Located about 50 km away from Kuantan, Pahang’s state capital, Cherating is the perfect remedy for frantic living and city life.
First popularised by backpackers, many visitors both local and international now regularly come to Cherating to enjoy the sun, sea and beach.
The white sandy beaches of Cherating are beautiful, complementing the peaceful atmosphere of the Malay town and the gentle sea breeze
First popularized by the backpackers, Cherating is now popular with many visitors who came to enjoy the beach, sea and sun. Handicraft shops and cultural establishments have been established, and many visitors enjoy making their own batiks. Batik painting and pandanus handicrafts remain popular souvenirs from Cherating.
Cherating also offers you the chance to shop for handicraft and see cultural performances. Village maidens nimbly weave the "pandanus" leaves into mats, hats, bags and other inexpensive lightweight souvenirs. Cultural shows include wayang kulit (shadow play) and silat (the Malay art of self-defence).
Where To Stay In Cherating
Picturesque Cherating with its charming Malay-village seaside scenery and wealth of local culture is the perfect getaway for those wishing to enjoy a little down time on the beach. With a wealth of accommodation to complement your perfect little getaway trip, Cherating has some fabulous options from luxury resorts such as Holiday Villa Beach Resort to affordable yet highly-comfortable chalets and beach houses.
Accommodation
In terms of accommodation, there is a wide range of resorts and chalets to cater for visitors. Of prominent note in Cherating is the establishment of Asia’s first Club Med.
However, there are plenty of other great places to stay with beautiful landscapes, first-class facilities and a piece of nice beach to each.
Cultural
The role of culture is important, it shows the customs, arts, civilization and achievements of a particular time or people. Spiritual strength depends on the strength of the culture. Over the years, many mini markets, stalls and art galleries have mushroomed all over Cherating.
Cultural performances are frequently held at these places for the benefit of tourists. Visitors can also shop for cultural souvenirs and handicrafts such as batik, a fabric woven with silk and intricate patterns.
Cultural shows include shadow play (Wayang Kulit) and martial art displays of Silat. The market place in Kemaman is a good area to shop for flowers and fruits.
Cherating Cultural Complex (Kampung Budaya Cherating)
Address: Cherating Cultural Complex, (Kompleks Budaya Cherating), Kampung Cherating Lama, 26080 Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA.
Tel : 006-013-9502793 / 006-09-5819446
Operation Hour: 9am - 4pm
Activities in Cherating
BOAT RIDE
A relaxed cruise down the Cherating river is the ideal way to spend an afternoon and get a glimpse of life within the rich vegetation of the area. The river twists and turns through mangrove forests, home to creatures such as monitor lizards, monkeys, snakes and numerous tropical birds. In the river itself, you may be lucky enough to spot otters or terrapins.
FIREFLY WATCHING.
Nowadays you seldom see a firefly in the air but here you can see it flying all over you.Firefly, one of the fascinating beetle that abound in Malaysia at one time and is now fast disappearing due to the fast pace of development. Fortunately, there are still firefly to be seen in Cherating river.
The two locations where visitors can go to are Cherating river and Yakyah river in the district of Kemaman. The mangrove trees called "berembang trees" by the local grow along the riverbanks of Cherating river. These are the trees where the fireflies or "kelip kelip" in the local language stay and feed on its leaves. During the day, they retreat to the grasses near the mangrove trees.
When night falls, the fireflies will feed on the nectar of the leaves and attract mates with their synchronised flashing green light. The thorax of the insect produces a green grow that flashes at a frequency of 1/3 Hz, or 3 flashes in one second. Each of the berembang tree has different groups of fireflies and each group has flashes that are synchronized.
The fireflies found here is from the "Pteroptye tener" species and is about 6cm in length. They have a lifespan of about 2-3 months.
Cruising Along The River
The best time to visit is after nightfall at approximately 7:30pm to 7:45pm. It is also advisable to go when it is not full moon and not during raining evening. Usually the place is quite packed during the weekends hence try to go during weekdays. One should take note that once the kelip kelip has found its mate, the flashing would stop, usually by 11.00 pm. Make sure that you do not go too late as the activity was start from 7:30pm and closes at 10:30pm.
TURTLE
For a taste of nature, visit the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary in Chendor a centre for studying sea-turtles and their conservation.
During certain times in the year,April until Septhember you can come here to watch Green Turtles waddle up the beach to nest.
There are a few types of turtle coming ashore on Cherating beaches:
GREEN TURTLE (CHELONIA MYDAS) :
It can grow up to one meter and weigh about 135–170 kg. Eat vegetables, sea-grass and algae. It lays between 80–150 eggs at one time. In Pahang this species is the most common of all those coming ashore, accounting for about 90% of all the turtles.
LEATHERBACK TURTLE( DERMOCHELYS) :
It is the biggest species in the world and can grow up to two meters. Most of its life is spent searching for food in cold deep seas. It can lay eggs 4–5 times per season with 60–10 eggs each time.
HAWKSBILL TURTLE (ERETMOCHELYS) :
This turtle has a beak that is similar to the beak of an eagle. It can grow up to 70–80 cm long. It prefers sea that has coral reefs. It is the most beautiful among all the turtles. It can lay up to 150 eggs.
Cherating Turtle Sanctuary
The sanctuary at Pantai Chendor is recognized as a turtle hatching site, where turtles are able to come ashore and lay eggs. The research centre provides information, education and research on turtles. Under the supervision of the Fisheries Department with the support of the Pahang State Government, it opened to the public in 1998. It is located at chendor, just north of Cherating beach, Pahang.
Location: Just beside Club Med Cherating
Tel: +6 09 581 9087
Operation Hour:
Tuesdays to Sundays : 9am to 1pm, 2pm to 5:30pm
(The lunch break is from 1pm to 2pm. The centre is closed on Mondays.)
Fridays: 9am to 12:00pm, 3pm to 5:30pm
(The centre is closed from 12pm to 3pm for Friday prayer)
Night Visiting Tour: 7:30pm to 7:30am
SNORKELING AT SNAKE ISLAND
Just off the coast of Cherating, Pulau Ular (Snake Island) is a popular spot for snorkelling and picnics. Despite the name, you need not be afraid of snakes, but keep your eyes open for the colourful coral and the tropical fish that make their home in the water here. Snorkelling equipment is usually included but make sure to pack your own picnic lunch!
GUA CHARAS.
Cherating’s proximity means you can enjoy both the sights and sounds of Kuantan at the same time. There’s a cave called Gua Charas which is located at Panching on the Sungai Lembing road, a short distance away from Cherating.
SG. PANDAN WATERFALL
Sungai Pandan Waterfalls, situated about 25 km from Kuantan, Pahang, is a popular picnic and recreational location for Kuantan dwellers and those staying in the surrounding areas.
The beautiful cascading waterfalls and the cool, slightly light green (color of pandanus plants - the reason for the name) and clear waters forming the streams along sandy soil amidst verdant jungle surroundings make for an attractive getaway for city dwellers to relax and pass away the time, especially during weekends.
The Sungai Pandan ("Pandan River") Waterfalls is part of the Sungai Pandan Forest Reserve ("Hutan Lipur Sungai Pandan") that encompasses an area of about 25 hectares. This forest reserve, an untouched treasure, is home to several species of tropical trees including a few species of the pitcher plants.
