10 Places to Visit in Pahang Beyond Beaches and Patin Tempoyak

Just mention Pahang, and many people immediately picture beaches and patin tempoyak (river fish in fermented durian curry). But on this trip, we discovered plenty more places worth adding to your itinerary, from an old mining town to the tallest tower on the East Coast.

Start in Sungai Lembing, about 42 km from Kuantan. Muzium Sungai Lembing occupies the former mine manager's bungalow on a hill and records the history of an underground tin mine that was once among the deepest in the world before it closed in the mid-1980s. Its tin ore replicas and mine models give a clear picture of miners' lives. Nearby, the roughly 50-metre Jambatan Gantung Kolong Pahat (Kolong Pahat Suspension Bridge) is still used by locals, and it sways a little when you reach the middle. The name Kolong Pahat is said to come from a tunnel dug out using a chisel (pahat).

In Kuantan city centre, the walls at Laman Teruntum near Menara 188 are covered in colourful murals, including some 3D works. Its name comes from the settlement's original name, Kampung Teruntum. From there, head up Menara Kuantan 188, the second-tallest tower in Malaysia, which offers an observation deck, a skydeck, a skywalk activity and a restaurant with views over the whole city.

The Kuantan River Cruise departs from Jeti Shahbandar and travels along Sungai Kuantan past mangrove forests, fishing villages and Jambatan Tanjung Lumpur; estuarine crocodiles are sometimes spotted on the banks. To chill out, Pantai Teluk Cempedak is clean and calm, complete with souvenir stalls.

At night, join a firefly boat tour on Sungai Cherating. The guide shines a light towards the mangrove trees to draw the fireflies closer. In Tanjung Lumpur, Batik Adina shows the batik-making process and lets visitors try canting for themselves, while Bazar Serambi Teruntum is great for buying nuts, dodol, batik and Pahang handicrafts.

If you're driving from the Klang Valley, stop by The Bentong Farm, about 80 km from Kuala Lumpur. This 27-acre farm is home to more than 100 animal species such as alpacas and lemurs, fruit and vegetable gardens, catch-and-release longkang fishing, and giant replicas of durian, mangosteen and ginger.