Attractions in Pahang

- Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

     
       This truly unique Elephant Orphanage of Kuala Gandah in Pahang will give you a very rare opportunity to learn about these displaced gentle giants.Get the chance to ride them through the jungle, with the help of an elephant guide, or mahout.

For the brave and adventurous, there are opportunities to take the elephants down to the river and help give them a bath! There really is no better opportunity than this to get in touch with these grey giants.

It is estimated that there are only 1,200 wild Asian Elephants, also known as Elephus Maximus, left in Malaysia and this is the only conservation centre set up to relocate these displaced pachyderms.

The elephants here have been rescued from all over Peninsula Malaysia, providing them a safe sanctuary in the wild.

- Tioman Island

    

      Pulau Tioman is a duty-free island off Peninsular Malaysia's east coast, acclaimed as a geological wonder, ecological paradise and one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful travel destinations. Located 32 nautical miles off the mainland, but connected through Mersing (Johor) and Tanjung Gemuk (Pahang) via ferry, the island continues to enchant visitors with its warm beaches, lovely seas and lush greenery.

Gazetted as a marine park, the immediate waters are abundant with coral reefs and marine life - ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. Much of the island is covered by pristine rainforest, home to several endemic wildlife species and suitable for nature explorations. Finally, Tioman Island attracts youthful travellers from around the world - truly a melting pot of cultures to meet on vacation.

- National Park Pahang

      

      Taman Negara is the oldest primary rainforest in the world. Research has shown that this rainforest has never been influenced by ice ages and other big changes in time. With 4343 square kilometers it is the biggest National Park in Malaysia, spread out over three states at Peninsular Malaysia; Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. Should you stay in Peninsular Malaysia; make sure you pay a visit to this National Park; it is only a 4 hour drive to the park entrance. Taman Negara is the place for the best jungle experience in Peninsular Malaysia; perfect for those that don't have the option of visiting the jungles of Borneo. Within the park there are numerous resorts, ranging from basic guesthouses to nice resorts.

Once in the park there are many fun things to do. Walking excursions are usually under accompaniment of a guide, he will take you into the jungle. There's also the famous Taman Negara Canopy Walk; this is a 510 meters long suspension bridge between high treetops (arguably the longest in the world). You can walk over it, and enjoy spectacular views at heights of over 45 meter. A night walk is a very nice to-do at Taman Negara; but make sure you wear mosquito repellant and clothes with long sleeves and long trousers. Special socks against leeches are not really necessary; you can always pull them off you bottom legs after your trip (unless you cannot handle some minor blood). Other activities and attractions within the national park are bird watching, staying overnight in one of the wildlife observation hides, adventurous cave explorations (i.e. Gua Telingga, Gua Kepayang, Gua Luas, Gua Landak and Gua Tumpat) river cruises, Lata Berkoh with its waterfalls, fishing (Taman Negara offers great fishing opportunities for anglers), enjoying the scenic views after climbing to the summit of Mount Tahan (multi-day jungle trek) and visiting the Orang Asli (Batek and Semokberi) people in their villages.

- Bukit Gambang Waterpark

       Look into the 25,000 sq ft wave pool which will certainly offer a whale of a time! You wouldn’t need to miss the family river raft rides along with the awesome 6 Lane Racer slides using a timing scoreboard. Just about every adult ride inside the park comes with its personal kid-sized replica. Not only can kids take pleasure in having wet in rides created with them in thoughts, the plentiful children-only additions could make even adults want they have been young again.

Together with the Youngsters Fantasy Island (“Penguin Island”), Special Kidz Zone, The Adventure Typhoon River as well as a 1 kilometer long man-made sandy beach, never-ending exciting and merriment awaits for the young as well as the young-at-heart!Carrying a purseful of cash whilst you are trying to have exciting is a genuine party pooper. Wouldn’t it be excellent is every thing was charged electrically to your account alternatively? You will be able to do just that at Bukit Gambang Water Park utilising what is the first of its type e-value system in Malaysia; all transactions are automatically deducted from a prepaid wristband. So just walk up to the stall of one’s nearest F&B stall, pick out your favourite item and pay for it with your pre-loaded wristband. Now, that’s actual convenience for you!

