Malaysia Tour

Malaysia Tour Packages Starting @9500/-
Planning a holiday in Southeast Asia? Look up Malaysia packages as it is a Southeast Asian gem that is worth planning a trip to. Divided into two flanks by the South China Sea, Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo’s East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand, and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia.

East Malaysia has a land and maritime border with Indonesia and Brunei, as well as a maritime border with Philippines and Vietnam. You will be able to browse through Malaysia tour packages on Everest holiday that incorporates all its significant attractions and getaways.

Malaysia: An overview Ahead of booking one of the Malaysia holiday packages, you need to get a sense of the topography of this unique country, its prominent destinations. You will discover on a Malaysia trip just how culturally rich the country is, and how diverse its ethnic heritage.

The milieu of Malaysia is made up of Chinese, Malays, indigenous groups and Indians spread out across its dynamic cities and rural countryside. It is owing to this rich cultural heritage that the country has such amazing cuisine, colourful annual festivals, traditional architecture and motley of handicraft.

Add to it the stunning natural beauty of the country that encompasses beaches of pristine white sands and some of the world’s most ancient rainforests, a whole array of them easy to access. Malaysia’s national parks are well-preserved, home to an array of endemic and rare species, and offers amazing bird watching opportunities.

From cave exploration to white water rafting, for the outdoorsy type there is no better destination than Malaysia.

Things to do in Malaysia From pulsating cities, sumptuous cuisine, idyllic beaches, picturesque islands, well-preserved national parks home to an astounding variety of wildlife, ancient tropical forests, there are so many things to do in Malaysia that you would be spoilt for choice.

Malaysia’s diverse culture Malaysia as its popular punchline states, is indeed ‘truly Asia’ for being at the crossroads of several Asian cultures. You will find here Chinese of diverse religious heritage, Muslim Malays, Hindu and Muslim Indians aside from the indigenous folks of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

Every culture here has its own unique tradition and heritage, leading to a fascinating array of cuisine with their roots in tradition and a social calender packed with colourful festivals and cultural events.

Ancient tropical forests
The equatorial rainforests are characteristic of Malaysia. It is home to a huge flank of primary forests which are among the earth’s most ancient ecosystems. But the best thing about Malaysia is that this vibrant forest cover is conserved through preservation projects and national parks. The age-old trees, the rivers meandering through them while awe-inspiring open up phenomenal opportunities for nature walk led by experienced guides or rangers.

The dazzling biodiversity, the range of orchids and lianas in the lowlands which are very humid, to the rhododendrons and coniferous jungles in the higher altitude, would leave you breathless.

Dramatic cities
Kuala Lumpur is the gleaming capital of Malaysia, a landscape where contemporary new-age buildings are juxtaposed with colonial structures and pockets of immense greenery, leaving you to shuttle between air-conditioned malls and traditional open-air shopping hubs. UNESCO World Heritage Site Melaka annd Georgetown in Penang have architecture that is distinctive and has a cultural structure that has fostered the Southeast Asian culture and trade.

For a diverse cultural experience, head to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and get a fascinating insight into life in Borneo.

Exotic wildlife
Malaysia promises an encounter with the wildlife in its accessible rainforests and conservation areas. The birdlife of this region is tremendous, and outside of an array of insects, you might also spot a tapir, an orangutan swinging from the branches or a silvered leaf monkey. The oceans are warm and dazzling in their array of marine life, perfect to go diving or snorkelling in.

The waters are abundant with sea turtles, schools of vibrant tropical fish, dolphins, sharks and a coral garden that is as colourful as they come. And if you do not intend to go beyond the urban sprawl, head out to places like the KL Bird Park, or the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and spot birds and orangutans in their natural habitat.

Places to visit in MalaysiaGiven the country’s unique geography and culture, there are several stellar and diverse places to visit in Malaysia. We list down a few for you:

Kuala Lumpur and aroundKuala Lumpur or KL as it is popularly called is the capital of Malaysia, and was founded in the middle of the 19th century at the peak of the Klang Valley. Some of its grandest structures are around the Merdeka Square that goes back to the 1890s with a vast range of influences from the British era.

But now these have been overshadowed by the modern-day landmarks such as the Petronas Towers grazing the sky. Then there is the eclectic population of Kuala Lumpur which is a fine blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures, influencing the street, food and the cultural landscape with the presence of Buddhist temples, mosques and Hindu shrines in the same townscape.

