Yo, welcome to Kuantan, the hidden treasure and capital of Pahang Island!
I’m John, and let me tell you, this place is the bomb dot com!
Kuantan is the second largest port in Malaysia, but it’s not just a hub for goods, it’s a fast-growing tourist spot with wicked beaches, dope restaurants, luxury beachfront hotels, water parks, and modern shopping centers.
Plus, you can find some of the most epic mosques and temples sharing space with towering skyscrapers.
If you’re a seafood lover like me, Kuantan is your spot!
The ocean is right there, so you can get your paws on freshly caught seafood (and dried fish) easily.
The food merchants in Kuantan have every type of fish and shellfish you can think of.
I personally can’t resist the fried fish crackers, and I always make sure to grab a pack of salted dried fish to bring home.
But let’s talk about one of the best things to do in Kuantan – hitting up the jam-packed and buzzing night markets!
Trust me, as a local, I can tell you it’s a must-do.
You can find everything from Batik clothing to blingin’ jewelry and accessories.
And don’t forget about the fresh fruits and salty fish – they’re definitely worth checking out.
The night markets are the perfect spot to score some dope souvenirs for your squad back home.
Speaking of souvenirs, I’ll never forget the time my cousin came to Kuantan and snagged this epic Batik shirt at the night market.
He wore it to a party back home and all the ladies were like, “Dang, where’d you get that shirt?” and he was like, “Oh, just from this hidden gem of a place called Kuantan!” True story, bro.
So what are you waiting for?
Come kick it in Kuantan and experience all the awesomeness it has to offer!
Night entertainment in Kuantan
If you are a night person, here are a few ideas for night entertainment while staying in Kuantan.
Night markets usually occur on Saturday evenings, especially in Jalan Gambut Market, however, there is a night market pretty much each night of the week all around Kuantan.
Kuantan’s array of night clubs, pubs, discos, videoke bars, movie theaters, and a huge indoor amusement park are simply a few of your options for nighttime entertainment.
Scheduled cultural events would incorporate live exhibitions of local music, traditional dances and a demonstration of Silat, a popular martial art form in Kuantan.
Best time to Visit Kuantan
The ideal time to visit the city is from April to September.
Kuantan encounters two different seasons- the dry and wet season.
Amid the dry season, from April to September, the humid and dry temperature may range up to 40ºC.
Even if the weather is quite hot, still this is the suitable time for touring around and engaging in water sports exercises.
The rainy season extends from October to March, when Kuantan encounters substantial precipitation.
In this way, touring is impractical and not a great time to tour the city, especially along the beaches and parks in and around Kuantan.
Best Things To Do In Kuantan
Kuantan is a city that has gained prominence as a well
known transport hub in Malaysia
, here is a rundown of the popular attractions and things to do in the picturesque city of Kuantan:
Teluk Chempedak
The Teluk Chempedak offers a good promenade along the sea.
It is dotted with many franchised cafes, you can go to the sand beach, play beach volleyball, and of course swimming, if the waves allow.
It is an excellent beach for relaxing with family and children.
The views and gorgeous sand on the beach allows you to get a good impression of this famous attraction in Kuantan.
This beach can be easily accessed because it is near the city center.
About the restaurants and places along the waterfront, the standards of cleanliness are the same as in Europe.
The beach is beautiful and has all the elements of paradise; white sand, coconut palms, quiet corners, and the warm sea at 26° C.
The area is frequented by hordes of monkeys and monitor lizards that measure more than a meter and well worth a photo.
In the island of Pahang it is the beach that is not to be missed.
The only downside is there are trash (plastic, old bottles, etc.
)that can be seen scattered along its coast, everyone who goes there must be aware of the need to preserve and maintain its cleanliness, but if you walk towards the Hyatt, the beach area is very nice and clean.
There are many food chains here and the Malaysian beach life can truly be enjoyed.
It is a nice place for lovers.
You can walk across bridges over the neighboring beach and everything is available for a good time, restaurant, music, but the best moment is the encounter with the wild monkeys.
It is indeed a beautiful beach and a visit is strongly suggested.
My favorite Kuantan tourist attractions
Let’s have a look at several more tourist attractions in Kuantan city.
Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah (Pahang State Mosque)
The Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah is the central mosque of Kuantan.
It is a beautiful mosque located in the city center.
