Truly Asian in its spirit, Malaysia is a must-visit destination for travellers who thrive on cultural experiences. The landscape of Malaysia is a mix of dense jungles, long coastlines, rolling hills and swanky cities. The country also ranks high on biodiversity, with some species endemic to this region. Plan a trip from India to Malaysia to soak in all the excitement!
Indians’ Love for Malaysia
Indians account for about 7 percent of the local population. This small but significant number has ensured the influence of Indian culture in the everyday life of Malaysians. In fact, over 6 percent of the residents claim to follow Hinduism, and Indian holidays such as Deepavali and Thaipusam are celebrated across the land.
Indians love Malaysia not only for the similarities but also the diversity and cost-effective appeal. The Indian currency is stronger in comparison to Malaysian currency, making this destination desirable among budget-conscious travellers. Malaysia is also not that far from India, making flights quite affordable for Indians. Overall, it is the multicultural demography of this country that attracts Indians here.
Where is Malaysia?
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country that is primarily formed by two landmasses that are not connected to each other. This tropical country lies just above the equator. Hence, Malaysia’s weather pattern follows the north hemispheric trend.
The two parts that make Malaysia are Peninsular Malaysia, which is the western part, and East Malaysia. Also called West Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia is located on the Malay Peninsula (which is connected to Thailand) whereas East Malaysia is part of the island of Borneo.
This country is spread over a total area of 3,30,803 square kilometres. All of Malaysia follows the Malaysian Time (MYT) which is UTC+ even though the two distinct parts of Malaysia are separated by the South China Sea.
India to Malaysia Map
The Indian Ocean connects India to Malaysia, even though both of these Asian countries do not have any shared borders. When starting one’s journey from India, one has to travel in the south east direction to arrive in Malaysia.
There are 3 federal territories and 13 states that make Malaysia. While 2 states and 1 federal territory fall in East Malaysia, the bulk of the regions – 11 states and 2 federal territories are a part of Peninsular Malaysia.
India to Malaysia Distance
India and Malaysia are about 3,200 km away from each other by land, but the aerial distance is just 2,400 km between the two nations. Flying down to Malaysia hardly takes a few hours, while driving all the way will require about 5 days including rest and breaks.
Which is Closer to India? Malaysia or Thailand?
Both Malaysia and Thailand are countries on the Indian Ocean. However, Malaysia is slightly further from India than Thailand. While the average distance from India to Malaysia is about 3,000 km, the same is under 2,400 km for India to Thailand.
If one compares flight times, the shortest routes take a little over 4 hours for India to Malaysia, but to travel to Thailand from India, only 2 and half hours are required (Kolkata to Bangkok). Nevertheless, travel decisions must be made first on the basis of what you wish to experience in a foreign land. The travel time is a one-time matter.
How to Reach Malaysia from India?
Malaysia and India are connected by land, sea and air. Each mode of transportation has its own charm, exciting a particular type of tourist. One must be aware of the duration, distance and cost associated with each travel mode though.
India to Malaysia by Flight
The most convenient way to get from India to Malaysia is by air. Flights are easily bookable and at short notice too. While there might be a restriction on the amount of luggage you can carry without having to pay extra, planes can fly you over in just a few hours – faster than any other mode of transport.
Malaysia Airport
For a country that is spread across 3,30,803 square kilometres, Malaysia definitely needs a lot of airports to connect its internal regions. While there are 7 international airports in this nation, the total number of airports in Malaysia is 62.
Of these 62 airports, Peninsular Malaysia has 24 while East Malaysia has 38. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main international airport in Malaysia. Sometimes called Malaysia International Airport, this airport is located in Sepang (about 60 km from Kuala Lumpur City), in the same state of Selangor.
Other international airports in Malaysia are Penang International Airport, Langkawi International Airport, Melaka International Airport, Senai International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Kuching International Airport. Flights originating from India generally arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Flights to other international and domestic airports are also possible, but with one or more layovers.
Flight Duration from India
The flight duration from India to Malaysia depends on the departure and arrival cities. The shortest flight between the two countries is between Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur – capital city of Malaysia. Operated by AirAsia, this non-stop flight takes just 4 hours. On an average, the total journey time can exceed 14 hours, including stopovers.