Eating out in Kuala Lumpur: Food is integral to the local life and traditions of Kuala Lumpur, ranging from local as well as avant-garde international offering. Anywhere you travel within the country, you are apt to find swish restaurants, bistros, cafes, pubs and sumptuous and hygienic street-side offering.

The eating-out scene is extremely cosmopolitan with ample scope for upmarket dining, as well as humble roadside stalls that specialise in Indian, Malay and Chinese street food. You would find food courts near major office blocks and shopping avenues where the food is filling and inexpensive. And everywhere you travel in the capital city, you won’t be disappointed by their laksa or spring rolls, an indicator of how serious the locals take their food quality.

There are cosy little cafes and restaurants housed inside a refurbished shophouse, and on the other end of the spectrum there are five-star hotels with their plush banqueting halls, and each offer a perfect gastronomic experience.

Chinatown: Chinatown extending southeast from Central Market is Kuala Lumpur’s original commercial complex that goes back to the time the first traders arrived in the 1860s. It was only by the late 19th century that the place came up to its current state with coffee shops, temples, Chinese shophouses.

But it is the atmospherics of Chinatown that brings in more travellers than its actual sights. There are plenty of budget accommodation, is a treasure-trove of delicious yet inexpensive places to eat as well as shop, and to simply browse around.

Little India: Little India lies to the east of the lower part of Jalan TAR. This is the commercial hub for Kuala Lumpur’s Indian community. Just a few steps north from the Masjid Jamek LRT station is Jalan Melayu that is home to a clutch of Indian stores, selling sweet confections.

As you approach Jalan Masjid India, you would come across a popular covered market, quite like Jalan Petaling in Chinatown. Up ahead is Masjid India that goes back to the 1960s and tiled in brown and beige. As you walk along the street, you will land in a little square that has several kedai kopis. Once its evening street vendors hit the area, selling an assortment of street-food.

You need to turn off left to get to Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman on whose northern flank is a night market which gets the busiest on the weekends. The stalls here are run by the Malays and sell an array of trinkets, knickknacks and t-shirts. For some interesting range of Indian textiles, do visit Semua and Madras.

The colonial district: The historical heart of Kuala Lumpur, this little colonial district came up at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers. Merdeka Square lies at its heart, on the west bank of Klang River. It is a beautifully-maintained open field where Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, brought down the British flag in 1957 and declared independence.

A 311-foot-tall flagpole lies to the south and is considered the tallest in the world. Beneath is a tiled square where locals and tourists come around in the evenings. For an example of Anthony Norman’s Moorish-style architecture visit the Sultan Abdul Samad Building from 1897. Vividly floral, it is an impressive red-and-grey-brick structure with arches and windows.

The facade has a 134-foot-high clock tower and copper domes. The structure was originally the headquarters of the colonial administration, later the courts of law. Currently, the structure houses the Information, Communication and Culture Department. The place looks stunning at night when it is done up with rice lights.

The Golden Triangle: The Golden Triangle is the modern-day heart of Kuala Lumpur. A lovely rambling fraction that has Jalan Ampang to its north, and Chinatown and Sungai Klang to its west. While a lot of tourists rush to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre or KLCC, it is truly the Petronas Towers that is the chief attraction of the area, towering over some of the city’s toniest malls.

South of the Golden Triangle is another iconic landmark, Bukit Bintang, home to several upmarket, malls and some of the city’s best restaurants and hotels with a very upbeat street-life. To the east is Kuala Lumpur’s largest handicraft gallery, Kompleks Budaya Kraf. To the northwest is Bukit Nanas, a wooded hill which has the Menara KL communications tower opening up a bird’s eye view over Kuala Lumpur.

The Petronas Towers: The most recalled image of Malaysia, the twin columns of the Petronas Towers soar 1479 foot above Kuala Lumpur downtown, even bigger than the massive Suria KLCC Mall at its foot. In 1998, the year in which it was completed, Petronas was the headquarters of the state-run oil company Petronas.

Designed by Cesar Pelli of Argentina, the structure has come to be synonymous with Malaysia, and still its most breathtaking piece of architecture. But the Petronas Towers is more than just a significant landmark. It is the culmination of the different ethnic heritages of the country. For instance, its eight-pointed cross-sectional profile is influenced by Islamic art.

