The best time to visit Malaysia from India is December to February if your trip includes Langkawi, and January and February above all: they are the island's driest months, and Kuala Lumpur is drier then than in December. Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands work in any month. The city is hot and humid all year, about 24 to 34°C, its driest months are June and July, and its rain mostly arrives as short afternoon storms, so the real question is whether you are adding the island. This guide gives the month-by-month picture, the four seasons, the festivals worth timing and the weeks that cost the most from India.
Month by month: Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi
Rain figures are long-term monthly averages: Kuala Lumpur's from the 1991 to 2020 normals of the Subang airport weather station, and Langkawi's from Malaysian Meteorological Department station records.
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Langkawi |
|---|---|---|
| January | Drier, about 227 mm | Driest month, about 24 mm |
| February | Drier, about 193 mm | Very dry, about 33 mm |
| March | Wet, about 270 mm | Fairly dry, about 105 mm |
| April | Very wet, about 302 mm | Getting wetter, about 197 mm |
| May | About 230 mm | Wetter, about 207 mm |
| June | Driest month, about 146 mm | Wet, about 250 mm |
| July | Dry, about 165 mm | Wet, about 266 mm |
| August | Fairly dry, about 174 mm | Very wet, about 319 mm |
| September | Rain building, about 220 mm | Very wet, about 341 mm |
| October | Very wet, about 284 mm | Wettest month, about 373 mm |
| November | Wettest month, about 356 mm | Drying out, about 193 mm |
| December | Very wet, about 281 mm | Dry season, about 58 mm |
December to February: the best months for Langkawi
Kuala Lumpur runs about 24 to 33°C and Genting Highlands about 12 to 21°C. These are the driest months in the north-west, and Langkawi averages under 60 mm of rain a month, so beach and boat days are at their most dependable. Kuala Lumpur is still wet in December, one of its rainiest months, and drier in January and February. The catch is crowds and price: Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year are the busiest, dearest weeks of the year. It is also the wrong season for the east-coast islands such as Perhentian, Redang and Tioman, which get their heaviest rain from November to January.
One more check for early 2027: the visa-free rule for Indians runs until 31 December 2026 as of September 2026, so confirm it again before booking January or February 2027. The rule is in Malaysia visa-free entry for Indians.
March to April: a good shoulder season
These are among the hottest weeks of the year in Kuala Lumpur, about 24 to 34°C. March is still fairly dry on Langkawi, which gets wetter through April. In the city, rain picks up in March and April, its second-wettest spell of the year, usually as late-afternoon thunderstorms, so plan the Petronas Towers, Merdeka Square and Batu Caves for the morning. March suits a city and island trip such as the 6 Days Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Langkawi Escape, away from the Christmas and Chinese New Year rush.
May to August: good for the city, dearest fares from India
June and July are among Kuala Lumpur's driest months, and Genting Highlands stays about 12 to 22°C, so a city and hills trip like the 4 Days Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Getaway works well. Langkawi gets steadily wetter from May, and August is already one of its rainiest months, so sea trips there are less reliable. May and June are the Indian summer holidays, and fares from India are at their highest. In some dry years, smoke haze from Sumatra drifts over the west coast in August and September.
September to November: the wet months
This is the wettest stretch on the west coast. Langkawi's rainiest months are September and October, when island-hopping boats can be called off, and Kuala Lumpur's heaviest rain falls in October and November, with November the wettest. The rain usually comes in short, heavy afternoon bursts, so city days still work if you start early. Deepavali falls in October or November; it is a public holiday in every Malaysian state except Sarawak, and Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur's Indian quarter, is lit up and busy that week. Between 12 and 16 October 2026 the Awana SkyWay cable car to Genting is closed for maintenance, and the Genting SkyWay runs instead.
Festivals worth timing, or avoiding
- Thaipusam, January or February: Batu Caves is the centre of the festival. Time a visit for it if you want to see Thaipusam; expect the 272 steps to be far busier than usual.
- Chinese New Year, January or February: one of the busiest and dearest weeks to travel.
- Christmas and New Year: the other peak; book early.
- Deepavali, October or November: Brickfields at its brightest, though in the wettest weeks.
- Petronas Twin Towers: the visit is closed on the first and third Monday of every month and on some festival days, whatever the season.
Busiest and dearest times from India, and the gaps between
- Dearest to fly: May and June. KAYAK's 12-month fare data, checked on 14 September 2026, shows June as the dearest month from Hyderabad and Chennai and May from Bengaluru.
- Busiest in Malaysia: the Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year weeks.
- Away from both peaks: March, July and August for Kuala Lumpur and Genting; January and February outside the Chinese New Year week for Langkawi. The same KAYAK data puts the lowest average fares in March from Chennai and Hyderabad and in November from Bengaluru, though your own dates can differ.
Typical fares, hotel ranges and a full budget are in Malaysia trip cost from India.
Questions we are asked most
What is the best month to visit Malaysia from India?
For Kuala Lumpur with Langkawi, January or February: Langkawi averages about 24 mm and 33 mm of rain in those months, and Kuala Lumpur is drier than in December. For Kuala Lumpur and Genting alone, June and July are the city's driest months.
Which months should I avoid for Langkawi?
August to October. They are Langkawi's rainiest months, about 319 mm to 373 mm of rain a month on average, and island-hopping boat trips can be called off. December to February is the dry season.
Is it expensive to fly to Malaysia in May and June?
Yes. KAYAK's 12-month fare data, checked in September 2026, shows June as the dearest month to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai and Hyderabad, and May from Bengaluru; both fall in the Indian summer holidays.
For the plan itself, the 6-day Malaysia itinerary covers Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Langkawi day by day, and parents weighing the school-holiday months should read the Malaysia family trip guide. Then start from the Malaysia tour packages or your city's page for Hyderabad, Bengaluru or Chennai, and tell the planner your month; flights are quoted separately on request.
