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Malaysia Tours & Trips

Malaysia Batu Caves
Download Malaysia Key Facts

Spread across two distinct areas, Malaysia’s cultural and geographical diversity is astounding. Rainforest islands with pristine beaches, the emerald rolling hills of the Cameron Highlands, jaw-dropping ancient caves, high-tech cities and vibrant backstreets can all be found inside this single destination. Our Malaysia trips are something else… and that’s without mentioning the food - a fusion of Chinese and Indian flavours - which tastes just out of this world! Our Malaysia tours are perfect for any traveller looking to experience a little bit of everything, especially when combined with another amazing country in Southeast Asia!

Read more in our Malaysia Travel Guide.

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Malaysia Facts

Capital City

Kuala Lumpur

Currency

Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)

Language

Malay

Dialling Code

+60

Plug Type

G

Malaysia Highlights

Sunset shot of glistening Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur

One thing’s for sure - Kuala Lumpur knows how to make an epic first impression. Welcome to Malaysia’s capital, and one of the most futuristic cities in the world, where sky-high rooftop bars and local hawker centres await discovery. Shopping, street food crawls, historic temples and glitzy skyscrapers… Ready to keep pace with Kuala Lumpur?

Bright rainbow steps leading up to limestone cave surrounded by jungle, with giant golden statue of Hindu deity standing

Batu Caves

Malaysia’s most iconic cultural landmark has to be the Batu Caves. Famed for its stunning limestone caves, 272 rainbow steps leading to the top, and the giant golden statue of the Hindu deity, Lord Murugan, your jaw is about to drop. This is easily one of the most beautiful temples you’ve ever seen, and a must-visit on our Malaysia trips.

Rolling emerald hills and tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands on a clear day with blue skies and some clouds

Cameron Highlands

Longing for a nature escape? The Cameron Highlands is calling, promising sleepy emerald valleys and pockets of woodlands. Enjoy the idyllic temperatures as you explore the tea plantations, taste the famous strawberries, or hike along the mossy forest trails. Malaysia’s very own fairytale is where you need to be.

Street art mural depicting 2 children smiling and reaching out of window bars to a real bike with a basket on it

George Town

You can’t help it - George Town is the kind of place that every traveller gets bewitched by. From vibrant urban murals to tasty street food and backstreet bar crawls, your next adventure is right around the corner inside this magical city. Even if you’re here for a day, the memories stay with you long after you’ve left.

Aerial shot of secluded island with pink-tinted rocks, bright blue seas and emerald shrubbery with single ship in distance

Langkawi

Langkawi is pure paradise. From the moment you arrive, those sun-drenched shores backed by tropical palm trees capture your attention. Spend your days basking in the golden rays, enjoying all the budget shopping, or getting active with ocean kayaking. What better way to celebrate the evening than with a sunset cruise?

Waterfront of Malacca with colourful rural houses and river running through on a clear day with blue skies

Malacca

Add Malacca to your itinerary if you want to experience Malaysia’s rich local culture and one of Asia’s most bustling night markets. From lantern-lit alleyways to riverside views and colourful architecture, this gem of a city is effortlessly charming. Malacca moves to its own rhythm; step into it, and you’ll see what we mean.

Malaysia Travel Advice

Workers at an emerald tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia

Climate & Weather

Malaysia is a tropical country located close to the equator, enjoying hot and humid weather all year round. The country is split across two distinct landmasses, which are Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) and Borneo (East Malaysia). Malaysia’s consistent climate makes it an all-season destination.

The Cameron Highlands generally experience the coolest temperatures, with averages of 23℃. Meanwhile, other parts of the country can hit at least 32℃.

Kuala Lumpur's famous Petronas Towers at night with bridge nearby

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit on our Malaysia trips comes down to preference. December to February is the most popular season for travel to Malaysia’s most famous destinations, such as Kuala Lumpur and the Batu Caves. 

However, the dry conditions of June to September are also ideal for sightseeing. Shoulder season travel (March to May; October to November) may appeal to those looking to travel on a budget.

Tourists climbing and chilling on the rainbow steps of the Batu Caves outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Customs & Culture

Malaysia is a culturally diverse country, home to a huge variety of communities, languages and religions. This makes it an exciting destination for backpackers to explore, from traditional temples to sensational street food.