Then there are the squares and circles on the inner walls that mean strength and harmony. Outside of its prominent art deco feel, the tower also draws from the Chinese numerology tradition, what with the towers having 88 floors and with the postcode 59088, eight being an auspicious number for the Chinese. A skybridge joins both the towers at the forty-first and forty-second floors.

You can take in stunning views of KL from the skybridge. But you have the best views from the Observation Deck at Level 86.

The West CoastPeninsular Malaysia is the most populated region in the west coast, all the way from the north of Kuala Lumpur to the open border with Thailand. The natural attractions of the region are spellbinding, and just as astounding is the cultural diversity. To get a sense of Malaysia’s rural beauty, there is no better place than Cameron Highlands, an erstwhile hill station patronised by the British that is known for its salubrious surroundings, forest walks and cream teas.

The Cameron Highlands: Located about 200 kilometre north of Kuala Lumpur are the wooded hills of Banjaran Titiwangsa, Peninsular Malaysia’s major mountain range. The Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s most stunning hill station. It was christened after William Cameron, a surveyor in the British government who came across the area in 1885.

But it wasn’t until the next forty years that civil servant Sir George Maxwell began developing it into a hill station. The area soon saw the influx of Chinese vegetable farmers, Indian tea planters and wealthy landlords who came to it in search of a weekend retreat. They set up tea plantation in the area and built their own Tudor-style buildings.

The region is extremely busy during Malaysia school holiday season between March and May, yet it is great for nature walks, the cool climate of the region facilitating the growth of strawberries, and unwinding at a cafe with a cup of tea and some scones. At the heart of the hiking trail is Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands’ main town with some swish places to stay and eat at.

About 5 kilometre north is Scruffier Brinchang that too offers several nature walks. It also has several fruit and vegetable farms on its fringes. The region receives rainstorms in the dry season. But the temperature plummets at night regardless the season, so it makes sense to bring warm clothes as well as rain gear whenever you visit.

Pulau Langkawi: Located off the 30 kilometre south of the Thai border, Pulau Langkawi is the largest archipelago of islands that are largely inhabited spread across 500 square kilometre. The region has some of the best white sand beaches in the entire western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, a reason a whole horde of tourists make a beeline for Malaysia.

Aside from lazing on its alabaster beaches, you can go on a mangrove cruise and spot the sea eagles diving into the waters to make a kill. There are opportunities to snorkel and even scuba dive at Pulau Payar Marine Park. But one of the most popular activity pursued by almost all visitors to Langkawi is riding the Langkawi Cable Car over ancient rainforest to the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang.

Believed to be a hub for pirates in the olden days, the Langkawi of today is a tony resort town complete with its own airport and housing some of Malaysia’s most expensive hotels. But by the same token the destination also has a sprinkling of accommodation targeted at budget travellers.

Penang: About 370 kilometre from Kuala Lumpur, up the west coast and about 170 kilometre from the Thailand border is Penang, the island-state. Georgetown is Penang’s capital city, a lively little place with its concentration of colonial buildings and a diaspora made of Malay, Indian and Chinese immigrants.

Little wonder, the cultural scene of the town is diverse and palpable. Georgetown is a centre for Peranakan heritage alongside Singapore and Melaka. In the region you will come across some breathtaking Chinese temples built by merchants in a display of their wealth. Other than temples there is a complete central quarter with shophouses, several beautifully restored, making the UNESCO World Heritage list.

It is Pulau Pinang you are likely to base your stay out of Georgetown. Spend a couple of days exploring the entire island with its beach resorts, a marine national park letting you see nesting turtles, a few unique temples and some of the region’s most renowned food stalls.

Georgetown: At the heart of Georgetown lies the ruins of Fort Cornwallis that served as a fortress in the early years. Then there is its most iconic construction, the KOMTAR centre. In between are the labyrinthine alleys of Chinatown with its smattering of shophouses and grand clan association halls, some of them still being restored, enclosing the ethnic district of Little India and a little Muslim quarter.

A majority of the island’s population lives in Georgetown. Its historic lanes, eclectic streetlife are fine to browse on an evening. Georgetown has everything of tourist interest, from museums, shops, restaurants, temples and plush and boutique hotels, all within a short walk of the arterial roads such as Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling and Lebuh Chulia.

