Malaysia is an amazingly diverse country, with large cities like Kuala Lumpur on mainland Peninsular Malaysia, and thick jungle and little development in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Another hallmark of Malaysia is that people of many different ethnicities and religions living here, and a vast number of celebrations and festivals are held throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur is a large and sprawling city, and like many Asian hubs, is full of contrasts—colonial buildings, temples, and elaborate mosques stand together with towering skyscrapers, such as the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin towers. There are few true tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur, and this is something of a blessing, because wandering the streets of the Chinatown district in the city centre, stopping in tiny shops or at open-air stalls, and eating local delicacies like roti canai or authentic Malay spicy curry and satay, is really the best way to soak up the city’s eclectic atmosphere.
On the small island of Penang you’ll find the port city of George Town, considered one of most well-maintained cities in all of Southeast Asia. From here you can visit the Penang Butterfly Farm, to see more than 100 different species, visit Kek Lok Si, the Buddhist temple known as the Temple of Paradise, or climb Penang Hill and see the city from above.
East Malaysia is known for its incredible natural beauty, pristine rainforests, and diverse wildlife. The largest city in this part of Malaysia is Kota Kinabalu, and you can see a lot here in even a single day. There are gorgeous beaches a short distance away, and a 30 minute boat trip will find you at the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park, a group of small islands where you can see monkeys and enormous monitor lizards, dive along the shore to see coral and marine life, or take a guided walk in atmospheric mangrove swamps.
Malaysia’s climate is tropical, with two monsoon seasons that run from May to September and November to March, bringing with them heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, but the weather is always warm.
Malaysia is an amazingly diverse country, with large cities like Kuala Lumpur on mainland Peninsular Malaysia, and thick jungle and little development in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Another hallmark of Malaysia is that people of many different ethnicities and religions living here, and a vast number of celebrations and festivals are held throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur is a large and sprawling city, and like many Asian hubs, is full of contrasts—colonial buildings, temples, and elaborate mosques stand together with towering skyscrapers, such as the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin towers. There are few true tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur, and this is something of a blessing, because wandering the streets of the Chinatown district in the city centre, stopping in tiny shops or at open-air stalls, and eating local delicacies like roti canai or authentic Malay spicy curry and satay, is really the best way to soak up the city’s eclectic atmosphere.
On the small island of Penang you’ll find the port city of George Town, considered one of most well-maintained cities in all of Southeast Asia. From here you can visit the Penang Butterfly Farm, to see more than 100 different species, visit Kek Lok Si, the Buddhist temple known as the Temple of Paradise, or climb Penang Hill and see the city from above.
East Malaysia is known for its incredible natural beauty, pristine rainforests, and diverse wildlife. The largest city in this part of Malaysia is Kota Kinabalu, and you can see a lot here in even a single day. There are gorgeous beaches a short distance away, and a 30 minute boat trip will find you at the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park, a group of small islands where you can see monkeys and enormous monitor lizards, dive along the shore to see coral and marine life, or take a guided walk in atmospheric mangrove swamps.
Malaysia’s climate is tropical, with two monsoon seasons that run from May to September and November to March, bringing with them heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, but the weather is always warm.
