Malaysia›Month by month

When to go

Malaysia, month by month

Where in Malaysia is at its best each month, and where to skip. Each verdict comes from the place's stated best season and the closures, weather warnings and festivals Tourisma has for it: in the middle of the season is a great month, its first or last month a good one; a weather warning (monsoon seas, smoke) moves a month down, a closure (a park shut, the boats stopped) moves it down to mixed at most, and a shut place is better avoided.

Malaysia in January

Plan January

At their best

Mixed: Cameron Highlands, Gunung Mulu, Johor Bahru, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan & Sepilok, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul), Taman Negara.

Better avoided

Can fall this month

  • Thaipusam at Batu Caves (dates shift yearly)
  • Chinese New Year (dates shift yearly)

Malaysia in February

Plan February

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Gunung Mulu, Johor Bahru, Kinabalu Park, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Sandakan & Sepilok, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul), Taman Negara.

Better avoided

Can fall this month

  • Thaipusam at Batu Caves (dates shift yearly)
  • Chinese New Year (dates shift yearly)
  • Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri (dates shift yearly)

Malaysia in March

Plan March

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Melaka, Perhentian Islands, Redang Island, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul).

Can fall this month

  • Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri (dates shift yearly)

Malaysia in April

Plan April

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang (George Town).

Malaysia in May

Plan May

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Langkawi, Melaka, Penang (George Town).

Can fall this month

  • Kaamatan (Sabah harvest festival)
  • Gawai Dayak (Sarawak harvest festival)

Malaysia in June

Plan June

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Langkawi, Penang (George Town).

Can fall this month

  • Gawai Dayak (Sarawak harvest festival)
  • Rainforest World Music Festival

Malaysia in July

Plan July

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Langkawi, Penang (George Town).

Can fall this month

  • Rainforest World Music Festival

Malaysia in August

Plan August

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang (George Town).

Can fall this month

  • National Day (Hari Merdeka)

Malaysia in September

Plan September

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Kuching, Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Melaka, Penang (George Town).

Malaysia in October

Plan October

At their best

No place is in the middle of its season this month.

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kinabalu Park, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Langkawi, Melaka, Penang (George Town), Perhentian Islands, Redang Island, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul).

Can fall this month

  • Deepavali (dates shift yearly)

Malaysia in November

Plan November

At their best

No place is in the middle of its season this month.

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Cameron Highlands, Gunung Mulu, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Melaka, Penang (George Town), Sandakan & Sepilok, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul), Taman Negara.

Better avoided

Can fall this month

  • Deepavali (dates shift yearly)

Malaysia in December

Plan December

At their best

Good, at the edge of the season

Mixed: Cameron Highlands, Gunung Mulu, Johor Bahru, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan & Sepilok, Semporna (Sipadan & Mabul), Taman Negara.

Better avoided

Can fall this month

  • Year-end school holidays
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