You can explore the remainder of the island on a bus from Terminal Weld or KOMTAR, they are on the seafront where the ferries come in from Butterworth.

The interior
The interiors of Peninsular Malaysia is made up of massive swathes of land, extending northeast of Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu on the east coast. Until a while ago, the region was very remote, threaded by rivers and streams, and was marked up jagged sandstone peaks and lush valleys that were home to the Orang Asli group.

The sole means of transportation was by rivers. But then the planters, merchants and investors came in and exposed this remote land to the trappings of 21st century. They build the earliest roads in the region, further to which railway arrived in the ‘20s, leading to the setting up of townships like Kuala Lipis, Temerloh and Gua Musang.

Kuala Tahan: Kuala Tahan is a green township with guesthouses and several floating restaurants, all of it facing a green jungle patch across the Tembeling River. Visitors predominantly gather here to find out about Taman Begara and to register and pay the park fee. Then they need to take a ferry ride over the river to get to the park’s trekking trails.

Hiking at Kuala Tahan: Photocopies of trail maps are handed out to hikers at Kuala Tahan. The treks come for more than 10 kilometre from the base for which you would need a guide. There are hikes for the moderately fit to those that are highly fit. Even for the easiest of day hikes, you are advised to inform the park staff about the same, in case you get stuck somewhere.

It is best to make your way out of here before the dark. You might spot wild animals along the way, so keep your cameras, binoculars handy.

The Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary: The southern side of the interior is worth stopping by at to visit the Wildlife Department-run Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre. Care is provided to elephants that are relocated to reserves from places where their habitat has been destroyed.

If you come in at around 02:00 pm, the visitors, for a couple of hours, are allowed to feed, ride and even bathe the gentle giants. You might as well carry change of clothes.

The East CoastThe East Coast extends for 400 kilometre from the northeast point of Peninsular Malaysia to Kuantan. The region brings in visitors for various reasons such as the picturesque islands, the sunny beaches lapped by aquamarine waters and the region’s Malay culture.

For those into diving and snorkelling can try out islands like Pulau Kapas, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang. To the south there is the coastal enclave of Cherating that is popular with backpackers. You could even round up the lively city of Kota Bharu which is close to the Thai border, known for its performing arts scene and Malay craft.

Cherating: Cherating is a charming laidback village about 45 kilometre north of Kuantan. The old town Cherating Lama is a small travellers’ community. An array of activities have come up in this destination. As you go down the coast you would arrive in Cherating Baru which has a smattering of resorts for those seeking a seaside sojourn.

A trip to Cherating is incomplete without rounding up its beach. The sands are a lovely pale caramel colour. You are advised to avoid swimming in low tide as the sea recedes quite a bit. While there might not be a sunrise view, you could always come out for a morning walk, with just a few fishing boats around at that time.

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary: Close to the Club Med development, around the headland is the turtle sanctuary of Cherating. There is an information centre with some information on them, aside from a few tanks. But it is the laying season that holds the real appeal. You can come in late at night and meet the ranger on duty and head out to the hatchery and join them as they wait for the green turtles as well as the hawksbill turtles to arrive.

They typically release the hatchlings at around 10:30 pm.

Kota Bharu: Kota Bharu is the capital of Kelantan and lies in the northeastern edge of the Peninsula on the east bank of Sungai Kelantan river. This is perhaps the most fascinating town culturally in Malaysia. Crucial to the Malay culture, the region fosters several art forms that are influenced by several southeast Asian countries as well as India.

Visit Kota Bharu to understand the region’s unique heritage. Visit the Cultural Centre and see the different cottage industries that operate in this hinterland. There is wood-carving, kite-making, batik-printing. The city also has its share of historical buildings, a majority of them have been turned into museums and some delightful markets.

The surrounding countryside has a smattering of Buddhist temples. You can explore the city centre on foot. At the centre is a clock tower that defines the three major roads of the town such as the Jalan Hospital, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim and Jalan Temenggong. The biggest shops in the area and the market are located between Jalan Pintu Pong and Jalan Hospital.

The South
Just below Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, to the south of the Malay Peninsula is home to Malaysia’s cultural and historical towns. The most significant one among them is Melaka in the west coast that was founded in the 15th century, ushering in the ‘golden age’ under the Melaka Sultanate. But the sultanate did not last long and the Portuguese took over the region in the 16th century, marking the beginning of the colonial era in Malaysia.

