©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Pahang & Tioman Island% 09 / POP 1.45 MILLION / AREA 36,137 SQ KM Includes ¨ Why Go? Pulau Tioman .......251 For many visitors, a journey to Peninsular Malaysia’s largest Pekan ............. 260 state begins and ends on the enchanted isle of Pulau Tiom- Kuantan ........... 262 an. Between its exhilarating diving, brilliant beaches, gnarly Cherating .......... 265 jungle treks and spirited villages, its tropical-island allure is impossible to resist. Temerloh .......... 268 Pahang’s other big ticket – the primordial jungles of Jerantut ........... 269 Taman Negara National Park – lies tucked up in the state’s Taman Negara .......271 north. Its virgin tracts of rainforest, home to a howling, twit- Kuala Lipis ..........277 tering, trumpeting (and occasionally roaring) rabble of elu- Kenong Rimba sive wildlife, offer a direct connection with nature as nature State Park ..........278 intended it: wild, unrelenting, raw. Between these big acts, you’ll find reggae beach parties Raub ...............279 at the surf-bum centre Cherating, royal splendour in Pekan, wild jungle nights outside Kuala Lipis and Tasik Chini, and plenty of culinary delights, colonial architecture and cultur- al insights. Best Places to Eat ¨ Restoran Ratha Raub (p279) ¨ Ana Ikan Bakar Petai (p264) When to Go ¨ Duyong Restaurant (p268) Endau °C/°F Te mp Rainfall Inches/mm ¨ ABCD Restaurant (p257) 40/104 32/800 30/86 24/600 Best Places to 20/68 16/400 Stay 10/50 8/200 ¨ Swiss Cottage Resort (p255) 0/32 0 J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨ Rainbow Chalets (p257) ¨ Mutiara Taman Negara Jan–Apr The May–Dec Prepare Nov–Feb Monsoon Resort (p275) weather is at its to sweat: the ther- season. Some warmest and mometer hovers places close, ¨ Villa de Fedelia (p267) driest. Crowds are between 21°C and the surf is up in ¨ Coconut Grove (p258) at their peak. 32°C, and humid- Cherating, and ity exceeds 82%. discounts abound. 251 Tasik 0 80 km KELANTAN 0 50 miles Kenyir Rantau Gua Abang Musang Cave Kuala Dungun Taman Gunung Negara 3 Brinchang Tahan TERENGGANU 8 (2187m) Kerteh Tanah Rata Kenong beling Kemasik Ringlet Rimba Kuala Kijal State Park Tem Tahan Kemaman Gunung Chukai Teluk Kalung Tapis Kuala Cherating Chendor Point Sungai (1512m) PERAK Lipis Kuala Benta Gua S O U T H Tembeling Balok Beach Seberang Sungai Charas C H I N A Jerantut Lembing Panching Beserah S E A Raub Sultan Ahmad Fraser's Gunung 64 Teluk Chempedak Shah Airport TIOMAN & PAHANG Hill Benom Kuantan E8 (2107m) 2 3 8 98 Maran Bentong SELANGOR Sungai Pahang Kuala Pahang E8 Mentakab Genting Kampung Tasik Pekan Highlands Lanchang TemerlohBelimbing Chini Karak Sungai Felda Be Triang Chini ba r KUALA 12 LUMPUR 10 Nenasi Tasik Kajang I Klang Bera SLAND NEGERI 63 Pulau Tulai SEMBILAN 11 Sungai Kuala Bahau Rompin Rompin Seremban Kuala Tanjung PU Pilah Gemok Pulau (StraitSelat of MMelaka Endau L Tioman TIO AU 1 Endau-Rompin 3 Gemas Segamat National Park elaka) Tampin Pulau Sungai Labis Endau Besar MELAKA JOHOR Mersing M A N Pahang & Tioman Island Highlights 1 Village hopping, diving, 3 Leaving the tourist track 5 Enjoying amazing food snorkelling and jungle hiking for an expedition from Kuala and day trips to nearby on Pulau Tioman (p251). Lipis to Kenong Rimba beaches and natural areas in 2 Getting wet, muddy State Park (p278). Kuantan (p262). and covered in bug bites in 4 Being stared at by 6 Surfing, snorkelling deep, dark and undeniably curious Pekan (p260) and sand-floored beach- adventurous Taman Negara locals, who find visitors bar partying in footloose (p277). as interesting as we find Cherating (p265). their regal architecture and charming kampung houses. PULAU TIOMAN And then there’s the sea. That gorgeous sea of greens, blues and chartreuse swirls that Sitting like an emerald dragon guarding the beckons you to paddle, snorkel, dive and sail. translucent waters of the South China Sea, At 20km long and 11km wide, the island Tioman Island offers every possible shade of is so spacious that your ideal holiday spot paradise. There are cascading waterfalls, rig- is surely here somewhere. And despite its orous jungle hikes that take you past orange growing popularity, Tioman retains an un- blossoms under an evergreen canopy, and spoiled feel, with pristine wilderness and a wide sampling of laid-back villages that friendly, authentic village life. present a tapestry of cultures and curiosities. .