Kenyir Lake and lush tropical rainforests are located in Malaysia. The region’s stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity have earned it international renown.
At 260 square kilometers in size, Kenyir Lake is much more than a mere body of water; it is also the habitat of numerous animals. On this all-inclusive holiday, indulge in exciting outdoor excursions, learn about the local culture, and discover the hidden treasures of Kenyir Lake.
Kenyir Lake: What Is It?
The biggest artificial lake in Southeast Asia is Kenyir Lake, which is also called Tasik Kenyir. Its location in Malaysia’s Terengganu state is ideal. In the 1980s, the Sultan Mahmud Hydroelectric Power Project dammed the Kenyir River to create Kenyir Lake and harness the water’s power for electricity.
Over more than 260 square kilometers, the reservoir has a diverse range of ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to islands and canals. The lush hills adorned with rainforest, the limestone cliffs, and the waterfalls that cascade into Kenyir Lake make for a spectacular sight.
The abundant flora and fauna of Kenyir Lake are as remarkable as its picturesque scenery. Freshwater fish, birds, and animals abound in the lake and its environs, which support a wide variety of plant and animal life.
Many people now go to Kenyir Lake for ecotourism and other outdoor activities. Fishing, boating, kayaking, jungle trekking, and wildlife watching are just a few of the activities that visitors can choose from.
Kenyir Lake isn’t just a natural wonder; it also offers cultural activities, such as tours to Orang Asli villages and meals at floating restaurants, that complement its natural beauty.
Kenyir Lake is a paradise for those who enjoy spending time in nature, seeking adventure, or just taking in Malaysia’s breathtaking scenery.
Setting
There is an artificial lake known as Lake Kenyir that may be found in the state of Terengganu. It was constructed in 1985 with the intention of damming the Kenyir River in order to supply power to the Sultan Mahmud Power Station.
Some claim that it is the largest lake in the world, while others think that it is the largest lake that humans have ever created in Southeast Asia.
With over 300 little islands, over 14 waterfalls, and a multitude of rivers, the lake encompasses a total area of approximately 260 square kilometers. As a result of the fact that the water level is at its peak in March, that month is the most ideal time to come.
Vacation Homes In The Lake Kenyir Area
There are many great lodges and resorts in Kenyir, but the largest and most popular, with 135 chalets, is Lake Kenyir Resort. In addition to Lake Kenyir Resort, the following resorts are available to you:
Petang Island Resort, Kelah Rakit Resort, Tanjong Mentong Resort, Uncle John Resort, Musang Kenyir Resort, Lake Land Resort, and the Federal Government Resort.
At Lake Kenyir Resort, you may enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the lake from the chalet’s veranda. The views of the lake at sunrise and sunset are particularly spectacular. For me, there are no better photo ops than just after daybreak, when the sky is blanketed in low-hanging clouds.
Guide To Kenyir Lake
There is still a demand for tourists to visit Lake Kenyir. Although this will surely improve in the not-too-distant future (the lake has been substantially busier with each visit), it currently requires more work to organize a reasonably priced tour. When a certain minimum number of people come on a tour, you are responsible for paying for the entire boat. The total cost of the ship may be divided among the passengers when there are fewer people on board.
You should make reservations in advance at Lake Kenyir Resort or one of the smaller tour companies in Pengkalan Gawi if you are interested in going on a trip. Other options include. After that, the tour guides will indicate the number of guests that they can anticipate with regard to their trips on the subsequent day or days. Fortunately for us, other individuals wanted the same tour as us, and we asked them to get in touch with us so that they could let us know about the situation.
Only one resort gets five stars, and that resort is the Lake Kenyir Resort, which is located next to Lake Kenyir. Reservations are not usually necessary; nevertheless, there are times when the entire resort might be rented owing to a large-scale team-building event (in which the entire company stays at the resort).
Getting a houseboat for a few nights on Lake Kenyir requires first making a trip to Pengkalan Gawi, which is the first stage in the process.
You won’t find any supermarkets at Lake Kenyir; instead, you’ll discover a few modest shops selling essential items.
Different Ways To Get To Lake Kenyir
Lake Kenyir is about 65 kilometers away from Kuala Terengganu and its Sultan Mahmud Airport. A taxi ride from the airport to Kenyir should take about an hour. Any taxi from the airport will take you straight to Kenyir. If you have a ticket at the well-known Lake Kenyir Resort, you can set up a resort pickup. If you include or don’t include a pickup in your plan, the RM90 one-way transfer fee may change.
Plane route
Airlines like Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Firefly all offer daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu. During some sales, a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu can be bought for as little as RM0 (the only cost would be the processing fee). But most of the time, it costs between RM50 and RM90 per person. Even though Malaysia Airlines’ Get-the-Deal isn’t as good as AirAsia’s, you shouldn’t pay much attention to it either.
Car
You could also rent a car and drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kenyir, which is about 500 kilometers away and takes about 6 to 7 hours. You can pick up your Hawk Malaysia right next to Suria KLCC on Jalan Pinang, so they’re a good choice if you’re staying in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. From Hawk, you can rent a regular car for as little as RM100 per day. They even rent GPS units. We always go to Hawk Malaysia to rent a car in Malaysia.