Modern-day Melaka has many historical structures and a unique cultural heritage.

Desaru: Desaru is one of Malaysia’s most remarkable beaches. It is a sheltered stretch and the bay is fringed by casuarina groves. The resort closest to Desaru is Singapore, making it very busy during weekends and the Malaysia school holidays. You should avoid travelling to Desaru in the monsoon as the currents are strong, and in case there is a red flag, you are advised to not go near the water.

Closeby is the Balau Beach that has a few resorts, though swimming is not allowed here at any time of the year.

Melaka: Even when Singapore was just a fishing village, Melaka was quite influential. Under the Melaka Sultanate who founded the region in the early 15th century, the cultural, social and political scene really thrived, and in a way defined the Malay traditions and set up its ethnic roots.

But in the colonial era after the Portuguese took over the city suffered neglect. But in the recent years, a land reclamation project formed the Taman Melaka Raya district, and later in 2008 it gained the UNESCO World Heritage Site status together with Penang. But unlike Penang, the tourism projects in Melaka are not so aggressive; its untouched air a definite highlight of your Malaysian holiday.

Sarawak
The forested highlands, intriguing tribal cultures, Sarawak feeds into the image that travellers have of Borneo. It is Malaysia’s largest state with a host of national parks that have everything from endemic wildlife, cave systems to coastal swamp forests. Sarawak has one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems.

The region opens up tremendous opportunities to trek within and outside of the protected area, making it possible to visit the traditional longhouse communities.

Niah National Park: The park is a 90-minute drive south of Miri. Its major attraction are the limestone caves which you can wander through, see the places that narrow into a tunnel. The caves have bats in them, and folks too who harvest bat guano and swiftlet nests through the year.

The coexistence of caves, wildlife, communities working in them and the rainforest and given Niah’s archaeological importance, make it a must-visit on your trip to Borneo. You will come across some pre-historic cave paintings that are signs of early human settlement in the area. You can spend a full day doing Niah.

It is about two to three hours from the park offices to the farthest cave, and there are breaks along the way.

Gunung Mulu National Park: This is Sarawak’s most significant park and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park gets its name from the 7795-foot-high mountain in the centre. On top of another mountain, the Gunung Api, there are easily a dozen jagged limestone cliffs, about 164-foot-tall called Pinnacles.

Plan a three-day trek to the park and you can easily catch sight of them. The park too has a breathtaking network of caves which visitors come to see round the year. The Gunung Mulu National Park in fact houses the largest limestone cave system in the world that came into being when the surface water depleted a big amount of material splitting the limestone belt into distinct mountains and carved cave passages inside.

Majority of the visitors can see at least one of the four major caves here. Sarawak Forestry Corporation remains the overall in-charge of Gunung Mulu, but the tourism side of the park, from accommodation to creating guided tours is done by Borsarmulu. Thanks to the close supervision the poaching of some precious plants have stopped.

Sabah
The northern tip of Borneo, Sabah, was populated by the tribals who had almost no contact with the outside world till the European colonists landed here and slowly established their foothold. But after joining the Malaysian Federation in 1963, these groups have drawn from the cultural identity of Peninsular Malaysia to form one gigantic diverse region.

But Sabah’s cultural setup has gone through a sea change. The coming of the agro-industry has lead to the opening up of employment opportunities in the region.

Sepilok: About 25 kilometre west of Sandakan, Sepilok’s claim to fame is its Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. But there is another major attraction in the region, the Rainforest Discovery Centre where you can enjoy a refreshing stroll on the canopy walkway. Established in 1964 and spread out over 43 square kilometre swathe of lowland rainforest, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is an extremely well-preserved sanctuary.

Tourists visiting Sabah stop by at this wildlife park, crowding the viewing deck during the feeding hours. Pick the afternoon session as you can be a bit free of the crowds since a majority of the tourist buses come in the morning. You need to leave your valuables along with any food, drink or insect repellent you might be carrying in a locker at no extra cost.

There is a visitor information centre and a cafe in the complex. The sun can be quite harsh, so make sure you carry your hats and sunglasses. You need to walk for about ten minutes from the entrance to get to the feeding station. There would be at least a few orangutans awaiting their meal including their young ones.

