Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and the Jungles of Borneo — Where to Go and What to Try

Kuala Lumpur: skyscrapers and street food

Malaysia's capital is a city of contrasts. The Petronas Towers, shopping malls and green parks sit side by side with Chinatown, Little India and night markets. Not far from the city are the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple inside a limestone hill, reached by a long, brightly coloured staircase.

Penang and Malacca: history and food

George Town, on the island of Penang, is an old trading town with colonial houses, Chinese temples and street murals. It's often called the country's food capital. Malacca is one of Malaysia's oldest cities: Dutch and Portuguese buildings survive here, and in the evenings the night market on Jonker Street comes to life.

The islands: Langkawi, the Perhentians and Tioman

On the west coast lies Langkawi, with beaches, a cable car up into the mountains and mangrove forests. In the east are the Perhentian Islands and Tioman, with clear water and coral reefs, where people come to snorkel and scuba dive. A trip to the east coast is best planned outside the monsoon season, when the sea is calm.

Borneo and the Cameron Highlands

The Malaysian part of Borneo — the states of Sabah and Sarawak — means ancient rainforests, Mount Kinabalu and centres where orangutans are nursed back to health. And in the Cameron Highlands on the peninsula it stays cool even in the heat: tea plantations, strawberry farms and trails through misty forest.

What to try

Malaysian cuisine is a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions.

• Nasi lemak — rice cooked in coconut milk, served with spicy sambal; it's considered the national dish.
• Satay — small skewers on bamboo sticks with peanut sauce.
• Laksa — a spicy noodle soup, with its own version in every region.
• Roti canai — a thin flatbread served with curry sauce.
• Char kway teow — stir-fried noodles, Penang's signature dish.
• Tropical fruit, including the famous durian with its pungent smell, which not everyone loves.

Good to know before you go

Malaysia is a friendly country, and a few simple rules will help you feel at ease.

• Most people are Muslim: enter mosques in clothing that covers you up and without shoes; robes are usually handed out at the entrance.
• It's customary to take off your shoes when entering a home or a temple.
• You're not allowed to bring durian into many hotels or onto public transport.
• Downpours start suddenly: an umbrella or a light rain jacket always comes in handy.
• Air conditioning in shopping malls and on public transport runs at full blast — bring a light sweater.

Staying connected

In Malaysia you need the internet from the very first minutes: to call a taxi, open a map, find a market or street food, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.