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Travel Information on Malaysia
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Malaysia (MY)
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| Continent: |
Asia |
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| Area: |
329,750 km² |
| Population: |
23,522,482 |
| Capital city: |
Kuala Lumpur |
ISO code: |
MY |
| National language: |
Malay |
International dialling code: |
+60 |
| Currency: |
Ringgit |
Licence plate number: |
MAL |
| Flight routes from Malaysia: |
822 |
Flight routes to Malaysia: |
1039 |
| Popular airports: |
Kuala Lumpur (KUL),
Langkawi (LGK),
Kota Kinabalu (BKI),
Penang (PEN),
Johor Bahru (JHB),
Tawau (TWU),
Sandakan (SDK),
Bintulu (BTU),
Kota Bharu Petra (KBR),
Labuan (LBU)
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| Large cities: |
Kuala Lumpur,
Klang,
Kampung Baru Subang,
Johor Bahru,
Ipoh,
Kuching,
Petaling Jaya,
Shah Alam,
Kota Kinabalu,
Sandakan,
Seremban,
Kuantan,
Tawau,
Kuala Terengganu,
Kota Bahru
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| Airlines based in Malaysia: |
Malaysia Airlines,
Airasia,
Air Asia X,
Firefly,
Berjaya Air
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Constitutional monarchy in south-eastern Asia.
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Malaysia is a state in Southeast Asia and is comprised of the Malaysian peninsula and east Malaysia located on the island of Borneo. The two parts of the country are at a distance of 650 km from one another and are separated by the South China Sea. West Malaysia borders to the north on Thailand and to the south with Singapore, the eastern part of the country borders to the south with Indonesia and in the north encloses the sultanate of Brunei.
Geography: the countryside in both parts has similar characteristics: the coastal areas are relatively flat whereas the hinterland is hilly and partly mountainous.
Mountains and rivers: the highest mountain in Malaysia is Mount Kinabalu, with an altitude of 4,095 metres (13,435 ft) and it is also the highest mountain between the Himalayas mountain range and Papua New Guinea; the longest river of the country is the 560 kilometre long Raja-River. Both are to be found on the island of Borneo.
Climate and best time to travel: Malaysia is near the Equator. Between April and October the south-westerly monsoon determines the weather and from October to February, the north-easterly monsoon. The climate tends to be tropical and with temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30 °C throughout the year. The air humidity is a constant 90 % all year round and the sea has a pleasant water temperature of 26 °C.
National language and communication: the official and national language is Malay. In most larger towns and tourist resorts, English is spoken and understood. Various Chinese dialects and Tamil are also spoken throughout the country.
Health and vaccinations: vaccination against hepatitis A, polio, diphtheria and tetanus is generally recommended. Long clothing and a mosquito repellent will generally offer protection against the virus diseases carried by mosquitoes. In the large cities and tourist resorts medical care is provided. A comprehensive travel and medical insurance is recommended. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled and boiled to prevent infection. There is a danger of contracting malaria all year, especially on the island of Sabah and in the outer hinterland. Please seek advice from your GP before travelling to Malaysia. There is normally no danger of malaria infection in the large cities and coastal regions.
Entry requirements and precautions: at present visitors with a British passport do not need a visa to enter Malaysia. Stays exceeding 3 months require a visa and passports should be valid for at least 6 months from entry. Until the end of 2007, children may travel with an entry in the passport of their parent.
Importation of goods from Israel is prohibited. Penalties for drug offences are severe and may result in the death penalty. See the homepage of the Foreign Office for more information about travel to and within Malaysia.
Arrival and onward journey: Malaysia is served by many airlines from the whole world and has numerous international airports. The country also has a dense network of domestic flights due not lastly to its geography. Flights may be obtained from Malaysia Airlines (MH) to Kula Lumpur for instance. Malaysian Airlines is the biggest airline in the Southeast Asian region and links Malaysia to more than 100 cities in the world.
