Peninsular Malaysia and its more than 850 islands are located close to the equator, enjoying a tropical climate throughout the year with only minor fluctuations in temperature. However, that’s where the weather similarities end, as Malaysia offers a geographic diversity that includes tropical rainforests, lush highlands, and extensive coastlines along the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca, leading to significant regional variations.

Peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur – Malacca – Cameron Highlands):

On Peninsular Malaysia, you will find the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, historic Malacca, and the Cameron Highlands. Here, you can experience both showers and sunshine year-round, though some periods are naturally better weather-wise than others.

Kuala Lumpur and Malacca enjoy warm temperatures ranging from 23-33 degrees year-round. The driest months are January, February, and June to September, when the days are usually dry, but short showers may occur. The rest of the year sees intensified rainfall, although it is rarely a case of all-day rain.

The same can be said for the Cameron Highlands, where the driest months are January, February, June, and July. The climate here is slightly cooler than the lowlands, yet it still offers pleasant temperatures between 16-25 degrees.

Malaysia’s western islands (Langkawi – Penang):

West of Peninsular Malaysia are the islands of Langkawi and Penang, both affected by the southwest monsoons, which results in two distinct seasons.

The dry season runs from December to April with temperatures ranging from 23 to 33 degrees. The days are filled with sunshine, interrupted occasionally by brief showers.

The rainy season spans May to November. The weather remains warm with temperatures between 23-31 degrees. Days can be affected by short, heavy showers, often occurring in the late afternoon.

Malaysia’s eastern islands (Perhentian Islands – Tioman Island):

East of Peninsular Malaysia are the islands of the Perhentian Islands and Tioman Island, which are impacted by the northeast monsoons and, therefore, experience two seasons:

The dry season lasts from February to September with temperatures between 23-33 degrees. There are plenty of sunshine hours and only a few showers.

The rainy season extends from October to January. It’s still delightfully warm, with temperatures between 23-31 degrees, but heavy showers are common, which is why the islands close to visitors from November to January.

Borneo (Sarawak – Sabah):

On the world’s third-largest island, Borneo, you’ll find the two Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak, both influenced by the northeast monsoons. Here, you can expect sunshine and showers year-round, although some periods are more favourable weather-wise than others.

The western part of Sabah enjoys its driest period from January to April with rare rainfalls, while the eastern part sees its driest period from February to September. During the remaining months, short, heavy showers may occur, especially between October and December, but all-day rain is rare.

The same is true for the southern part of Sarawak, where rain intensifies, particularly between November and February.

If you plan on trekking up Mt. Kinabalu, you’ll experience a climate that’s hard to predict. Year-round, you can anticipate temperatures ranging between 0-26 degrees, depending on your location on the mountain. The best weather conditions are during the dry season from February to September, although in October and November, short daily showers can be expected, usually occurring in the late afternoon once you’ve reached your overnight accommodation.

Passport:
As a UK citizen, you must possess a valid UK passport. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the date you return from Malaysia.

Visa:
Malaysia is visa-free for UK citizens for up to 90 days.

Entry form:
All travellers must complete and submit an entry form, known as the MDAC, no earlier than 3 days before entering Malaysia. You can find the form here.

You can check other requirements and rules on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office.

Prior to your departure, you can download our App here to find your travel documents and the contact details for TourCompass and our local partners.

We recommend that you download the WhatsApp app to your smartphone and add the phone numbers of our business partners. You can send messages and call them for free using the app when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

We recommend that you contact a medical specialist, your GP or an authorised vaccination clinic for information about vaccinations. You can also read more about the rules regarding travel vaccinations here.

Please be aware of the rules about yellow fever – especially if you are entering via another country where yellow fever is present. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Your vaccination certificate should therefore always be carried with you in your hand luggage when you travel.

Please read our general travel terms and conditions carefully, as these are part of the agreement terms for tours purchased at TourCompass. Tours purchased from us are covered under the “Package Travel Act”.

Click here to read our travel terms and conditions.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it.
Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate click here.