- Mount Tahan

         Gunung Tahan, 2187 metres (7174 ft), is the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia. The mountain is situated inside Taman Negara, on the Pahang-Kelantan border. The mountain is part of the Tahan Range in the Tenasserim Hills and is popular with local climbers. In the Malay language, ‘gunung’ means ‘mountain’, while ‘tahan’ means ‘endure’. Thus, the name of the mountain suggests that a certain level of physical endurance is required to conquer it. Gunung Tahan is considered by many to be one of the toughest treks in Peninsular Malaysia.

There are three trails to the summit, commonly referred to as:

1) Kuala Tahan-Kuala Tahan
2) Merapoh-Kuala Tahan or Kuala Tahan-Merapoh
3) Merapoh-Merapoh

The Kuala Tahan classic trail is the oldest and most scenic trail. A return trip on this trail typically takes seven days. Climbers have to trek across undulating ridges and make several river crossings before finally reaching the foot of the mountain to make the final ascent. Climbers without adequate physical fitness or training are not advised to attempt Gunung Tahan.

The other two trails are from Merapoh (Sungai Relau). The Merapoh-Merapoh trail is significantly shorter than the other two. A return trip on the Merapoh trail takes 3–4 days.

A traverse from Kuala Tan to Merapoh (or the other way around) takes around 5-7 days. The Merapoh – Kuala Tahan trail requires about 100 km trek, passing through low altitude primary jungle, across rivers, up to a cool mountain plateau. Gunung Tahan is at the top end of the plateau. The trek starts at Sungai Relau, a 13-km drive from the jungle headquarters of Taman Negara at Kuala Juram. The Park can be reached by van from the station at Merapoh or Gua Musang.

Coping with the trek depends on your fitness – both physical and mental, the choice of suitable equipment and the load you carry on your back. The weight you can carry depends on your age, fitness and body weight. A maximum of one-quarter of body weight is a good guide in humid, hot conditions as in Gunung Tahan. However, packs must be kept as light as possible: 15-20 kg is what to expect for this trek up Gunung Tahan.



- Colmar Tropicale (Bukit Tinggi)

         Colmar Tropicale is a picturesque French-themed resort with fantasy-like surrounds, settling at 2,700 feet above sea level amidst 80 acres of natural rainforest in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. This village, situated in verdant highlands in Kuala Lumpur, is modelled after the lovely 18th century city of Colmar in Alsace, France and houses quaint French cafés, art galleries, lively street performances, and plenty of exciting activities for visitors of all ages – great for a short weekend getaway from KL city.

A medieval French village in the middle of a Malaysian rainforest, Colmar Tropicale features a castle drawbridge which leads to a massive cobblestone courtyard filled with colourful flowers, park benches, a water fountain, wishing well, and an intricate cuckoo clock tower that’s inspired by France’s Riquewihr Tower.

Offering a day of fun-filled activities for kids, Colmar Tropicale has a children’s playground and playroom, arcade machines, clown performances, and street performances by local and international artists. There are also plenty of retail stores in the main courtyard, where guests can purchase unique handicrafts for loved ones back home while adventure seekers can participate in various recreational activities such as horseback riding, jungle trekking, paintball, mountain biking, water volleyball, and archery.

For dining, Colmar Tropicale has seven French-themed eateries that cater to almost every budget level. La Cigogne is a fine dining restaurant that serves authentic French cuisine while La Boulengarie is a French bakery with homemade sandwiches and freshly-brewed coffee. Great for laidback evenings, diners can enjoy a wide range of imported wines at Le Vin Wine & Cigar Bar or enjoy fresh pizza and pastas at La Flamme.

As if it wasn’t baffling enough to find a French village in the middle of a Malaysian forest, a tranquil Japanese village can be found a short distance down the road. Part of the same attraction, it features an authentic Japanese tea house and restaurant, spa centre, and a botanical garden. Visiting families can also visit over 200 rabbits, deer, and donkeys at Colmar Tropicale’s mini animal park.