The kid-based activities on offer in Pahang are based around the natural attractions here. There is a cinema and modest shopping mall in Kuantan, but otherwise it’s all about the great outdoors in this part of Malaysia. If your children enjoy the beach, swimming in the sea or exploring jungle forests, then you’ll have no problem finding things for them to do.

Beaches
There are a dozen safe and sandy beaches in Pahang perfect for families. Despite being remote, an impressive array of beach activities can usually be found at the most popular resort beaches. Surfing, sea kayaking, snorkelling and swimming are available along the coast. Sailing is also a popular activity around here, with small catamarans for hire with or without a captain.

Caving
Pahang is littered with limestone caves, many of which have been built up and maintained for use. The Gunung Senyum cave system has at least 20 caverns accessible to the public, making this the ideal place to make forays into the unique environment of caves. Whether your kids find caving exciting or frightening, Gunung Senyum has the best infrastructure for safe explorations, offering even the most timid child a chance to experience these amazing geological wonders.

Horseback Riding
There are a number of areas in Pahang where horseback riding is an established activity. From the highland hill stations to the beaches on the South China Sea coast, many of the region’s tourist spots feature this fun sport. Guides can be hired for trips into the forests, where kids can check out exotic creatures usually relegated to the television screen. Most hotels and resorts can arrange excursions for you.

Horseback Riding
A number of stables offer horseback riding facilities, and several hotels include riding on their guest activities list. This is a sport that everyone in the family can enjoy, with seasoned stable hands present to train and guide you and your children.

Jungle Trekking
Malaysia’s oldest rainforests are located in Pahang, and the best place to explore them in safety is at Taman Negara, the region’s largest nature park. The wealth of exotic plants, trees and wildlife rarely fail to impress kids. Most hotels and resorts in Pahang can arrange a trek into the jungle, complete with a guide, food and accommodation. What safaris are to Africa, rainforest treks are to Malaysia, so don’t miss this special opportunity to expose your children to a more primal side of our planet.

Pahang has a fair amount of cultural attractions, many of which are incorporated into the natural world in one way or another. Due to the remoteness of the region, most of these activities are not particularly well-established or situated in modern facilities, but this is precisely what gives them their adventurous feel, attracting travellers who enjoy something more interactive than museums and ruins.

Cameron Highlands
This cool and refreshing area of hill stations was created by the British during their colonial days and is now one of Malaysia’s premier travel destinations. There are several excellent resorts in the green hills, offering visitors a place to stay while they explore the outposts and old buildings such as Ye Olde Smokehouse, which has been preserved exactly as it looked when the British were stationed here. Vegetable farms, tea plantations, Robinson Waterfall and the Rose Garden are just some of the highlights waiting in the Cameron Highlands.

Gua Charah
Also known as the Pancing Caves, this cluster of caverns to the north of Kuantan are among the most fascinating in the country due to the spiritual intensity which permeates the site. Gua Charah is home to one of the most revered Buddhist sanctuaries in Southeast Asia, serving as a place for monks and nuns to meditate in isolation. Visitors are allowed to explore some of the caves and surrounding canyons at their leisure, one of which contains a massive reclining Buddha which is worth the visit alone. An elderly monk oversees the place to protect the privacy of the meditating monks and to direct visitors to the open caves.

Jalan Besar
For a dose of urban culture, check out the colourful street of Jalan Besar in Pahang’s capital city Kuantan. Local food specialties are sold along the street, which is lined with a decent number of handicraft and souvenir shops. There’s nothing else like Jalan Besar in the state, so if you find yourself in Kuantan don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in some authentic Pahang ambiance.

Orang Asi
Nestled in the hills beyond Kuala Rompin in the southern corner of Pahang, a group of tribal aboriginals named the Orang Asi still live a traditional life which hasn’t changed in centuries. These hunters and gatherers are rather shy, but visitors can hire a guide for a trip to one of their settlements for the anthropological experience of a lifetime. Nenasi is the best place to arrange a trek to the Orang Asi village known as Kampung Ulu Serai, where you can meet some of these fascinating tribal people.

Pekan
If you are a real history and culture buff, you won’t want to miss a trip to the Royal City of Pekan. Considered more exotic and engaging than Kuantan by some, this is the traditional home of the Sultan of Pahang, who resides in a stunning Malay-style palace. Visitors can check out the luxurious grounds of the sultan and soak in the tranquil atmosphere of this regal town.

State Museum
Despite its obtusely bland name, this is the main cultural museum in the state of Pahang. The facility is more interesting than its title suggests, offering visitors the best insight into the history and culture of Pahang and its royal sultanate. Displays contain artefacts from the royal family, the many colonising powers who tried to rule Pahang, old photographs and other treats including treasures recovered from sunken Chinese junks (ships). The museum is located on Jalan Sultan Ahmad in Kuantan.

