Malaysia: Your Ultimate Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide
- Ayesha
- Aug 19, 2024
- 7 min read
Are you dreaming of an exotic getaway that perfectly blends culture, cuisine, and adventure? Look no further than Malaysia! As a Muslim-majority country, Malaysia offers a rich variety of experiences waiting to be explored. Follow along as I guide you through what to expect and how to make the most of your travel to this vibrant country.
Weather and What to Pack
Malaysia's weather can be described as tropical throughout the year. Some family members who live there described it as either "hot and humid, or hot and raining". Think of jungle weather. Make sure to pack lightweight, breathable clothing like dresses, skirts, and loose pants made of cotton or other light materials. Pack a variety of shoes including sandals for when it rains and comfortable walking shoes with extra pairs of socks in case your feet get wet. I carried a small travel umbrella with me at all times in my small backpack and a refillable water bottle because it would drastically change from pouring rain to extreme heat throughout the day. Make sure to take sunhats (or buy some super cute ones in KL) because the sun takes a toll. Keep some mosquito repellent on you as well as tissues for the toilets. All the toilets in Malaysia have some form of bidet or hand shower, but if you don't know how to use one, a portable one isn't a bad idea. Some of the toilets will have tissue or toilet paper to use by the sinks, but not in the individual stalls.
*pack light and leave some room in your bags because Malaysia has great modest clothing options and you'll want to shop!
Language and Communication
One of the best things about Malaysia is its diverse population, which means you'll hear various languages spoken across the country. While Malay is the official language, English is widely understood. I highly recommend downloading Google Translate and downloading the Malay language to use offline. While everyone understands English to varying degrees, having a translation app can help bridge the gap when you need some help. Most of the signs in Malaysia are written in both Malay (with English letters) and English, so getting around is not very difficult.
Culinary Delights
Food is a significant part of Malaysian culture, and you're in for a treat when it comes to foodie adventures. From Nasi Lemak to spicy Rendang, Malaysian cuisine is a fusion of flavors influenced by multiple Asian traditions. As a Muslim-majority country, most of the food is halal (depending on where you are), and you'll get to try amazing authentic Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Thai food that you can't get anywhere else.
Do you have any food intolerances or allergies? One of the great things about Malaysia was that I was able to find gluten-free food and dairy substitutes like almond or oat milk in most places. Make sure to check out my posts for Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Georgetown for more details on places to eat.
**Durian: The King of Fruits: Ah yes, the infamous durian fruit. We tried it and it does in fact have an extremely strong smell and doesn't taste great. If you want to try it, you HAVE to eat it fresh from a vendor who will cut it for you and eat it then and there where they seat you. The longer you wait, even if it's packaged, the stronger it starts to smell. I would say the taste and consistency is that of an overripe unsweet mango that is starting to go bad. Key thing to remember: Durian is banned in all public transport and hotels.
Cities to Explore
Malaysia offers an abundance of fascinating locales waiting to be explored. Although our time was limited, we managed to visit some incredible spots on our list and had to decide which cities to skip on this trip. In the upcoming reviews, I will rate the cities and attractions we personally experienced, focusing on their Muslim-friendly aspects to help you decide which sites to prioritize and which ones you can skip.
*On our trip, we traveled through the west side of Malaysia and were not able to make it to the east side of Borneo. If we can make a trip there one day I'll update this post.
#1 Kuala Lumpur
Muslim-Friendly Rating: 5/5
Full Guide
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is a must and I recommend spending at least 4 days there.
There is a great Hop-on-Hop-off bus that takes you to all the major attractions around the city.
Excellent malls with both high-end international brands and high-quality local ones. One of my favorite brands to buy from is Bokitta, which carries instant travel hijabs = no pins!
The food is by default Halal, and most places that are not halal will have it stated somewhere on their signboard. I would recommend asking Chinese places if they are Halal because some are not.
I like to call it a jungle city. Malaysia does a great job of preserving the natural environment while building infrastructure around it instead of destroying it.
It is very family and tourist-friendly. I recommend either using public transportation or Grab. If you're from the US, driving will be tricky because the steering wheels are on the right side of the car and the driving lanes are on the left. Google Maps works but isn't highly accurate.
There are beautiful mosques around every corner and every single mosque I went had a nice ladies section to pray, with bins or racks with abayas you can put on if you needed some covering up.
