There is no single “best” time to visit Malaysia – largely since this Southeast Asian powerhouse sprawls over two separate landmasses with different local climates. And that sprawl is impressive: it’s as far from Kuala Lumpur in Peninsular Malaysia to Sandakan in Malaysian Borneo as it is from New York City to Miami.
Even between smaller distances, the climate can vary depending on which of Malaysia’s many coasts or which of its islands you find yourself on. Langkawi lies only 122km (76 miles) from Penang, but the weather can be different in the two places on the very same day.
Broadly, Malaysia has two climatic seasons: dry and hot, and wet and hot. Don’t let the term “dry season” fool you, however: it’s humid in Malaysia all year long, and there’s always a chance of rain. The only place where it might feel cold is in upcountry areas such as the Cameron Highlands, where the temperature can range from lows of 14ºC (58ºF) to highs of 24ºC (76ºF).
What marks out the wet season is buckets of monsoon rain, with the bulk of the precipitation tending to arrive in the afternoon. The eastern side of the peninsula sees its heaviest rainfall during the northeast monsoon from mid-October to March, while the west coast sees more rain during the southwest monsoon from May to October. Borneo gets drenched from November to February.
Even with the tendency toward wetness, tourism never takes a break in Malaysia – so there’s not really a low season per se. The busiest times of year tend to coincide with school holidays, which see large numbers of visitors (particularly families) arriving from Europe, the Persian Gulf and neighboring Asian states.
The December–February high season is the best time to visit the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia
The northeast monsoon drenches the east coast of the peninsula from October to March, with the heaviest rainfall from December to February. You’ll find drier weather on the west coast, which fronts the Andaman Sea. This time frame is a good time to hit the beaches on tropical islands such as Langkawi, or wander the narrow, shop-house-lined alleyways of George Town in Penang. On the flip side, this is the wettest time of year in Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.
The downside of the wonderful weather in the west? More crowds and higher rates for hotels. Yet the premium may be worth paying to join in the…
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