A school-holiday trip checklist for parents

Start with the school break, not the destination. Put the KPM (Ministry of Education) break, the Raya dates and your family’s meal and prayer needs on one page, then confirm each item in writing before any deposit. The dates and checks below are ordered so nothing is left until the airport.

Which break are you planning for?

KPM splits states into Kumpulan A and Kumpulan B, so two neighbouring families can have different breaks. These dates come from published summaries of the KPM calendar, so confirm them with your child’s school.

• December 2026, both groups: the 2026 breaks are printed as 21-29 March, 29 August-6 September and 5-31 December, one set for both groups¹.
• 2027, Kumpulan A (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu): 5-13 March, 21 May-5 June, 27 August-4 September and 3-31 December².
• 2027, Kumpulan B (including Johor, Selangor, Penang, KL, Sabah and Sarawak): 6-14 March, 22 May-6 June, 28 August-5 September and 4-31 December³.

What else lands on those dates?

The March 2027 break is the one to look at twice. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday, 8 February⁴, and the federal holiday schedule lists Hari Raya Puasa on 10 and 11 March, subject to moon sighting⁵. So that break covers the end of Ramadan and the Raya days.

Flights and rooms are tight in that week, and family visits may come first. If you do travel, plan where you will break fast on each day.

The May break begins soon after Hari Raya Qurban, listed for Monday, 17 May 2027, also subject to change⁶. Check whether your family has duties that week before you book.

The dated checklist

Work through these in order, and write down each answer.

1. Lock the dates with the school. Ask whether any test or event falls inside your break.
2. Check every passport, including the children’s. MyGovernment lists renewal as relevant when less than 6 months of validity remain⁷. Some countries ask for more on arrival, for example Taiwan requires six months of remaining validity⁸.
3. Check entry steps and arrival cards. Thailand asks all non-Thai travellers to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card 3 days in advance⁹. Maldives asks every traveller, children included, for a free online declaration up to 96 hours before arrival¹⁰. Rules change, so check the official page before you fly.
4. Give each meal a claim state. Certified, operator-declared, Muslim-owned, Muslim-friendly, pork-free or unknown. Our guide to the five halal claim states explains each one.
5. Place Zohor and Asar on each day. Name where the family will pray between sights, using the prayer-stop itinerary checklist.
6. Decide what happens if a child is tired or unwell. Leave one afternoon with no booked activity.
7. Get the answers in writing. See which arrangements to confirm in writing.

Questions to send before you pay

Copy these and send them to the operator or agency.

• “Our travel dates are [dates]. For each day, which meals are included, and for each one, is there a halal certificate we can see, or is it the operator’s word?”
• “Where will the group stop for Zohor and Asar each day, and is there a place to make wudu?”
• “What is the change and cancellation rule if the school date moves?”
• “Is the agency licensed by MOTAC (the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture)? Please send the licence number.”

For that last question, our guide on checking a Malaysian travel agency licence shows where to look it up.

Your next step

Pick the break, fill in the checklist for one destination, then compare offers with the meal-assurance comparison tool. For more family planning pages, see families, couples and groups.