As the gateway to the east coast, Kuantan is the capital and center of administration of Pahang Darul Makmur, the largest state in Peninsula Malaysia. Besides fast becoming a well-developed town, its warm hospitality and friendly people are still felt the moment you set foot. This enchanting atmosphere plus Kuantan’s just as friendly weather, attract visitors to this quaint coastal town. Another aspect of the town that has become the proud of the state and the envy of others is its cleanliness. Kuantan is reputed to be one of the cleanest cities in Malaysia.

A small but lively city off the East Coast of Malaysia, Kuantan is also home to some of the nation’s most popular beaches, especially Cherating. The serene atmosphere and beautiful beaches attract visitors from all over the world, who come to enjoy the cultural enrichment, warm weather and gentle sea breeze.

Kuantan is one of the prominent cities along Coast. It has a young but rich Malay culture. Locals speak with a northern accent that resembles the neighbouring states, Terengganu and Kelantan. Traditional dishes and cultural elements from these two states can also be found at Kuantan.

Kuantan can offer you an opportunity to see some of Peninsular Malaysia’s most fascinating sights. From local museums to recreational parks and handicraft centers to pleasant beaches, Kuantan and its surroundings have it all.

Besides that, around Kuantan, there are many places dedicated to the preservation of nature, such as animal sanctuaries and horticultural parks. At there, you can engage in a whole range of eco-adventures as the state of Pahang is rich in rainforest and scenery. Hence, enjoy and learn when you visit each of these places, perhaps will be coming out with a better understanding of our living environment.

So, when you come to visiting Malaysia, make sure that you do not leave the East Coast out of your travel hit list. It is a Malaysian experience that you shouldn’t miss out!

Why Not Go

The capital of Pahang, Kuantan is a bristling city with peaceful scenery. The main attractions are the beaches that line Kuantan’s coast. Others than that is shopping for both modern and traditional commodities, trying out great seafood and experiencing the local culture. So, you shouldn’t go to this place for holiday if you don’t like these kinds of activities at all.

Why Go

Kuantan has a variety of attractions for you to enjoy. Carpeted with fine white sand and clear blue waters beaches are the greatest lure of Kuantan, especially Teluk Cempedak. Teluk Chempedak is a wonderful beach which is just 5km away from Kuantan. The nature of its enclosed bay makes it perfect for water sport activities, which include swimming, surfing and also jet-skiing. The beaches are lined with casuarinas trees and are quite rocky at some places.

Others scenic beaches like Batu Hitam, Balok, Chenor, Pantai Sepat, Beserah, and Cherating also popular with vacationers in the city’s vicinity. Located 50 km north of Kuantan, Cherating is undoubtedly the most popular beach on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The sandy beaches are dotted with pleasant casuarinas trees and calm water, making it an attractive venue for backpackers, tourists and also locals. There is a turtle sanctuary near Cherating and Pulau Ular (Snake Island) is just a few kilometers away from Cherating.

Apart from that, Kuantan is also popular with its waterfalls, especially Sungai Pandan Water Fall. The other two are the Sungai Berkelah Waterfall and the Jerangkang Waterfall. There are three parks within the city, namely the Gelora Park, Teruntum Mini Zoo and Agriculture Park at Indera Mahkota. The 500-acre Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah’s Agricultural Park is a scenic combination of natural forest reserve, orchards, vegetable plots and fish ponds. Various types of local fruits like durians, rambutans, papayas, jackfruits, mangoes and papayas can be found at there. You can simply pluck and eat for a flat rate at certain seasons during the year. Besides that, there is a greenhouse to educate visitors on the agro-culture industry and a lot of live exhibits of flora in the arboretum.

Best Time to Visit

Generally, Kuantan experiences two seasons every year, the Dry and Hot Season and also the Rainy Season. During the Dry and Hot Season, the temperature may reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. However, the Rainy Season usually occurs from October to March. During this season, Kuantan can be very cloudy with a large amount of rainfall. Floods may occur during the rainy season. Possible flooding areas include the road to Sungai Lembing and also a few areas along the Kuantan River. So, the best time to visit Kuantan is in the mid of the year, preferably June and July.

Where to Stay

Kuantan as the state capital of Pahang has a wide range of hotels to suit every budget, all within, the town centre and easy reach of all amenities.

