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Best time to visit Malaysia

Malaysia has no single best month, because the west coast, the east coast islands and Borneo follow different monsoon calendars.[1] February and March suit the most places: February is rated good or best in nine of our ten places, and the east coast island season runs from March to October.[2] Langkawi is rated best from December to March, Tioman is good or best from April to September, and Kuching is rated mixed or poor in every month.

Last updated: October 15, 2026

Malaysia month by month at a glance

Travel weather for 10 places, from long-term averages. Select a month to show it on the map.

Place
West coast
Langkawi Great Great Great Good Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Poor Good Great
Penang Good Great Good Mixed Mixed Good Good Mixed Mixed Poor Mixed Mixed
Ipoh Good Good Good Mixed Mixed Good Good Good Mixed Mixed Poor Mixed
Kuala Lumpur Good Good Mixed Mixed Good Good Good Good Good Mixed Poor Mixed
Malacca Good Great Good Mixed Good Good Good Good Good Mixed Mixed Good
Highlands
Cameron Highlands Poor Good Mixed Mixed Mixed Good Good Good Mixed Mixed Poor Poor
East coast islands
Perhentian Islands Mixed Great Good Great Good Good Good Good Mixed Mixed Poor Poor
Tioman Poor Good Good Good Good Great Good Great Great Mixed Poor Poor
Borneo
Kuching Poor Poor Poor Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Poor Poor
Kota Kinabalu Good Great Great Great Good Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed
  • Great
  • Good
  • Mixed
  • Poor

Travel weather in October

Drag to move, scroll or pinch to zoom Map: Natural Earth · Climate: TerraClimate · Storms: NOAA IBTrACS

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Seasons in Malaysia

MetMalaysia, the national weather service, describes two monsoon regimes: the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September and the Northeast Monsoon from November to March, with an inter-monsoon phase between them. The Northeast Monsoon is the main rainy season and brings heavy rain to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, western Sarawak and eastern Sabah, while the Southwest Monsoon is relatively drier everywhere except Sabah. During the inter-monsoon phase, winds are light and variable, and on the west coast of the Peninsula afternoon thunderstorms produce the maximum average monthly rainfall during both transition seasons, with thunderstorms most frequent from April to May and from October to November.[1] Temperature changes little through the year, so rain, wind and sea conditions decide the best time more than heat does. On the east coast, cloud cover and cold surges from Siberia make the Northeast Monsoon noticeably cooler than the rest of the year.[3]

The Southwest Monsoon is also the dry season of the southern ASEAN region, and the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre says the risk of transboundary haze persists under southeasterly or southwesterly winds.[4] Tropical storms are rarely a factor: in our storm records for 1995 to 2024, a tropical storm or typhoon came within 200 km of one of our ten places in only two months of the year, January (Perhentian) and December (Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Tioman and Kota Kinabalu), each in one year out of 30.

Region by region

West coast (Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca)

Across most of the Peninsula outside the east coast and the southwest coastal strip, MetMalaysia describes two rainy peaks and two drier spells: a main peak in October and November, a second in April and May, and in the northwest a main dry spell in January and February and a second in June and July. On the southwest coast, early morning Sumatra squalls from May to August blur that pattern, leaving October and November as the wettest months and February as the driest.[3] Our data follows that pattern. October is the wettest month of the year in Penang (431 mm) and Langkawi (374 mm), Langkawi is rated best from December to March, and Penang and Malacca are rated best only in February. Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh are never rated best, but both are good in January, February and from June to August.

Tourism Malaysia's Langkawi brochure puts the dry season at November to March and recommends May to October for the Temurun waterfall, which shrinks to a trickle when it is dry.[5] The west coast is also the fallback when the east coast shuts: Tourism Malaysia notes that Pulau Payar off the west coast is a dive destination all year, because divers go there during the east coast monsoon.[6] Squall lines called Sumatras are most common between April and November and usually reach the west coast before dawn or in the early morning, and Subang near Kuala Lumpur records the most thunderstorms in the country, followed by Bayan Lepas in Penang.[1] Daily highs stay at about 32 to 34 °C in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh and about 30 to 32 °C in Langkawi in every month.

