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% 06, 07 / POP 3.3 MILLION / AREA 19,984 SQ KM

Includes  Why Go? . . . . 236 Johor is ’s most populous state and a growing eco- ...... 241 nomic power player. Most travel itineraries skip it, but those ...... 242 who stray into the southern gateway to Malaysia will be rewarded with the blissful solitude of its postcard-perfect Seribuat Archipelago. . . . . 245 islands and wild jungles, while getting access to a taste of authentic Malaysian culture and character not easily found -Rompin in bigger tourist hot spots. National Park . . . . 247 The top draw is without a doubt the ridiculously gorgeous white sand islands of the Seribuat Archipelago, where you’ll find world-class diving, lost-beach trails and plenty of re- laxation time with a fraction of Tioman’s crowds. Inland, Best Outdoor Endau-Rompin­ National Park offers the same rich flora, Adventures very elusive fauna (rhinos! elephants!) and swashbuckling action that visitors flock to experience at Taman Negara in ¨¨Upeh Guling & Buaya Pahang, but can get here in a more pristine setting. Sangkut Falls (p248) And then there’s Johor Bahru, the working-class capital ¨¨Pulau Tinggi (p246) with a handful of worthwhile religious sites and museums ¨¨Takah Berangin & Takah that plays sister-city to neighbouring . Pandan Falls (p249) ¨¨Pulau Sibu (p246) When to Go ¨¨Gunung Ledang (p242) Johor Bahru °C/°F Te mp Rainfall Inches/mm 40/104 32/800

Best Places to 30/86 24/600

Stay 20/68 16/400 ¨¨Rimba Resort (p246) 10/50 8/200 ¨¨Thistle Johor Bahru (p239) 0/32 0 ¨¨Rawa Island Resort (p246) J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Mirage Island Resort (p245) Nov–Feb The Mar–May Visibil- Jun–Jul Pulau monsoon season ity in Seribuat’s Besar closes ¨ ¨ (p249) brings bargain already translu- for Expedition deals, rain and cent waters is at Robinson. Expect bugs. Surfers head its best for diving high temperatures to Rawa for rollers. and snorkelling. everywhere. - Pulau (6km) 89 (10km) Pulau Teluk Mahkota Pemanggil Tioman Pulau Aur & Pulau Pulau Dayang Pulau Sibu Tinggi Tanjung Seribuat Archipelago Belungkur Tulai Pulau Pulau Besar 92 Pulau Rawa hor Seribuat Pulau ai Jo

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Melaka (40km) sensational waterfalls of of waterfalls sensational National Endau-Rompin hiking after (p247) Park jungle. dense through backstreets and ornate and ornate backstreets 3 2 Johor Johor Highlights 1 beach bumming to the max the max to bumming beach Archipelago in the Seribuat (p245). 07 / POP 1,371,000 POP / 07 NEGERI Ledang Gunung Seremban (100km); (165km) (1276m) SEMBILAN branding itself. branding

After years of being criticised as a dirty, After dirty, as a being criticised of years of city capital Johor’s border town, chaotic Bahru (JB for short) has been repaved Johor to re on the way and is well and replanted Johor Bahru %

Johor Bahru

Johor 236