Malaysia climate

When planning your trip through Malaysia, it's best to take the country's tropical climate into account. In doing so, the country can be divided into two parts: the East and the West.

East Malaysia: The best time to visit East Malaysia is during the months March through October. Here you'll find the most tropical islands. During the rest of the year, our winter (from mid October through February) heavy monsoon rains and thunder storms pass across the East Coast. Many of the island resorts are closed during this time of year and most boats stay in port and will not sail to the island due to rough seas.

West Malaysia: This part of Malaysia can be easily visited any time of year. There isn't a specific rain season in the west; however the months December, January and February produce the most rainfall. Rainfall during these months is not as heavy as it can be in the east and therefore shouldn't stop you from travelling.

Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak): Borneo can be visited during the entire year. The most rain falls from October through March, with December and January producing the most rainfall in the area surrounding Kuching in Sarawak. Don't let this stop you from travelling here during this time of year though. A bit of refreshing rainfall during the tropical heat can be very welcome. In the northern part of Borneo, in the Sabah area, rainfall is heaviest from May through November. In general there is less rainfall in Sabah than in Sarawak.

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