Malaysia
Malaysia is two worlds joined by the sea. On the peninsula, Penang’s shophouse lanes hum with hawker stalls, Melaka carries centuries of trade-route history, and the Eastern & Oriental Express winds through jungle toward tea-covered highlands. Across the water in Borneo, orangutans swing through the canopy, proboscis monkeys gather along the Kinabatangan River at dusk, and some of the world’s oldest rainforest stretches as far as you can see.
I design Malaysia journeys around a handful of places with real time to settle into each one. Picture a cooking class in a Peranakan family’s kitchen, a night walk through Danum Valley with a naturalist guide, or a dive off Sipadan with turtles drifting past. Every journey is shaped around you.
A Note from the Field:
Piper
Moments Worth the Journey
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![Rainbow-painted steps leading up to the Batu Caves temple near Kuala Lumpur]()
The rainbow steps of Batu Caves
Climb 272 painted steps past a towering golden statue of Lord Murugan into a Hindu temple tucked inside a limestone cave, just outside Kuala Lumpur.
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![Hanging lanterns and local snacks at a hawker market in George Town, Penang]()
Hawker stalls of George Town
Eat your way through Penang’s UNESCO-listed old town, from char kway teow and assam laksa to cendol, then wander the shophouse lanes and clan jetties where the city’s trading history lives on.
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![Spread of Peranakan Nyonya dishes, including laksa, kuih, and rendang, in Melaka]()
A Peranakan kitchen in Melaka
Learn the spice-rich Nyonya cooking of Melaka’s Peranakan community, a blend of Chinese and Malay traditions passed down through generations, then explore the riverside streets of this centuries-old port.
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![Wood-paneled lounge car with gold upholstery aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express]()
Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express
Travel from Singapore into Malaysia aboard this restored green-and-cream train, with an open-air observation car, a piano bar, and dinners that stretch late into the evening.
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![Young orangutan climbing through the trees at Sepilok, Sabah]()
Orangutans of Sepilok
Watch young orangutans learn to climb, forage, and swing through the trees at Sabah’s famous rehabilitation center, a first step on their journey back to the wild.
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![Travelers on a river safari boat watching Bornean pygmy elephants along the Kinabatangan River]()
River safari on the Kinabatangan
Glide along Borneo’s wildlife highway at dawn and dusk, watching proboscis monkeys leap between branches, hornbills crossing overhead, and, with luck, pygmy elephants at the water’s edge.
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![Kingfisher perched on a branch at night in Danum Valley, Borneo]()
Night walks in Danum Valley
Explore one of Borneo’s oldest protected rainforests with a naturalist guide, crossing canopy walkways by day and finding flying squirrels, tarsiers, and glowing fungi by flashlight after dark.
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![Turquoise reef and island lagoon in the Semporna islands near Sipadan, Malaysia]()
Diving Sipadan
Drop into one of the world’s great dive sites, where sea turtles rest on the reef, barracuda swirl in silver tornadoes, and reef sharks patrol the wall.
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![Millions of bats spiraling out of Deer Cave at dusk in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak]()
The bats of Mulu
Watch millions of bats spiral out of Deer Cave at dusk in Sarawak’s Gunung Mulu National Park, home to some of the largest cave passages on Earth.
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![Interior of a traditional Iban longhouse with woven crafts and a hearth, Sarawak]()
An Iban longhouse in Sarawak
Spend time with an Iban community in a traditional longhouse, sharing a meal, hearing stories of Borneo’s headhunting past, and learning the crafts and customs still alive today.
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![Tea plantations rolling across the hills of the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia]()
Tea in the Cameron Highlands
Wander rolling green tea estates in the cool, misty hills, then sit down to a fresh pot of tea overlooking the plantations.
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![Limestone peaks and mangrove forest along the water in Langkawi, Malaysia]()
The rainforest of Langkawi
Stay in a resort set deep within ancient jungle, kayak through mangroves, and watch dusky langurs and hornbills from your balcony before golden hour over the Andaman Sea.
Malaysia by Region
Penang & Melaka
Best December through April, when the west coast is at its driest. Chinese New Year and Thaipusam (January or February) fill the streets with lanterns, processions, and feasts, so book early if you’d like to be there for them.
Langkawi
Best November through April, with calm seas and clear skies. Rainforest resorts here sit right inside protected jungle, so dusky langurs and hornbills often come to you.
Taman Negara &
the Jungle Railway
Best March through October. Heavy rains from November to January can flood trails, and the Eastern & Oriental Express’s Wild Malaysia journey follows the same season.
Cameron Highlands
Lovely year-round, with cool, misty air even when the lowlands are steamy. February through April brings the driest days for walking the tea estates.
Sabah (Kinabatangan,
Danum Valley & Sepilok)
Best March through October, during the drier months. Orangutans are present year-round, and pygmy elephants move along the Kinabatangan as they please, so a few nights on the river gives you the best chance of an encounter.
Sipadan
Diving is excellent year-round and at its best April through December. Daily dive permits are strictly limited, so reserve months ahead.
Sarawak (Mulu & the Iban longhouses)
Best March through September. Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival celebrated in early June, is a joyful time to visit longhouse communities. At Mulu, millions of bats spiral out of Deer Cave at dusk, weather permitting.
Journey Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express
Few journeys capture the romance of Southeast Asia quite like the Eastern & Oriental Express. Its restored green-and-cream carriages roll north from Singapore through jungle, rice fields, and coastal towns, with stops for George Town’s heritage streets, Langkawi’s islands, or a guided walk into Taman Negara, one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Back on board, evenings unfold in the piano bar and the open-air observation car, with menus by chef André Chiang. Journeys run three nights, with seasonal routes year-round, and the train makes a beautiful opening chapter before Borneo.
