Best time to visit Malaysia
Dancing in warm rain, mist rising from the jungle or escaping the heat in an air-conditioned mall; no matter when you visit Malaysia, every cloud has a silver lining.![]()
Even nocturnal temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees (apart from the fresher highlands), which tends to offer mosquitoes an array of uncovered banquets. In general, the west coast is wetter over the summer (May-Oct) whilst the east coast and Cameron Highlands find more showers from Sep-Dec. Then it's Borneo's turn for the worst of the weather before handing the umbrella to KL for March and April. Basically, if you don't mind a daily deluge to relieve the heat and humidity, the best time to visit Malaysia is pretty much all-year-round.
WHEN TO VISIT MALAYSIA & WHEN NOT TO
Our Malaysia Vacations
Malaysia vacation, 14 days
An authentic glimpse of Malaysia’s highlights in two weeks.
From
£1128
14 days
ex flights
Borneo orangutan vacation
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure vacation to Borneo
From
US $3675
13 days
ex flights
Malaysia food and culture vacation
Discover many of Malaysia's culinary highlights
From
£3250
16 days
inc UK flights
Borneo tailor made tour on a shoestring
The Best of Borneo at a great value price!
From
US $1695
10 days
ex flights
Malaysia tours, rainforests and beaches
Explore Malaysia staying in sustainable hotels
From
£4195
14 days
inc UK flights
Borneo 8 day tour, the wild heart of Borneo
A unique experience in the untouched, beautiful Sarawak.
From
£998
8 days
ex flights
Kuala Lumpur Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
22
31
147
FEB
22
32
137
MAR
22
33
218
APR
23
33
264
MAY
23
32
209
JUN
23
32
130
JUL
22
32
141
AUG
22
32
154
SEP
22
32
190
OCT
23
32
268
NOV
22
31
278
DEC
22
31
232
Our top Malaysia Vacation
Malaysia vacation, 14 days
An authentic glimpse of Malaysia’s highlights in two weeks.
From
£1128
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way
Travel Team
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IN MALAYSIA
Chloe Mckellar, from our supplier Rickshaw Travel, shares her favourite time to visit Malaysia: “Chinese New Year starts with the new moon rising between 21st January and 20th February. It’s an amazing time to be in Malaysia, particularly Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, with lots of red bunting, traditional street food and colourful, noisy parades. I find this time of year really interactive and easy to join in with celebrations, although lots of hotels get booked up well in advance.”
FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN MALAYSIA
Did you know about...?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which involves Muslim adults undertaking an obligatory fasting period as decreed in one of the Five Pillars of Islam to commemorate the first time the prophet Muhammad was visited by the archangel Gabriel.Chloe Mckellar, from our supplier Rickshaw Travel, shares her experiences: “I enjoyed traveling during Ramadan because a lot of places in smaller areas close for the day but mid-afternoon onwards local people will sell sweets and savoury items outside their homes. You don't get that at other times of the year. Also, when the sun goes down, lots of restaurants put on huge banquets. However, I'd avoid the end of Ramadan as traffic is busy and travel plans can get disrupted. Travel in the first couple of weeks and chat to your guide about what they do and what they think of Ramadan.”
More about Malaysia
No matter whether you're trekking in the Cameron Highlands or strolling amongst the architectural ambience of Ipoh and Penang, our Malaysia travel guide present plenty for active travelers looking for a lesser-visited Asian alternative.
Follow our interactive Malaysia map and highlights to help you make the most of your time as you explore from Belum and Berembun forest reserves to Taman Negara National Park and Tioman Island.
Discover things to do in Malaysia that will take you way beyond shopping in KL with multi-cultural tours in Malacca, coast to coast options and rainforest adventures just the start of things to come.
Thinking of traveling to Malaysia? It’d be rude not to pop by Borneo while you’re in that neck of the woods.
If you’ve got plans to go traveling in Malaysia with kids then make sure you find out what Responsible Travel recommends before you set off.
Find out how to get around Malaysia, what to pack and where and what to eat as you read advice and tips from our friends in Malaysia and take the time to travel safely in Malaysia after checking out our health & safety travel guide containing everything from mosquitoes to metered taxis.
There are no excuses not to travel right in Malaysia with animal welfare, income disparity and ethnic tensions all big issues that the country needs to address.
