Houseboat
A night on the water.
Fahmi Rosli — CC BY-SA 4.0 · RoB — CC BY-SA 3.0 · RoB — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Aboh Husna — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fahmi Rosli — CC BY-SA 4.0
A vast man-made lake in the heart of Terengganu's rainforest, formed in 1985 when the Kenyir Dam was built on the Kenyir River, the upper stream of the Terengganu River. It is counted among the largest man-made lakes in Southeast Asia, scattered with hundreds of islands that were once hilltops. Dense old forest surrounds the water, and the lake holds some three hundred species of freshwater fish, drawing anglers and nature lovers. Its best-known spots include Lasir Waterfall, the kelah fish sanctuary where you can swim among the fish in a clear river, Bewah Cave and canopy walkways between the trees. Trips start from Pengkalan Gawi jetty, where you can hire a boat for a day tour or book a stay on a houseboat and sleep on the water for a night or two. Prices vary widely by boat, length of trip and group size, so agree the price in advance or book an organised tour. The area feels the north-east monsoon from about November to March, when activities thin out and some sites such as the kelah sanctuary close, so April to September is the best time. You will need a car from Kuala Terengganu.
A night on the water.
Swim among the fish.
Deep in the forest.
Hulu Terengganu; the gateway is Pengkalan Gawi jetty, about an hour's drive from Kuala Terengganu
It is enough for a boat trip to a waterfall or two, but a night on a houseboat or at a lakeside resort is better, as the drive from Kuala Terengganu alone takes about an hour.