Cherating is the most popular places among backpackers. There are a wide range of budget motels in Cherating, which are mostly run by families, wooden huts set among the coconut groves by the sea, chalets to international class resorts. It is also a unique identity as a paradise for holidaymakers is untouched although development is progressively done on most of the beach areas.

Generally, it is highly recommended to stay at Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort, Teluk Cempedak Beach. It is the best beach resort in Kuantan. It will be really enjoyable if your budget allows you to do so.

Where & What to Eat

Firstly, there are many restaurants and eateries that have mushroomed around Berjaya Megamall along Jalan Tun Ismail which serve local food at reasonable prices that you shouldn’t miss out.

Secondly, Kuantan is also famous with its Keropok Lekor, especially the ones sold by Mok Nah in Tanjung Lumpur and Pak Soh 2 in Sungai Karang on the way to Balok. The variant sold in Kuantan is slightly different with the ones in Kuala Terengganu. Keropok here is soft but crispy.

Thirdly, you shouldn’t miss out the chunks of chicken or beef on a skewer and cooked over a charcoal fire, namely Satay. In Kuantan, the tastiest satay can be found at the Zul’s Satay, which is located in a corner shop at the junction to Beserah from the Kuantan town (Teluk Cempedak road). Heading towards Teluk Cempedak from Kuantan, it is on your left hand side at the traffic lights.

And for Malaysian Chinese cuisine, you can find it at Jalan Penjara in Kuantan town. A corner restaurant named Hock Heng Baru serves delicious and reasonably-priced Hainan cuisine like Hainanese chicken rice. If you are at Hock Heng Baru, you must try their killer sour plum lime drink where they go the extra mile to blend even the sour plum flesh together with the limes to give the drink an extra sour taste.

Don’t forget to have the Curry Laksa at Hoi Yin Restaurant also. It is located in the row of shops on the left as you approach the Teluk Cempedak beach.

For Seafood Hunters, there is one uniquely seafood restaurant by the white sandy beach available along Jalan Beserah. Pak Su Seafood Restaurant serves a wide range of fresh seafood at affordable price. And the Stuffed Crab is a must try dishes.

Apart from that, you must not miss out Sata when you make your way to Kuantan. The fish was pasted and coconut wrapped in coconut leaves, then barbequed. It tastes good with fresh fruit juice.

Nightlife

At night, it is good to have a night stroll at the Teluk Chempedak, a lovely beach. And there are many restaurants and food stalls line the shore, open for business until midnight. They serve a wide variety of food and beverages.

My to do List

- visit Pulau Ular
- go to Sungai Lembing town
- have a night stroll at Teluk Chempedak beach
- watch Sunrise on the Cherating beach

Eat
- Keropok
- Nasi dagang
- Sata
- Laksam
- Laksa Pahang
- Seafood
- Nasi Periuk Kera

Stay Away From

Stay away from the macaques when you are in Teluk Chempedak. Macaques are the naughty monkeys that are quick at stealing food when you do not aware it.

Getting There

Getting there is pretty easy either by air or by road. However, the best way to get there is by air since there are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which takes about 45 minutes only. If you intend to drive there, the distance is about 277 km from Kuala Lumpur, which takes about 4 hours via the Karak Highway, and 325 km from Johor Bahru/Singapore. For a more scenic journey from Johor Bahru/Singapore, you may drive north along the coastal roads into Rompin, Pekan and then Kuantan

Situated 1,500 meters above sea level, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s largest and famous highland resort. It is surrounded by lush untouched greenery with a climate reminiscent of a cool spring day, is the perfect place to recharge your batteries and gain sweet relief from the pressures of the city especially with the one you love.

Cameron Highlands , Malaysia.
Photo by akijinn

Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in Pahang, Malaysia, which is one of the wonders of Malaysia. Moreover, this highland paradise still maintains the charm of an English village.

From strawberry farms to tea plantations and butterfly parks to the mossy forest, Cameron Highlands has it all. Being a primarily agricultural domain, you can get to see an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms here. As the leading producer of flowers and tea in Malaysia, Cameron Highlands occupies you with a lovely sight of extraordinary flowers that you won’t see flourishing elsewhere in Malaysia.

