Terrapuri, Setiu: Stay in 100-Year-Old Malay Houses

Between the South China Sea and the Setiu wetlands, in Kampung Mangkuk, Penarik, lies Terrapuri Heritage Resort. It brings together 29 traditional Terengganu Malay houses aged 100 to 250 years, bought from their original owners in villages across Terengganu, then dismantled, moved and restored here.

The project was started by founder Alex Lee Yun Ping, who bought around four hectares beside the Setiu river in 2005. The houses are built of cengal hardwood using pasak and tanggam (peg-and-joint) joinery without nails, decorated with floral carving, and the layout draws on 17th-century Terengganu palace grounds.

In our video, the villa we stayed in fits four, with a canopy bed, a wooden bathtub and a selasar (veranda) for sitting in the breeze. The villas deliberately have no TV, and WiFi is only in the dining area. Other facilities include an infinity pool, a spa, a reading room inside an old timber palace, the Teluk Pasu artifact gallery and bicycles for exploring the village.

Penarik Beach is only about a kilometre away. Activities include firefly boat cruises, a Setiu river safari and trips to Redang Island via Merang Jetty, about 30 minutes away. Kuala Terengganu and the airport are roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Payments are non-refundable, so confirm your dates first.

Terrapuri suits couples and families who want a taste of Terengganu village life in comfort. You can't pick a specific house; it depends on availability. The resort also takes day visits and photo shoots by booking. Guests with limited mobility should note that most houses stand high on stilts with wooden stairs.