Quick Guide to Malaysia

Getting There
The national carrier Malaysia Airlines flies non-stop to Kuala Lumpur 11 x weekly from London and 3 x weekly from Manchester. In addition there is also 2 x weekly direct flights to Penang and Langkawi. The quickest route is the overnight flight which takes approx. 13 hours flying time and has one of the biggest economy seat pitches at 34 inches.  Alternatively for that added luxury book a Golden Club class where you seat allows you to sit in the cradle position and take advantage of the multitude of entertainment and dining options.

Other airlines that fly to Malaysia via another city are Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Eva Air, Gulf Air, Qatar, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Brunei and most of these airlines give a FREE stopover en-route allowing you shorter flying times and more opportunities to discover other countries all included within the same airfare.

Transportation within Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines have the most extensive internal flight routes to all destinations within Malaysia. Small airports can be discovered at Kuala Terengganu, Tioman Island, Penang and Malacca. Berjaya Air also operates internal flights from Subang Airport near Kuala Lumpur to Koh Samui, Pangkor Island, Tioman and Redang.

Passport Information:
All passengers (including children) must have their own passport.  Passport holders should travel with a passport that has a validity of six months after their return date. You can visit Malaysia for a period of stay up to three months.

Time Difference
+8 hours GMT

Location and Area:
The Malaysia Peninsula is situated in the Far East and borders Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. The country consists of the mainland Peninsular of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Perak, Selangor, Megeri Sembilan and Malacca plus a multitude of outlying islands the most popular being Penang and Langkawi plus two states in Borneo comprising of Sarawak and Sabah.

Health
There are no compulsory vaccinations however Tetanus, Polio, Typhoid and Hepititus A inoculations and Malaria tablets are advised, please consult your doctor at least one month prior to your departure date.

Climate:
Mayalasia is hot and humid year round, Peninsular Malaysia experiences rainfall most of the year but it is brief downpours followed by sunshine. The East coast has a monsoon or rainy season with the heaviest rainfall from November until January. East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) also experiences rainfall year round with the heaviest being between May to November for Sabah and October until March for Sarawak. 

Clothing:
Malaysian climate is generally hot and humid, therefore clothing made of cotton and other natural fibres are more suitable. In terms of dress codes, Malaysians wear almost similar clothing style as Europeans and Americans, although modesty is observed.

Currency:
The Malaysian unit of currency is the Ringgit Malaysia (RM), which is divided into 100 sen. Currency comes in notes of RM1, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100. Coins are issued in 1 sen, 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen and RM1 denominations.

Airport Tax
An RM 45 departure tax applies for all international flights while RM 6 per way is charged for domestic flights.

Language:
Bahasa Malaysia is the official language but English is widely spoken. Other languages spoken – Mandarin, other Chinese dialects, Tamil, Punjabi.

Religion:
The official religion is Islam.

Public Holidays:
New Years Day – 1st January
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri – January
Chinese New Year – January/February
Labour Day – 1st May
Vesak Day – May
The King’s Birthday – June
National Day – 31st August
Deepavali – October/November
Christmas Day – 25th December
Not all the above are observed nationally; some are observed by only certain states.

* Note: If a holiday falls on a weekend or Friday (for the East Coast states), the following day becomes a holiday

Shopping:
Department stores and supermarkets are usually open from 10am to 10pm and shops from 9:30am to 7pm. In Kuala Lumpur as well as in most major towns, there are several 24-hour stores.

Holiday Ideas
Travelling within Malaysia is cheap and convenient, the country is endowed with wonderfully long and scenic coastline. Palm fringed sands, small private coves and wide open beaches stretch along the ocean. Beautiful tropical islands are scattered offshore in aquamarine waters. The West coast is more developed and offers a wealth of water-sports, the biggest selection of activities can be found at either Penang or Langkawi. On the East coast you will find deserted beaches and fishing villages or discover the green turtles laying their eggs during the months of July-September. East coast islands are a haven of piece and tranquillity with their unbelievable white sandy beaches, clear waters ideal for snorkelling or diving, or if you prefer wilder waves travel to the shoreline in Bako National Park in Sarawak.

Diving
The pristine waters off the coast make it one of the top 5 dive destinations in the world. Try out the following areas of The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park for sharks, The Perhentian Islands for undisturbed marine life, Shipwrecks near Sabah, Pulau Payar Marine Park for its Coral Gardens or Terengganu Marine Park for bursting reefs – or just Sipadan, one of Jacques Cousteau favourites!

Families  
Beach holidays, city escapes and National Parks usually ticks all the boxes to keep a family amused. Try hiring a car and discover National Parks full of jungle favourites and the famous Orangutans in Sabah. Malaysia is the ideal country to educate and introduce children to culture.

Golf   
With over 200 golf courses set in hill resorts, islands, beaches, cities and towns this place is truly a golfers dream. A number of courses has been designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Greg Norman.

Spa
Some of the worlds leading Spa Resorts are based in Malaysia. The mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures offers a tempting array of eastern treatments combined with modern methods. Voted No.2 by Conde Nast Traveller, the Mandara Spa at the Datai in Langkawi is truly sublime.

Shopping
Air-conditioned malls, dusty antique shops, local handicraft centres, there is something for everyone. You can even fly out for a weekend to Kuala Lumpur for that shopping buzz.

Gastronomy
Dining is a pleasure all over Malaysia, the sheer choice is incredible and all over Asia products have converged to the best of each region. The three main types of food are Malay, Chinese and Indian fusion. Food standards are very high but you can find traditional food stalls at night markets serving satay (meat on skewers), or Goreng (fried rice with meat, prawns, egg and vegetables).

Cultural  
Top tips for sightseeing
Kuala Lumpur – Merdeka Independence Square, Little India & Chinatown, Petronas Twin Towers, Sepang F1 Circuit, The Batu Caves.
Malacca – A Famosa Fort, Stadhuys Dutch architecture building, The Cultural Museum, St Pauls Church, Jalan Hang Jebat.
Pangkor – Hire a bicycle, take a guided rainforest walk, visit the Dutch Fort, visit Emerald Bay, Snorkelling & Diving.
National Parks  - a night Jungle Walk in Taman Negara, Rapid Rafting in Taman Negra Park, Sepilok Sanctuary for Orang Utans and Sumatran Rhino, Climb Gunung Tahan mountain, visit Indigenous groups in Sarawak.
Langkawi – take an Island Cruise, visit the Summer Palace, take a Jungle Trek, visit Underwater World, Waterfalls.
East Coast & Islands – Watch turtles lay their eggs, Bike the flat coastal roads, check out Craft centres, Watersports, Diving and Snorkelling.
Penang – visit the art deco Garage, the Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Farm, Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple, Penang Hill, Snake Temple.
Sarawak – Sarawak Museum, The Sunday Market, the Cultural Village, visit a Longhouse, Bako National Park.
Sabah – Mount Kinabalu Park, Sepilok Orang Utang centre, The Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands, The North Borneo Railway, The famous Mengkaboung Water Village.