Capital city: the biggest and most important city in Malaysia is the capital city Kuala Lumpur, which is at the same time also the political and cultural centre. Almost all cultures and religions are represented here. There are minarets and churches, Chinese pagodas and Hindu temples. Along with the ancient buildings of times gone by, more and more skyscrapers dominate the cityscape. The Petrona Towers, with a height of 452 metres are worth a visit. This is the second highest building in the world and offers spectacular vistas of the city. Another good view is offered from the Menara Kuala Lumpur, a television tower on a 90 metre hill with a height of 421 metres, the second highest in the whole of Asia. Its Islamic style of architecture makes it a popular tourist attraction. Also of interest are the Batu caves north of the city. They are the site of the shrine of the Hindu god Subramanian and a collection of colourful statues and murals of Indian mythology. It is set in the rainforest with dense jungle paths, wonderful lagoons and picturesque waterfalls.
Places of interest and beaches: for most travellers in the western part of Malaysia, the national park Taman Negara is the first destination. This landscape, originating over 130 million years ago is only three hours by car from the capital city. The park is well developed with marked paths and may be explored without a guide.
Those that prefer a beach and diving holiday have a varied choice of many islands and the coast of west Malaysia. The island of Penang with its snow-white palm fringed sandy beaches is particularly beautiful. The snakes temple is an unusual sight, inside it are poisonous snakes that are anaesthetised with frankincense.
North of Penang are the famous Langkawi islands. The largest of these islands is especially popular with European tourists. Besides a plethora of beautiful beaches and wonderful lagoons, Langkawi Island has the added attraction of duty free shopping.
East Malaysia on the island of Borneo is a paradise for jungle tourists. More than 60 % of the country is covered with the oldest rainforest in the world, which has an incredible biodiversity. In the 100 million year old rainforest, there are wild elephants, tigers, leopards, tapirs, and Orang-utans. Particularly noteworthy is the national park Gunung Mulu that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Theis park is also host to a great wealth in biodiversity and a large number of caves. The Kinabalu-Park is likewise a popular destination and is also on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The highest mountain in the country is located in this national park along with many species of plants normally only found in Australia and the Himalayas.
Highlight: a memorable experience is a trip with the famous Eastern-Oriental Express. The train goes via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok and offers an excellent opportunity to gain an impression of the diverse countryside en-route.
Religion: the population of Malaysia is a multicultural mix of Malay, Chinese and Indians, all living side by side. The Muslim Malays are the largest ethnic group and in general control the politics of the country. The Buddhist Taoist Chinese have a 30% proportion of the population and dominate the economy. About 10% are of Indian Tamil origin, living mainly in the cities and on the coast.
Major cities and accommodation: Kuala Lumpur, Port Klang, Subang Jaya, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Kuching, Petaling Jaya.
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Favourite Flights and Cheap Flights from and to Malaysia / MY
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Flight London Kuala Lumpur (LON KUL)
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Flight Manchester Kuala Lumpur (MAN KUL)
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Flight Shanghai Kuala Lumpur (PVG KUL) 27 Flights per week with Malaysia Airlines, China Eastern Airlines
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Flight London-Heathrow Kuala Lumpur (LHR KUL) 14 Flights per week with Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Dubai Kuala Lumpur (DXB KUL) 22 Flights per week with Emirates, Yemenia Yemen Airways, Malaysia Airlines, KLM
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Flight Thiruvananthapuram Kuala Lumpur (TRV KUL)
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Flight Tehran Kuala Lumpur (IKA KUL)
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Flight Saigon Kuala Lumpur (SGN KUL) 21 Flights per week with Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
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Flight Manila Kuala Lumpur (MNL KUL) 13 Flights per week with Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, CEBU Pacific Air
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Flight Amsterdam Kuala Lumpur (AMS KUL) 45 Flights per week with Air France, KLM, Northwest Airlines, Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Bangkok ( KUL BKK) 179 Flights per week with ANA All Nippon Airways, Thai Airways, Royal Jordanian Airline, Deutsche Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur London-Heathrow ( KUL LHR) 8 Flights per week with Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Jakarta ( KUL CGK) 112 Flights per week with Air France, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Airasia, Emirates, Yemenia Yemen Airways
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Taipei ( KUL TPE) 41 Flights per week with Air India, Malaysia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EVA Airways, China Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Brisbane ( KUL BNE) 14 Flights per week with KLM, Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Bangalore ( KUL BLR) 6 Flights per week with Air India, Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Newcastle ( KUL NCL)
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Tehran ( KUL IKA)
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Auckland ( KUL AKL) 6 Flights per week with KLM, Malaysia Airlines
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Flight Kuala Lumpur Cairo ( KUL CAI) with Egyptair
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