Flight Operators from India to Malaysia
Airlines that connect various Indian airports to Malaysia International Airport are Air India Express, SriLankan Airlines, SpiceJet, Malaysian Airlines – the flag carrier airline of Malaysia, Thai Airways, Indigo, AirAsia, Thai Vietjet Air, Vistara, Nepal Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Air India – the national carrier of India, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Malindo Air, Indigo Airlines, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, flydubai, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Scoot, GoAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
While Air India Express offers non-stop flights, the other airlines have direct or indirect flights with layovers (within a single PNR) or require separate bookings for separate legs of the journey. Layovers are generally in Phuket, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Malé, Singapore, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Abu Dhabi, Jakarta, Doha and Colombo.
Departing Cities from India and Average Ticket Price
Direct connections to Malaysia International Airport are available for the Indian cities of Tiruchirappalli, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi. One must take the low-cost Air India Express to fly non-stop. Other Indian cities such as Bangalore and Ahmedabad have convenient connections to Kuala Lumpur, but with at least one stopover. If flying from any other domestic airport in India, one must first reach one of the aforementioned cities to find a suitable connection to Malaysia.
The cheapest India to Malaysia flight is from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur, operated by SriLankan Airlines. Costing only about INR 10,000 for a one-way economy class ticket, this flight has a layover in Colombo – the capital of Sri Lanka. On an average, flight tickets between the two countries cost over INR 15,000 for a single journey. Return fares run over INR 30,000 per head.
India to Malaysia by Cruise
Currently, there are no commercial cruises that operate between India and Malaysia. Nevertheless, it is possible to enjoy a tour of different parts of Malaysia on a cruise, but only after you arrive in the country. India and Malaysia use the sea route mainly for trade purposes.
Sea Route Distance and Time Taken
Port of Klang is the main port in Malaysia. It is about 1,661 nautical miles from the port of Chennai, and approximately 2,407 miles from the port of Mumbai. If one assumes an average speed of 10 knots per hour for the ship, it will take almost a week to reach Malaysia from India. A faster pace of sailing can sometimes also get you there within 4 days.
Cruise Fare
Malaysia vacation packages from India that let you enjoy a liveaboard tour of this country mostly start at USD 200 per person per day. The cruise duration ranges from 3 days to a week, depending on the plan you choose. It is possible to explore Peninsular Malaysia along with Pulau Tioman or the diving destination of Sipadan.
Other cruises last anywhere between a couple of hours to an entire day, offering tours of North Borneo, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching City and Langkawi – famous for snorkelling. Prices per head range from INR 3,000 to INR 11,000.
India to Malaysia by Road
Thanks to the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, it is now possible to drive down from India to Malaysia. If starting from the border town of Moreh in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, the total distance to Malaysia will be about 3,000 odd kilometres.
The drive time will be more than 45 hours, excluding time for halts, rest and meals. A conservative estimate for the shortest road trip from India to Malaysia will be at least 3 days. If travelling from other cities in India, especially those that are considerably farther from Moreh, this journey will take many more days.
One must note that this road trip will only help you reach Peninsular Malaysia. If you want to get to East Malaysia, you will have to cross the South China Sea by ferry or flight. After departing from India, this road will take you through the countries of Myanmar and Thailand before you set foot in Malaysia.
This means, you should have any required visas, driving permits and other paperwork required for border crossings and transiting through these foreign countries. It also helps to pre-plan your night halts, petrol or diesel station stops and meal breaks so you can drive without worries.
Visiting Malaysia from various Indian Cities
Non-stop, direct and indirect connections are available from most Indian cities to Malaysia. The flight times, layover duration and cost of travel will depend on the place of departure. Most connections are to Kuala Lumpur International Airport – the main international airport of Malaysia.
Delhi to Malaysia
The air line distance between New Delhi and Malaysia is roughly 4,730 km, while the road distance is about 5,600 km. The shortest way to get from Delhi to Malaysia is to take the Air India Express direct flight which takes just 5 hours and 15 minutes. This non-stop flight costs INR 19,000 for an economy seat.
Other direct flights that connect Delhi and Malaysia have at least one layover. These are operated by SriLankan Airlines, flydubai, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Air India, Malaysia Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Thai Airways.
