Road trip to Terengganu (Perhentian & Lake Kenyir)

[Voodooman]

I will be driving up to Terengganu with family during the third week of June, we will be visiting the Perhentian islands and Lake Kenyir. Likely to stop over for a night or 2 in Kuala Terengganu. Seeking advices from those familiar on the must-do, must-see, must-buy, must-makan thingy. Our plan is to bring some good books and laze around for a week, so it is going to be a nice and slow trip, don't intend to seek out fringe attractions.

 

On our previous trips to Redang, we will usually charter a small boat for 4 to 6 hours on a island hopping cum snorkelling trip, I can't seem to find any information on boats that are available for charter in the Perhentian, anyone has a clue? What is the market rate?

 

Also, how far is the carpark from the Kuala Besut jetty? I was checking my Garmin and it is quite a distance away from the jetty, this does not gel with what I have read on the internet.

 

Thanks in advance for all tips....

 

 

 

[Voodooman]

Anyone drove by Segamat recently, is the Sagamat durian in season? Thinking of taking route 14 (Yongpeng-Sagamat-Kuantan) for the durian.

Edited June 12, 2009 by Voodooman

[Duffy]

Hi there,

 

going up too on tue..returning on sun

 

Sin-Cherating beach - Lake kenyir - cameron highlands- Palua pangkor - Port dickson - Sin... 6 days 5 nites

 

heard that Perhentian is beautiful but giving it a miss cos not going over to stay on island(worry abt car)

[Siewss]

I will be driving up to Terengganu with family during the third week of June, we will be visiting the Perhentian islands and Lake Kenyir. Likely to stop over for a night or 2 in Kuala Terengganu. Seeking advices from those familiar on the must-do, must-see, must-buy, must-makan thingy. Our plan is to bring some good books and laze around for a week, so it is going to be a nice and slow trip, don't intend to seek out fringe attractions.

 

On our previous trips to Redang, we will usually charter a small boat for 4 to 6 hours on a island hopping cum snorkelling trip, I can't seem to find any information on boats that are available for charter in the Perhentian, anyone has a clue? What is the market rate?

 

Also, how far is the carpark from the Kuala Besut jetty? I was checking my Garmin and it is quite a distance away from the jetty, this does not gel with what I have read on the internet.

 

Thanks in advance for all tips....

 

Last time I was there, the fenced-up carpark was just next door to the row of shops which fronted the jetty. But I guessed there are many of such "private" carparks, some of which are further than others.

 

[Voodooman]

Hi there,

 

going up too on tue..returning on sun

 

Sin-Cherating beach - Lake kenyir - cameron highlands- Palua pangkor - Port dickson - Sin... 6 days 5 nites

 

heard that Perhentian is beautiful but giving it a miss cos not going over to stay on island(worry abt car)

 

I will be at Lake Kenyir in the middle of next week, we might run into each other.

 

Not sure what ride you have, but we have seen many SGD plated cars of various makes in Merang's carparks (temporarily not in use now) during our previous trips to Redang. We have left our cars in Merang for up to 5 days (guarded car park) before. They were still there when we returned. Ever saw an SG plated Lexus once. I estimate about 30% to 40% of the cars in Laguna carpark then were Singapore cars. Anyway, if you are worried, you can do a day trip to Redang. It will be well worth the time and money, if you don't have the time, just visit the Marine Park. You will be back soon, from my own experience.

 

Your travel schedule looks hectic. I will be up north for about 10 days and visiting just 3 places (2 islands and Tasik Kenyir). Do advise on the Kenyir-Cameron crossing after the trip, I am tempted to do a east coast-Cameron trip in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Voodooman]

Last time I was there, the fenced-up carpark was just next door to the row of shops which fronted the jetty. But I guessed there are many of such "private" carparks, some of which are further than others.

 

Thanks Swiss for the confirmation, my garmin shows only 1 carpark and it is a few streets away, was kinda worried. I am planning to stay over at Heritage Bay this time round (your recommendation), unbelievable offer.

 

Making the Tioman trip this June?

[Tyongchi]

Hi there,

 

going up too on tue..returning on sun

 

Sin-Cherating beach - Lake kenyir - cameron highlands- Palua pangkor - Port dickson - Sin... 6 days 5 nites

 

heard that Perhentian is beautiful but giving it a miss cos not going over to stay on island(worry abt car)

 

Guess you are using T156. Beware of the road conditions (at Kelantan state) and drive carefully. Many potholes. Road conditions at Lake Kenyir is extremely beautiful but deteoriates drastically after you crossed the Kelantan-Terengganu border.