Langkawi

Best months: December to March

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0200400JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Poor · high 30 °C, low 22 °C · 374 mm

Penang

Best months: February

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0300500JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Poor · high 32 °C, low 24 °C · 431 mm

Ipoh

Best months: January to March and June to August

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0200400JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 33 °C, low 23 °C · 330 mm

Kuala Lumpur

Best months: January and February and May to September

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0200400JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 32 °C, low 24 °C · 310 mm

Malacca

Best months: February

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0150300JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 32 °C, low 23 °C · 232 mm

Highlands (Cameron Highlands)

Cameron Highlands is the coolest place on the map, with daily highs of about 22 to 24 °C and lows of about 14 to 15 °C. Tourism Pahang gives a range of 15 to 25 °C for the highlands, so bring a light jacket for the evenings.[7]

Rain matters more than temperature here. Cameron Highlands is rated good in February and from June to August, when 156 to 179 mm fall, and poor in November, December and January, when 374 to 382 mm fall. Tourism Pahang says the highlands still offer misty weather during the October to February monsoon, while the east coast gets its heaviest rain from November to January.[7]

Cameron Highlands

Best months: February and June to August

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)10°20°30°Rain, mm per month0200400JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 23 °C, low 15 °C · 338 mm

East coast islands (Perhentian, Tioman)

The east coast islands follow the Northeast Monsoon calendar. MetMalaysia reports that November, December and January are the months of maximum rainfall on the east coast, while June and July are the driest months in most districts.[3] Tourism Malaysia's 2026 catalogue names March to October as the season for the east coast islands, including the Perhentian Islands, and says that between November and February many island resorts, dive centres and ferry services suspend operations for safety.[2] Our data agrees: Perhentian receives 535 mm in November and 740 mm in December, and Tioman 454 mm and 720 mm. Perhentian is rated good or best from March to August, and Tioman from March to September.

For Tioman, Tourism Malaysia gives a more exact timeline: the monsoon runs from late October to early February, resorts reopen in March and stay open until October, and June and July bring the best weather.[8] Rain figures alone flatter February, when Perhentian is rated best at 113 mm and Tioman good at 187 mm, so confirm with your resort that it is open before you book. Boats leave from Kuala Besut for Perhentian[9] and from Mersing or Tanjung Gemok for Tioman,[8] and MetMalaysia links the Northeast Monsoon to large floods in Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor and advises against going to sea in small boats during it.[1]

Perhentian Islands

Best months: February and April

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0400800JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 31 °C, low 24 °C · 332 mm

Tioman

Best months: June and August and September

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0400800JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 29 °C, low 22 °C · 226 mm

Borneo (Kuching, Kota Kinabalu)

Sarawak and Sabah share the Northeast Monsoon but not the rain pattern. On the coast of Sarawak, MetMalaysia describes one rainy peak in January and a minimum in June or July, with December to March bringing more than half of the annual rainfall in the west of the state.[3] Kuching shows it: 906 mm in January, 622 mm in February and 573 mm in December, and never less than 229 mm in any month, so no month is rated better than mixed. Sarawak Tourism Board names June to August as the best time in Kuching[10] and April to September as the driest months in Sarawak.[11] A Kuching tour listing for Satang Island in Tourism Malaysia's 2026 catalogue says the trip is not available from October to March because of rough seas in the monsoon season.[2]

Kota Kinabalu has a different rhythm. On the northwest coast of Sabah, MetMalaysia describes a main rainy peak in October and a second in June, with the driest month in February and a second dry spell in August, and southwesterly winds that can strengthen to 20 knots or more from April to November when typhoons cross the Philippines.[3] During the Southwest Monsoon Sabah is wetter than the rest of the country, with over 200 mm a month, because of the tail effects of typhoons crossing the Philippines.[1] In our data Kota Kinabalu is rated best in February, March and April, when 78 to 130 mm of rain fall, and mixed from June to December. Sabah Parks' Mount Kinabalu planner names February the best balance of lower rainfall and lower climber numbers, lists April and August as good options, and marks May, October, November and December as higher-rainfall months.[12] Climbs are booked online only, and a booking can be moved once within the same year with at least two weeks' notice, which helps if the weather turns.[13]

Kuching

No month without drawbacks. Least difficult: April to October

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month05001000JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 32 °C, low 23 °C · 345 mm

Kota Kinabalu

Best months: February to April

RatingTemperature, °C (line: daytime high, bar: night to day)20°30°40°Rain, mm per month0200400JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