Vista at Equitorial Hotel, Cameron Highlands
Photo by khairilfz

This highland paradise is made up of a series of little townships which include Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. Ringlet is the first town you reach (if you take the Tapah route), which is one of the main agricultural hubs in the highlands. Tanah Rata is the administrative hub of Cameron Highlands where most of the government offices and most of the chalets, lodges and backpacker’s accommodations are located. Another must visit town in Cameron Highlands is Brinchang, which is about 10 minutes drive from Tanah Rata, where you can find most of the smaller hotels and food outlets. Many tourist attractions located within walking distance from the town and the famous Night Market is also there. This town can be very crowded during the peak holiday season.

Why Not Go

You shouldn’t go Cameron Highlands if you really can’t stand with coldness. During the day, maybe you still wear shorts and t-shirt only but there is dramatically change in temperature in the late evenings and even cooler at night. Cameron Highlands is mostly cooling throughout the year and it might get very cold at night especially during the rainy season.

Why Go

For international tourists, the attractions lie in the nature of heritage and serene environment as well as the rustic living in a highland town which is very differ from a cosmopolitan city.

For local visitors, Cameron Highlands can provide you a welcome retreat from the madness of city living and heat of the tropics. You may spend your vacation in the cool and a beautiful place where lush landscapes and peaceful sceneries abound in the green environment.

Actually, the combination of Cameron Highlands’ wonders of nature and the cultural richness provide an unforgettable experience for anyone who is willing to visit this amazing destination in Malaysia.

Lost World – Cameron Highlands
Photo by chiammingjer

As the hallmark of fame, tea plantations are the main tourist attraction of Cameron Highlands. Tea plantations carpet the surrounding valleys in a fine layer of yellow green tea leaves, and most of them are open to tourists and visitors to purchase tea bags and watch the workers there plucking tea as well as enjoy a simmering hot cup of tea with scones. Tea was the reason why a British government surveyor, William Cameron saw potential and founded this valley, which eventually became Malaysia’s top highland holiday destination and Cameron Highlands was named after him. Three most popular tea plantations are Boh Tea Plantation, Sungai Palas Tea Plantation and Cameron Valley Tea Plantation.

Besides that, Cameron Highlands is the only Malaysia’s holiday destination where strawberries are grown and harvested commercially. Strawberry farms can be found almost everywhere in Cameron Highlands and all are open for visitors making them one of the top tourist attractions. The farms offer locally grown strawberries and home made strawberry jams or tarts at a reasonable price. You even have the opportunity to pluck your own strawberries in some strawberry farms. The best season to enjoy strawberries is the driest month which is from April to June. The popular strawberry farms in Cameron Highlands are Big Red Strawberry Farm, Healthy Strawberry Farm, Kasimani’s Strawberry Farm, KHM Strawberry Farm and Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm

If you want to know more about the history behind Cameron Highlands, Time Tunnel Gallery (the local museum) is a “must visit”. Photographs that depict the past are from personal collections of the locals who have been there since the pre-war days. You may also find out some familiar items from the old days.

In these modern days, seeing butterflies flying around you openly is rare. Chances to see different species of butterflies flying around you are available at Cameron Highlands’ butterfly farm and butterfly garden. Experiencing a walk through an enclosed area where each species of butterfly is happily floating around in a lush, plant-filled garden is the highlight of the butterfly garden.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to visit Cameron Highlands is during the off peak season. Cameron Highlands is normally very crowded during the school holidays, weekends and festive holidays. You might be caught in traffic jam around the towns and the tourist spots during the peak season. Besides that, it is also advisable to visit at Cameron Highlands on weekend night, so that you can visit the famous night market at Brinchang.

The weather in Cameron Highlands is cool throughout the year. The temperature there ranges from 14 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius. Rain is common all the year round even though the monsoon season is between November and February. However, the dry season is between February and April. If you really plan to enjoy the coldness in Cameron Highlands, you may make your way there between December and February. By the time, the temperature there can drop to 10 degree Celsius at certain places.

Where to Stay

Accommodation can be easily found around a few major towns in Cameron Highlands such as Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. It is available in every class, for every budget and every taste. You have a wide range of choices, which includes Hotels, Guest Houses, Apartments and Bungalows. From inexpensive guest houses with only bed and breakfast, intimate and cozy country lodges, to luxury accommodations at the five star hotels, in town or in the quiet countryside, Cameron Highlands has it all, but you might be encountered some problems in the peak seasons. During the peak seasons, the number of rooms available might be not enough and the price might boost up dramatically. Hence, book your room, apartment or chalet earlier to avoid sleeping under the stars when you travel there. For luxury, the best is to stay at the Smokehouse which is one of the popular landmarks in Cameron Highlands. For cheaper options, you may refer to backpacker inns or lodges and the best is Cameronian Inn due to its rates and facilities provided.As for large families or groups, Royal Lily Apartments are recommended because it is located just five minutes walk from the town center and its rental rate is negotiable (RM230-RM320). Below is a list of popular hotels and chalets with their contact numbers.