The cheapest Delhi to Kuala Lumpur flight is for INR 13,000 per economy class seat while the average journey time is 10 hours, including layovers. International halts can be in Phuket, Bangkok, Dubai, Malé, Colombo, Dhaka, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Jakarta.
If driving from Delhi to Kuala Lumpur, it will take at least 94 hours of non-stop journeying, a reasonable estimate including rest, meals and halts, will take the duration to at least 5 days. Along the route, you will cross the Indian states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Thereafter, you will have to cross international borders between India-Myanmar, Myanmar-Thailand and Thailand-Malaysia. You will enter into the Malaysian Peninsula through its northern state of Kedah.
Mumbai to Malaysia
The aerial distance between Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur is almost 3,600 km while the land route is over 6,400 km long. Non-stop driving all the way will take more than 112 hours while a conservative estimate will be a week at least. A road trip from Mumbai to Malaysia will pass through the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
There is only one non-stop flight between Mumbai and Malaysia. Operated by Air India Express, this route takes less than 5 hours, costing almost 20,000 for a single journey. The cheapest flight from Mumbai to Kuala Lumpur is run by SriLankan Airlines. This flight has a layover in Colombo, and costs INR 16,000. The average journey duration between Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur is approximately 15 hours.
Other airlines that fly between these two cities, including code-sharing routes, are flydubai, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Malaysia Airlines. The average airfare for an economy seat from Mumbai to Malaysia is INR 20,000. Expect international layovers in the cities of Doha, Dhaka, Abu Dhabi, Singapore And Jakarta.
Bangalore to Malaysia
Bangalore is 2,880 km away from Malaysia by air while the driving distance between the two destinations is almost 6,700 km. The cheapest flight from Bangalore to Malaysia costs INR 12,000 for a single journey in economy class.
There are no non-stop flights between Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur. However, direct connections are available on the same PNR, but with one or more layovers. The shortest journey time between Bangalore and Malaysia is 10 hours while it takes at least 20 hours on an average.
Airlines that fly from Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur are SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Air India. Layovers are generally in Singapore, Colombo, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
A long drive from Bangalore to Malaysia will take at least 116 hours without breaks or 7 days including pit stops, night halts and meal breaks. You will cross the Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur before passing through Myanmar and Thailand to reach Malaysia.
Chennai to Malaysia
The aerial distance between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur is 2,605 km while the road journey is about 6,300 km long. There is just one direct flight from Chennai to Malaysia operated by Air India Express. Costing about INR 16,000 per head for an economy seat, this flight takes just 4 hours and 25 minutes, being the shortest route.
The cheapest airfare between Chennai and Malaysia is INR 10,000 while the average journey time is 15 hours. Other airlines that operate on this route are Emirates, SriLankan Airlines, flydubai, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines. International stopovers will mostly be in Singapore, Doha, Dhaka, Dubai, Colombo and Abu Dhabi.
A road trip from Chennai to Malaysia will take 117 hours of non-stop driving or one week with reasonable breaks and rest points. You will pass through the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur in India before moving on to Myanmar, Thailand and finally, Malaysia.
Kolkata to Malaysia
Malaysia is located at a distance of 2,640 km from Kolkata – the capital of West Bengal. If you consider the roadways, Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur are 4,700 apart. The shortest flight from Kolkata to Malaysia is operated by AirAsia and just takes 4 hours. Apart from this, there is another non-stop flight operated by Malindo Air which takes 4 hours and 5 minutes.
The average journey duration from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur is 14 hours while the average one-way economy-class fare is around INR 36,000. Airlines with one or more layovers plying on this route are Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Indigo, Air India, SriLankan Airlines, Silkair, Malaysia Airlines, Emirates and Singapore Airlines. International layovers are usually in Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Singapore, Dubai, Jakarta and Malé.
If you are taking the road, it will take you at least 84 hours without halts or 5 days with enough breaks. You will pass through the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur before journeying abroad through Myanmar and Thailand to arrive in Malaysia.
Hyderabad to Malaysia
Separated by over 6,000 kilometres of roads and about 3,000 kilometres by air, Hyderabad and Malaysia are serviced by both non-stop and direct flights with layovers. The shortest flight from Hyderabad to Malaysia is operated by Air India Express which takes 4 hours and 15 minutes while other non-stop carriers such as Japan Airlines, AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines take 4 hours and 20 minutes.
