Malaysia: Calling All Sports Enthusiasts

Due to the brilliant natural diversity of Malaysia, there is a mammoth range of year-round sporting activities to try. Malaysia offers innumerable water-based adventures such as sailing, diving, white-water rafting, kayaking, windsurfing and surfing as well as an array of terrestrial pursuits like golf, fishing, climbing, cycling and hiking as well as a range of competitive annual sporting events. There is no other Asian country that truly offers so much sporting variety.

Diving is an invigorating way to spend a couple of weeks or more: Pulau Sipadan, Sabah, is an exceptional world-class diving destination with sightings of hundreds of turtles, reef sharks and clutches of exotic fish such as bumphead parrotfish. Dive site Pulau Redang, off the coast of the Malaysian Peninsula, is known as the kingdom of coral, boasting a huge variety of corals such as gorgonian sea fans and mushroom coral. Batfish, rabbitfish and white-eyed moray eels come swarming to the island for its underwater gardens. World Dive Expert, Patrick Shier stated: “Warm tropical water and reefs teeming with colourful unique marine life make diving in Malaysia a treat for divers and photographers of all levels of experience. Malaysia is on the 'must visit' list for all divers, the UK has over a million qualified divers with thousands more qualifying every year”.

Malaysia also boasts a huge variety of golf courses and is fast becoming South-East Asia’s golfing capital. There are now over 200 golf courses in Malaysia, many of which have been constructed by world-renowned designers like Jack Nicklaus. Golfers can tee off in undulating, rainforest landscapes or nestled amid the sky scrapers in one of the 26 courses that are less than a 45 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia will also host the first ever ‘IAGTO’ Asia Conference from 22-25 April 2012. One item of golfing equipment with a maximum weight of 15kg will be carried free with Malaysia Airlines and green fees range from £6 to £85, offering something for everyone, compared to an average green fee of £34 in the UK.

Hiking and rock climbing are hugely popular in Malaysia; many visitors climb Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia at 4,095 meters tall. For the more competitive mountaineer, there is an annual climbathon every October, where the record to beat is an incredible two hour 44 minute ascent.  

Kuoni (01306 747008 or www.kuoni.co.uk) offers 7 nights in Borneo, Malaysia, on a room only basis, staying 5 nights at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu in a superior rainforest room and 2 nights on the Mount Kinabalu Climb, including flights with Malaysia Airlines from Heathrow with transfers in resort.  Prices for October 2012 are from £1698 per person, based on two sharing. 

Endowed with the waters of a fisher’s paradise, anglers have the opportunity to explore one of the world’s top fishing destinations.  Malaysia offers a plethora of both marine and fresh water fish species, including the deliciously meaty Black Marlin, Tuna and Yellowfin. 

On Malaysia’s shores, there is an increasing number of marinas and yacht clubs, putting Malaysia firmly on the marina map. Visitors can easily explore the coastal inlets and emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, where the Langkawi sailing infrastructure is outstanding. Every January, expert sailors race around the Andaman Sea in the hope of winning the Royal Langkawi International Regatta. 

When cyclists take to the street in Kuala Lumpur, it can only mean one thing – Le Tour de Langkawi. Asia’s premium cycling event races through 7 states over 10 days covering close to 1,500km every February. Novice cyclists can also bike to their hearts content year round throughout Malaysia and enjoy the extreme diversity of landscape.

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For more information, please contact:

Representation Plus

Flo Powell

Email: flo@representationplus.co.uk 

Tel: 020 8877 4509

Visit: www.tourism.gov.my

Le Tour de Langkawi: http://www.ltdl.com.my/

Mt Kinabalu Climbathon: http://climbathon.sabahtourism.com/2011/

Langkawi Regatta:  http://www.langkawiregatta.com/