General Map of Malaysia
Malaysia consists of a peninsula and east malaysia, which is sabah and sarawak. The peninsula has about 2000km of coastline and numerous stunning archipelagos. [ map ]

Climate of Malaysia
Malaysia has a tropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall all year round. Rainfall usually occurs in the form of thunderstorms. The coasts are affected by the northeast (NE) and southwest (SW) monsoon.

From November to February, the east coast is affected by the NE monsoon. This brings heavy rainfall, strong winds, and huge waves along the entire coast. Paddling is not recommended there during the NE monsoon.

From April to September, the west coast is affected by the SW monsoon. It is weaker compared to the NE monsoon. There is higher rainfall, but there are no dangerous winds or waves. So paddling can be done on the west coast all year round.

March and October are the transition months between the monsoons, characterised by light winds.

Travelling With A Kayak
Having your own transport is convenient, but it also means your start and end points must be the same, since you have to return to your vehicle. Renting a car in Malaysia costs around RM150/day.

Alternatively, legal and illegal taxis can send you to any accessible beach for your start point. Once there, arrange for a pick up at your end point, if you have a planned one.

Folding kayaks can fit easily into the luggage compartments of inter-state buses or tour coaches. These buses usually make a stop at major departing jetties. One good way is to take the bus, and transfer to a fast boat to an island. You can then fix up your kayak on the island, and island-hop. If not, you can paddle to a suitable island to set up base for the next few days.

There are also no problems with folding kayaks if you are traveling by plane or rail. You can check them in as normal luggage. There should be no overweight charges as they are usually within the weight limit.

Of course, you can mix these modes of transport to suit your trip.

Lastly, remember that everything you bring should fit into the kayak. This makes you mobile. If you intend to camp, bring enough food and water. Or else, plan replenishment stops.

Safety Precautions
Be mindful of the usual kayaking precautions. Always leave behind a trip plan with family members or close friends. Also, plan some means of communication (e.g. mobile phones, VHF radio), in case of an emergency.

In addition, be careful of lightning. Avoid paddling whenever you hear thunder, or see a storm approaching.

May to July is the jellyfish season on the east coast. Their stings are painful, and can be poisonous. Stay clear of all sea snakes, which are poisonous.

Always be sensitive to local norms and customs. You will often need advice and direction, especially from passing fishermen or villages along the beaches. Speaking Malay helps a lot.

Guidelines for Visitors to Marine Parks
• Understand and respect underwater life forms; do not collect corals and shells.
• Think about your impact on aquatic life when you interact with it; do not litter and feed fishes with unsuitable food or provoke them.
• Anchor your vessels to mooring buoys; not onto the reefs.
• Scuba divers are advised to obtain dive orientation from a qualified local diving operator prior to diving. Dive carefully with proper buoyancy control in fragile marine environment.
• If you are snorkelling, avoid stepping on corals. Use the rest floats provided by the marine park if tired.
• Report any environmental disturbances or destruction observed during your visit to the nearest marine park centre.

Prohibited Activities in the Marine Parks
• Collecting, removing, destroying or possessing any marine resources such as shells, mollusc, corals and fishes whether dead or alive.
• Possessing and using of spear guns or spearfishing equipments and harpoon.
• Removing and/or destroying any structure such as buoys, notice boards, etc.
• Constructing any building or other structure within the Marine Park Area, without authorisation.
• ANY form of fishing within the Marine Park Area.

From Experience...
You need to buy a conservation voucher (RM5 for adults) to enter all marine parks. You can buy them at departing jetties, the marine park centres on P. Redang and P. Langkawi, and the Airport or Jetty on P. Tioman.

So, it seems that you should always start your trip at the jetties, unless you bought the tickets in advance. This constrains the planning of your route. But from experience, the enforcement is lax.

THE MALAYSIAN EAST COAST                                                
You won't be disappointed paddling along the Malaysian east coast. You can paddle above the seaweed forests of Johor, past the beautiful beaches of Kuantan, and incredible transparent waters of Terengganu. There is also a sea cave in Kelantan.
Days to spend: 3 weeks
Kayakasia GPS waypoint: -
Specials: diversity of paddling experience
Area Size: 800km of coast
Map to use: east coast of johor, pahang, terengganu, and kelantan

