Bisected by 500 kilometres of sea, Malaysia is a true melting pot of cultures, with Chinese, Malay, Indian and European influences. Whilst the Peninsula offers frenetic cities, street art, tea plantations and some of the world’s best street food, Borneo is home to ancient rainforests, rare wildlife, rugged mountains and some of the world’s best scuba diving. Like magnets, these two different worlds combined, making Malaysia one of Asia’s most attractive destinations.
7 day / 6 night itinerary
Get a taste of Malaysia’s diverse cuisines and cultures on this evening foodie tour of Kuala Lumpur’s best eateries. From bustling food courts to roadside restos and cool cafés, indulge in a variety of flavourful dishes, including the famous celong, traditional Chinese pastries and a mouthwatering bowl of claypot chicken.
We treat Discova travellers with a visit to a local family bakery, well-known for their trademark wedding cakes and traditional pastries.
Head to the meeting point of two blue seas to spend three days experiencing the best of Borneo. Hike through rainforests full of life; swim, dive, or snorkel in the ocean; and spend evenings stargazing and dining in seaside restaurants.
Instead of heading to the beautiful yet touristy islands near Kota Kinabalu, such as Gaya Island, we take visitors to the quieter and equally stunning beaches on the tip of Borneo.
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Population: 32.7 million
Language: Malay – officially, Bahasa Malaysia – is the national language, and Malay and English are both recognised as official languages. English is taught in all schools and widely spoken in large cities. Because the country is so culturally diverse, a range of secondary languages are also spoken, like Tamil, Chinese or Arabic. Many locals also speak a kind of creole called “Manglish”, a quirky blend of all of the above.
Currency: The Malaysian ringgit (RM) is the official currency. Money can be changed at moneychangers in most urban areas and tourist centres, but many of these only take crisp bills in good condition. ATMs are widely available, though not all of them are able to read cards with chips. Many hotels and malls will accept credit and debit cards in main cities but be sure to have ringgit on hand for more rural adventures.
Visitors from most countries are permitted to enter Malaysia for a period of 14, 30, or 90 days without a visa. Foreign nationals who do need a visa to enter Malaysia may need to obtain a visa or transit pass in order to travel through a Malaysian airport. A handful of countries are eligible to apply for an eVisa; otherwise, a Malaysian visa can be obtained at any overseas Malaysian embassy.
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and stay at the forefront of new product offerings, Discova behind-the-scenes, destination news, travel trends and thought leadership articles from our on-the-ground experts