Ye Olde Smokehouse
Photo by chiammingjer

Tanah Rata is quieter and less crowded even during the peak season, it is the best place to stay. Avoid staying small chalet as amenities are not provided much there. For your information, I have once stayed in a small chalet due to its cheaper rate. The water heater in the rest room is spoiled, so can you imagine how cold the water is especially at night?

Where & What to Eat

The Boh Tea Plantation in Sungai Palas, Brinchang, you must not miss out this all-in-one tourist café. This cafe is situated within a complex that has a shop, exhibits and a tea factory next door. The cafe is also perched on top of a hill, so you can have an amazing view of tea fields below when enjoying the tea with sandwiches, pies, cakes and other snacks.

Chinese food in Cameron Highlands is a must try if you are a first timer. This is because the Chinese restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes cooked in various styles from spicy to sweet, you can choose whatever that you like. Don’t forget to have steamboat in cool, it will be a very different experience.

If you like Indian food, you can’t miss out Sri Brinchang restaurant which offers a wide range of delicious Indian food at reasonable rate.

Don’t forget to try the strawberries ice-lolly too!

Nightlife

There is not much thing you can do at night in Cameron Highlands unless you have interest in exploring Malaysia’s wildlife. Wildlife such as snakes, lizards and frogs are in their element at night, so you may heed into the forests to begin your exploration and discover more on diversity of flora and fauna.

My to do List

- Visit the tea plantations
-Visit flower nurseries and strawberries farm
-Visit the famous Cactus Valley in Brinchang
-Visit the ‘Pasar Malam’ which operates every Friday and Saturday (the stalls are set up at 4pm)
- Trek to Gunung Brinching
- Have a short walk to Robertson Waterfall

Getting There

It is strongly recommended that you have your own transportation to travel to Cameron Highlands since no car rental services are available in Cameron Highlands.

The best way to get to Cameron Highlands is by road travel, but be careful when driving to Cameron Highlands especially if you are a first timer. There are many trucks and buses on the roads along the ways. Overtaking can be a challenge especially if you are going to Cameron Highlands from Tapah. If you have not confident, just follow the vehicle in front you at a very low speed. Normally the local trucks and buses will give you signal to overtake when it is safe enough. Besides that, you need to be careful of the small rocks and tree branches along the roads.

Avoid travelling alone at night if you are not an expert in driving especially for first timer. And please take note that there are no street light all along the way and it might be a long drive.

There are two ways to go Cameron Highlands:

i) From the South via Tapah

Cameron Highlands is situated about 300km from Kuala Lumpur and it will take you about 3.5 hours to get there via the North-South Expressway (NSE). If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, please follow the sign to Ipoh along the NSE. Keep on driving until you reach Tapah which will spend about one and half hours. Turn into the Tapah and Cameron Highlands exit (Exit 132) and exit NSE through the Tapah toll booth. Then turn left at the traffic lights. From there onwards, you will be taking the long winding road to Cameron Highlands which is about 60 km away.

Prepare some plastic bags in your car especially if you have passengers with motion sickness. Since there are a lot of heavy vehicles going up and down the road, be careful especially when you want to overtaking. Be careful and be patient all the way. And remember it is common courtesy to let the vehicle behind you to overtake you.

ii) From the north via Simpang Pulai / Ipoh

There is another new road opened now, which is from Simpang Pulai. The road condition is much better than the Tapah route, so it is recommended to take this route if you are first timer and this route will take you about 45 minutes only to get to Kampung Raja.
Remember to exit the North-South Expressway at Exit 137 (Simpang Pulai) and turn right at the traffic light right after the toll booth. Then turn right again at the next traffic light which is about 200 meters away. Follow the signs to Kampung Raja or Cameron Highlands along the way. Around one hour later, you will reach the Kampung Raja junction where you have to turn right into Kampung Raja town. Then you can just follow the main road to your destination likes Brinchang and Tanah Rata, which is about 25-30km from there. Don’t worry; driving up this road will definitely be your pleasant experience. Be careful of the sharp bends at some stretches. Note that there is no mobile coverage along this road up to now. Make sure that you have at least half tank of fuel before you start your journey from the expressway exit.

