Malaysia

Why go

Malaysia gives you two trips in one. On the peninsula, Kuala Lumpur is a fast, friendly capital where Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures share the same streets: the Petronas Twin Towers, Hindu temples in limestone caves, colonial Merdeka Square and some of Asia's best street food. A short flight east takes you to Sabah, the Malaysian state in the north of Borneo, for rainforest and wildlife: orangutans at Sepilok, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and pygmy elephants on the Kinabatangan River, and coral islands a few minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu, with Mount Kinabalu on the horizon.

When to go

Malaysia is warm and humid all year, with lowland days around 30 °C and short tropical downpours, often in the afternoon. Kuala Lumpur is driest in the northern summer, from about June to September. In Sabah, roughly March to October is the best window for wildlife and the islands; from about November to February the northeast monsoon brings more rain, especially to the east coast around Sandakan and the Kinabatangan. Trips run all year, so tell us your dates and we'll plan around the weather.

Getting there from the UK

Malaysia Airlines flies direct from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur in around 13 hours. Gulf Air and other carriers fly via the Gulf with one stop. Domestic flights link Kuala Lumpur with Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah in under three hours. Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead in British summer time.

Where to stay

• Kuala Lumpur: Bukit Bintang, the shopping and food district, is lively and close to the monorail; KLCC sits around the Petronas Towers.
• Sepilok: rainforest lodges a short walk from the orangutan and sun bear centres, outside Sandakan.
• Kinabatangan River: riverside lodges in villages such as Bilit and Sukau, reached by road and boat, with wildlife cruises at dawn and dusk.
• Kota Kinabalu: the capital of Sabah, with a seafront, night markets and boats to the islands from Jesselton Point.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park: island resorts on Gaya Island and beaches on Manukan and Sapi, just off Kota Kinabalu.

What to do

In Kuala Lumpur, take a city tour past Merdeka Square and the Petronas Towers, climb the 272 rainbow steps to the Temple Cave at Batu Caves and spend an evening eating your way along Jalan Alor. In Sabah, watch young orangutans at feeding time at Sepilok, walk the canopy walkway at the Rainforest Discovery Centre and visit the sun bears next door. On the Kinabatangan, cruise the river looking for proboscis monkeys, hornbills and elephants. From Kota Kinabalu, hop between the marine park islands to swim and snorkel, visit the ethnic houses of Mari Mari Cultural Village, or drive up to Kinabalu Park, Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beyond: Penang and Langkawi

With more time, add Penang, where George Town's shophouses and hawker stalls are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or the beaches and forested hills of Langkawi in the Andaman Sea. Both are a short flight from Kuala Lumpur, and we can build them into your trip.

Food and drink

Try nasi lemak (coconut rice with sambal, anchovies and peanuts), char kway teow, satay, roti canai with curry and laksa. Kuala Lumpur's night streets are made for grazing. In Sabah, look out for fresh seafood on the Kota Kinabalu waterfront and local dishes such as hinava, a Kadazan-Dusun dish of raw fish cured in lime.

Good to know

• Currency: Malaysian ringgit (MYR). Cards are widely accepted in cities; carry cash for markets and rural areas.
• Language: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia); English is widely spoken.
• Plugs: UK-style three-pin sockets (type G), 240 volts.
• Tourism tax: hotels collect a small local tourism tax from foreign visitors, paid on the spot.
• Wildlife: sightings in the wild are never guaranteed; dawn and dusk are the best times.