Tailor-made
Malaysia
Holidays

With high temperatures and humidity year-round, Malaysia has a tropical climate that offers year-round travel. Temperatures average at around 25°C with humidity sitting at around 70-90%. Showers do occur throughout the year, with the wet season on the east coast from November to February and on the west coast from April to October. The East Coast is driest between April and October, and the West Coast is driest from November to February.

The best time to visit most of the region is from March to October. Travel during January and February, whilst somewhat wet, is very rewarding due to the significant festivals including Chinese New Year and Thaipusam. Beach holidays are possible throughout the year due to the opposite wet seasons in peninsular Malaysia.

If you're planning to combine your Malaysia holiday with some time in Borneo, the best time to visit Borneo is from May to September. This time of year, the days are warm and dry, but you do need to book well in advance as accommodation shortages are common. The wettest months in Borneo are from November to February. Temperatures year-round are on average 27-30°C, with humidity of 80%.

Malaysia’s cuisine is the culmination of dozens of influences from its multicultural Malay, Indian, Chinese and Eurasian population. Experimenting with the local flavours and getting out of your comfort zone couldn't be easier in Malaysia; the food is divine, the hygiene standards are incredibly high and most vendors speak excellent English, which means no nasty surprises! 

The culinary scene is diverse and throughout the country you can enjoy Michelin-style sit downs, cheap and cheerful roadside fare, or try your hand at making something for yourself in one of the many cooking schools dotted around the tourist hubs. 

What to eat in Malaysia

When dining out, a Malay meal usually revolves around rice (nasi) or noodles (mee), accompanied by curries, fried chicken or fish, vegetable dishes, and small portions of condiments, called sambal.  One of the most famous Malay dishes is satay; marinated barbecue meat skewers dipped or covered in a peanut sauce and you can find this just about anywhere in Malaysia. Another culinary favourite is ikan bakar; fish covered in chilli sauce and grilled in foil over an open flame. A few typical dishes we recommend trying during your travels include Nasi Lemak, Nasi Goreng, Wan Tan Mee, Marmite Chicken, Sateh, Carrotcake, Dimsum and Beef Rendang. 

If you fancy something a little more adventurous, then seek out these dishes; Siat or Butod – stir fried sago grubs (a popular protein source in Sabah!) or, if you’re brave enough, Sup Torpedo – Malay bull’s penis soup (found in Georgetown, Penang). 

Turning to something a little sweeter, Malaysian's love the sweet stuff and you’ll find just as many dessert shops, bakeries, candy stores and cake shops as you will local restaurants and food courts. The Malaysian sweets, Kuih, incorporate coconut and palm sugar, combined with sweet and savoury flavours. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more familiar then you won’t have to look far to find waffles, pancakes, ice cream or cakes. 

What to drink in Malaysia

Although many people think Malaysia is a dry country, this is certainly not true and alcohol is available throughout most states easily and cheaply. However, tourists heading to the East of the country should be prepared that prices may be inflated within the resorts. Outside of hotels, finding alcohol can be a little trickier, so you may need to pick up a supply as you head through duty free. Away from alcohol you can quench your thirst with these popular Malay beverages; Teh Tarik – Malaysian pulled tea, Barley Juice, White Coffee, Longan Juice or an English inspired tea from the central plantations.

Finding places to eat is never a hard task, and the locals will recommend you visit the hawker stalls, and we would have to agree. Many designated streets in towns or cities will transform by night into buzzing food courts. Head here and you’ll be sure to find cheap eats, drinks and probably some great conversation with the locals. We can’t think of a better way to immerse yourself in local culture. By day, you can visit the food courts in shopping malls, or visit a Kopitiam – old-style, single-owner coffee shops, or Restoran – casual international-style restaurants.

We love our food here at HA, so we’ll be more than happy to recommend our favourite spots!

You can fly direct to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with British Airways or Malaysian Airlines. Or, simply hop over the border from Singapore, where you can get a direct flight from London with Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Norwegian Air or Virgin Atlantic. Indirect flights are also available to Kuala Lumpur or other cities with one stop via major hubs including Amsterdam (KLM), Paris (AirFrance), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Dubai (Emirates), Muscat (Oman Air), Doha (Qatar), Bangkok (BA, EVA Air, Thai Airways), Singapore (Singapore Airlines, Silk AIr) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific). It's easy to break up the journey in these places if you fancy, perhaps adding on a city or beach break in Thailand or Dubai, or a city break in Singapore or Hong Kong.

A host of other airlines, European and Middle Eastern, fly to South-East Asia via their respective hubs, but rarely are these cheaper or more convenient. However, some do offer more options for those travelling from regional UK airports.

