(Using the E8 and No. 3 Highway, 464km, Estimated Travel Time: 6 hours 9 mins)

Why Go To Terengganu?

Kuala Terengganu doubles as the largest city and the state capital of Terengganu, Malaysia. It is famous for its long coastline of beaches (244km), tasty Malay food, tropical rainforests ripe for exploration, and a chain of stunning isles. Often visited as a gateway to the extremely popular Redang and Perhentian Islands, Terrenganu is situated 431km away from Kuala Lumpur and the journey there by tarmac includes a few surprising treats along the way for the adventurous road tripper. Driving along the coast will offer drivers a much more scenic route but will take a longer duration to reach Kuala Terengganu as compared to its highway counterpart.

Things To See & Do Along The Way

As the first quarter of the journey uses the same highway as the Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara pathway, side attractions up until the intersection near Temerloh that drivers must take in order reach Taman Negara will not be discussed. Those who wish to examine the attractions can do so by reading the KL to Taman Negara article. Instead, this road trip will start off with a description on the first major detour travellers can opt to take whilst making their way to Terengganu, which happens to be the coastal city of Kuantan.

Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang and is one of the biggest cities along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It features some of the best beaches on the East Coast, not including Malaysia’s islands, and is a great holiday beach city destination for those wishing to stay on the mainland. The two most popular beach areas are Cherating and Teluk Cempedak (Jackfruit Bay).

Teluk Cempedak is a famous beach near the city and has the Hyatt Regency hotel to allow would-be visitors the chance to stay the night should they need a longer period of time to enjoy both the beach and Kuantan city’s other amenities. Water-sports activities reign supreme at Teluk Cempedak and its visitors can always be seen frolicking in the beach’s waters, engaged in one activity or another. Enjoying your meal on the beach is also another favoured option to feel the cool breeze of the ocean whilst enjoying a tasty meal. Those wishing to sample a taste of the local cuisine however can also visit one of the local coffee shops in Teluk Cempedak. Hoi Yin restaurant for example is a place where they supposedly do a fragrant and yummy Curry Noodles.

Further up from Kuantan is the small beach town of Cherating. Another extremely popular beach destination in mainland Malaysia, visitors from as far as Singapore and Thailand drive down to Cherating to enjoy its sunny beaches and seaside amenities. While there is many a beach resort to choose from at Cherating, the clear winner is the Club Med Cherating beach resort. Thanks to its all-inclusive package, various dozens of activities to take part in, and as well as them housing a turtle sanctuary, Club Med will probably be the best choice for those who would like some serenity and pampering. More information on Club Med Cherating can be found here.

Returning back on your journey to Kuala Terengganu, it would be very tempting for travellers to overlook the small fishing town of Dungun, which just so happens to act as the land portal to the small island of Pulau Tenggol. The last notable detour before reaching Terengganu is a forgotten gem amongst the other more popular islands such as Redang and Perhentian.

Tenggol Island might not be as big as its other island siblings and may not house as many facilities, but what it lacks in size it sure makes up for in charm. Tucked away in the clear aquamarine waters of the South China Sea, the isle of Tenggol and its nearby islands offer great opportunities for lovers of underwater life. Teeming with marine life, sharks, rays, and corals are all frequent visitors of Tenggol’s waters.

With so much to offer, it is almost a no-brainer for travellers and adventure seekers alike to hit the road and travel from KL to Kuala Terengganu by car if time permits.

View Road Trip KL-Terengganu in a larger map

Read More:

• What to Pack for A Road Trip in Malaysia
• The Allures of Going on a Kuala Lumpur – Johor Bahru Road Trip
• The Allures of Going on a Kuala Lumpur – Royal Belum State Park Road Trip

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