Tourism Seasons by Country
Malaysia
| Month | Season Description |
|---|---|
| January | The end-of-year school vacations, followed by Chinese New Year, drive up prices and it pays to book transport and accommodation. It's monsoon season on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak. |
| February | The end-of-year school vacations, followed by Chinese New Year, drive up prices and it pays to book transport and accommodation. It's monsoon season on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak. |
| March | It is advisable to avoid the worst rainy and humid season. That's when it's the quietest time to enjoy certain very touristy places. |
| April | It is advisable to avoid the worst rainy and humid season. That's when it's the quietest time to enjoy certain very touristy places. |
| May | It is advisable to avoid the worst rainy and humid season. That's when it's the quietest time to enjoy certain very touristy places. |
| June | It is advisable to avoid the worst rainy and humid season. That's when it's the quietest time to enjoy certain very touristy places. |
| July | From July to August you will be competing with visitors from the Gulf states escaping the heat; it's the so-called Arabian season. It is monsoon season on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia until September. |
| August | From July to August you will be competing with visitors from the Gulf states escaping the heat; it's the so-called Arabian season. It is monsoon season on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia until September. |
| September | From July to August you will be competing with visitors from the Gulf states escaping the heat; it's the so-called Arabian season. It is monsoon season on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia until September. |
| October | From July to August you will be competing with visitors from the Gulf states escaping the heat; it's the so-called Arabian season. It is monsoon season on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia until September. |
| November | From July to August you will be competing with visitors from the Gulf states escaping the heat; it's the so-called Arabian season. It is monsoon season on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia until September. |
| December | It is advisable to avoid the worst rainy and humid season. That's when it's the quietest time to enjoy certain very touristy places. |
Festivals & events
Major holiday with closures in Chinese-majority areas and packed transport. Lunar dates, late Jan–Feb.
First day of the Chinese lunar year: the second new moon after the winter solstice, always between 21 January and 20 February.
Next date: 6–7 Feb 2027
Dramatic Hindu festival at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur. Lunar dates, usually late January–February.
Full moon of the Tamil month of Thai, on the day it meets the star Pusam; between mid-January and mid-February.
End of Ramadan: mass homecoming travel and closures. Moves ~11 days earlier each year (around Mar–Apr in the mid-2020s).
First day of Shawwal, when the crescent moon is sighted at the end of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar is purely lunar: it moves about 11 days earlier each year.
Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, marked with temple processions. Lunar date, usually May.
Full moon of the month of Vesak, usually in May; in years with an extra lunar month it can move to late April or June.
Penang's month-long arts and culture festival across the UNESCO old town. Usually July–August.
Hindu festival of lights, vivid in the Little India districts. Lunar dates, usually October–November.
New-moon night (amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartika, between mid-October and mid-November.