We price up our flights on a case-by-case basis, making sure we use the best available deals for your trip. If you have any particular preferences for airlines or routes, or are considering upgrading your flights, please let us know so we can include this in your holiday plans.

British nationals don’t need a visa to visit Malaysia (including Sabah & Sarawak in Borneo) and will normally be given permission to stay for three months on arrival. Visas for longer stays or non-tourist purposes must be obtained prior to travel. For other passport holders, please check with your local Malaysian embassy or consulate for entry requirements.

To enter Malaysia, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of departure from Malaysia.

Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Malaysia. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings to protect yourself against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat and umbrella are a good idea in the rainy season and an umbrella can also offer useful shade from the sun. 

We’d recommend packing some warm clothing if you’re planning to visit the Cameron Highlights, where temperatures can drop considerably as you increase in altitude. Visitors shouldn’t wear shorts, short skirts or other revealing clothing when visiting religious sites and ladies should always carry a scarf in case they wish to visit a mosque. 

If you’re including travel to Borneo on your holiday, you’ll need to pack trekking boots or sturdy footwear as well as additional equipment depending on the activities you are booking. As always, we’re here to help advise wherever we can!

As we’re not medical experts we feel it is essential you contact your G.P. regarding vaccinations and the like for travel to Malaysia. In addition to such vaccinations as you’d routinely have for living in the UK, further boosters are recommended for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio and Tetanus. If you have visited a country where Yellow Fever is endemic, you will need a certificate of vaccination.

You must talk to your GP first, but it is worth also drawing your attention to this useful website: traveldoctor.co.uk – an interactive website providing specialist health information for travellers plus customised lists of travel medicines, vaccines for holidaymakers, global adventure travellers and expeditions.

Malaria is present in pockets of deep hinterland areas of Sabah and Sarawak and a central area of Peninsular Malaysia. There is low to no risk in Kuala Lumpur, other urban/suburban areas and coastal areas.

Malaysia is an extremely welcoming country, making it a real pleasure to explore. The locals will be extremely friendly but it's worth being aware of some simple things – smile a lot, remove shoes before visiting a Malaysian home, use your left hand to accept objects, ask permission to take photos, don’t kiss in public or sunbathe nude and don’t ever raise your voice – getting visibly angry with people will prove to be totally counter-productive. If you have a problem, remain calm and become increasingly polite, and you will be helped.

We believe travel should be a force for good. That means exploring with open eyes, treading lightly, and respecting the people and places that make the world so special. Our code of conduct isn’t about rules, it’s simply a guide to help you travel thoughtfully, ethically, and with care. Because every small choice makes a big difference.

• If you choose to trust us with your holiday, we’ll send you a “Travel Facts” document when confirming your booking. This includes useful facts and travel advice, such as restaurant recommendations, reading tips, basic language information, cultural traditions, climate information, brief historical overviews, and more. We feel that this offers a useful insight and can help you interact with local residents in a more sensitive, well-informed manner. Please do try to take the time to read this information before your visit, it’s worth the time!

• A number of the countries in which we operate holidays are religious societies with a widely observed set of customs. Always respect these norms, particularly when visiting religious buildings.

• To the best of our knowledge, all hotels, lodges, and camps within our portfolio operate stringent measures to minimise water usage. All of our destinations have issues with water supplies to a certain extent, so feel free to raise any possible wastage should you encounter it during your stay, either with the accommodation or with us upon your return.

• Please ask permission before taking photographs of people, and respect their wishes if they are not happy to be photographed. We find that friendly requests and a smile are usually met with a ‘yes!’

• Strive, where possible, to make your own contribution to environmental practices as you travel. This might include minimising your electricity usage, not smoking in protected areas, avoiding coral while snorkelling, and safely disposing of all litter (recycling where possible).

• Where possible, try to purchase from local suppliers. This includes shopping for souvenirs, dining out at restaurants, and booking additional excursions during your free time. In areas where haggling is an accepted part of daily life, don’t be offended if you’re unable to obtain what you perceive as a fair price for an item.

• We emphasise to local suppliers that our clients should never be taken on unsolicited shopping trips, but if this does happen, try to retain your sense of humour, provide a firm refusal to participate and do let us know about it on your return. We pass on all feedback from every trip undertaken with us to our relevant local suppliers, who all share our commitment to travelling with sensitivity.

• Please don’t remove any indigenous items from their natural habitat and attempt to bring them home as a souvenir. This particularly applies to everything from coral, shells, plants and food in the natural world, to cultural artefacts and antiques.

If you’re unsure about anything relating to the above, please feel free to chat to us. We’ve travelled extensively in the country and will be more than happy to offer our considered advice.