Malaysia Holidays

Things to do in Malaysia

Get to the top of the Petronas Towers

The Petronas towers are the iconic centrepiece of Kuala Lumpur, and indeed, Malaysia. At 88 floors high they are the tallest twin towers in the world, venture to the top of the towers for the best view of the city.

Hike through the Cameron highlands

The Cameron highlands have a pleasant, temperate, climate with daytime temperatures consistently in the mid-twenties. In British colonial times this was an area in which the British grew and exported tea, a tradition which continues today. Walk amongst the rolling hills and watch the pickers work methodically through the fields selecting the very best leaves – one of the most scenic places to do this is Boh Sungai Palas Tea Estate. It’s not only tea that brings visitors to this region, the Cameron highlands has some excellent hiking opportunities, most notably the Mossy Forest and trek up to Thompson falls.

Sample the cuisine in Penang

One of the things that you will realise on your holiday to Malaysia is that Malaysian’s take their food very seriously. Perhaps nowhere epitomises this more than Penang. Situated in the North West corner of peninsular Malaysia – not far from the Thai border – this island has historically been a mélange of different cultures. Goods were traded here from “the East” to the markets of Europe and the Middle East. As a result, the area has a thriving art scene and one of the most famous street food scenes in the world – browse through the stalls and chew your way through Laksas, Mee Goreng, Popiah and Roti dishes.

Laze on the beach in the Perhentian islands

The Perhentian islands are relatively unknown and, luckily, they have not been overdeveloped – although it may be due to the fact that these islands are completely devoid of roads. There are two Perhentian islands – Perhentian Besar – known for luxury travel, and Perhentian Kecil – which has more of a backpacker influence. Whichever island you choose you will be treated to secluded beaches of pure white sand and warm turquoise waters.

Dive in Sipadan

Sipadan is one of the world’s best diving sites and is, as Jacques Cousteau stated, “an untouched piece of art…”. This atoll sits in the middle of the Celebes sea and is a magnet for marine life – some of the things that can be seen here are Reef sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Manta Rays, Barracuda and a variety of turtles. If you cannot dive here, make sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to explore the underwater riches on your Malaysian holiday.

Ride the Langkawi Cable Car

To the far North of Peninsula Malaysia, sitting in the Malacca straight, is Langkawi – home to beautifl natural landscapes, expansive parks and the Langkawi Sky Bridge and Cable Car. The cable car takes patrons on a journey to the top of Mount Mat Cincang, where there are views of Langkawi’s dense rainforest landscapes, small islets and waterfalls.

Things to see in Malaysia

Mount Kinabalu

Found on the island of Borneo is Mount Kinabalu - the tallest mountain in South East Asia – is a must see, even if you are not feeling up to climbing it. Mount Kinabalu’s jagged plateau rises up through the clouds like a crown. Those who are daring enough to attempt the climb will be treated to a unique cloud forest environment which contains 4,500 different species of flora and fauna, including the world’s largest flower – Rafflesia.  

Taman Negara

Fancy hiking through virgin rainforest dating back 130 million years? Then you can’t go wrong by visiting Taman Negara national park on your holiday to Malaysia. Here you can enjoy a wealth of outdoor activities including trekking, caving, fishing, camping and walking along the world’s longest canopy walkway.  

Gunung Mulu National Park

Malaysia is split into peninsula Malaysia and Bornean Malaysia. On the Malaysian Borneo side is some of the most incredible wildlife and scenery you are likely to see in the world. Known for its dramatic Karst caves and peaks like the Deer Cave, home to over 3 million bats, or the striking pinnacles jabbing through the rainforest.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

This extravagant building has been part of Kuala Lumpur since its beginning. The Islamic aesthetics are beautiful and consist of copper domed spires and open spiral staircases.

Orang Utans in Borneo

Although their plight has been well documented through various nature documentaries but nothing can compare to seeing them in the wild. The only great apes native to Asia orangutans share 97% of their DNA with humans and it’s impossible not to feel an affection towards these curious animals.

When to Go to Malaysia

Located just above the equator, Malaysia experiences an equatorial climate, bringing hot and humid weather, with the occasional burst of rain. This means that there’s always sunshine somewhere, making Malaysia a year-round destination. Malaysia experiences just two seasons, the West Coast monsoon and the East Coast monsoon.

More About Malaysia

Capital city: Kuala Lumpur

Currency: Malaysian ringgit

Language: Malay

Vaccinations: We recommend visiting your doctor or our Travel Clinic six weeks before travelling. Travellers from the UK to Malaysia are recommended to be vaccinated for MMR, DTaP, Typhoid and Hepatitis A.

Getting There

Flight time: The London to Kuala Lumpur flight time is 13 hours, 10 minutes.

Visas: British Citizens do not require a visa if staying for under 90 days.