Kelantan Activities

Children who love playing at the beach and exploring nature have the makings for a great holiday in Kelantan. There are jungle treks here where you can spot native animals or hike to waterfalls and beaches where water activities are abundant.

Beaches
There’s a huge variety in seashore activities to choose from in Kelantan, with something to delight children no matter what they like to do at the beach. From putting on a pair of goggles and looking at underwater life to hiring small catamarans, the beaches here offer it all. Even for youngsters who aren’t competent at swimming, small fish and other marine life are visible in the shallow waters. An afternoon of building sand castles and enjoying the lovely blue skies and ever-present Malaysian sun can be great fun for the whole family.

Kuala Krai Museum and Mini Zoo
In the village of Kuala Krai, approximately 44 miles from the state capital Kota Bharu, families can enjoy both the small museum and zoo that celebrate Kelantan wildlife. At the museum you’ll see collections of preserved wildlife and photography exhibits documenting the founding of Kuala Krai. The mini zoo features local animal life including bears, birds, deer and monkeys among other animals.

Waterfalls
The forests of Kelantan boast a number of stunning waterfalls that make for great spots to take the family on a picnic and for kids to play in the rock pools. You’ll find most of the easily accessible falls in the Pasir Puteh district, around 20 miles from Kota Bharu.

Kelantan’s capital city Kota Bharu is the best place in the state to visit to experience traditional regional culture and crafts. Although a small city, it is a bustling place where transportation is still provided on brightly-decorated trishaws. Numerous attractions here await visitors.

Central Market Kota Bharu
This colourful shopping venue is the ideal place to soak up some of the region’s culture and see locals engage in their daily lives. The ground floor is the place to haggle over fresh seafood and vegetables, while other floors trade in handicrafts, spices and brassware. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs.

Gelanggang Seni
A range of traditional Kelantanese folk activities are showcased at the Cultural Centre, also known as Gelanggang Seni. Activities that can be observed here include bird-singing competitions, kite-flying, the spinning of spinning tops, drum playing, martial arts and shadow puppetry. The Cultural Centre is located just outside Kota Bharu on Jalan Mahmood.

Handicraft Village and Craft Museum
One of the best places to find quality handicrafts from Kelantan, which include batik, silverware and wood carvings, is the Handicraft Village. Located in the city’s main historic zone, along Jalan Hilir Kota and Jalan Sultan, you’ll find a crafts museum here as well as other historic buildings and museums.

Istana Jahar
This museum, dedicated to royal customs and traditions, was built by Sultan Muhammad II in the late 19^th century. Originally constructed for the sultan’s grandson Long Kundur, the palace now houses a museum of Kelantan’s cultural history. You’ll see intricate wood carvings in the building’s interior that demonstrate the long history of wood craftsmanship in Kelantan. Artefacts, exhibits and photographs from the area’s rich cultural heritage make this museum well worth a visit.

Islamic Museum
The history of Islam in Kelantan is documented at the Islamic Museum in Kota Bharu. Exhibits here include Islamic fine arts and crafts that are of historic significance, as well as a collection of photographs of items that are said to be the belongings of the Prophet Mohammad and of various religious sites.

Kampung Blok Ulu Kusial Homestay
A homestay is a cultural activity that will immerse you in the daily life of villagers as they go about their work tapping rubber trees, fishing and husking rice. When the work is finished, you’ll join them in leisure activities that might include a waterfall visit, enjoying traditional percussion sounds, listening to impromptu rhythmic singing or watching as village men perform silat, a Malay form of self-defence.

Kelantan State Museum and Art Gallery
From the colonial period through 1990, this building housed the Land Office. In the early 1990s, major renovations were made and the structure was converted into a museum. Special exhibits at the Kelantan State Museum focus on traditional arts, crafts and music. There are displays of artefacts of ceramics from the time of the early relationship with China as well as of other artefacts from sites found along the Nenggiri River. Phone: +60 9 748 2266.

