Famous for its vast range of natural extremes – exotic islands, mountainous forests, cooling highlands, and beautiful beaches among them – Pahang is Peninsular Malaysia’s largest state.
One of the attractions is Malaysia’s oldest National Park, Taman Negara. It encompasses the world’s oldest tropical rainforest (estimated at 130 million years old). With a spread of 434,300ha, Taman Negara is an adventurer’s wonderland. Try your hand at trekking, the treetop canopy walk, caving, shooting the rapids of the Tembeling River, 4-wheel drive, night safaris, watching the park’s wildlife from a jungle hide, and much, much more.
Another favourite is Tioman an island-lover’s paradise amid the crystal blue waters of the South China Sea. Divers will forever remember the amazing coral reefs, while non-divers will always remember their first Tioman sunset.
Once a booming tin town, Sungai Lembing’s glory days are long past. For historians, the museum that’s now opened to visitors is an interesting look into the whole of the area’s tin mining industry. You’ll see how tin was mined, and how life went on for miners and administrators during the mine’s heyday.
For those interested in religion and culture the Gua Charah is a must visit. Site of a revered Buddhist sanctuary, the Charah caves are located 25km northwest of Kuantan, and continue to serve as solitary meditation retreat for Buddhist monks and nuns. Visitors can explore some of the caves and gorges, including one that’s home to an impressive stone sculpture of the reclining Buddha.
For a different experience visit the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary. It was established in 1989 to assist the elephant capture and relocation programmes that began in 1974. This is a permanent base for the capture unit, and your best chance to get up close and personal with these majestic mammals.
Adventure seekers will have fun shooting along the Jeram Besu rapids. A three-hour drive from KL, Jeram Besu is gaining popularity as one of Malaysia’s most challenging and exhilarating areas for white-water rafting. Graded as high as a Class-3+, it’s a great place for rafters and kayakers to unwind in some extreme circumstances!
If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, retreat to a hill station. Synonymous with rest and relaxation since colonial times, Pahang’s highlands are a world apart from the heat found in the lowlands. At 1,500m above sea level, Fraser’s Hill is majestically quaint. Everywhere you look you’ll find decades-old buildings amid the twists and turns around the rolling hills. With accommodation to suit all budgets, there’s a wealth of relaxing activities to be had – bird watching, nature trekking, golfing, and picnicking. At 1,829m, Cameron Highlands is spotted with historic tea plantations amid the jungle canopy. You’ll find plenty of colonial charm here – period architecture, English gardens, and the customs of tea and fresh strawberries in the cool afternoons, etc. – as well as many guided and unguided adventures, such as trekking the trails around Gunung Brinchang. The relative newcomer, Bukit Tinggi is near Genting Highlands, and will take you away to 16th century French villages, Japanese landscaped gardens, and much more. The most proximate of the highlands to KL, Genting Highlands – the City of Entertainment – is a fully developed wonderland, complete with a Theme Park, a glittering casino, golfing, world class musicals, all types of dining, and attractions that make Genting a great weekend (or longer) getaway.
If the beach is your idea of relaxing then you can visit one of the many beaches such as Balok Beach, Beserah Beach, Chendor Beach, Lanjut Beach, Cherating Beach, and Teluk Chempedak. Pahang’s east coast is a playground for beach lovers. Somewhere along the sands, there’s a beach chair, a shade, and a drink awaiting you.
Kuantan the gateway to many of Pahang’s east coast beaches, offers some great food (like the famous fish cracker “keropok”) and some insights into the production of traditional handicrafts like batik painting. Most noticeable in Kuantan is the impressive State Mosque.
Cherating is a small town which is a 45-minute drive from Kuantan. It has grown from a small unknown village to a haven for tourists of all budgets. Still quite popular with backpackers, there are many huts, bars, and pubs that cater to the expat on a tight budget and looking for a lively vacation. Along its fabulous stretch of beach, you simply can’t miss the abundance of mini-markets, food stalls, and art galleries – you can even try your hand at making your own batik! Cherating is also the site of Asia’s first Club Med, which occupies a stretch of the beach and caters to a more upscale crowd in search of a luxurious vacation with a relaxed and friendly village ambiance. Further up the road is the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary, where you can learn more about Green, Leatherback, and Hawksbill turtles.
In Pahang you’ll never run out of places to go or things to do, this lively state has it all!
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