#2 Langkawi
Muslim-Friendly Rating: 5/5
Full Guide
Langkawi is a resort island and is significantly less developed than KL. A tour guide told us that this was intentional and the government legislates strict building limitations imposed on each resort to protect the island's natural environment. The resorts themselves are extremely luxurious and well-made, and Langkawi is one of those places where you spend your time at the hotel, instead of out exploring the city. Most of your activities outside the resort will be out in nature.
We stayed at the Four Seasons in Langkawi and I recommend spending at least 2-3 nights here. We could have easily spent a full week. All the food was halal and the only time we spent outside of the resort was to visit the amazing sky bridge. The attention to detail and service was beyond any 5-star hotel I had been to before. Everyone respected our privacy and as a hijabi, I was pleasantly surprised when no one tried to shake my hand and I was nicely informed about beautiful private cabanas at an adult-only pool where I could take my hijab off. There are many international brand resorts on the island as well as some local ones. Make sure to read reviews and confirm the halal food status of your hotel before booking and avoid Airbnb's
Be prepared for monkeys in the trees, bugs outside, and giant monitor lizards roaming about. With the beautiful natural preservation, I sometimes felt like I was on of the islands in Jurassic Park, dinosaurs included.
I highly recommend booking any excursions or activities through your hotel. While third-party companies might be cheaper, the experience is more chaotic and less enjoyable. We noticed the hurried and crowded nature of the tourist groups that did not opt for more exclusive experiences.
#3 Georgetown & Penang Island
Muslim-Friendly Rating: 4/5
Georgetown on Penang Island is known for its street food, but it was surprisingly hard to find Halal street food. Every travel guide and blog I read before going to Malaysia listed Georgetown as a must, but every guide was written by a non-Muslim and when we got there, we were a bit disappointed. We couldn't properly enjoy the food culture because every hawker market (street food area) and clan pier we went to were not halal. If you're okay skipping the street food, Georgetown has some amazing Michelin Star and Michelin Guide cafes and restaurants that serve delicious halal food. I have listed the places we ate at in the full guide.
Georgetown has a mix of multiple cultures and religions, with many active temples and historical sites.
As more nature-bound and outdoorsy people, we enjoyed more sites outside of Georgetown and throughout the rest of the island. The floating mosque was a beautiful place to stop by for salah on our way to the gorgeous Tropical Spice Garden. Penang Hill offered some amazing views of the island and some unique experiences. We weren't able to go to the National Park, but that's also an amazing natural excursion. I wouldn't recommend the national park if you have small children or don't want tricky hikes through the jungle.
Transportation
Getting around Malaysia is very convenient thanks to its well-run public transportation. They have a large and well-run public bus and train system, easy-to-use rideshare services, ferries, and cheap flights to get you everywhere. My husband and I enjoyed using all the different methods of travel to enhance our experience of Malaysian sightseeing and culture. I will say to make sure you arrive early to any transportation stops. The transportation was on-time every step of the way. One bus we took was scheduled for 2:30pm and at 2:32pm the bus was driving out of the station
Buses
We used RedBus to buy long-distance tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth, and then from there took a memorable ferry ride to the island of Penang
Download the Moovit app to check local bus timings and figure out how much the trip is going to cost.
Buses take exact change, so make sure you carry some on you for local stops. you can pay directly when getting on a bus.
Both Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown had some form of free bus routes.
Rideshare
The biggest rideshare app in Malaysia is Grab. This all-in-one app lets you find a rideshare, order food delivery and groceries, and even add money to a digital wallet.
Flights:
When flying domestically, the best airline to fly in my opinion is Air Asia. The tickets are very affordable, but there are luggage restrictions. Air Asia only allows one personal bag in the cabin, but we were able to check in our carry-ons for free if they weighed under 7kg.
Currency Exchange & SIM Cards
The airport will have currency exchange counters, but their rates will always be significantly worse than stepping out and exchanging your money out in the city. I recommend exchanging a small amount for immediate use for the day and saving the rest of your cash to exchange outside at another location. Most shops and vendors take credit cards, so you won't need that much cash, but it's good to have some on hand for small stall vendors and buses.
The airport will also have a few SIM card options at the arrival area. I recommend getting a 7-day pass (or other time limit according to your stay) for at least one unlocked phone, since you will need a local number for apps like Grab and data will be cheaper than using your international carrier.
Great read! Just what I needed before my trip thanks!