Malaysia... Truly Asia

Malaysia is an exciting year-round destination, full of energy and contrasts. It is an experience you will always remember, with endless opportunities to enjoy nature-based adventures, enriching cultural experiences or fabulous shopping sprees!

Malaysia’s unique culture, incredible climate, beautiful scenery and delicious cuisine are only a few of the reasons why Malaysia is considered to be one of the best vacation spots in the world and is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries to visit in Asia.  Experience the country's alluring wonders, colorful festivals, breathtaking skyscrapers, charming heritage buildings, enchanting islands and beaches as well as a million-year-old rainforest with fascinating flora and fauna.  Endowed with a diversity of cultures, Malaysia offers a 'truly Asian experience'.  Discover a delightful fusion of three of Asia's oldest civilizations –– Malay, Chinese and Indian.  Malaysia's long coastline and many coral-fringed islands, with the Straits of Malacca to the west and the South China Sea to the east, give rise to a large number of fabulous beaches.  Islands like Langkawi, Tioman and Pangkor are world-renowned resort destinations. Penang is another island famous for its history, relaxing beaches and cultural mix. Further south, Malacca is known for its history, museums and the unique Baba-Nyonya community. The charming east coast of the peninsula with its laid back lifestyle is the country's cultural heartland, while the states of Sabah and Sarawak await nature lovers and adventurers. What’s more, Borneo offers you the chance to explore the wilderness and the underwater world.

Private beach

Shopping Paradise

Malaysia is a premier shopping destination in Southeast Asia. Malaysians love shopping, which explains the vast number of luxury malls, stores and street-side stalls in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. If you are a shopaholic, the best time of the year to visit is during the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival, around August – September when the entire country offers great discounts. From the antique and the exotic to modern electronic and audio-visual equipment, the constantly changing product range available in Malaysia includes an extensive collection of designer labels from the fashion capitals of the world.

The exemption of duty on a range of items has resulted in more competitive pricing and makes shopping in Malaysia an even more attractive option. Malaysian duty-free zones are the islands of Labuan and Langkawi. There are also some duty-free shops in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, international airports and city centers. Duty-free items like cameras, watches, pens, cosmetics, perfumes, mobile phones, computers, cigarettes and liquor are among the cheapest in the world. Cash is accepted at night markets while major credit cards are accepted in most malls and shopping complexes. Local regulations ensure items are price-tagged and prominently displayed, particularly at department stores in shopping complexes where prices are fixed. Sophisticated shopping malls, where everything is designed for shopper convenience, contain banks, foreign currency exchange counters, restaurants, supermarkets and hundreds of shops offering a tremendous variety of goods.

For light, casual shopping, there are roadside stalls, bazaars and night markets in towns throughout the country. A major attraction are the colorful, bustling night markets or 'pasar malam', which are found in most neighborhoods on certain days of the week  and stock a bewildering variety of goods, local foods and fruits. Despite the low prices, bargaining at night markets is common practice! It can be quite a humorous experience as the traders are generally enthusiastic and friendly.
 

Food Galore

Malaysian food is not one particular kind of food but a unique culinary spectrum originating from Malaysia's multi-ethnic population that has melded together sampling tastes, ingredients and cooking methods. Malaysians relish and celebrate their diverse food choices. 
Each state in Malaysia has something different to offer in terms of culinary delights; Kuala Lumpur has the most diverse offering of foods from all over the world. Indulge in gourmet fusion cuisine created by talented chefs in designer restaurants, or sample an endless amount of goodies found practically bursting out of malls, store fronts and side-street hawker stalls. Melaka is also home to delicious Baba Nyonya food, much of it served in quaint cafés in historical shop houses. Penang is hawker stall haven, where the most delicious dishes require you to wait for al fresco tables. Ipoh receives many day trippers who come only to savor local favorites. Kelantan is the cradle of Malay culture and serves exotic Malay food rich in flavor and color. This multi-cultural array of food has now come to be known all over the world as simply Malaysian Food.

Batu caves

House on the rock

National Parks

There is really no better place in the world to experience exotic flora and fauna in their pristine tropical environment than Malaysia with its range of national parks; from mangrove reserves to tropical rainforests and marine parks.  Just a few degrees north of the equator, the lush rainforests and the warm oceans set the perfect backdrop to watch wildlife in their natural habitat. Among the biggest and best-known tropical flora and fauna are in Malaysia with the Sumatran rhinoceros, the sun bear, the Malayan tiger, the orangutan, Rainforest tarantulas and the proboscis monkeys. Borneo is particularly well-known for the world’s biggest flower, the rafflesia. Aside from the diverse flora and fauna, Malaysia’s national parks also offer a huge range of outdoor activities –– from activities as challenging as white water rafting and rock climbing to pastimes as calm as bird watching and river cruising. Experienced outdoor professionals, who are well-equipped with the latest gear, are available to guide you through all of these activities.

 Spa & Wellness

Spa and wellness programs in Malaysia that combine traditional methods alongside modern ones in a designer ambiance can offer you a delightful and unforgettable experience. Malaysia, being the multi-cultural country that it is, has a huge range of traditional spa treatments handed down from generation to generation at its disposal. Age-old Javanese beauty and wellness regimens, ancient Ayurvedic treatments from India, reflexology, acupressure and Shiatsu practices founded in China, among others, have a deep understanding of the human body, dispensing herbal recipes for baths, massage oils and scrubs. Today, these curative and relaxing treatments are available at spas designed to instill peace and tranquility within the soul of the visitor. Set against a lush tropical backdrop, and presented with nutritious and detoxifying fresh food and herbal drinks, most of these luxury spas are also equipped with Jacuzzis, steam rooms, saunas, swimming pools and double baths. Malaysia has recently seen an influx of designer spas in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, but most spas are tucked away in resorts, nestled in lush rainforests, or overlooking the lapping seashore.

Diving

Malaysia is fast becoming one of the leading dive destinations of the world with one of the richest marine environments in the Indo-Pacific Basin. The incredible bio-diversity of marine life, coupled with beautiful islands, white sandy beaches and clear warm waters, keeps divers coming back time and time again. Top dive sites around Malaysia include diverse underwater geography such as sloping reefs, coral blocks, wall dives, deep dives, drift dives and wreck dives. A dip below the warm sea’s surface guarantees you an astounding experience, with a concentration of vibrant and exotic marine life rarely rivaled anywhere else in the world. From hammerhead sharks to huge schools of barracudas and various species of turtles, to the bizarre frogfish and ghost pipefish, there is always something fascinating awaiting you. It's no exaggeration to say that almost every time a marine bio-diversity survey is conducted in Malaysia’s tropical seas, the species list increases! Dive centers in Malaysia are numerous, well-equipped and certified by all the internationally recognized dive agencies like PADI, SSI and SSAC for maintaining their standards of safety and professionalism. Naturally, all scuba diving courses in Malaysian waters are also endorsed by these certifying agencies.

After completing your scuba course, get outfitted with the latest scuba equipment as all international brands are available from dive centers in Malaysia. Almost all the islands in Malaysia cater to divers of all levels of experience –– be it easy, shallow drift-diving, advanced wreck-diving, or technical diving.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Malaysia spans a wide range of hotels and resorts that appeal to all tastes and budgets. There are high-end five-star facilities such as the Taj Resort in Langkawi, Berjaya Time Square in Kuala Lumpur, Bayview Beach Resort in Penang and the Berjaya Langkawi Resort, just to name a few of the popular high-end resorts. There are also plenty of hotels which will cater to your needs and meet your particular budget.

One visit is not enough to experience all that is Malaysia, a fascinating destination offering something for everyone to enjoy!