Packing for Malaysia: What You Really Need to Bring
Planning a trip to Malaysia? After spending 2 months exploring the country, we’ve learned that packing smart is key to a smooth journey. From bustling cities to tranquil nature escapes, our packing guide has all the essentials you need to get ready for your adventure. Suitcase or Backpack?
Malaysia isn’t always the easiest place to travel, so a backpack makes life a lot simpler. You’ll run into uneven paths, missing sidewalks, and the occasional jungle trail, and dragging a suitcase through that is no fun. Still, if you prefer a suitcase, it’s totally doable because taxi rides are affordable and transport connections are pretty decent. At the end of the day, it really comes down to how you like to travel.
We recommend packing light, the less you carry the easier it will be for you to hop on and off trains, use public transport, taxis, or walk on the streets.
We typically organize our clothes in packing cubes for quick access: one cube for bottoms, one for tops, one for outdoor clothing, and so on. We also pack our shoes in fabric reusable bags. It ultimately depends on your packing style.
READ | The Ultimate Woldtrip Packing List
BUY |
Tomtoc Carry-on Backpack
Our Daypack Items
We have listed the items in our daypack we rely on every day, regardless of the country. You can check it out on Amazon here.
For Malaysia, a helpful travel tip is to carry toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and liquid soap in a refillable bottle, as a few public restrooms lack these essentials. But most restaurants, malls and sightseeing attractions will have hand soap. The local hygiene standard typically involves using the famous bum gun or a bucket with a mug. Toilet paper isn’t always available, though it’s more common than in Indonesia or Thailand.
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen are also a must.
READ | Everyday Essentials: The Must-Have Items in our Daypack
OUR DAYPACKS |
Clothing
Malaysia’s climate varies by region, so what you pack depends on where you’re going. In hot and humid areas like Kuala Lumpur or Borneo lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen are ideal. Skip the synthetics as they trap heat and make you feel sticky fast. If you’re visiting during the monsoon season, a light rain jacket or poncho is a must. Quick-dry clothing is also a smart choice.
If you’re heading into the Cameron Highlands, you’ll need layers even in summer. Temperatures can drop in the evenings, so pack a fleece or down jacket.
For footwear, sandals or slip-ons are great in warm regions, especially when you’re constantly taking shoes off to enter temples or homes. But keep in mind that streets and paths can be rough or uneven. Flip-flops work for beaches or quick errands, but they offer little support. If you’ll be walking a lot or exploring mountainous terrain, go with comfortable sneakers or lightweight trekking shoes.
A scarf or shawl is a great addition for covering knees or shoulders in temples or other cultural sites.
If you’re heading for beach destinations like Langkawi or Perhentian, don’t forget swimwear. While modest dress is important in most public spaces, swimwear is perfectly acceptable at beaches and pools.
In the evenings, long-sleeved shirts and light pants keep you comfortable and help protect against mosquito bites, particularly in tropical or rural areas.
Dressing Respectfully
Malaysia is a country with a rich mix of religions and cultures, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Because of this diversity, dressing conservatively is the most respectful choice. When visiting temples, palaces, and other cultural or religious sites in Malaysia, it’s important to dress respectfully by covering your shoulders and knees, as you might not be allowed to enter without doing so.
Most Malaysians dress conservatively. Women typically wear clothing that covers the elbows and knees, avoiding anything too revealing. That said, it’s not unusual to see younger people in slightly shorter outfits, think dresses or shorts that fall above the knee, but not ultra-short styles. Keep in mind that showing cleavage is generally not the norm.
We encourage you to avoid wearing bikinis, going shirtless, or wearing see-through clothing when walking around or riding scooters. We think that it is best to bring a conservative swimsuit. In touristy areas, you may see other foreigners doing so, but it’s not part of Malaysian culture. We believe in showing respect to the places we visit. Malaysian women typically swim at the beach fully dressed often in a burkini, swimming clothes, saree, kurta, or regular clothes. Revealing clothing is uncommon, and if you want to avoid standing out or feeling out of place, it’s worth keeping this cultural norm in mind.
We’ve added all the items from our packing list to our Amazon storefront so you can easily find the products we love, use, and have personally tested during our travels.
To make things even easier, we also created a special section with modest clothing picks, for shopping or just outfit inspiration, based on what worked for us in Malaysia.
