No description available.
ar_debug	1 year	Description is currently not available.
is_eu	Session	No description available.
kepler_id	1 year 1 month 4 days	Description is currently not available.
night	1 year	Description is currently not available.
partner_id	never	No description available.
TESTCOOKIESENABLED	1 minutes	Description is currently not available.
_mc_anon_id	perfectly	Description is currently not available.
__you	6 months	Description is currently not available.
__Secure-ROLLOUT_TOKEN	6 months	Description is currently not available.