The mosque is only open to Muslims and tourists are not allowed to explore the interior.
The parking is quite uncomfortable and situated on the opposite side of the road.
It is considered a major landmark of the capital city of Pahang Island.
The Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque is also referred to as the
Interesting places to visit in Kuantan
Pahang State Mosque
and it is the biggest mosque and of the huge structures you can admire in Kuantan.
Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the mosque itself;
However you will have the capacity to enter a few parts of its encompassing enclosures to see a few awesome points of interest of its fascinating structural planning.
It is fascinating to observe the immense pastel shades of blue and green that give the entire building an extraordinary charm and appeal.
If you have the chance to tour the grounds or courtyard of the mosque, don’t miss a visit to the intriguing “tree” totally made out of stainless steel.
Each “leaf” carries the different names of Allah as affirmed by the Islamic faith.
You will find the tree in a territory that sightseers are permitted to enter unreservedly and without further confinements throughout the day.
A visit is more convenient if you come with a local guide who knows the history and can explain well the significance of this mosque in this city.
Here are several more ideas of
What else to do in Kuantan?
Sungai Lembing Mines
The Sungai Lembing Mines are surely a spot not to be missed if you’re on a tour of this mine extraction community.
It is an attraction that is loaded with history and to understand it more, you have to stroll into the deepest underground mining area in Asia and discover a lot of its interesting features.
It’s a mine, so be ready to stroll through calm, faint, and desolate shafts which may be somewhat wet along the tricky surface characterized by rainwater trickling from the walls of the tunnel.
It’ll be savvy to wear legitimate footwear and tennis shoes/ strapped shoes give a better footing while strolling.
Slippers or soft soled sandals are not a practical choice and the use of torchlight is also not recommended.
There’s a short tram ride (about 100m) from the passageway of the mines to bring the guests into the tunnel and experience how the diggers used to ride on the tram to get to work in the old days.
After the tram ride, you must walk the remaining 100m of the attraction.
Information boards are accessible and provided along the passages to give some data about the historical backdrop of the Sungai Lembing Mines.
The majority of the exhibits here is accessible inside the mines to give the guests a visual idea of how the miners utilized those instruments to help them accomplish their work here before.
Although the mines are too deep, you can still feel the cold air coming from outside or from the ventilated parts that were excavated by the miners here before.
It used to be a restricted area, but you will not get lost inside because there are lots of markers that will guide you from the entrance up to the exit side, there are also tour guides that you can hire and they are familiar with the key points of the tunnel.
Bring enough drinking water to keep yourself hydrated while making a tour of this historic mining area.
This mine, which produces zinc, is an hour’s drive away (about 40 kilometers) from Kuantan.
The town looks deserted, but there is a river here that you can visit and take pictures with and it is quite beautiful.
The area around this town is also captivating, especially if you climb the hill.
The mining village is charming and deserves a quick tour if you stay around Kuantan.
Beautiful attractions in Kuantan
Bukit Gambang Resort City- Water Park
The Bukit Gambang Resort City- Water Park is a great place for the whole family.
Kids will find the great variety of slides and pools enjoyable and worth coming back to.
This water park is located not very far from Kuantan, in a town that is called by the same name given to the park.
The small territory has all kinds of water activities, including picnic areas for families.
This most visited water park and resort
city is very entertaining
and inexpensive.
The extent of the water park is not as large as the other water resorts you can find in Kuala Lumpur yet there are sufficient attractions and rides.
You can spend an entire day here, however, arrange your visit on weekdays as weekends can be exceptionally packed and lining up for any of the fun rides and pools can be long.
It’s best to rent the cabanas where you can leave your things, sleep, and relax after a good swim.
It is an ideal spot for recreation and entertainment.
There are slides for adults as well as a children’s park, where you can safely leave the children and not worry because they are being watched by the rescue guards here.
Outdoor activities in Kuantan
Bukit Gambang Safari Park
The rest of the recreation center is much the same as any zoo in Pahang Island.
The main distinction is that there is a
safari
where guests will ride in a mentor through the natural habitat of the animals.
The Bukit Gambang Safari Park is worth a visit while in Kuantan, but the only missing part is the proper markers, information, and enough data presented about the animal.
It is a bit confusing when you ponder which creature is which, particularly when numerous creatures share the same area around the enclosure.
The savannah is still being developed, but it shows a lot of promise of seeing more interesting features once it is all done.
