Best Malaysia & Brunei Travel Guides of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 12, 2023

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Looking to explore the beauty and culture of Southeast Asia? Look no further than the Malaysia and Brunei Travel Guides. These comprehensive guides offer insider tips and recommendations for everything from must-see landmarks to hidden local gems. Discover the stunning natural landscapes of Malaysia, from the lush rainforests of Borneo to the turquoise waters of Langkawi. In Brunei, explore the rich history and architecture of the capital city and immerse yourself in traditional Malay culture. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip to the region, these guides are the perfect resource for an unforgettable journey.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide) Cover #TOP 1
Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide)
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1 Cover #TOP 2
Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture Cover #TOP 3
Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Malaysia & Brunei Travel Guides

Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide)

Richmond, Simon
Atkinson, Brett
Brown, Lindsay
Bush, Austin
Harper, Damian
Isalska, Anita
Kaminski, Anna
de Jong, Ria
Mar 8, 2022
Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide) Cover
Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide)

Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 15 (Travel Guide) is an up-to-date and comprehensive guide to exploring the cultural melting pot of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. The book covers all aspects of travel, including accommodations, transportation, and insider tips to save time and money. The guide also offers a range of itineraries and highlights to help tailor your trip to your personal interests. With over 95 maps and cultural insights, this book is a must-have for anyone planning to visit this region.

Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1

Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Dec 17, 2019
Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1 Cover
Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1

The Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Planning Map 1 is a must-have for anyone looking to explore the beauty of Southeast Asia. This full-color map comes with a handy slipcase and an easy-fold format, making it easy to use and carry around. It includes tailored itineraries, can't-miss highlights, and detailed town indexes of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The map also features themed lists and beautiful imagery to help you plan your trip better. Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, and this map is a testament to their commitment to providing inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler.

#TOP 3

Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Culture Smart!
King PhD, Victor
Kuperard
Mar 4, 2021
Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture Cover
Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture offers readers a succinct and straightforward introduction to Malaysian history and society, explaining the diverse cultures, customs, religions, festivals, cuisine, languages, and architecture of Malaysia. This book is an excellent guide for travelers looking to have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad by gaining a better understanding of the local culture. The author, Victor King, is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, and has conducted research in Malaysia and Southeast Asia since the 1970s. Overall, this book is an essential read for anyone looking to explore the rich and complex cultural mix of Malaysia.

#TOP 4

Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan - Fully Revised Third Edition (Princeton Field Guides, 88)

Phillipps, Quentin
Phillipps, Karen
Princeton University Press
Mar 23, 2014
Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan - Fully Revised Third Edition (Princeton Field Guides, 88) Cover
Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan - Fully Revised Third Edition (Princeton Field Guides, 88)

This is a comprehensive and user-friendly field guide to the birds of Borneo, covering Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. It includes all 673 species living or reported on the island, with 59 endemics. The book features 141 color plates with over 2,000 full-color bird images, accompanied by facing-page species descriptions covering taxonomy, size, call, range, distribution, habits, and status. The guide also provides useful information on Borneo's top 90 birding sites and its vegetation, climate, and ecology. Overall, this is an exceptional guide that any outdoor visitor to the island will find invaluable.

#TOP 5

Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka 3 (Pocket Guide)

Maxwell, Virginia
Lonely Planet
Jul 21, 2020
Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka 3 (Pocket Guide) Cover
Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka 3 (Pocket Guide)

The Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka 3 (Pocket Guide) provides the most recent and pertinent advice on what to see and do in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. With insider tips, colour maps, and itineraries, this guidebook is an excellent resource for travellers. It covers popular tourist attractions such as Petronas Towers, Merdeka Square, and Batu Caves, as well as hidden gems. The user-friendly layout is organised by neighbourhood, and the guidebook includes essential information such as hours of operation, phone numbers, and prices. Overall, this colourful and handy guidebook is perfect for short trips or weekend getaways.