The cheapest air ticket costs about INR 16,000 while the average economy airfare goes beyond INR 19,000. Other airlines that connect Hyderabad and Kuala Lumpur are Qatar Airways, Emirates, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, flydubai, Air India, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and SriLankan Airlines. Layovers are generally in Dhaka, Dubai, Colombo, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Singapore.
A driving holiday from Hyderabad to Kuala Lumpur will take about 110 hours of non-stop travel or 7 days of journeying with ample breaks. After leaving Telangana, depending on the route you choose, you will either pass through Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand or Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh before crossing Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. The final leg, once you leave India, will involve journeying through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
Ahmedabad to Malaysia
3,860 km from Malaysia, Ahmedabad does not have any non-stop flights but some connecting flights are available at steep rates though. The shortest flight from Ahmedabad to Malaysia takes a little over 8 hours while the average journey time is at least 15 hours.
Airlines that connect Ahmedabad and Kuala Lumpur are Qatar Airways, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Malaysia Airlines, Air India and SriLankan Airlines. International stops are in Dhaka, Dubai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Colombo.
If taking the road from Ahmedabad to Malaysia, you will need to cover about 6,200 km which will involve at least 110 hours of non-stop driving. With breaks, that duration could go up to 7 days. After you exit Gujarat, you can either take the route that passes through Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh. Both the routes cross Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur before the international road through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
Goa to Malaysia
The aerial distance from Goa to Malaysia is 3,360 km while the land route is 6,700 km long. There are no direct connections between Goa and Malaysia. Even the flights with layovers are very long and expensive. It is more prudent to travel to Mumbai and catch a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur.
If driving down to Malaysia, the shorter route passes through Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. Thereafter, you must cross international borders to journey through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The trip will take 120 hours of non-stop driving or 7 days of travel with intermittent halts.
Pune to Malaysia
Pune is 3,500 km away from Malaysia by air and 6,300 km by road. There are no non-stop or direct flights connecting Pune to Malaysia, and the only available connections are too circuitous, taking several days and also costing a lot of money. The most reasonable way to travel from Pune to Kuala Lumpur is to first reach Mumbai and then take the direct flight to Malaysia.
The road journey between Pune and Kuala Lumpur will take 113 hours of continuous driving or a week of comfortably paced itinerary. One must drive through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur before crossing the countries of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
Cochin to Malaysia
The aerial distance between Cochin and Malaysia is almost 2,900 km while the land route is about 7,200 km long. The shortest and also the cheapest flight from Cochin to Malaysia is operated by Air India Express. For INR 17,000 per person, you can fly economy from Cochin to Kuala Lumpur in just 4 hours and 15 minutes. The average flight time is 14 hours since all the other flights have layovers.
Other airlines that connect Cochin and Kuala Lumpur are flydubai, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Air India, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Thai Airways. Expect to have stopovers in Dubai, Colombo, Dhaka, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Bangkok.
The road to Malaysia from Kochi is a very long one which will take 126 hours of non-stop travel and up to 8 days if one takes reasonable breaks. You will have to pass through Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. After leaving India, you will also cross Myanmar and Thailand before reaching Malaysia.
Nagpur to Malaysia
The air line distance from Nagpur to Malaysia is 3,748 km while the land route is almost 5,600 long. There are no flights from Nagpur to Kuala Lumpur but one can first travel to Hyderabad and then take a direct flight to Malaysia.
If you decide to drive from Nagpur to Malaysia, you will have to drive past Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur in India. Thereon, the journey takes you through Myanmar, Thailand and finally, Malaysia. This road trip will take almost 100 hours of non-stop driving. If you account for breaks, the duration will be over 5 days.
Surat to Malaysia
While the aerial distance between Surat and Malaysia is 3,671 km, there are absolutely no flights connecting the two destinations. The best way to travel is to first reach Mumbai and then catch the direct flight to Kuala Lumpur.
If driving from Surat to Malaysia, prepare for a journey that spans 6,200 km. Non-stop travel will take you 110 hours while one with enough halts will take almost 6 days to complete this journey. You will cross the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur before travelling through Myanmar and Thailand to reach Malaysia.
