Malaysia travel plans: looking for tips and first-hand experiences

Hi everyone, We’re planning a trip to Malaysia from March 16 to 31, 2026, and we’d love to hear your advice and experiences. There are three of us girls, and we’d like to visit a few islands, but we’re not sure which ones to choose yet. Could you recommend:

The most beautiful islands to visit at this time of year (is it the right season?)

How to get there easily

Mistakes to avoid and essential info

Must-do activities and sights

Useful things to bring back

The budget to plan for

How long to stay in Kuala Lumpur and the city’s must-sees

Any tips you have—whether you’ve traveled in March or another time—will be super helpful for planning our trip. Thanks so much in advance! 🌴✈️

Hi there! Head to the Perhentian Islands! From Kuala Lumpur, go to the Kuala Besut bus station. Take the overnight bus to maximize your time on the Perhentian Islands. Once you arrive in Kuala Besut, head to the jetty where the boats depart.

Good evening, thank you so much for your reply. About the Perhentian Islands, I’ve looked into it and heard they’re closed and that March isn’t the right time to go—I don’t know if that’s true. We’ll be there at the end of March, and apparently the best time is early April. I’m not sure what to think, but thanks again for your reply. Have a great evening

I went there in March (on a small island) and had great weather; just a few short showers, but that was a while ago (1994). Since then, I’ve read somewhere that guesthouses only open in April, so maybe the boat connections too, but that’s still to be confirmed... Has the climate changed? So try to get more precise and recent info on this. Find accommodation and try to get in touch for details—maybe with Abdul? They’re already listing rates for March 2026...

Check out: "Abdul’s Perhentian chalets" Opening Friday, March 6th.

How long to stay in Kuala Lumpur and the city’s must-sees

Someone already answered you about the islands elsewhere: Perhentians, of course 😉

For KL, 3–4 days is plenty—there isn’t *that* much to see or do: The Petronas Towers, of course—from the top, from the bottom, from the front, from the back, by day, by night (and in front of the water fountain show 🙂) The residential neighborhood of Kampung Baru Batu Caves (easy to reach by taxi) The forest reserve with the Menara Tower in the middle (the view of the Petronas Towers from above, or through the glass floors, is stunning) Chinatown and around Merdeka Square Dinner among the stalls on Jalan Alor

Have a great trip 😉

Hi there, For the Perhentians (if it's the right season—double-check), I'm not sure if there are buses to Kuala Besut. In that case, take a (preferably overnight and VIP) bus to Kota Bharu and get off at Jerteh (about 1 hour before Kota Bharu), then cover the last 8 km to Kuala Besut by taxi. Don’t arrive after 3 or 4 PM because there won’t be any more boats.

I’d recommend visiting Malacca—the historic city is really charming. There are dozens of direct buses every day from KL with various companies, taking about 2.5 hours. There are even direct buses from and to Kota Bharu if you're heading to the Perhentians (departure around 9–10 PM, arrival around 8 AM).

Thanks so much for your replies 😉

Thank you so much for all the info!! 🙂

Hi there, for the must-see spots in Kuala Lumpur, you might find this blog post helpful: https://www.voyagetranquille.com/visiter-kuala-lumpur/ Happy travels!

Hi! Is it possible to take an overnight bus from Besut to Perlis as well? I think it’s possible from Perlis to KL? Thanks.

Hi there, After several trips to Malaysia, I’d recommend Tioman and Perhentian. Both are really beautiful with amazing beaches. On the other hand, I’d advise against Langkawi—I was there two months ago, and it’s really overrated with a lot of concrete. Penang is also worth a visit for the city. Happy travels

I only saw Langkawi for a day on my way to Koh Lipe (Thailand), and yeah, it’s really built up! Didn’t exactly make me want to stick around.🙁