#TOP 6

Malaysia Travel Guide 2023: The Best And Essential Travel Guide To Malaysia 2023

C. Priest, Annie
May 5, 2023
Malaysia Travel Guide 2023: The Best And Essential Travel Guide To Malaysia 2023 Cover
Malaysia Travel Guide 2023: The Best And Essential Travel Guide To Malaysia 2023

The "Malaysia Travel Guide 2023: The Best And Essential Travel Guide To Malaysia 2023" is a comprehensive guide to exploring the diverse landscapes, rich culture, and delectable cuisine of Malaysia. It covers everything from the bustling cities and historic sites to the pristine beaches and lush rainforests. The guide also highlights the multicultural heritage of the country and the various festivals and celebrations that take place throughout the year. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Malaysia or wanting to learn more about the country's unique attractions.

#TOP 7

Birds of Borneo (Helm Wildlife Guides)

Myers, Susan
Gonzalez, Carlos Bocos
Keong, Liew Weng
Jan 24, 2023
Birds of Borneo (Helm Wildlife Guides) Cover
Birds of Borneo (Helm Wildlife Guides)

The definitive photographic guide to the amazing avifauna of Borneo.. The world's third largest island, divided between three countries - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei - Borneo is home to some of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated to be 140 millions years old, and an avifauna of around 600 recorded bird species. It is a haven for birdwatchers and a frontrunning biodiversity hotspot. . A range of habitats contributes to a diverse and exciting birdlife, which features colourful forest dwellers, mighty canopy dwelling hornbills, soaring raptors, as well as a host of charismatic endemics species and subspecies confined to this unique and special island.. This guide is the perfect companion for any wildlife-savvy visitor to the island. It includes superb photography of more than 300 commonly encountered species, including all endemics and many subspecies. Concise text, covering key information on identification, habitat and distribution, and the best birdwatching sites, accompanies the photos to guide identification.

Borneo: Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak (Bradt Travel Guide)

Thiessen, Tamara
Bradt Travel Guides
Apr 13, 2020
Borneo: Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak (Bradt Travel Guide) Cover
Borneo: Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak (Bradt Travel Guide)

This fourth edition of Bradt's Borneo is an essential guide for those planning to visit Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. It includes practical information and insider tips for touring the island, regional capitals, rural outposts, and national parks. The author, Tamara Thiessen, also covers the political situation and conservation issues, as well as the island's exceptional biodiversity and exotic tribal cultures. The book's highlight is the coverage of Brunei's Ulu Temburong National Park, the coral reefs of the east and west coasts, and the Danum Valley and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah. Overall, this book is an invaluable companion for travellers seeking to discover Borneo's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Luke Nguyen's Street Food Asia: Saigon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta

Nguyen, Luke
Hardie Grant
Mar 7, 2017
Luke Nguyen's Street Food Asia: Saigon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta Cover
Luke Nguyen's Street Food Asia: Saigon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta

Luke Nguyen's Street Food Asia: Saigon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta is a delightful book for foodies and travel enthusiasts. The book takes readers on a culinary journey through the bustling streets of four different cities in Southeast Asia, uncovering hidden food gems and exploring local cultures. Luke Nguyen, known as the 'Street Food King', shares his passion for street food and introduces readers to a variety of dishes, from traditional noodle soups to more adventurous ones like Stir-fried Embryo Egg with Tamarind and Duck and Banana Blossom Salad. The book is filled with colorful photographs, vibrant local personalities, and stories about the most unique dishes. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the rich and fascinating food traditions of Southeast Asia.

#TOP 10

A Walk Through the Lowland Rain Forest of Sabah

Elaine J. F. Campbell
Ch'ien C. Lee
May 12, 2023
A Walk Through the Lowland Rain Forest of Sabah Cover
A Walk Through the Lowland Rain Forest of Sabah

A Walk Through the Lowland Rain Forest of Sabah is a captivating book that offers readers a glimpse into one of the world's most diverse ecosystems. The book combines stunning photography by Ch'ien C. Lee and notes by naturalists to provide a comprehensive introduction to the rainforest and its inhabitants. It is an excellent resource for naturalists, students, and travelers interested in experiencing the wonders of the lowland rain forest in Sabah. The book is a beautiful reminder of the importance of preserving these magnificent, but fragile, plants and animals.

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Editor's Notes

During our malaysia & brunei travel guide research, we found 949 malaysia & brunei travel guide products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,829 customer reviews through our big data system to write the malaysia & brunei travel guides list. We found that most customers choose malaysia & brunei travel guides with an average price of $16.55.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.