[Whatefish]

Just returned from Trengganu this week. Did saw durians at segamat while passing pass there, but i can't confirm if there's the season. But to have a taste of segamat durian, should not be a problem la.... few stalls available.

[Voodooman]

Just returned from Trengganu this week. Did saw durians at segamat while passing pass there, but i can't confirm if there's the season. But to have a taste of segamat durian, should not be a problem la.... few stalls available.

 

Read in another forum the season has started early this year. What you see on the roadside are therefore not imported thai durians (they suck big time). It is great, having durians for lunch next week!

[Siewss]

Thanks Swiss for the confirmation, my garmin shows only 1 carpark and it is a few streets away, was kinda worried. I am planning to stay over at Heritage Bay this time round (your recommendation), unbelievable offer.

 

Making the Tioman trip this June?

 

I stayed at Tunabay the other time, and it has house corals which are withing wading distance from the beach. So it couldn't be Heritage Bay that I recommended. But anyway, Tunabay wasn't all that great, though they were pretty flexible about things (we took piles of breakfast loaves to feed the coral fishes. They tried to pull a fast one by asking us to pay extra 3% for using credit card for payment.

 

If it's Heritage Bay you're staying at, and making day trips to Perhentian, you wouldn't have much to worry about for carpark.

 

I've cancelled the Japamala trip, and instead will be heading for Genting/Putrajaya this coming Sunday. I'll probably try Japamala next time.

 

 

 

[Voodooman]

We will be staying over at Abdul Chalet in Perhentian Besar for a couple of nights and Heritage Bay in Kuala Terengganu for a night or 2. Tunabay is fully booked for the next 3 months, so we went for the highly recommended Abdul Chalet, it is kinda of budget but I read the rooms are clean and decent. Covering new grounds this time round, hope Perhentian is as good as Redang.

 

Do go to Klang for the Bak Kut Tei, it is pretty nearby, for your upcoming trip.

[Siewss]

We will be staying over at Abdul Chalet in Perhentian Besar for a couple of nights and Heritage Bay in Kuala Terengganu for a night or 2. Tunabay is fully booked for the next 3 months, so we went for the highly recommended Abdul Chalet, it is kinda of budget but I read the rooms are clean and decent. Covering new grounds this time round, hope Perhentian is as good as Redang.

 

Do go to Klang for the Bak Kut Tei, it is pretty nearby, for your upcoming trip.

Hey, Abdul Chalet looks pretty decent. Good stuff.

 

Next to Tunabay in fact there was this longhouse kind of chalet, budgeted for divers who spend a huge part of their time outside the chalet. It's horrendous living condition, to say the least, and definitely family unfriendly.

 

The thing about Perhentian is that there's nothing much else to offer except the powdery sand and clear water. So if that's your key consideration, you're headed to the right place. What attracted me to Perhentian was the chance to avoid the crowd, and if I may add, the locals. There's no need to rush/queue/wait, except for the limited sundeck chairs, which the angmohs love to hog, right from the morning till the evening.

 

Klang Bak Kut Teh...Yes, I'll keep that in mind. I'll have to reserve some stomach space because every meal for the next 1 week will be buffet.

 

[Duffy]

hi all,

 

just some updates...reporting from Lake Kenyir.......just one word....beautifully

 

anyway started e trip using first link and departed ard 7am. reached Cherating ard 1130am

 

Day one

Cherating Resort...abit of a let down.....too quiet even though fully booked. went for turtle watching ...great experience....

 

Day two

left cherating at ard 930am and proceed to terengganu for lake kenyir.... reached ard 1130am ..... scenary was beautiful....actually now at lounge area surfing net and listening to two piece live band...great voice.

 

proceeding to cameron highlands tomorrow.

 

cheers

[Voodooman]

Hey, Abdul Chalet looks pretty decent. Good stuff.

 

Next to Tunabay in fact there was this longhouse kind of chalet, budgeted for divers who spend a huge part of their time outside the chalet. It's horrendous living condition, to say the least, and definitely family unfriendly.

 

The thing about Perhentian is that there's nothing much else to offer except the powdery sand and clear water. So if that's your key consideration, you're headed to the right place. What attracted me to Perhentian was the chance to avoid the crowd, and if I may add, the locals. There's no need to rush/queue/wait, except for the limited sundeck chairs, which the angmohs love to hog, right from the morning till the evening.

 

Klang Bak Kut Teh...Yes, I'll keep that in mind. I'll have to reserve some stomach space because every meal for the next 1 week will be buffet.

