Malaysia Things to Do

Travelers who find themselves in Penang in early summer should take special care to watch the festivities surrounding the Plenitude Penang International Dragon Boat Festival. Beating drums, colorful boats and costumes, and high-caliber athleticism come together for three days of international competition and celebration.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Kuala Lumpur seem to always surround the hubbub going on at Petronas Tower, with an amazing public display that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Held by, the Ministry of Tourism at the KLCC, the explosive outdoor bash is full of exciting laser dancing, a Wild West style dance-off, a countdown, confetti bursts, live music and tons of fireworks.

Known elsewhere around the world as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival, or Zhongqiu Festival, the Mooncake Festival in Malaysia is a celebration of unity and familial harmony. With origins that are believed to be rooted in the tradition of making sacrifices to the Moon Goddess for a bountiful year’s end harvest, the modern incarnation offers a chance for revelers to savor extremely sweet mooncakes and share them with relatives, bosses, customers, friends, and newfound acquaintances in a display of generosity and inclusion.

Attracting audiences in excess of 30,000 people annually, The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Sarawak is one of the largest music festivals in Malaysia. With a program that includes music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, food stalls and main-stage evening concerts; RWMF is definitely not to be missed if you’re travelling in the region during the summer months.

Although it’s the capital of the third-smallest state in Malaysia, Malacca has been a regional destination of choice for foreign visitors since its founding in the 15th century. Intermittently bustling and sleepy, the city has a distinctive vibe that is all its own. Among the most popular tourist activities in the area are sightseeing strolls around the Porta de Santiago and up the steep steps to St. Paul’s Church, as well as evenings spent drinking and listening to live music at the aptly-named Honky Tonk Haven.

Among the many things that make Malaysia an attractive tourist destination, one of the most well-known and widespread is the profusion of opportunities for bird watching. The following are some of the most famous.