The Malaysian government has announced that the country will fully reopen its borders from the 1st of April 2022, making Malaysia luxury yacht charters a possibility once more.
LANGKAWI Royal Langkawi Yacht Club & Marina Malaysia
The country has been closed to international visitors for almost 2 years (since March 2020) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Thailand and Indonesia have also recently reopened their borders.
Fully-vaccinated travellers and children and young people up to 17 years old benefit from quarantine-free travel, with a professionally administered RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival within Malaysia. Adults over 17 years old are also required to take a Covid-19 RT-PRC test 48 hours prior to departure.
BORNEO Aerial shot of Manukan Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
Adults over the age of 17 who are not fully vaccinated must undergo a five-day quarantine upon arrival.
Malaysia can be included as part of a Southeast Asia yacht charter itinerary, taking in other favourite cruising hotspots such as Phuket and Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, and the incredible Scuba diving spots around Sulawesi in Indonesia. The region is favoured for its warm weather, incredible fauna and flora, white sand beaches along with uninhabited islands, and abundance of water sports.
Langkawi and Borneo are already welcoming back luxury yachts from the 2nd of April. Langkawi is home to beautiful golden-white sand beaches along its northern shore and has stunning walks to waterfalls and wildlife parks. The Tarutao National Park is just to the north, and Penang to the south is famous for its powdery soft sand beaches and flavoursome cuisine. Shopping opportunities are varied, from exclusive luxury brands to hand-made items sold at places such as the Batu Ferringhi Night Market. The magnificent cultural attractions are not to be missed, with plenty of museums, mansions and temples to fill an entire visit.
Borneo is ideally situated close to what is considered some of the best Scuba diving in Southeast Asia. Remote beaches are plentiful, and snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding will also allow for a rewarding glimpse into its incredible and colourful underwater world.
“Yachts can enter Langkawi, the largest island in an archipelago of 100 islands in the Andaman Sea and enjoy a duty-free port and easy access for yacht crew and visitors to shopping, dining, entertainment, sports, transport and other attractions,” Captain Scott Walker, co-founder of Asia Pacific Superyachts commented on the reopening. “Or they can enter the Malaysian Borneo, offering an altogether adventurous prospect and cruising grounds, easily reached in this relatively small area and largely unexplored.”
