Malaysia is a meeting place of trade winds, migration routes, and centuries of cultural exchange. Once part of ancient maritime kingdoms and later a prize of colonial powers, it now holds many worlds within one border. In the highland tea fields, on the wooden jetties of fishing villages, and in the call to prayer drifting through tropical rain, Malaysia's history is not locked in museums; it breathes in the everyday.
The peninsula offers Malay, Chinese, and Indian heritage intertwined, while Borneo's wild interior shelters rare wildlife like orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants.
Remove shoes before entering homes and mosques. Dress modestly, especially in rural areas and Islamic sites. Use your right hand when giving or receiving items. Don't touch anyone's head. Try eating with your hands at a banana leaf restaurant. Respect wildlife and national park rules in Borneo. Don't point with your index finger; use your thumb instead.
Mar–Oct in Borneo, Dec–Mar on the east coast. Best for diving, snorkeling, and wildlife watching.
Nov–Feb east coast, May–Sep west coast. Heavy rains in specific regions; plan travel according to area.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, and the Gawai Dayak harvest festival in Sarawak.