SERI BUAT ARCHIPELAGO                                             JOHOR
Combining the Johor and Pahang marine parks, it consists of 64 islands including one extinct volcano at P. Tinggi. You are likely to paddle to one that fits your idea of an island paradise, and stay there. Accommodation is conveniently scattered around, so food and water are readily avaliable. We recommended that you start from Tanjong Leman, Johor.
Days to spend: 1 week +
Kayakasia GPS waypoints: Cave at P. Harimau (N103 56.4, E02 33.2)
Specials: extinct volcano, sea cave, incredible island-hopping
Area Size: 150sq km
Map to use: east coast of Johor and Seri Buat archipelago

PERHENTIANS ISLANDS                                    TERENGGANU
These islands are 20km off the coast of Terengganu. You can start each paddling day from accommodations at perhentian besar or perhentian kecil. 6 islands 8km northeast of the the Perhentians are uninhabitated, only reachable by charted boats. But they are easily reached by kayaks. There are some good corals beds there. If you snorkel, there are lots to see anywhere in the Perhentians.
Days to spend: 3-4 days
Kayakasia GPS waypoints: -
Specials: easy paddling, snorkelling, incredible waters
Area Size: 30sq km
Map to use: Jerteh, Kuala Besut and Perhentian islands

REDANG ARCHIPELAGO                                    TERENGGANU
The Redang Archipelago contains the most pristine marine environment accessible by kayaks, from the Malaysian coast. It takes almost a day (30km) to paddle. There are nine islands, seven of them uninhabitated. P. Redang has the usual tourist resorts. The best plan is to camp on the Marine Park premise on P. Pinang and starts your exploration from there.
Days to spend: 4-5 days
Kayakasia GPS waypoints: -
Specials: challenging route, beautiful islands, wild experience
Area Size: 60sq km
Map to use: Kulau Terengganu, Marang, Redang islands

PANGKOR ISLANDS                                                         PERAK
You can take a ferry to Pangkor island from Lumut - or start paddling from Lumut. There are 3 other islets - P. Giam, P. Mentagor and P. Pangkor Laut. The accommodations is not cheap. Also, good snorkelling sites are not easy to find. If you are bored after paddling 25km around the island, you can try climbing its hills or go hornbill watching.
Days to spend: 3-4 days
Kayakasia GPS waypoint: -
Specials: being off the west coast, it is unaffected by the NE monsoon
Area Size: 35sq km
Map to use: Lumut and Pangkor Island

TASEK BERA                                                                 PAHANG
Tasek Bera is the largest freshwater lake in Peninsula Malaysia. It is a sanctuary for 328 species of flora, over 200 bird species, 50 mammals and 90 fish species. Thick stalks of Pandanus dominate the lake, parting it into secluded inlets and sinuous waterways for endless exploration in a kayak.
Days to spend: 2-3 days
Place to Stay: Lake Bera Resort (at Visitor's Center)
Kayakasia GPS waypoint: Visitor Center (N03 08.0, E102 36.5)
Specials: isolated and tranquil; unique waterways
Area Size: 6sq km
Map to use: Pahang state, Johor state (for driving)

TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN MARINE PARK                   SABAH
The biggest attraction of TAR Marine Park are the whales sharks. They are said to arrive around April northeast of Pulau Gaya, the largest island in the park. Five islands (Sapi, Manukan, Sulug, Gaya and Mamutik) are located in this park. Accommodations are available on Manukan and Gaya but are expensive. Camping can be a joy on the other three islands. Or else a daily trip from Kota Kinabalu is highly possible as the park is only 4km away.
Days to spend: 3-4 days
Place to Stay: best to camp, or launch from Kota Kinabalu
Kayakasia GPS waypoint: snorkelling (N05 59 600, E116 02 810)
Specials: whale sharks
Area Size: 40sq km
Map to use: Sabah, Kota Kinabalu

OTHER SUGGESTED PLACES                                                      

Lakes paddling
Tasik Temenggor, Perak
Tasik Kenyir, Pahang
Tasik Pedu, Kedah
Tasik Chini, Pahang
Tasik Putrajaya, KL

Islands Hopping
Pulau Pangkor, Perak
Langkawi Islands, Kedah

River Paddling (Class 1-2) - as advised by Najib Tahir (Malaysia)
Sungei Muar, Johor
Sungei Johor, Johor
Sungei Pulai, Johor
Sungei Endau (Kulau Jasin to Mersing), Johor
Sungei Slim, Perak
Sungei Ningiri (Gua Musang to Kota Bahru), Kelantan
Sungei Lipis (Batu Malim to Kuala Lipis), KL
Sungei Semantan (Benton to Termeloh), KL
Sungei Tembeling (Kg. Mat Daling to Kuala Tembeling), Pahang
Sungei Pahang (Kuala Medang to Pekan), Pahang
Sungei Dungun, Terengganu

and many more rivers....