Malaysia

Malaysia is a single trip that packs in Kuala Lumpur's skyscrapers, Hindu temples in limestone caves, tea plantations in the mountains and tropical island beaches. The country is divided into a mainland part and an eastern part on the island of Borneo, and its tourism slogan, “Malaysia Truly Asia,” perfectly captures the essence: Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures live side by side here. For a traveller from Uzbekistan, it is a lucky “two holidays in one” option — a big city and a beach within a single itinerary.

Malaysia's attractions: what to see

• Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur) — a pair of 88-storey skyscrapers 451.9 m tall. From 1998 to 2004 they were the tallest buildings in the world, and they remain the tallest twin towers to this day. Beneath them is the Suria KLCC shopping mall.
• Batu Caves (Selangor) — limestone caves about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, with Hindu temples, a 43-metre statue of Murugan and 272 concrete steps. The main site for Thaipusam celebrations.
• George Town (Penang) — the state capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed together with Melaka; it is known as Malaysia's culinary capital.
• Melaka (Malacca) — a historic city inscribed by UNESCO as “Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.”
• Langkawi — an archipelago of 99 islands in the country's north-west, in a duty-free zone; the most popular beach and tourist area is Pantai Cenang.
• Cameron Highlands — a mountain resort at around 1,500 m above sea level, where daytime temperatures are about 22 °C and nighttime 15 °C; it is known for tea, flowers and fruit.
• In Kuala Lumpur, it is also worth visiting Petaling Street (Chinatown), Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) — the city's historic zero point — and the botanical garden.

When is the best time to visit Malaysia?

Malaysia is hot and humid all year round, with tropical downpours. The period from February to September is generally considered the best time to visit. At the same time, the two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, so a beach holiday is possible almost all year round: on the east coast the rainy season lasts from November to February (many beach resorts close during this time), while on the west coast the most rain falls from April to October. If you want cooler weather and greenery, choose the Cameron Highlands.

Malaysia weather by month

The climate is tropical: at sea level it is around 23 to 32 °C all year round, with high humidity and short but heavy downpours. Because the coasts have opposite seasons, the same month can be good for one coast and rainy for the other — so when planning, it is important to understand exactly where you are going. In the mountains, for example in the Cameron Highlands, it is noticeably cooler: about 22 °C during the day and 15 °C at night.

Malaysia's beaches and island holidays

The best-known beach area is Pantai Cenang on Langkawi. Ferries and boats connect the mainland with the islands of Langkawi, Redang, Tioman, Perhentian and Sipadan. Because the rainy seasons in the west and east do not coincide, a seaside holiday in Malaysia is possible for most of the year — you just need to choose the right coast.

Excursions and getting around the country

• Domestic flights: AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Batik Air.
• Rail: MRT, LRT, KTM, monorail and ETS — in cities and between them.
• Buses: an extensive network across the country.
• Taxis and city rides — via the Grab app.
• Ferries and boats — to the islands of Langkawi, Redang, Tioman, Perhentian and Sipadan.
• Car rental (Avis, Hertz, GoCar); tourists from outside Malaysia and ASEAN usually need an international driving permit.

It makes sense to build a sightseeing programme around the UNESCO sites — George Town and Melaka — and also add Kuala Lumpur with the Petronas Towers and Batu Caves.

How much does a holiday in Malaysia cost?

Specific prices depend on the season, the coast you choose, the hotel category and the length of the trip. Within the country there are affordable ways to get around — low-cost airlines, trains, buses and Grab — so you can put together an itinerary to suit your budget. Current tour prices and hot deals should be confirmed at the time of booking.

Do I need a visa for Malaysia?

Three days before departure you must fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Many nationalities can enter without a visa, but the list depends on citizenship — so before buying tickets it is best to check the current rules for your specific passport.

How to get to Malaysia from Tashkent

Most international flights land at Kuala Lumpur airport (KLIA: Terminal 1 and the low-cost terminal KLIA2). The airport is about 50 km from the city and is connected to KL Sentral by express train — the journey takes about 30 minutes. Other international airports: Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor Bahru and Malacca. You can also enter the country overland — from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei — by train from Singapore and Thailand (KTMB and Thai Railways), and by ferry.

Tours to Malaysia with Onyx Tour

Onyx Tour will help you find a great-value tour to Malaysia — with flights, hotel and excursions as a complete package — and will also advise you on hot deals. Book your trip with Onyx Tour.