The babies readily crowd the warden, but the grownups come in eventually swinging, strolling. They are watched by colonies of macaques that hang around to eat the scraps. Post the feeding time, you can hit one of the many trails going into the forest. You might encounter more orangutans on the way.

Turtle Islands National Park: About 40 kilometre north of Sandakan, jutting out of the Sulu Sea are three little islands making up the Turtle Islands National Park. Preferred by the hawksbill turtles and green turtles as an egg-laying site, the islands receive these reptiles that trudge themselves over the tide to ultimately bury their eggs on every night of the year.

Tourists only have access to Pulau Selingan of the three islands – Pulau Bakungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan – that have hatcheries. You might be lucky enough to catch sight of a mommy turtle laying her eggs and then watch the wardens release the baby turtles that have just hatched to waddle and make their way seawards to have a future only if they make it to the sea before getting picked up by a predator like birds, or crabs burrowing in the sand.

Before dusk arrives, you can go into the sea for a swim or snorkel. Sunbathing and lazing on the sands is always an option.

Kota Kinabalu: KK, short for Kota Kinabalu, is an urban jungle that has a lively street scene and friendly locals. The city has some of the best places to eat in Borneo and the transport links are also excellent. Some of the city’s most significant landmarks comprise the Mari Mari Cultural Village and Sabah Museum.

Another highlight of the region is the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park located offshore.

Sabah State Museum: The buildings of the Sabah State Museum are influenced by Rungus and Murut longhouses. Sabah State Museum also houses many steam engines. Look up the botanical garden in front of the museum and on its fringes some beautifully crafted traditional houses of the region that represent Sabah’s significant tribes.

This is known as the Heritage Village. The major highlight of the museum is its ethnographic collection housed in the main building comprising human skulls going back to the region’s head-hunting days, wood figurines of totemic origin among other displays. In the history gallery, look for the depiction of the city when Jalan Gaya was made of the waterfront and was lined with palm trees.

Don’t miss the Art Gallery upstairs and marvel at its centrepiece, a massive string of Rungus beads suspended from the ceiling.

Mari Mari Cultural Village: Here groups of travellers are assigned a head who would introduce them to the tribal leader dressed in traditional costume right at the entrance to the village. Once inside, you would be shown the different models of longhouses and be made familiar with the traditions and customs of the tribes that inhabit Sabah.

There will be a bunch of demonstrations and activities that would include beekeeping for honey and production of glue, rice wine tasting, jumping on a trampoline, making a fire with bamboo, making traditional sweets and using a blowpipe. The experience would culminate with a dance show followed by a sumptuous buffet meal.

A trip to the Mari Mari Cultural Village is a great way to understand the local culture of Sabah and gain insight into the traditions and customs of the different tribes that make the region their home.

Best time to visit MalaysiaIf you are planning to travel in this region, you need to first look up the best time to visit Malaysia. Malaysia in Southeast Asia has a tropical monsoon climate. Although the destination can be visited round the year, the highest tourist season remains between December and April.

It rains quite a lot in Malaysia and sometimes in fits and starts, making the weather perennially hot and muggy. Carry an umbrella and rain gear on your Malaysia vacation as even the driest season receives few spells of rain. Seasons can, however, be very different from one part of the peninsula to the other, and so the best time to travel within the country is a relative thing.

January and February are good months to visit despite the falling rain as these are an ideal time for festivals such as Thaipusam and Chinese New Year. You just need to wait for the rains to abate and the air turns pleasant and your surroundings green, with tumbling waterfalls bringing alive the canvas. For travels in May, the Sabah fest in Borneo is a definite high-point introducing you to the intricacies of the culture of the tribes of the region.

June is time for the Gawai Festival when the longhouses in the villages open their doors to tourists for a few days and the rice-harvest celebrations begin that include splurging on sumptuous local food and drinks and singing and dancing to traditional music.

Spring in Malaysia (March through May): The temperature at this time of the year ranges between 23 and 33 degree Celsius. The weather remains neutral with occasional winds in March and May owing to the northeast and southwest monsoon. But April is the best time to enjoy the spring season.