We always advise you to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when heading off on your dream holiday. It is also highly recommended to acquire cancellation insurance for extra protection. 

Click here to proceed to our page on insurance, where you can read more about our recommendations.

In Malaysia, the currency is the ringgit (MYR). You can check the current exchange rate for the Malaysian ringgit here.

On the mainland and larger islands such as Borneo and Langkawi, Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops, but rarely at small local restaurants and markets. On smaller islands like the Perhentian Islands and Tioman Island, there are no or very few ATMs, and most ordinary restaurants only accept cash. However, this does not apply to the restaurant at your hotel, where you can usually pay with Visa and Mastercard.

Get an idea of the price level in Malaysia here.

Tipping is not expected in Malaysia, but it is appreciated if you have received excellent service. It is completely up to you whether you choose to tip. You can give as much or as little as you like. Below is a guide if you decide to tip for exceptional service:

• Guides: 20-30 RM per day per person
• Drivers: 10-20 RM per day per person
• Bellboy: 2-10 RM per piece of luggage
• Housekeeping: 2-10 RM per room per day
• Restaurants: In many restaurants, tips are included in the price, indicated by a ‘5-10% service charge’ on the bill. Thus, there’s no need to leave an additional tip. If tips are not included, you can round up or leave 5-10% if the service and food were good. At local restaurants and street food stalls, tips are not expected, but you can leave some small change when leaving.

At the vast majority of our destinations, we are able to take allergies, as well as allergens or preferences into account when it comes to food, however it is important that you inform us of this when you book the tour.

Telephone & Wi-Fi:

Using data and roaming abroad can be expensive if it isn’t already included in your mobile plan. You can contact your mobile provider to learn which services are included and what the rates are for international travel.

If you don’t already have data and roaming for international use included in your mobile plan, we recommend using Wi-Fi at your hotel or restaurants. This way, you can make calls and send messages back home for free via various services like FaceTime, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can purchase a local SIM card with data upon arrival.

Electricity:

Malaysia uses 240 volts. It is important to bring an adapter, as Malaysian plugs are type G with three flat pins.

Always ensure you keep all essential and irreplaceable items in your hand luggage. This includes, for instance, your passport, visa, vaccination card, credit cards, money, insurance documents, travel documents, laptop, mobile phone, as well as any information about your health status and essential medication.

If you’re heading to Malaysia, you can download our recommended packing list as a PDF below.

Download our PDF packing list here.

Mt. Kinabalu Trek:

If you’re trekking to the top of Mt. Kinabalu, you can download our recommended packing list as a PDF below.

Download our PDF packing list here.

There will be a brief session about your trek at the main park office where you will be issued a registration card, which you must carry during the trek. You can also store your luggage here during the trek and rent trekking poles (approximately 90MYR), which can be quite helpful to take with you on the journey.

You will need to carry your own backpack, so we recommend it has a hip belt and a rain cover. It should ideally hold 30-40 litres and not weigh more than 8 kg. Remember to leave a bit of space for the first day’s packed lunch, which your guide will provide at the main office.

Borneo’s Rainforests:

If you’re visiting Borneo’s rainforests, you can download our recommended packing list as a PDF below.

Download our PDF packing list here.

Visitors are not permitted to bring plants, seeds, fruit and other plant products into the UK from their travels outside the UK, unless they are accompanied by a plant health (phytosanitary) certificate. These rules also apply to smaller quantities of plants and plant products.

Read more about the rules here.

Please note that our tours are not generally suitable for people with impaired mobility. Please contact us for information about your options in relation to your specific needs.

Most airlines have electronic tickets (e-tickets).

It is important that you check your name for spelling errors, as the name on the reservation must be exactly as it appears on your passport. If your name needs to be corrected, please contact us as soon as possible. Please note that this may incur a fee from the airline.

The airline will assign you a seat on the plane at check-in. If you have specific wishes regarding where you sit on the plane, you can make a seat reservation yourself on the airline’s website or in their app. Please note that most airlines require payment for a seat reservation.

It varies when airlines open for seat reservations, but as a general rule, you can book seats from the time of booking and up to 48 hours before departure.