One of the pleasures of travelling through Pahang state is the amazing variety of food available. Malaysian cuisine is by nature spicy and flavourful, and influenced by the many cultures that live in the country. In addition to local Malay dishes, visitors will find ample and authentic choices among the Chinese and Indian communities who have lived in the country for centuries. Both northern and southern Indian dishes can be found around the state, as well as Cantonese, Szechuan and Hokkien specialties. Dedicated foodies will find themselves in culinary heaven.

The staple food in Pahang and the rest of Malaysia is rice. Although rice is usually steamed and served alongside dishes, occasionally sticky rice can be found with some Malaysian specialties such as satay. Rice is also used as a component in a number of Malaysian dishes like nasi lemak, where the rice is slowly simmered in coconut milk and then eaten with traditional spicy anchovy sauce, peanuts, cucumber slices and a hard-boiled egg.

Satay, small pieces of meat skewered on bamboo or palm leaf sticks then barbecued over an open flame, is another major highlight of eating in Pahang. Just as delicious as the meat is the accompanying spicy-sweet peanut sauce. Pickled cucumber and onion slices round off the experience. The Indians round off the dining experience in Pahang with signature dishes such as nasi briyani, a rich and creamy dish from the Moghul province infused with savoury spices.

Another treat on hand around Pahang is dim sum, tasty Chinese snacks which come in a bewildering array of flavours, shapes and styles. Don’t miss any opportunity to stop in an authentic dim sum café and feast until you’re full. Noodle and stir-fry dishes are also excellent choices at Chinese restaurants. Seafood from the South China Sea finds its way onto many menus. It’s particularly fresh in Kuantan and other beachside resort towns, where ikan baker, simple grilled fish, is a local favourite.

In between meals, indulge yourself in the bounty of exotic tropical fruit which grows all through Pahang. Most of the fruits are seasonal, ensuring that something strange and tasty will be in season during your visit. Despite the smelly aroma, the creamy texture and flavour of durian makes it a delicacy of the region.

Your resort or hotel may provide a convenient and reliable source of food. Otherwise, there are plenty of street-side food stalls and local cafés in towns such as Kuantan. Prices are very affordable meaning dining out is one area where you can really loosen your purse strings.

The shopping in Pahang is more limited than the dining options. Handicrafts make up the bulk of worthwhile purchases, and there are some real gems here for the taking. Wood carvings, batik, silk, and songket, exquisite traditional hand-woven silver and gold brocaded fabric, are all of the highest quality and make for excellent buys. Karyaneka, something like a chain store, showcases Pahang handicrafts and can be found in the towns of Cherating, Sungai Karang and Teluk Chempedak.

In Kuantan, the Teruntum Complex is the closest thing you’ll find in Pahang to a modern shopping mall. A cinema, bowling alley, and food court round out the number of shops which feature utilitarian items. If you fancy taking home some silk textiles, the Pahang Silk Weaving Centre in Pekan is perhaps the best place to find what you want. For batik fabric, head to Beserah where the Batik Cottage not only sells beautiful pieces but also shows visitors how this unique wax-printed fabric is created. Mats and other woven items made from local pandan leaf also make wonderful souvenirs and can be found all over the region.

Pahang is a major outdoor recreation destination, with most travellers coming here for the beaches, islands, and jungle. This wealth of outdoor activities ranges from sailing and scuba diving to mountain climbing and horseback riding. Since the industry is still being developed here, facilities and the selection of tour agencies can be limited.

Beaches
There are some wonderful, quiet beaches along Pahang’s eastern coast where visitors can get active or simply lie on the sand and enjoy the sun and surf. Teluk Chempedak, five kilometres north of Kuantan, is one of the best-developed beaches offering a range of water sports such as kayaking and sailing. Balok is the beach to go for windsurfing, while Batu Hitam’s black sand has yet to be fully discovered. Head to Beserah for a fishing village feel to go with your sand.

Golf
Golf continues to increase in popularity around Pahang as more well-heeled travellers explore the region. Malaysia in general has some of the most beautiful courses in Asia, and Pahang is picking up on the interest. The best place to hit the links is at the Bukit Tinggi Golf and Country Club in hilly Bentong. Phone: +60 9 288 8890.

Sailing
Sailing in many forms is a popular recreation activity along Pahang’s coast. Local fishermen are starting to see the benefits of taking visitors out on their small catamarans for jaunts around the sea, while more serious yachting options exist around Kuantan.

Trekking
Pahang is home to some of Malaysia’s finest trekking. The most popular treks move though the amazing Taman Negara rainforests, where exotic wildlife and massive trees are the highlights. Gentler walks can be done all over the hill station country in Cameron and Genting, while adventure-seekers can climb the towering Gunung Tahan.

White-water Rafting
For extreme sports enthusiasts, the Telom Descent is considered one of the world’s wildest river rides. Starting in the village of Tiat, this river route passes through some of Malaysia’s most stunning virgin rainforest as its covers rapids ranging from level two to four.