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Malaysia Small Group Tours & Trips
105 Malaysia trips. Tours from 64 tour companies. 216 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Malaysia Reviews & Ratings
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Awesome adventure
If you want to see the best of Borneo this trip's for you. Beautiful country, great food, lovely friendly people and oh boy did we see wildlife! So many highlights...
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Great trip to Borneo
I've been on plenty of Exodus hiking holidays, but this was my first wildlife trip. I was a bit nervous in case my fellow travellers were a bit serious about both...
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Excellent wildlife
A fantastic trip to a beautiful country. My main purpose was to see orang utans in the wild, although I was prepared to be disappointed. However expectations wer...
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Wildlife and More
We knew December was the wettest month, but hearts sank when our first wildlife trip had to be abandoned as the river was too high for safety to take us there. Ho...
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borneo
Very enjoyable well organised trip to a fabulous country. Orang-utans and proboscis monkeys. Ronnie was super. Be prepared to experience high humidity - book ext...
Malaysia Tour Selection Trips
- Malaysia is a majority Muslim country, so pack some modest clothing.
- If the island of Borneo stirs your wanderlust, keep in mind that the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are located there.
- The heavily Chinese city-state of Singapore is situated at the bottom of peninsular Malaysia and makes for a nice change of pace stop.
- Be prepared for the hot and humid weather in Malaysia. No matter what time you tour Southeast Asia and Malaysia, you will encounter an equatorial tropical climate. Pack lightweight clothing, while being sure to include some scarves, light pants or long skirts to wear into places of worship. Learn more about weather and the best time to visit Malaysia here.
- Consider what you want to do most on your Malaysia vacation. Look for tours to Rawa Island and Langkawi for the best beach stays. Opt for visits to Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru for a more urban setting or cultural immersion. Consider tours that combine the beaches and culture of Malaysia and explore ways to combine a Malaysia trip with other Southeast Asian destinations.
- Even if you’re not a water sports enthusiast, consider taking a half-day or full-day snorkeling or diving tour in Langkawi or elsewhere in Malaysia. The stunningly turquoise sea and abundant marine life are worth exploring for several hours, if not days.
- Before you embark on your guided tour of Malaysia, take the time to learn a few Malay words and phrases. English is the country’s other official language, so you’ll hear it quite a bit, but the local residents will appreciate the effort you have put in to learning their language.
- Don’t expect raucous nightlife and party-til-the-wee-hours spots in Malaysia. As opposed to some other Southeast Asia destinations - Thailand, Bali, etc. - Malaysia is slightly more sedate. Of course, there are plenty of clubs and rooftop bars, but alcohol is more expensive and they’re not open as late as in Thailand.
- Come to Malaysia ready to eat. Even if you’re not on a Southeast Asia culinary-focused tour, you’ll want to indulge in the huge variety of relatively inexpensive and incredibly tasty cuisine found throughout Malaysia. There are typical Malay dishes like Nasi Lemak, Satay and Roti Canai, as well as food influenced by India, China, Singapore and Indonesia.
Additional details
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Travel restrictions have been extended until August 31 for foreign visitors.
Upon arrival, visitors must undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Read more about Countries Reopening for Tourism
When to Travel to Malaysia
When to travel to Malaysia depends a lot on where in the country you’re staying. The seasons vary from one side of the country to the other, but generally. For the islands on the west side, for example, Penang and Langkawi, the best time to visit Malaysia is from December through February.
If you’re visiting Malaysia's eastern coast, perhaps Perhentians and Tioman Island, aim for traveling from June through August. Most of Malaysia is hot and humid year-round. Prepare to encounter some rainfall, no matter where you visit. The Cameron Highlands are particularly damp and can be colder than other parts of the peninsula.
Expect tropical weather in Kuala Lumpur with ample rain in the forecast. The driest months during which to tour Kuala Lumpur are June, July and August, with July being the driest. If you’re taking a vacation in Penang, the best time to stay is between December and March, with January and February being the hottest.
Trips to Malaysian Borneo, or East Malaysia, are best timed from June through August, but again, be prepared for rainfall. The popular Perhentian Islands are best visited between June and August. And Langkawi, one of the most-visited destinations in Malaysia, it’s best to time your tour for the high season of December, January or February.
Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Malaysia
To enter Malaysia for a vacation or guided tour, American citizens must have a passport valid for at least six months. A Malaysian visa is not required for any business or pleasure trip of 90 days or less.
Hold onto your passport at all times when traveling throughout Malaysia as it will be needed between peninsula Malaysia and eastern Malaysia and between Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo.
What Language Is Spoken in Malaysia
Throughout your guided tour of Malaysia, you will hear Malay, the national language and one of two official languages - the other is English. You may also hear Chinese dialects, including Mandarin and Hokkien, as well as Tamil.
Malaysia Packing Suggestions
You’ll experience your fair share of heat and humidity on your vacation in Malaysia, so pack smart, pack lightweight and be prepared for a bit of dampness and you can’t go wrong. Here are a few must-have items for a well-planned Malaysia tour:
- Slip-on shoes or sandals
- A collapsible, reusable water bottle
- Lightweight pants (as opposed to denim or heavy travel pants)
- Merino wool t-shirts for wicking sweat (it’s humid in Malaysia!)
- Insect spray
- Sunscreen
- A lightweight long-sleeve layer
- Daypack
- Dual USB travel adaptor
- Swimsuit
- Sunhat
With the humidity and the generally casual ambience of Malaysia, the things you won’t want to bother packing for your tour include:
- Jeans or a lot of pants
- Lots of socks
- Dressy clothing
- Hiking boots
What should you pack if you happen to be touring Malaysia during monsoon season (April to October on the west coast and November to February on the east coast)? Be sure to pack:
- A breathable, lightweight rain jacket
- A travel umbrella
- A dry bag for electronics
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