From street food to jungle treks, heritage temples to white sand beaches, Malaysia has something to offer every type of traveler. Adventurers love Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and sun bears—not to mention the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gunung Mulu and Kinabalu national parks. But some of the best things to do in Malaysia are on the peninsular side: Kuala Selangor firefly cruises, Cameron Highlands tea plantation tours, Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves and Petronas Twin Towers, plus the UNESCO-listed port cities of Melaka and Penang.
Sprawled across two separate land masses just north of the equator, Malaysia is always hot and often wet, but different regions have their own very distinct climates. Tourist numbers peak during the European winter (December to February), but your best chance of decent weather across the country is in the spring (March to May). The beginning of the year sees both the Chinese New Year and the spectacular Hindu Thaipusam festival, the exact timing of which depends on the lunar calendar.
Malaysia’s two halves, peninsular Malaysia and east Malaysia (Borneo), can feel almost like separate countries when it comes to transport. The peninsula boasts a network of fast, comfortable intercity buses and two primary railway lines, one of which runs all the way to Bangkok. Buses are your main option for travel on Borneo, although some destinations can only be reached by boat or plane. The only way to travel between the peninsula and Borneo is to fly.
If you think of one dish when you imagine Malaysia, it’s likely to be laksa, a noodle soup with a thick gravy. Assam laksa—a tangy, sour, fish laksa—is a signature of Penang Island. Take Anthony Bourdain’s advice and try it at Penang Air Itam Laksa (Ayer Itam Penang Assam Laksa), a market stall that’s been specializing in it for roughly 70 years. It’s only open on weekends and public holidays.
