Holidays in Malaysia

If you were to pick somewhere for a snapshot of all of Asia, then Malaysia is it. Multi-cultured and a mosaic of landscapes, Malaysia is a microcosm of the continent, harbouring everything from virgin jungle to velvety sands and lively local life. For a luxury holiday, it has it all.

Kuala Lumpur is a dynamic punch of culture, with Malay, Chinese and Indian communities the heartbeat of a cosmopolitan landscape comprising glittering skyscrapers, mega-malls, temples and grand colonial buildings.

For many, the island of Borneo is the embodiment of wild and remote. The Malaysian portion lives up to travellers’ fantasies – and then some – with its lush tangle of rainforest hiding a bounty of wildlife, including its well-known orangutans and unique tribal life. Peninsular Malaysia has plenty of places to explore, from the history and cuisine of Penang to the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands.

If you want to switch off for a few days, Malaysia’s east coast is a haven of tranquility and Langkawi, bobbing on the west side near the Thai border, promises pristine beaches. With popular neighbours Thailand and Bali nearby, the quieter vibe of Malaysia often slips from many people’s minds. But if you’re wise enough to keep its many fascinating faces firmly in your holiday travel plans, you’ll be in for a treat.

Malaysia is unique in the fact it has a sprinkling of many different experiences in one country, whether it's the remote rainforests of Borneo, the urban bustle of Kuala Lumpur or the idyllic island of Langkawi. You could stay in a rustic jungle lodge, a sleek city suite and a luxury beachside bolthole, all in a single holiday!

Temperatures across Malaysia rarely deviate from around 30°C throughout the year. Depending on where you’re going in Malaysia, the weather can differ wildly.

Western Peninsular

Malaysia In Kuala Lumpur, it is hot and humid year-round and showers occur daily, intensifying during the rainy season from April to October. However, the rains help clear the humidity, with the weather more pleasant afterwards.

In the Cameron Highlands, temperatures are far cooler – around 23°C during the day and can dip below 15°C at night – and perfect for tea-growing. The rains are at their heaviest between September and December.

Penang and the island of Langkawi are typically tropical, hot and humid with occasional showers throughout the year. Even in September and October, when it’s meant to be wettest, you could easily go a week with sunshine and only a brief downpour.

Eastern Peninsular Malaysia

Places like Tioman Island and Tanjung Jara are hot and sunny for most of the year, with cooling breezes from the South China Sea tempering the humidity. The east coast can be tricky to visit between November and February, when the monsoon strikes, which is more powerful on the eastern side of Peninsular Malaysia than the west.

Borneo

Temperatures in Borneo rarely fluctuate beyond 27-32°C across the year. In Sarawak, the rainy season runs from the end of October to February (peaking in January), while if you’re visiting the Iban tribes inland, you’re likely to see some rain whatever time of year you go. The dry season lasts from March to early October, with June and July seeing the least rainfall. While the wet and dry seasons are roughly the same, the weather in neighbouring Sabah is not as black and white as Sarawak. Rainfall is fairly unpredictable but there’s not as much as what Sarawak receives, with showers typically short and sharp in the afternoon.