Malaysia

With a cultural mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian, Malaysia is a colorful and mysterious place to visit. From the Cameron Highlands famous tea plantations and cool climate to the hot beaches of Langkawi, or a distant visit to the deep reef walls of Layang Layang, Malaysia makes a great holiday.

Faces Facts

Climate: Lying very near to the equator, warm weather is almost always guaranteed. Do keep an eye on the monsoon seasons, avoid the east coast November to January, and the west coast from September to December.

Best time to dive: The monsoon season dictates which coast is best to dive at that time of year.

What you can see: Marine life varies greatly, and depends on the time of year and your diving destination. Hammerhead sharks, white tip reef sharks and schooling barracudas are among some of the pelagic animals that call these waters home.

Visibility: 10-35 m (32-115ft.)

Water Temperature: 26-30°C (78-86°F)

Languages Spoken: English, Bahasa Malay, and several dialects of Chinese

Currency: Malaysian Ringgits (MYR)

ATM’s and Banks: Cash is always the preferred method of payment, although ATM’s can be found in all major cities. Credit cards are widely accepted, but you may be expected to pay a 3-5% service charge to use them. If you are planning to escape to a castaway island be sure to carry enough cash with you and keep it in the safe at the hotel, as some of the islands only have money changers and no ATM’s.

Time Zone: UTC+8

Voltage: 230V/50HZ

Health Regulations: Please consult your doctor or nearest health authorities for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure.

Visa Requirements: British, Australian, Canadian, American and most EU nationals are permitted visa free for up to three months. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Up to date information is listed at www.tourism.gov.my

Top Tip

Take a city tour in Kuala Lampur to see the Petronas Twin towers, which were the tallest buildings from 1996-2003. End the day with an array of food choices in Jalan Alor or shop at near-by Bukit Bintang.