Make sure that you arrange or plan your visit in advance to avoid standing up on long lines at the entrance.
Sungai Pandan Waterfall
The Sungai Pandan Waterfall is a very impressive sight which you must see with your own eyes.
The beautiful views of the crystal clear water fall from the mountains and you can swim at the bottom part as the water is not very hot and truly refreshing.
You can also go through the waterfall and into the small cave.
The falls are such a pleasant spot, yet a bit away from the city center.
It’s a smart thought to visit this spot and the famous mines on the same day.
The stream emerging down from the waterfall is exceptionally shallow and immaculate in the event that you have extremely curious kids who want to take a dip in its waters.
They can play on the sand banks and stay safe.
You must try to go up the trail on the left half of the waterfall as it prompts to the highest point of the falls and the opportunity to see the two pools at the top.
The falls are widely visited and become congested but the trails are well managed.
The fallen trees are usually carried out to keep the way clear and easily accessible.
You can admire it from below and be entranced by the waterfall itself.
However, bring an insect repellant as there are loads of mosquitoes, particularly if you sit and observe under the trees.
Rainbow Falls
The entire adventure to reach the Rainbow Falls is a worthwhile experience in Kuantan.
It is best done very early in the morning (6:00 AM) with a well trained guide and a 4×4 driver.
The tour package usually includes staying overnight in a village hotel near this attraction.
In the middle of the trail you can find extraordinary and great spots for photography.
The one and a half hour trek is a bit exhausting, but the reward is all worth it.
The rainbow that forms over the mists over the pool underneath the falls is what entices tourists to come and visit this secluded falls.
It is undoubtedly a sublime experience, and if you get closer you can capture with your own naked eye the round rainbow shaping over the falls.
It is also great to take a dip in the pool and witness how the mists and the rainbow form around the falls.
Hidden places in Kuantan
Taman Gelora
The Taman Gelora is a great place for jogging, walking, and biking as you breathe in the fresh breeze from the sea.
It has a very nice park, a café, and a beach, but you cannot swim in this ocean.
The area is sublime as it calmly overlooks the Kuantan River.
The recreation center and walkway realizes equipped with 1km tracks.
As you stroll past the waterfront, the lake and the magnificent trees bring its inviting shade.
It is a delight to visit Taman Galore and meet numerous health and fitness advocates.
If you get hungry, there are some food kiosks and spots to get a cup of espresso or tea.
Kuantan River
Kuantan serves as the estuary and harbor for shipping vessels and fishing boats primarily because its river canals lead all the way to the South China Sea.
It is likewise secured by a little peninsula at the outlet of the river.
This serves as the haven against storms with a nice promenade area facing this unique harbor setting.
On this harbor, there is an exceptionally pleasant walkway for you to wander around while in Kuantan.
The city chamber has made a decent showing of developing this riverfront zone to become an ideal spot to walk and practice all types of physical exercises.
This symbolic riverfront actually has nothing much to offer right now but plans are underway to have it developed into an amusement park that is geared towards tourism.
Kuantan Malaysia Top points of interest
Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre
The Turtle Sanctuary and Information Center is a great option to admire the preservation of these treasured animals.
It is situated at Chendor Beach and started its project and operation to protect the welfare of the turtles since 1997.
It is overseen by the Fisheries Department and works together with the Pahang State Government to achieve its noble goals.
The center aims to shield turtles from any harm and risks, and assist in the nesting process of its breed by initiating incubation equipments, preservation, marking, and monitoring.
The appropriate time to witness turtle hatching is from April until September.
It is around these months when the leatherback female turtle crawls to its shoreline to lay her eggs (90- 150 eggs at night) under the sand.
Visiting hours to see the sanctuary starts from 9:00 AM until 5:30 PM.
The center is closed every Monday and a visit must be arranged in advance via phone reservation.
Hidden gems in kuantan – Wrap Up
Kuantan is an interesting coastal town to explore while in Pahang Island.
A typical fishing community, but dotted with its own wealth of attractions to see, Kuantan has managed to attract foreign visitors to its land because of its simplicity and proximity to the beach.
Almost every point of interest is located just about ten minutes away from its busy shoreline.
In addition, the people are hospitable and very proud of their heritage as evidenced by their love for traditional food, music, preserving family traditions, and colorful history.
