It often gets ignored on the Southeast Asia trail for no real reason. It is absurdly diverse, its food has unparalleled flavors, and its landscapes range from jungles to highlands to beaches so perfect they feel fake. This is Malaysia.
As for Malaysian Borneo? Orangutans, massive caves, and untouched jungle. Not covering it this time.
Getting Here
If you’re worried about visas, relax. Many nationalities get a generous visa on arrival. No bureaucratic nightmares. KL International Airport (KLIA) is modern and efficient. It’s an hour from the city, but feels longer.
Getting in and out overland is simple:
- Thailand: Bus or train.
- Singapore: Bus.
- Indonesia: Ferry.
- Island-hopping from Thailand: You can float between Ko Lipe and Langkawi during the proper time of year.
KL is the perfect start or end to any Southeast Asia trip: big enough to have creature comforts, cheap and chaotic enough to keep things interesting.
The Price You Pay
When I visited, $1 USD ≈ 4.5 MYR. Malaysia won’t rival the bargain-basement prices of certain corners of Southeast Asia, but you also won’t need to remortgage the house just to enjoy a decent meal.
- Accommodation: Expect to pay 40–60 MYR for a dorm bed. Those preferring private rooms will, unsurprisingly, pay more—but still far less than you would in most Western countries.
- Food: The street food is inexpensive and excellent.
- Transport: Buses and trains are efficient, and renting a scooter is cheap.
- Alcohol: It’s heavily taxed due to the country’s Muslim majority.
A sensible traveler can manage on around 120 MYR per day.
How Long Should You Stay?
Malaysia gives many visitors a 90-day visa. That’s three whole months to explore, eat, or hammock. Four weeks is enough. Shorter or longer is fine too.
Where to Go:
The peninsula divides into two moods:
- West Coast: Malls, heritage cities, liberal vibes, and traffic.
- East Coast: Sparsely populated, conservative, islands, unique cuisine.
Possible stops:
- Kuala Lumpur: Skyscrapers, food courts, traffic. Petronas Towers are tall, Batu Caves has aggressive monkeys.
- Georgetown (Penang): Street art and food.
- Langkawi: Beaches, duty-free booze.
- Ipoh: Underrated town with cave temples and coffee.
- Malacca: Colonial charm and tourists.
- Cameron Highlands: Tea plantations and cooler weather
- Taman Negara: One of the world’s oldest rainforests. Try not to get eaten by leeches.
- Perhentian Islands: Tropical bliss
- Tioman: More islands, more paradise.
- Terengganu: East coast city; a gateway to numerous islands and natural attractions.
The Food
Forget temples and towers. The real reason to come to Malaysia is food. It’s a glorious clash of Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors, cooked by people who don’t care about your diet.
Things to eat:
- Nasi Lemak: Coconut rice, sambal, anchovies.
- Char Kway Teow: Stir-fried noodles
- Hokkien Mee: Dark soy, pork fat, carbs.
- Rojak: Salad, but not the Western kind.
- Durian: The “king of fruits.” Smells like decomposing socks.
Hawker stalls are the heart of Malaysian life. Michelin has given stars to many.
Final Thoughts
Malaysia doesn’t beg for attention; it just sits there being amazing while tourists flock elsewhere. Skip it if you want.
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” — Dalai Lama
Guitar Burrito 