Dressing casually but modestly is recommended. Pointing with your thumb instead of your index finger is encouraged, and so is speaking in a hushed tone. Using your right hand is encouraged wherever possible to eat food and accept gifts. Your trip leader on our Malaysia trips can advise you on the best practices.

Red and blue british passports

Passports & Visas

Entry requirements and visa regulations are different for every destination and your purpose of travel. We recommend staying updated on the latest official information before you go travelling. Your passport should be undamaged and have enough blank pages for stamps and visas. Many countries require your passport to have at least 6 months of validity beyond the date of entry.

For more information and resources regarding entry requirements, check out our Visa Advice page.

Row of Chinese red paper lanterns at a local temple with dragon on the pagoda roof, located in Malaysia

Health & Safety

At Gap 360, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. From the moment your trip is confirmed until you arrive back home, you'll have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number for any urgent issues. For anything non-urgent, our friendly team is also available during office hours to help.

We strongly recommend checking the FCDO advice for Malaysia, as it's regularly updated with the latest safety and travel information, and you can even sign up for email alerts to stay informed of any changes. In addition, you can check the FCDO general travel advice for British nationals abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Malaysia is famous for its stunning contrasts, from futuristic cities to emerald rainforests and valleys. This is also one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, renowned for its colourful temples such as the Batu Caves, as well as a melting pot of cuisines.

At Gap 360, our biggest priority is ensuring that travellers feel safe and supported on their adventures abroad. Before your departure on our Malaysia tours, you will have access to our health and safety information with advice for your travels and country fact-files for Malaysia. You’ll also have access to a 24/7 emergency support number, operated by our UK-based team, to assist you while you're travelling. We always encourage travellers to do their own research before visiting a destination, or if you have any questions, we are just a message or phone call away.

Malay, also known as Bahasa Malaysia, is the official language of Malaysia. English is a popular second language, and so is Mandarin, Tamil and indigenous languages such as Iban.

Prices in Malaysia are generally affordable for backpackers. One of the best ways to travel around on a budget is to eat at locally recommended restaurants and street food stalls, which your trip leader can assist you with on our Malaysia tours.

Gap 360 has partnered with Masta and Nomad Clinics, one of the UK’s largest networks of private travel clinics. Through Masta, you can arrange a Travel Telephone Consultation, an in-person Consultation, and book your vaccinations at your nearest clinic.

Flights to Malaysia from the UK typically take 13 hours direct, or a few hours longer for flights that include 1 layover.

Malaysia Trip Reviews

4.9
Rating
67
Reviews

Laura

I've had the best time travelling with Gap 360 and was so lucky to have the loveliest guides along the way. A huge shoutout to our incredible Trip Leaders, Pear, Lee, Châu, Sunshine, Povan and Yap, who made the whole Southeast…

Stacey

The trip was long enough to enjoy a nice break. There was a good mix of included activities and free time. Our tour leader Rachel provided us with a range of recommendations for the free time at each stop. Our local guide Tina was…

Rosemary Mechem

Amazing, we saw some wonderful animals and Borneo is beautiful. Definitely one off the bucket list!

Ellie Hall

Visited incredible places, made some great friends, highly recommend it!

Max Hayes

The whole experience was great this is my first time doing group travel and I would definitely do it again.

Kathryn Halde-Beavis

Amazing tour with fantastic people! The adventure was fast-paced and fun. A great way to visit lots of places in a short time frame. Our tour guide was absolutely amazing, very welcoming, friendly and funny!

James

Overall, the trip was amazing, it allows you the opportunity to experience a good chunk on South East Asia. I would highly recommend someone to go on it.

Anonymous

I had a great time on the 47 day South East Asia Journey trip. All of my guides Mai, Lee, Hao, Bao, Lao, May, Povan and Yap made the experience unforgettable and I have had experiences that I'll remember for a lifetime. Thank you…

Harry

The Southeast Asia trip was a great way of seeing all the main attractions of the included 4 countries and making friends along the way! Overall the guides were superb, providing an organised and efficient yet also fun experience…

Anonymous

Had an absolutely incredible time on the Southeast Asia Adventure. All our guides were excellent but special shout out to Povan who was incredibly knowledgeable and informative! He looked after us very well and went above and…

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