BUY | Find modest outfit ideas on our Amazon Storefront
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Menstruators Essentials for Malaysia
For menstrual cup users it is an easy country to handle your cup on the go. There is always either a bum gun making the cleaning easier. For long bus rides or anytime you might not have the chance to change easily, we recommend bringing period underwear. They’re comfortable, reliable, and perfect for travel days.
You will also be able to find disposable pads without any issue and sometimes tampons.
READ | Traveling on Your Period? Tips & Products to Stay Comfortable
BUY | Ingrid’s favorites: feminine Travel hygiene on Amazon
Sustainable Recommendations
For your Daypack
We always carry our reusable water bottles on our travels, including Malaysia. We had water filters or water gallons for free to refill our bottles at all of our stays.
For groceries or beach trips we use a reusable bag, which is also super helpful if we need to lighten our luggage at the airport, allowing us to shift items into our carry-on. For hikes, sightseeing snacks, visits to street food markets, we recommend investing in collapsible food containers, along with reusable cutlery and metal straws.
Additionally, we keep a travel-sized reusable bottle filled with sunscreen in our daypack for easy access throughout the day.
READ | Eco-Friendly Travel: Sustainable Essentials for Your Packing List
Laundry
We recommend packing light, as doing laundry in Malaysia is quick and easy. In most of our accommodations we had a washing machine free to use, otherwise, laundromats are widely available.
Don’t forget to pack a laundry mesh bag for both sustainability and protection of your delicates while traveling Malaysia.
READ | Travel &Laundry: our the best tips
BUY | Our favorite travel laundry items from Amazon
Health & Safety
Safety
Malaysia is generally speaking a safe country to visit, but following these tips will help you to avoid getting in uncomfortable situations.
Keep your belongings close and secure, especially in busy areas.
Try not to show valuable items like expensive jewelry or electronics.
Dress modestly, especially in more traditional areas, to respect local culture.
Always use trusted transportation, and when taking a taxi, agree on the price first or use a ride-hailing app.
Stay aware of your surroundings.
Drink plenty of water, and avoid tap water.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and ask locals or other travelers for help.
READ | Learn more about how we prioritize safety while traveling in our dedicated section here.
BUY | Our travel safety gear on Amazon
eSIM | For a reliable connection during your Malaysia travels, a Saily eSIM helps you stay safe and connected without roaming issues.
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Health
Vaccinations
No specific vaccinations are required for entry into Malaysia unless you're traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever.
We advice you to consult with a healthcare provider before traveling.
Recommended Vaccinations for Malaysia
Routine Vaccinations: Make sure you’re up to date on the standard vaccinations, including:
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
Polio
Influenza
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Hepatitis A: The virus can be spread through contaminated food or water, and it’s advisable for travelers to get vaccinated before visiting Malaysia, particularly if you plan on visiting rural or less-developed areas.
Hepatitis B: It is recommended for travelers who may have exposure to blood or bodily fluids, such as those planning on staying long-term, seeking medical treatment, or engaging in high-risk activities.
Typhoid: If you plan to visit more rural areas or eat food from street vendors, the typhoid vaccine is recommended as it protects against foodborne bacteria that can cause infection.
Japanese Encephalitis: This is recommended for travelers who will be spending significant time outdoors in rural areas or near farms, particularly during the warmer months when mosquitoes are more prevalent.
Rabies: Rabies is a concern in Malaysia it’s recommended for travelers who may have close contact with stray dogs and monkeys.
Travel Insurance
Travel Health insurance is essential for any trip, covering unexpected medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and emergency treatments. It ensures you receive the care you need while protecting you from high medical costs. This is especially important when traveling to unfamiliar destinations or regions with limited healthcare access, where quality medical treatment may not be readily available. To help you find the best coverage for your trip, we’ve put together a guide—here’s what to look for.
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Payment Methods
Malaysia is generally a credit card-friendly country, especially in larger or modern restaurants and shops, where cards are accepted without additional transaction fees. That said, carrying cash is essential in many small eateries, local markets, and transport options don’t accept cards. Withdraw at Maybank or CIMB to avoid fees.
Digital payments via UPI and QR codes are extremely common among locals, but unfortunately, international travelers can’t register with a foreign credit card to use these systems. You can use Alipay or WeChat, if you have these payment apps in many stores and restaurants.
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