October: Mixed · high 32 °C, low 24 °C · 311 mm

Malaysia month by month

Malaysia in January

Great or good weather: Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, and Kota Kinabalu. Most rain: Kuching, 906 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

January favours the west coast: Langkawi is rated best with 78 mm of rain, and Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu are good. The east coast islands are still deep in the monsoon, with Tioman rated poor at 432 mm and Perhentian mixed at 340 mm, and Kuching is the wettest place in our data at 906 mm. MetMalaysia gives Kuching an average of only 3.7 hours of sunshine a day in January.[3] Thaipusam falls on 22 January 2027 and is a public holiday in several states.[14]

Malaysia in February

Great or good weather: Langkawi, Penang, Perhentian Islands, Malacca, Kota Kinabalu, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Tioman. Most rain: Kuching, 622 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 34 °C on average.

February is the driest month of the year in Langkawi (42 mm), Penang (93 mm) and Malacca (98 mm), and Perhentian and Kota Kinabalu are rated best as well. Rain alone flatters the east coast islands this month, because Tourism Malaysia lists November to February as the period when many island resorts, dive centres and ferries suspend operations.[2] Chinese New Year falls on 6 and 7 February 2027.[14] Kuching remains rated poor at 622 mm.

Malaysia in March

Great or good weather: Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Perhentian Islands, Ipoh, Malacca, and Tioman. Most rain: Kuching, 376 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 34 °C on average.

March is the first month when the east coast islands are in season while the west coast is still dry: Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu are rated best, and Penang, Ipoh, Malacca, Perhentian and Tioman are good. MetMalaysia runs the Northeast Monsoon until March,[1] and Tioman's resorts reopen this month as the winds ease.[8] Hari Raya Puasa is listed for 10 and 11 March 2027.[14] Kuala Lumpur and the Cameron Highlands are mixed, and Kuching is still poor at 376 mm.

Malaysia in April

Great or good weather: Perhentian Islands, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, and Tioman. Most rain: Ipoh, 301 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 34 °C on average.

April suits the east coast islands and Kota Kinabalu: Perhentian is rated best with 102 mm, Kota Kinabalu is best with 130 mm, and Tioman is good with 158 mm. The west coast turns showery, with Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca all rated mixed and Ipoh at 301 mm. MetMalaysia counts April and May among the months when thunderstorms are most frequent,[1] and April to May is the secondary rainfall peak over most of the Peninsula.[3]

Malaysia in May

Great or good weather: Perhentian Islands, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Tioman, and Kota Kinabalu. Most rain: Langkawi, 292 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 34 °C on average.

May is good for Perhentian, Tioman, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu, while Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh and the Cameron Highlands are mixed, with Langkawi at 292 mm. In 2027 Hari Raya Qurban falls on 17 and 18 May and Wesak on 20 May.[14]

Malaysia in June

Great or good weather: Tioman, Penang, Perhentian Islands, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca. Most rain: Kota Kinabalu, 290 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

June is the first month in which Tioman is rated best (113 mm), and Perhentian, Penang, Ipoh, the Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca are good. Kota Kinabalu's 290 mm of rain matches the secondary rainfall peak that MetMalaysia describes for the northwest coast of Sabah in June.[3] Sarawak's Gawai Dayak holidays fall on 1 and 2 June 2027.[14]

Malaysia in July

Great or good weather: Penang, Perhentian Islands, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, and Tioman. Most rain: Kota Kinabalu, 232 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

July is the driest month of the year in Kuala Lumpur (139 mm) and Kuching (229 mm), and every place on the Peninsula except Langkawi is rated good. Tourism Malaysia describes June and July as Tioman's peak season with the best weather for exploring.[8] Sarawak's Independence Day on 22 July is a state holiday.[14]

Malaysia in August

Great or good weather: Tioman, Perhentian Islands, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca. Most rain: Langkawi, 286 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

August is Tioman's driest month at 105 mm, and Perhentian, Ipoh, the Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca are good, while Langkawi, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are mixed. Squall lines called Sumatras usually reach the west coast before dawn or in the early morning and are most common between April and November.[1] Maulidur Rasul falls on 15 August 2027 and National Day on 31 August 2027.[14]

Malaysia in September

Great or good weather: Tioman, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca. Most rain: Langkawi, 331 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

September is a turning month: only Tioman is rated best (128 mm), Kuala Lumpur and Malacca are good, and the other seven places are mixed. It falls in the dry season of the southern ASEAN region, which is why smoke haze can reach Malaysia at this time of year.[4] Malaysia Day on 16 September is a federal holiday.[14]

