Home to the famous Taman Negara National Park, Pahang is the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia. Most of Pahang’s land area is covered by wide stretches of ancient rainforests and beautiful national parks, that house the longest mountain range and tallest mountain in West Malaysia, Mount Tahan. However, not many know that Pahang has more to offer, from pristine beaches to historic tin mines. If you’re looking to explore worthy attractions to visit in Pahang, read on to learn more.
Cherating Beach is a small seaside town that is well-known for its reputation as a resort destination. Home to numerous resorts from budget bungalows to luxury establishments such as Club Med, it’s no wonder that the town is popular to tourists with a bustling number of activities available to holidaygoers.
From lounging at the seaside to watersports, there is plenty to do. Don’t miss out on the Cherating turtle sanctuary when you’re in the area—conveniently located by the beach, it is the perfect spot for watching turtles during the nesting season.
Discover Cherating’s two river cruises when you’re in town: the mangrove river cruise, and the firefly river cruise. Both cruises take place along the Cherating River, with the mangrove river cruise operating twice in the day time, andthe the firefly cruise taking off around sunset.
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the mangrove forest on the mangrove cruise and catch rare glimpses of unique forest animals such as monkeys, bats and snakes. If you’re looking for a magical mangrove river experience, jump onto the firefly cruise and experience the river at night while it is illuminated by hundreds of fireflies. Besides a unique cruise experience, you’ll also get to learn more about mangroves, its natural flora and fauna, as well as the fireflies of the forest.
The famous Taman Negara National Park was established in 1938 and has a total area of 4343 square kilometres. Over 130 million years old, this national park is a valuable trove of natural biodiversity for Malaysia.
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll find that there is no shortage of things to do here. Take a walk on the longest treetop canopy in the world at 550 m long, or watch birds, go fishing, as well as explore unique caves. If you’re an adventure seeker, challenge yourself and your friends by climbing the tallest mountain in West Malaysia, Mount Tahan.
The Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary is located in southern Pahang and is a convenient two-hour drive from both Kuala Lumpur and Cherating, Pahang.
This centre was established to provide a sanctuary and protect local Asian elephants who have lost their habitat due to land cultivation and development. The centre rescues and relocates elephants to other suitable habitats such as the Taman Negara National Park. While you are here, learn about the elephants and the conservation efforts to protect them. You can also observe and feed young elephants, and even bathe with the elephants for a splashing good time.
Sungai Lembing is a closed underground tin mine that was developed in the late 1800s. On your visit, you can check out old mining machinery and trams, and even enter a mining tunnel to see what it was like to mine tin in pre-independence Malaya. You’ll also get to learn all about the history of the mine and discover how mining works. It's a huge network of underground tunnels, so there’ll be no shortage of fascinating things to see!
The capital of Pahang has a rich history and culture dating back to the 17th Century. Here you can visit major historical landmarks such as the the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque and the Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple. You can also discover how local batik fabric and clothes are made at the batik factory. After a day of exploring, lay back and sample some of Kuantan's delicious local foods.
Kuantan is just an hour's drive from Cherating. If you're staying at Club Med Cherating, we're happy to arrange a tour of Kuantan's best locations for you. Here at Club Med Cherating, we offer many activities and also excursions to Pahang's best attractions, so check us out!