Offering a tranquil slice of beachfront paradise, Cherating is a laid-back Malaysian fishing village. A scattering of guesthouses and restaurants line its wide, palm-fringed sands and it’s an important conservation site for endangered sea turtles.

Things to do

Don’t miss a visit to the Chendor Beach Turtle Sanctuary, a vital breeding site for green and leatherback turtles. If you visit between April and September, it’s possible to see turtles lumbering ashore to lay their eggs, with new hatchlings emerging to scuttle to the waters.

Cherating is renowned for its handicrafts, with local grasses artfully woven into hats, handbags and table mats at the Pandanus Weaving Centre. It’s also home to a Batik Workshop where you can see first-hand how this beautiful fabric is created.

A short drive south of Cherating takes you to the fishing village of Beserah, which is famed for its salted fish. Witness how this local delicacy is produced and watch as water buffaloes transport the day’s catch to the fish processing area.

Cherating makes an ideal base for exploring the Charah Caves, set within a dramatic rock formation in the hills to the south-west. Visit the Panching Cave, which has been carved into the limestone and houses a sacred Reclining Buddha statue.

Getting around

The closest airport to Cherating is Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan, around 45 minutes’ drive south or a five-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur. Cherating is small and easy to explore on foot, but you can also rent bicycles to get around.