One of Asia’s most established destinations, Malaysia is justifiably popular with travellers. Offering world-renowned resorts, unspoiled rainforest and a lively capital city, Malaysia continues to be a delight to all who visit. Above all a peaceful and safe nation, Malaysia is a favourite for families and honeymooners alike.
Malaysia is split into two parts, the first being the mainland of Peninsula Malaysia (including the islands of Langkawi, Penang and Pangkor) which is sandwiched between Thailand to the North and Singapore to the South. East Malaysia consists of the two states, Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo to the East. Borneo is also shared with the Royal Kingdom of Brunei and the Indonesian province of Kalimantan to the South.
A true fusion of many cultures, traditional Malay mores still exert a strong influence on modern day Malaysia yet are complemented by a vibrant Chinese community and a large Indian population. Whilst Kuala Lumpur is a thoroughly modern Asian capital, areas such as Taman Negara contain million year old rainforest and the fishing villages of the East Coast exist much as they have done for hundreds of years.One of Malaysia’s main attractions is her pristine beaches, being amongst the world’s most picturesque, be it on a larger island such as Langkawi, a smaller resort island such as Pangkor, or along the untouched stretch of mainland on the East Coast. With white sand, attractive offshore islets and coconut trees, Malaysia’s beaches are the epitome of the dream Asian getaway.
Malaysia also takes great pride in preserving her heritage and culture, with both Penang and Kuala Lumpur boasting some colourful architecture and fascinating museums. Tropical Malaysia also offers some stunning scenery. The tea plantations and fruit farms of the Cameron Highlands cling to verdant mountains and Taman Negara’s rivers and rainforests are typically lush. Thanks to its history as a former British colony, modern Malaysia still retains a strong British influence, which is particularly present in the hill stations of the Cameron Highlands and in colonial era architecture in urban centres. English is very well-spoken throughout the country and is widely used in commerce.
Renowned as a safe and civilised country, the great value of the Ringgit versus the British Pound Sterling makes this a desirable destination for British travellers. As with the rest of South-East Asia, the best time of year to visit Malaysia is between the months of November to April. However, this should not deter visitors who are planning to travel between May to October, since showers are usually short and restricted to the afternoon or evening. In addition, this is the best time of year to visit the East Coast, where the rainy season lasts from November to January. With delicious cuisine, fantastic shopping, beautiful beaches and plenty of activities on offer, there is little wonder why Malaysia is an enticing and ever-popular haven.