Malaysia Overview

This section contains information about Malaysia and its many travel destinations. After this country overview you will find a section for each state in Malaysia which goes into more detail about what they each have to offer travellers including place that should be visited, their major towns and some suggested hotels. You will also find relevant articles written by our journalists

In the Airline section you will find information about the major airlines which fly in and out of Malaysia, as well as any deals they are currently offering.

Malaysia consists of thirteen states of which nine are run by hereditary rulers (Perlis, Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang,)  and four (Penang, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak) are ruled by Governors. The country is split geographically into two land masses. Sabah and Sarawak are located on the Island of Borneo (shared with Brunei and Indonesia) and the other states are on the mainland (called peninsular Malaysia). There are also three Federal territories Labuan (an island off the coast of Borneo) Putrajaya the administrative headquarter and Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the country.

Malaysia has many things to offer visitors, from beautiful beaches and to wonderful diving spots and jungles adventures. Kuala Lumpur (KL) has transformed into a modern city while George Town and Melaka have been given world heritage status by UNESCO. Accommodations in Malaysia range from homestay programmes in rural villages to give you a feel for local rural life to some of the world’s best hotels offering pampered luxury. Malaysia is famous for its wonderful food which is influenced by the three prominent cultures in the country – Malay, Indian and Chinese. There are also many other cuisines available as people form all over the world have set up restaurants.

Top attractions

Here is a listing of some of the most popular attraction the country has to offer. If you go to each state below you will find a lot more detail if you are visiting that particular part of Malaysia

Historical buildings, Melaka nd George Town (in Penang) have both received recognition as World Heritage sites and many of the old building have been renovated and are peppered with art galleries coffee shops and specialist retail shops

Shopping Malls All major towns and cities have a shopping mall and the biggest ones have plenty of them. They offer amazing shopping with price being very attractive. CNN rates Kuala Lumpur as one of the best shopping destinations in the world

Islands and beaches, Malaysia has plenty to offer here from large duty free islands like Langkawi and the famous island of Penang, to smaller ones like Pangkor, Tioman, Perhentian, The country has many wonderful beaches with a wide variety of accommodations..

Nature and Hill Resorts Cameron Highlands is one of the most famous hill resorts for a relaxing weekend and Genting Highlands close to KL has many hotels, the country’s only casino and a theme park. Taman Negara is national park in Pahang and is one of the world’s oldest rainforests. Lake Kenyir is a huge manmade lake in Terengganu while Sabah and Sarawak are both famous for their jungles and eco-tourism. They are of course home to the much loved orangutans and many other types of wild life.

Festivals  There are many holidays and celebrations, in part due to the diverse cultures which make up Malaysia. They include Chinese New year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Thaipusam as well and local native festivals like Gawai in east Malaysia

Health tourism. Malaysia is increasingly being recognised as a place to come for medical treatment. The combination of affordable health care, world class hospitals and warm and friendly service have already attracted many foreigners. The fact that it also has so many attractive tourist destinations means many people combine medical treatment with a holiday.

Kuala Lumpur The capital city has been through a remarkable transformation in the last 30 years and is now filled with luxury apartments, high rise office blocks and world class hotels as well as the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world. It has many fine restaurants from tasty local street food to outstanding fine dining restaurants. It also has many shopping malls and street markets as well as an active night life

Destination Guide – Map

Click the coloured area on the map to learn more about the state:

Destination Guide – States Listing