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jlastras

Pahang

• Things to do
• Hotels & Hostels
• Where to eat
• Nightlife
• Transport
• Pahang Photos
• Pahang Map

With lush unspoilt verdant rainforests and mesmerizing white sandy beaches along the coasts, Pahang is a magnificent enclave of exotic wildlife and natural wonders.

Pahang, the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an adventure, loves the nature and lots of outdoor activities. It is covered by verdant rainforests which are among the oldest in the world (~ 130 million yrs old) and boasts some 210 kilometers of splendid South China Sea coastline on its eastern flank which offers the finest in beaches such as the famous Cherating, Teluk Chempedak and Pulau Tioman.

Pulau Tioman, acknowledged as one of the world’s most beautiful islands is a popular retreat for sun seekers and diving enthusiasts for its gorgeous beaches and diving spots where marine life thrives.

Mountainous-forested interior dominate the state and culminate in Taman Negara, Malaysia’s largest National park with the focus point, Gunung Tahan – the Peninsula Malaysia’s highest peak. The rainforests in Malaysia are among the oldest in the world: roughly 130 million years old.

The five major highlands retreats and resorts of Malaysia, Cameron Highlands , Genting Highlands , Fraser’s Hill, Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik are also within Pahang and are favorite getaway spots to both the locals and tourists who seek an escape from the tropical heat.

Cameron Highlands,with its cool climate is home to Malaysia’s tea, vegetable and flower growing industries.

Fraser’s Hill which is only about 100 km from Kuala Lumpur, is another cool hill resort dotted with quaint and colonial holiday bungalows.

Genting Highlands is an hour by road from KL and is the perfect escapade for those seeking relaxation in a cool mountain setting.

Kuantan, the state capital, is not only fast developing as a commercial town but is also a popular seaside resort. Pekan, the royal town is situated 45 km south of Kuantan.

Pahang is warm and humid throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 21 degrees to 33 degrees Celcius. The highlands are definitely cooler with temperatures falling down to 16 degrees Celcius at night. The temperature rarely exceeds 23 degrees Celcius during the day in these highlands.

Pahang Fun Map

Pahang Detailed Map: Click Map to Enlarge

Kuantan Detailed Map: Click Map to Enlarge

PLACES OF INTEREST
5D Balai Karyaneka/Handicraft Centre
5E Botanical Gardens/Jungle Park
3D Cutural Centre
3E Gelora Park
4D Menteri Besar’s Residence
5D Palace
5E Royal Pahang Golf Club
2E State Mosque
5D Teluk Cempedak

ENTERTAINMENT/SHOPPING
1E New Market
1E Teruntum Complex

BUS,TAXI, RAILWAY STATIONS,
RAILWAY, POST OFFICE,
POLICE STATION
2E Customs and Excise Department
1E Inter-Town Bus Terminal
1E Police Station
2E Taxi Station
1E Taxi Station
1D Town Bus Terminal

HOSPITAL
1E General Hospital

HOTELS
2D Citiview Hotel
5E Coral Beach Resort
2D Grand Continental Hotel
2D Grand Champagne Hotel
2D Seri Malaysia Kuantan
2D Vistana Hotel Kuantan
5E Hyatt Regency Kuantan
2E Mega View Hotel
2D M.S. Garden Hotel
Kuantan
1E Pacific Hotel
1E Samudra River View
1D Shahzan Inn Kuantan

Malaysia Maps
1. Johor Maps: Johor & Johor Bahru
2. Kedah Maps: Kedah & Langkawi
3. Kelantan Maps: Kelantan & Kota Bahru
4. Malacca Maps: Malacca Town
5. Negeri Sembilan Maps: Negri Sembilan & Seremban
6. Pahang Maps: Pahang & Kuantan
7. Penang Maps: Penang & Georgetown
8. Perak Maps: Perak & Ipoh
9. Sabah Maps: Sabah & Kota Kinabalu
10. Sarawak Maps: Sarawak & Kuching
11. Selangor Maps: Selangor, Putraraya & Kuala Lumpur
12. Terengganu Maps: Terengganu & Kuala Terengganu

** Maps sourced from : www.tourism.gov.my (Tourism Malaysia Official Website )