We also point out that the airline has complete control over all seats on the plane and that they are therefore entitled to make changes to the reservation at any time.
If you do not make a seat reservation before departure, the airline will assign you a seat at check-in.

Your passport and your booking reference, which appears on your itinerary, are required to check in.

We recommend that you download the airline’s app on your phone. In the app, there is an option for online check-in, which typically opens 24 to 48 hours before departure. The app also allows you to stay informed of any flight changes and other important information about your flight.

Please note that the flight times may have changed in relation to those listed on the travel itinerary you received when you booked your holiday. It is always the flight times in the airline’s app or on the airline’s website that apply.

We recommend that you arrive at the airport to check in at least two hours before departure. It is a good idea to check the airport’s website for the latest updates.

We use many different airlines for our destinations. You can check the exact rules for hand luggage and checked baggage on the airline’s website or in their app.

If domestic flights are used in your itinerary, please be aware that baggage permissions may be different from how they are for your international flights. In general, you can always purchase more baggage allowance locally.

If your baggage is delayed, please contact the staff in the baggage reclaim area to report your missing baggage.

It is important that you have your baggage receipt when completing your PIR (Property Irregularity Report).

Please note that you must not leave the baggage area at the airport until you have completed the report.

In the event of delayed baggage, we ask you to contact our partner, who will ensure that your guide/driver waits for you.

Should any changes occur in connection with your flight reservation before departure, we will of course contact you to let you know.

Should your flight be delayed after check-in, the airline is responsible for rebooking your flight. They will typically book the next possible flight and arrange any meals and accommodation if necessary.

Our partner checks for any changes in arrival times and will naturally still wait for you, even if your flight is delayed.

If, due to a delay or cancellation, the airline books you on another flight number after you have arrived at the airport, please contact us on TourCompass’ emergency number.

Immigration:
Upon arrival at your final destination, you will proceed through immigration where your passport and any entry documents and visa are checked. In many places, fingerprints are taken, and a photo of your face is recorded for biometric identification. You may also be asked questions about your travel plans in the country and the address of your accommodation.

Customs:
Once you’ve passed through immigration and collected your luggage, you must pass through customs. If you have nothing to declare, you can proceed through ‘nothing to declare’. If you have items to declare, it is important to go through ‘declare’. It is your responsibility to check the customs regulations applicable in the country you are visiting.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a guide/driver holding a TourCompass sign, ready to welcome you. 

Should you unexpectedly not be able to find your guide/driver, we ask you to contact our local partner. 

Normal check-in is typically from 2 pm, and, therefore, you cannot count on getting your room earlier. If you’d like to check in early, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

When you check in, the receptionist will generally register your credit card and may reserve an amount. This is not an additional fee, but customary at hotels to ensure payment of any consumption e.g. from the minibar. When you check out, the amount will be automatically released if you have not made use of this.

It is very normal for hotels to take a copy of your passport. In some places, this is a requirement of the local authorities.

Check-out is normally by 10 am. If you’re not travelling until the afternoon or evening, you can have your luggage stored until it’s time to leave. If you would like a late check-out instead, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

Our tours to Malaysia are individual tours, but included excursions and transfers take place in international groups ranging from 1 to 14 people, some only with TourCompass’ own guests.

Most optional tours are conducted with TourCompass’ own guests; however, some may include travellers from other operators. This will be clearly stated in the description.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather, blocked roads, or other issues, it may be necessary to adjust the sequence of sightseeing tours and attractions in the daily itineraries.

We have a 24-hour emergency hotline so that you can always get in touch with us should anything unforeseen occur during your tour. You will also be sent the telephone numbers and emergency telephone numbers of our partners at the destination. In some cases, it may be easiest and fastest to contact our partners due to time differences, if, for example, you find yourself in a situation where your pick-up for an excursion or transfer is more than 15 minutes delayed.

We rely on happy travellers, and we would therefore very much like to hear from you after your return home. Send us an email at info@tourcompass.co.uk or call us on tel.: 01279 704 135