India & Malaysia’ Currency
Malaysia uses the Malaysian Ringgit as its official currency. Denoted by MYR or RM, each ringgit is divided into 100 sen. One will find banknotes of the denominations RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, RM60, RM100and RM600 while coins are available for 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 sen.
Accepted Currencies
Both the Indian rupee (INR) and MYR are restricted currencies which cannot be used outside of the respective countries. While hotels in Malaysia and all types of establishments will only accept Malaysian ringgits, you can carry cash in US dollars (USD) and British pounds (GBP) which are easily changeable at banks and forex counters.
Average Conversion Rate
Whether it is to book activities in Malaysia or pay cash at a street food joint, Malaysian ringgits are important to have on you. Some useful currency conversion rates (as of April 2021) are below:
- 1 MYR = 18.14 INR
- 1 USD = 72.87 INR
- 1 USD = 4.12 MYR
- 1 GBP = 5.77 MYR
- 1 GBP = 104.69 INR
Is USD accepted in Malaysia?
USD can be brought into Malaysia but will have to be exchanged at a moneychanger for Malaysian ringgits. The US dollar is not accepted for payments at most tourist places, and only MYR must be used. At most places, you will be able to use your international credit or debit cards though.
Malaysia Visa details for Indians
Malaysia issues 3 types of visas to Indian tourists. You can apply for eNTRI (Electronic Travel Registration & Information) for a single-entry visa that allows you to stay for a maximum of 15 days in Malaysia. e-Visa is available for both single and multiple entries into Malaysia. However, your stay must not exceed 30 days during each visit.
Both the eNTRI visa and e-Visa are valid for 3 months from issuance. A 3rd type of visa – the sticker visa, enables visitors to enter Malaysia multiple times and has a validity of up to 12 months. However, each visit must be 30 days or less.
Is a Passport required for Indians?
Yes, a valid passport is required for Indians to enter Malaysia.
Malaysia Visa Fee
Malaysia eNTRI visa costs INR 1,999 while the e-Visa costs INR 3,499. For the sticker visa, one must pay INR 7,099., The eNTRI visa is effectively free of cost as the visa application fee is charged only for processing the application.
Malaysia Visa on Arrival
Visa on arrival is only available to Indians who are travelling via Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia and have a valid visa from that country. The visa on arrival is given at certain airports, immigration control posts on land and one ferry terminal in Malaysia only.
Communication in Malaysia
Malaysia has 8 telecom operators that offer calling and data. If buying a local SIM, Digi, Maxis, Celcom and U Mobile are the best network providers in terms of coverage and data speed. You can buy these SIM cards at most airports, convenience stores and shopping centres.
International SIM Cards from Indian Airports
You can easily get an international SIM, especially one that is suitable for Malaysia, before you even leave India! While some Matrix kiosks at Indian airports might help, it is more relieving to pre-order your Malaysia SIM online. Choose from prepaid and postpaid international SIM cards offered by Matrix, Roam1, TSIM, PlanetRoam, and others.
Airtel Call Rates from Malaysia to India
Pick from 3 different international roaming packs by Airtel, specifically designed for Malaysia. The INR 649 pack which is valid for 1 day, offers 100 minutes of free local calls and to India. The INR 3,599 pack which is valid for 10 days, offers 250 minutes of free local and India calls while the INR 3,999 pack (valid for 30 days) offers 500 free minutes of calling to India and within Malaysia.
India to Malaysia Phone Code
When calling from India to Malaysia, use the international dialling code of +60 before any local cell phone or landline number. For mobile numbers, a 2-digit mobile phone code appears before the 7 or 8-digit subscriber number while for landline numbers, a 1 or 2-digit area code should be prefixed to the 6 to 8-digit subscriber number.
Availability of Indian Cuisine in Malaysia
Indian food is widely available in Malaysia, particularly South Indian dishes. In fact, Indian Muslims or Mamaks have their own cuisine here. Relish classics such as appam, dosa, avial, sambar, idli, poori, and more. Dishes from other parts of India are also available. Try dal makhani, tandoori chicken, biryani, vada, chapati, and more.