Kelantan cuisine boasts some unique and tasty dishes. Specialties include rice-based dishes such as nasi ayam percik, nasi dagang and nasi kerabu. A particular local favourite is ayam percik, which is a type of barbecued chicken that’s been marinated in a spicy coconut sauce. Nasi dagang uses a type of rice that has a light brown colour, which is steamed in coconut milk and then served with a sauce made with fish.

Dining most anywhere in Kelantan can be a pleasant experience, and the capital offers a good selection of options for visitors. If you’re in the mood for Chinese food, you’ll find Kota Bharu’s Chinatown where Jalan Padang Garong intersects with Jalan Pengkalan Chepa. You might want to try the traditional Chinese noodle dishes that are so popular here. If you’d like to try some delicious Malaysian fare in an outdoor setting, there are reasonably priced food stalls at Padang Bas, in the centre, that are open from 18:00 to midnight.

For visitors in search of quality traditional handicrafts, Kelantan is a shopping haven. Shops offer up a wide assortment of traditional handicrafts and Thai goods that merchants bring in from across the border. You’ll find beautiful batik scarves, silk kaftans, silver jewellery and rich weavings. There are also baskets of all sizes, shapes and colours, and placemats and handbags that are woven from mengkuang. You’ll find excellent bargains, particularly if you remember that prices are negotiable at the various markets and bazaars.

The Kota Bharu Central Market is the place to go for some of the best variety in local goods, and for a memorable cultural experience. Located in the city centre, the octagonal-shaped building houses three floors of merchandise including fresh fish and meat on the ground level and spices, souvenirs and traditional batik upstairs. Credit cards aren’t accepted here, so remember to bring cash and your best negotiating skills.

Kelantan is a great destination for outdoor activities. You’ll find plenty of beaches to enjoy, great spots for snorkelling and diving and jungles to explore. If you’re fond of golf, there’s an excellent course available. Those who want to try their hand at something different can have a go at silat, the Malay art of self-defence without weapons.

Diving
Some of the best scuba diving in the world is on offer in the tropical waters off Kelantan. The sites include vast coral gardens and walls, WWII shipwrecks and spots where whale sharks can be seen. Visibility is phenomenal, sometimes extending more than 100 feet.

Golf
Many visitors come to Kelantan to play golf and the state boasts courses of excellent standards, some of which are internationally-acclaimed. About seven miles from Kota Bharu, not far from the Thai border, the Kelantan Golf & Country Club has a relatively flat, well maintained course. The club is a quiet, relaxing spot to play amid the natural beauty that you’ll find in Kelantan.

Jungle Trekking
Exploring the jungle is usually high on the list of things to do for visitors to Kelantan. The rain forests here rank as some of the oldest and most unique on earth. Guided tours are available at national parks. In the parks you’ll encounter rare and unusual insects and mammals, gigantic trees and the world's largest flower.

River Cruising
A cruise on the Kelantan River is a must for visitors interested in seeing the rainforest environment from a different perspective. The beauty and diversity in wildlife will capture your attention as you make your way upriver from Kuala Krai to Dabong. Cruises begin at Kuala Krai, which is approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes to the south of Lota Baru.

Silat
This fascinating, traditional art of self-defence without weapons has been practiced throughout the region for centuries. Having the appearance of a dance rather than a form of fighting, this martial art has more to do with disciplining the spirit than the body. Practitioners strengthen their spiritual reserve according to Islamic teachings. This is an activity that you can enjoy watching, but classes are also available for those who’d like to learn more about the techniques involved.

Spelunking
In addition to large areas covered by dense rainforest, the national parks here have also been blessed with significant systems of limestone caves. Guided tours of the caves are available at many parks, with levels of penetration into the depths varying.

White Water Rafting
Depending on the timing of your visit, the rivers in the Kelantan area might be slow-moving and tranquil or fast-moving. For those in search of an exhilarating experience, the rapids can be negotiated by raft. During stretches that are less frenzied, there’s plenty of wildlife and exquisite rainforest to observe on the banks as you pass by.