 

Hi Siewss,

 

Just got back from my Terengganu trip. Didn't have problem with parking at Kuala Besut but SG plated cars are far and few, unlike at Merang.

 

Perhentian is as you mentioned, quiet, offering little except excellent beaches, crystal clear water and the chance to swim with sharks, nemo and sea turtles. The islands are not as crowded as Redang even though all resorts are reporting almost full occupancy. We had a great time lazing around the beach infront of Abdul Chalet but took most of our meals at Tunabay, which offers better food although Abdul's meals are very reasonably priced. Abdul offers good value for monies.

 

Best snorkelling spots are Lighthouse and Shark Point, imho. The mozzies are however an issue, can't figure out why there are so many at this time of the year. Redang didn't have this problem the last time we were there, could be the hot weather. Had to spray our hands and legs with insect repellent every evening. Did the same at Tasik Kenyir. Overall, it was a very relaxing trip.

 

If you are going to the East Coast the next time, do consider Gem Island, we stayed there for 2 nights and of the 3 places we visited, it is the best place for R&R.

[Voodooman]

hi all,

 

just some updates...reporting from Lake Kenyir.......just one word....beautifully

 

anyway started e trip using first link and departed ard 7am. reached Cherating ard 1130am

 

Day one

Cherating Resort...abit of a let down.....too quiet even though fully booked. went for turtle watching ...great experience....

 

Day two

left cherating at ard 930am and proceed to terengganu for lake kenyir.... reached ard 1130am ..... scenary was beautiful....actually now at lounge area surfing net and listening to two piece live band...great voice.

 

proceeding to cameron highlands tomorrow.

 

cheers

 

I was at Tasik Kenyir on Wednesday, saw a SG PI Accord and a SG Altis at the carpark when we arrived in early afternoon. Tasik Kenyir is really scenic, kayaking on the calm lake in late afternoon is a must-try. We also visited the Soak waterfalls and the herbal garden. The spa is excellent and very reasonably priced with on going promotion. We manged to work out a special all-in package with the resort and it turned out to be a relatively good value 3D2N lake trip, the resort is way overpriced with its published "promotional" room rate.

 

How was the drive from Kenyir to Cameron? Waiting to hear your assessment. Thanks.

[Voodooman]

Just returned from Trengganu this week. Did saw durians at segamat while passing pass there, but i can't confirm if there's the season. But to have a taste of segamat durian, should not be a problem la.... few stalls available.

 

 

Confirmed it is a bumper season, D101 are going for RM5-6 per kg and Cat Mountain King at RM14-17/kg in Segamat. Had so much durian up and down Route 12 we will probably stay away from the fruit for a while. We visited a durian plantation on the way up and I think it is better to buy from road side stalls, there are more competition. Lesson learnt, never "dabao" durians no matter how tempting it is to bring back some of the best Malaysian durians for relatives to taste here in Singapore.

[Jetabout777]

Confirmed it is a bumper season, D101 are going for RM5-6 per kg and Cat Mountain King at RM14-17/kg in Segamat. Had so much durian up and down Route 12 we will probably stay away from the fruit for a while. We visited a durian plantation on the way up and I think it is better to buy from road side stalls, there are more competition. Lesson learnt, never "dabao" durians no matter how tempting it is to bring back some of the best Malaysian durians for relatives to taste here in Singapore.

 

Very informative thread on the East Coast of Malaysia. Certainly appreciate the effort from all for sharing the knowledge to people like me who have not had the chance to venture there yet.

 

Anyway, I was just wondering what was the rationale for not 'dabao-ing' durians?

Edited June 24, 2009 by Jetabout777

[Voodooman]

Very informative thread on the East Coast of Malaysia. Certainly appreciate the effort from all for sharing the knowledge to people like me who have not had the chance to venture there yet.

 

Anyway, I was just wondering what was the rationale for not 'dabao-ing' durians?

 

This forum is certainly very informative, nothing beats field reports written by those who have been there and done that. Do share any new information during your trip so that we can sniff out all the good deals, food, places, etc. in Malaysia.

 

We dabao some durians from Segamat this time round, usually we will eat by the roadside stalls and reject any durians that are not up to standard (agreement with vendors before durian feast). Those we bought back were quite disappointing, they were taken from the same durian basket, my guess is the vendor threw in some bad durians knowing we are Singaporeans and will not "return" them. Hence, although durians are cheaper in Malaysia than in Singapore, one would be better off buying in Singapore and paying more for good durians here. If you are buying the cheaper variants, the above rule may not apply.

Edited June 24, 2009 by Voodooman