Vegetarians need not restrict themselves to Indian cuisine as even Malaysian food has some options. Savour popiah, tahu sumbat, the vegetarian versions of laksa, nasi lemak and other items where meat is often substituted with veggies or tofu. For dessert, try dodol and cendol.
Respect to Malaysia’ Culture & Sentiments
Malaysia’ history & culture is resplendent with influences from Malay, Chinese, Indian and other Asian ethnicities. A multicultural nation, Malaysia has a significant population of Muslims, Buddhists and a few Hindus, apart from other religious and non-religion people. Travellers should always be respectful in their interactions and mannerisms.
What to Do and What Not To
Some helpful pointers when travelling through Malaysia:
- Avoid making any comments on religion or race.
- Be on your guard when shopping at crowded places or visiting popular tourist attractions.
- Do not make faces or negative comments on any local food item.
Dress Code
The Islamic dress code only applies to Muslims in Malaysia. Tourists and even locals who follow a different faith can wear what they like. Nevertheless, avoid outfits that are extremely short or revealing. In general, most fashionable clothing items are welcome. The tropical weather of the country is ideal for summer dresses and cotton outfits.
What to Carry
Malaysia’ weather and topography is great for short hikes, swims and long evenings at the beach. Bring plenty of sunscreen to keep your skin safe. A study pair of shoes are a must if you will be joining Malaysia walking tours, while swimsuits are not to be forgotten for snorkelling or diving trips.
Things to Note if Travelling with Kids
Malaysia tour packages that focus on holidays with children will often include trips to theme parks, nature reserves and beaches to entertain the kids. Here are some things to take care of when travelling with your little ones:
- Pick Malaysia resorts that have a pool and staff dedicated to babysitting, especially if travelling with toddlers.
- Avoid travelling late at night as the risk of being mugged increases at that time.
- When eating out in Malaysia, tell the waiter in advance if your child has any allergies or preferences.
Activities & Things to Do
While there are countless activities to do in Malaysia, we bring you a selection that captures the true essence of a Malaysian holiday:
Water Sports
For a country surrounded by water on most sides, it’s no surprise that Malaysia has a lot of water-based activities to be enjoyed. Go on Malaysia diving tours or try snorkelling, flyboarding, kayaking, banana boat rides, parasailing, body boating, surfing, paddle boating, wakeboarding or jet skiing.
Walking Tours
There is an abundance of walking tours in Malaysia that are either self-paced or come with a professional guide. Go on sightseeing trails in Kuala Lumpur, GeorgeTown or Batu Caves. Explore heritage buildings, marvel at the Twin Towers, go temple-hopping or just bathe in the Selayang hot springs.
Island Hopping
With so many islands around, it would be silly not to consider Malaysia island hopping tours. Explore Langkawi (for snorkelling), Sipadan (especially for diving), Penang (for its culinary delicacies), Redang (for its coral reef) and Borneo (for its wildlife).
What to do in Malaysia for Honeymoon
In case your Malaysia honeymoon package from India doesn’t cover it, book a dinner cruise in Langkawi, Putrajaya Lake or the Sarawak River. A romantic picnic on the beach is even better with a tropical cocktail and some delectable food. There are also plenty of waterfalls in the country that you can not only hike up to but also bathe under!
What to do in Malaysia with Family
While Malaysia half day tours work well if all the members of your family can comfortably walk, a great way to engage everybody is to take them on a cable car ride! Explore the Genting Highlands or the Andaman Sea (from Langkawi) from the top while relaxing through the scenic ride on the ropeway.
What to do in Malaysia on a Budget
Malaysia can be easily enjoyed on a budget if you book hostels or affordable AirBnBs instead of luxury hotels. Eat from Mamak stalls and skip the fancy restaurants. Don’t miss the free walks, malls and sightseeing spots that don’t charge an entry fee!
What to do in Malaysia for Non Swimmers
Non-swimmers can enjoy Malaysia’s nature reserves, city sights, old corners and culinary tours. Watching the sunset or going on a cruise is also possible. Cultural shows and music festivals are other options.
Your journey from India to Malaysia is sure to delight you when you discover the rich heritage and culture of this Asian paradise! Malaysia is not just a country – it is a treasure trove of colours, flavours and experiences.