Easter is a major celebration at this time of the year and also Sabah fest in May that is a celebration of the local culture and tradition of the region. It is the greatest time of the year to hit the beaches as a pleasant breeze wafts through the day, letting you spend an entire day by the sea. Pack a lot of sunscreen and do carry an umbrella for a visit at this time of the year.

Summer in Malaysia (June through August): The temperature at this time of the year ranges between 23 and 32 degree Celsius. The Prophet’s birthday is celebrated in June while the Independence Day is celebrated in August, a busy time of the year when the locals gear up for celebrations.

The summers are the best time of the year to go under the currents and explore the brilliant underwater life of Malaysia with its coral-rich waters home to an array of exotic fish. Scuba diving really picks up in this season as do all kinds of water sports. There are spotty showers by the end of August as the monsoon season slowly sets in.

The flip-side of a summer visit is the intense heat and humidity the region witnesses. The rains can come in at any point, making the weather hugely unpredictable. Do bring along an umbrella and requisite rain gear.

Fall in Malaysia (September through November): The temperature varies between 23 to 32 degree Celsius in this season. The frequency of rains go up in this period, with the showers typically beginning in September in the western part of Malaysia, beginning in October in the east. Diwali and the International Music Day fall in the October-November period, a time when the entire country is done up with lights, restaurants and cafes dish out festival specialties and there is generally a bustle in the air.

This is a good time to visit as the cold season is yet to set in, making it a decent time to round up the beaches and also go sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur, visit the museums and parks and enjoy the pleasant air. Be mindful of the fact that November is Malaysia’s coldest month and also its rainiest when the average temperature drops below 22 degree Celsius.

Carry sufficient woolens, caps and layered clothing for a November visit, and also rain gear. Owing to the torrential rains and the nip setting in, the country receives fewer footfalls, making accommodation cheaper at this time of the year.

Winter in Malaysia (December through February): The average temperature in this season ranges between 23 and 33 degree Celsius. As a result of the northeast monsoon, great swathes of the country still receives heavy rains, with thundershowers in the northeastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

However, in the western coast of the country, there is hardly any disruption caused by the rains. Christmas and New Years are celebrated with great pomp across the country. Restaurants serve out of a new refurbished menu; for foodies there isn’t a better time to visit the country, especially cities like Kuala Lumpur.

The beaches are still sunny and good for unwinding in the day. The rains usually pick up by late afternoon and evening, so make sure you are indoors by that time.

How to reach MalaysiaYou need to first figure out how to reach Malaysia before making an itinerary. Below are your options:

By air: From India only air travel is possible to Malaysia. You can take a direct flight from Chennai to Malaysia, taking approximately 4 hours to get to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Airlines the flag carrier of Malaysia is a major carrier on the route. The country has three main airports: Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Senai International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

A direct flight from Mumbai to KL takes around 5 hours 15 minutes, while a Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur flight takes around 4 hours 15 minutes. You can take a Malindo Air flight that takes around 5.5 hours to get you directly from New Delhi’s IGI Airport to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. A flight with a layover takes 9 hours or more to reach the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from one of the metro cities in India.

You also have the choice of taking a flight to cities in Indonesia, Thailand or Singapore and then further proceeding to Malaysia. Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines are the largest carriers on this route.

By rail: Although there are no direct trains from India to Malaysia, one can still experience the Malaysian rail journey by taking the KTM or Keretapi Tanah Melayu, a Malaysian railway service that offers regular trains from neighbouring Thailand and Singapore. You can take a flight from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Bangalore to either Thailand or Singapore and further take a train ride from there into Malaysia.

Malaysian countryside is spellbinding and unravels beautifully over a train journey.

By road: Here too you need to first arrive into either Singapore or Thailand by plane and then take a bus and enjoy the scenic roads all the way into Malaysia.

By sea: You can take a ferry to Malaysia from Indonesia and Thailand. There are luxury cruises operating on the stretch. You will be able to easily find them from parts of Sumatra in Indonesia and southern Thailand to get into Peninsular Malaysia. Places like East Kalimantan and Sarawak are connected to Sabah and Brunei respectively.

You can even take luxury cruises from Phuket in Thailand and Singapore directly to Malaysia. But for any of these cruises, you need to first arrive by plane to either Singapore, Indonesia or Thailand. From these destinations, the cruise could be from half an hour to about three-hour-long. The cruises are relatively more expensive than a ferry, and depending on your budget you can choose your options.