Malaysia in October

No place on the map has great or good weather. Most rain: Penang, 431 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

October is the wettest month of the year in Penang (431 mm) and Langkawi (374 mm), and no place is rated better than mixed. MetMalaysia places the main rainfall peak over most of the Peninsula in October and November and lists both months among the most thunderstorm-prone.[3][1] Tourism Malaysia dates the start of Tioman's monsoon to late October and calls trips from October onwards less optimal than a trip in March.[8] Deepavali falls on 28 October 2027.[14]

Malaysia in November

Great or good weather: Langkawi. Most rain: Perhentian Islands, 535 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 33 °C on average.

November is when the Northeast Monsoon begins, and six of our ten places are rated poor, including Perhentian (535 mm), Tioman (454 mm) and Kuala Lumpur (385 mm).[1] Only Langkawi is rated good, at 217 mm.

Malaysia in December

Great or good weather: Langkawi and Malacca. Most rain: Perhentian Islands, 740 mm. Hottest days: Ipoh, 32 °C on average.

December is the wettest month of the year on the east coast, with 740 mm in Perhentian and 720 mm in Tioman, while Langkawi is rated best at 116 mm and Malacca good at 220 mm. MetMalaysia counts November, December and January as the months of maximum rainfall on the east coast.[3]

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Malaysia?

There is no single best month, because the west coast, the east coast islands and Borneo follow different monsoon calendars.[1] February is rated good or best in nine of our ten places, and the east coast island season runs from March to October.[2]

When is the rainy season in Malaysia?

The Northeast Monsoon from November to March is the main rainy season and hits the east coast of the Peninsula, western Sarawak and eastern Sabah hardest.[1] On most of the rest of the Peninsula the heaviest rain comes in October and November, with a second peak in April and May.[3]

When is the best time to visit Langkawi?

Tourism Malaysia's brochure puts the dry season at November to March.[5] In our data Langkawi is rated best from December to March, with February the driest month at 42 mm, and October is the wettest at 374 mm.

When is the best time to visit the Perhentian Islands or Tioman?

March to October is the season, because many east coast island resorts and ferries suspend operations from November to February.[2] In our data Tioman is rated best in June, August and September, and Perhentian is good or best from March to August.

When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur?

Kuala Lumpur is rated good in January, February and from May to September, July is the driest month at 139 mm, and November is the wettest at 385 mm.

When is the best time to visit Kuching and Kota Kinabalu?

Kota Kinabalu is rated best in February, March and April, when 78 to 130 mm of rain fall. Kuching receives at least 229 mm in every month, and Sarawak Tourism Board names June to August as the best time to go.[10]

About the data

Temperatures and rain are long-term averages for 1991 to 2020 from TerraClimate, and the typhoon risk counts tropical storms from NOAA IBTrACS. The ratings use the same rules for every country. How the rating works. Long-term averages, not a forecast. The weather in a given year can be quite different.

Travel guide: Malaysia

Sources and background

Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.

  1. [1] Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia): Weather Phenomena. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  2. [2] Tourism Malaysia: Malaysia Surreal Experience, Visit Malaysia 2026 to 2027 catalogue (PDF). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  3. [3] Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia): Malaysia's Climate. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  4. [4] ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC): Seasonal Forecast for October to December 2026. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  5. [5] Tourism Malaysia: Langkawi: The Jewel of Kedah (brochure PDF). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  6. [6] Tourism Malaysia: Dive in Paradise: Pulau Payar. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  7. [7] Tourism Pahang (Pahang State Tourism Board): Weather. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  8. [8] Tourism Malaysia: Tioman Island. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  9. [9] Tourism Malaysia: 5 Most Beautiful Islands To Discover In Terengganu. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  10. [10] Sarawak Tourism Board: Kuching. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  11. [11] Sarawak Tourism Board: FAQ. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  12. [12] Sabah Parks: Mount Kinabalu Climbing Planner. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  13. [13] Sabah Parks: Mount Kinabalu Climbing & Hostel Booking Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  14. [14] Prime Minister's Department Malaysia, Cabinet, Constitution and Inter-Governmental Relations Division (BKPP JPM): Jadual Hari Kelepasan Am Persekutuan 2027 (in Malay). Retrieved October 15, 2026.