Luxury Hotels in Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu

Tasik Kenyir or Kenyir Lake is an artificial lake located in Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia created in 1985 by the damming of the Kenyir River. The lake provides water to the Sultan Mahmud Power Station. It is the largest man-made lake in South East Asia with an area of 260,000 hectares. Kenyir Lake is also home to numerous species of freshwater fishes and exotic wildlife. With a water catchment area of 38,000 hectares, the lake is naturally a haven for freshwater fish. A recent study revealed that there are some 300 species of freshwater fish dwelling in the lake. The presence of dead trees around the lake serves as a perfect breeding ground for these fishes. Algae growing on dead trees and branches serve as the main form of sustenance for the fishes. From studies and observations conducted by the Department of Fisheries, species such as the big Lampam Sungai (barboides), Kelah (Malayan mahseer or Tor tambroides), Toman (snakehead), Kawan (Friendly Barb), Kalui (Giant Gouramy) and Kelisa (green arowana) are found in waters and around dead trees. The jungles surrounding Kenyir Lake are home to some endangered species, such as Asian elephants and Malaysian tigers.

How to Get There

By Flight

If you are traveling by air, the nearest airport is Sultan Mahmud Airport, which serves the city of Kuala Terengganu and the state of Terengganu. It is located 15 km from Kuala Terengganu town and handles more than 500,000 passengers annually. It has a single runway and serves Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and Air Asia.

By Car

If driving from Kuala Lumpur, take the Karak Highway to Jerangau-Jabor Highway to reach Ajil and onwards to Kenyir. Alternatively take the Karak Highway to Kuantan and along the coastal road through Kemaman, Dungun, Kuala Terengganu and subsequently to Tasik Kenyir.

Tourist Attractions

There are numerous great attractions around Lake Kenyir. Tours usually contain a visit to a few of the most popular attractions. Among the attractions are a visit to popular waterfalls like Lasir, Soak, Tembat, Petuang and Lata Terap. Lasir and Soak are most common to visit as they are nearest to the small village of Pengkalan Gawi.

Bewah and Taat Caves

Most popular caves are Bewah and Taat. Taat is not always accessible as the entrance is located underwater during rainy season when water levels are a few meters higher than during the dry season. Bewah is always accessible. Your guide will show you some amazing and terrific Tiger spiders, with a diamond like crown on its head. The views are amazing and you can't help yourself trying to spot rare species in the trees and along the river banks.

Angling

Another very popular reason for people to visit Kenyir is angling. Yearly thousands of anglers head over to Kenyir to try to catch species like the Kelah, Kawan, Lampam Sungei, Kalui, Toman and Kelisa. Many fishing events are held; when we visited Kenyir there was an event that attracted many locals for nearby villages (first price was RM1000). A fishing trip will cost around RM50 per person. The best time to head over to Kenyir to do some fishing is during monsoon season which lasts from October to March. The best fishing spots are: Cacing, Leban, Petuang, Saok and Sg. Terenggan. The lake itself contains more than 300 fish species; which makes it the single most popular fishing destination of Malaysia.

Hotels

Lake Kenyir Resort, Taman Negara

The hotel is situated in Kuala Berang, this resort is within 1 mi (2 km) of Pengkalan Gawi and Kenyir Lake. Sungai Buweh Waterfall is 4.7 mi (7.6 km) away. The Resort is currently undergoing refurbishment and will be closed until further notice