On the bus
Instead, you can take a bus from Kuala Lumpur. Every day at 9:00 and 21:00, buses leave from Hentian Putra Bus Station for Kuala Terengganu. The fare is RM44.10. Every day, there are two bus trips from Gawi Point on Lake Kenyir to Kuala Lumpur. The trip takes around 12 hours to finish. A route also leaves from Alor Setar, which is close to Langkawi and goes to Kuala Terengganu via the Cameron Highlands and Lake Kenyir. This route costs about RM55.30.
Must-Do Activities At Lake Kenyir
Exploring Waterfalls
Falls that are both beautiful and plentiful abound near Lake Kenyir. The more manageable waterfalls, such as Tembat, Saok, and Lasir, are perfect for a leisurely boat ride. You can swim at the white-foamy bottoms of Soak and Lasir Falls; they’re close to the charming Pengkalan Gawi hamlet, where you can experience local culture and get a breathtaking view of several islands in Lake Kenyir.
Pleasure Fishing
People from all over the world flock to Lake Kenyir to go fishing. You may only get your fishing license at the Tourism Information Centre on Gawi Jetty between 9 am and 5 pm, and it costs about RM10 per person. Saturday through Wednesday, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, Thursday and Friday—With 300 different types of fish inhabiting the rivers and tributaries of Kenyir, even a novice fisherman should have no trouble getting their money’s worth. If you want to catch the most fish at Lake Kenyir, the ideal times to fish are between 4:00 and 9:00 in the evening or between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning. The greatest sites to fish at are Cacing, Petuang, Saok, and Leban.
Exploring Caverns
Those looking for a little extra adventure while visiting Lake Kenyir can join a guided tour of the area’s beautiful caverns. Bewah and Taat are the two caves that visitors to Lake Kenyir go to see the most. Stunning stalactites are only one of the geological wonders found in Taat. However, the area is also home to a plethora of bats and tiger spiders, which could put off some tourists.
Bewah cave, in contrast to Taat, is accessible year-round and houses some of the most remarkable prehistoric artifacts found in Malaysia. Bewah Man, a 160,000-year-old human skeleton, was found in this cave and is now known to be the oldest skeleton ever found in Malaysia. Bewah Cave is home to bats and all sorts of creepy crawlies, so any prospective tourist should know that.
Meeting Elephants
If you prefer bugs and ancient caves, check out the elephant sanctuary in Sungai Ketiar, which is close by and has plenty of interesting things to see and do. Guests are welcome to feed the elephants and, if they feel so inclined, help out with the daily tasks around the sanctuary (but only in the mornings). Elephant rides are sometimes available at 4 pm, though this is only sometimes assured. The elephant sanctuary is accessible from most lodgings in Lake Kenyir and is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
Environment Trekking
Environment Trekking Near Lake Kenyir, you can see more than just elephants. Birds, butterflies, and reptiles of every hue inhabit the verdant jungle edges. Nesting among the foliage is also the home of the renowned banana-beaked hornbills. From most lakeside resorts, you can arrange for jungle hiking, and the routes pass through places with great vistas and plenty of time to smell the tropical air.
Lake Kenyir offers the perfect blend of the untamed, hot environment of Malaysia with the peaceful relaxation of a lakeside retreat. Although it doesn’t seem natural at first glance, this wonder perfectly exemplifies how industrial activity and biological serenity can coexist to produce an attraction that offers the best of both worlds.
Exciting Outdoor Trips
Outdoor enthusiasts and thrill seekers will find an abundance of thrilling activities at Kenyir Lake to quench their hunger for adventure. Experience the rainforest up close and personal by kayaking through its winding waterways while dodging exotic plants and animals. Another option is to rent a motorboat and sail across the lake at top speed, taking in the scenery as you stop to explore private beaches and coves.
Visitors to Kenyir Lake often go jungle trekking, following one of the several paths that wind through the area’s untouched tropical forests. Joining a guided hike increases the likelihood of seeing endemic plant and animal species, breathtaking waterfalls, and other natural wonders.
Protection And Long-Term Viability
Maintaining Kenyir Lake’s undisturbed natural beauty for the sake of future generations is our top priority as stewards of this ecological gem. The delicate ecology of the lake and the jungles around it can only be protected if tourists act responsibly by reducing their impact on the environment and lending their support to green causes.
Protecting endangered species, restoring damaged ecosystems, and raising community environmental education and awareness are the goals of community-based conservation programs that work in tandem with local stakeholders and conservation groups. Visitors can help ensure that Kenyir Lake and its priceless natural resources are protected for future generations by taking part in these programs.
Biodiversity And Wildlife
Kenyir Lake is home to many species of freshwater fish, including the famous Kelah and Toman, making it an ideal habitat for biodiversity. The allure of reeling in such highly sought-after creatures draws anglers from all over the globe to the lake in pursuit of the ideal catch.
The aquatic life of Kenyir Lake is fascinating, but there is more it has to offer. From nimble monkeys soaring through the trees to stealthy jungle cats lurking in the thicket, the neighboring jungles are teeming with wildlife. Rare and indigenous species, such as hornbills, kingfishers, and soaring eagles, will be visible, much to the joy of birdwatchers.
Kenyir Lake is a paradise that is just waiting to be discovered, as it provides a perfect combination of spectacular natural scenery, exciting recreational activities, and insightful cultural encounters. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for excitement in the middle of the forest or peace at the water’s edge; Kenyir Lake has something to offer everyone. Therefore, gather your belongings, set out on an adventure that will live long in the memory, and immerse yourself in the marvels of Kenyir Lake, a genuine jewel in the crown of Malaysia’s natural heritage.