THE hinterland of Kelantan, Gua Musang, has always been the state's hub for outdoor adventures, thanks to its location in the deep jungle in the centre of Peninsula Malaysia.
While it's no surprise that adventure lovers head to Gua Musang for the jungle and river adventures like hiking and mountain climbing, river rafting.
Those in the know know very well of its outdoor offerings like Nenggiri Challenge - a river rafting event and Taman Etnobotani, an outdoor recreation park that have stamped its presence in the country's ecotourism scene over two decades ago.
But for those who prefer to stay within the Gua Musang town limits, there are plenty to include in a full day's itinerary. Or maybe you'll need two days to cover them all.
Check out these five Gua Musang town-based activities.
SOMETHING WET AND COLD
No, don't worry, you don't have to drive far. The starting point of this 2km tubing on a clear and rocky Sungai Ketil is just 4km south of the town.
Located in a housing area called Taman Rimba, the Rekreasi Rimba Wangi or loosely translates as Wangi Jungle Recreation is a beautified river bank that is equipped with basic facilities like changing rooms and toilets, sitting areas and proper steps and walkway.
But if you're into sitting in a giant tube while letting the river flow downstream, the gravel-covered riverbank is also good for a family picnic.
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
Okay, if you don't feel like waking up early on your holidays, the peak of Bukit Durian is also a good point to see the sunset.
While the sunset makes a dramatic backdrop to the view of the Gua Musang new town, the morning sun rises from the back of the fog-covered rolling mountains.
Together with the fresh, cold morning temperature, the sunrise makes sacrificing that long holiday sleep worth it.
A former rubber estate, Bukit Durian is a young durian orchard (hence the name), planted by the developer of Bandar Utama, one of the housing areas in the new town.
While the route up to the 260m peak is off limit for outside vehicles, the jogging route is open for the public, which only takes 40 minutes for a fairly fit jogger to reach the peak.
Another attraction at the new town is a unique choice of lodging that is located right at the foot of Bukit Durian.
Durian Hill Villa offers hotel-style bedrooms that are housed in 15 terrace house units. Each unit of these houses has two bedrooms. While the bedrooms give the typical hotel feel, the rooms do not come with breakfast. But parking is superb, right outside your house unit!
SOMETHING OLD
About 12km from the town, there is a beautiful Chinese temple that is rich in history of the early Hakka people who travelled from China in search of gold in Kelantan.
These early Chinese miners were said to have travelled from the vast Sungai Kelantan to the location in Kampung Pulai that sat at the bank of Sungai Galas.
Along with their personal belongings, these miners also carried with them deities which they placed in a temple they built some 400 years ago.
Some of these deities are still standing in the Shui Yue Gong Temple which means water moon palace.
Among the temple's oldest relics is an incense pot that is said to have been made during the era of Xuande (1426-1435) of the Ming Dynasty and the portrait of Goddess Guan Yin on the main altar that is said to be 500 years old.
SOMETHING NEW
The old town of Gua Musang is home to something spectacularly new, Masjid Razaleigh. The yet-to-be-opened mosque is designed to replicate Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque of Mecca.
Built in a scale of 1:7 of the Masjid al-Haram at a cost of RM30 million, Masjid Razaleigh has almost everything the holy mosque has, except for the Kaabah - the square building that sits at the centre of the Masjid al-Haram.
It is named after Gua Musang Member of Parliament, Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh, who mooted the idea for replicating the mosque.
His plan for the mosque is for it to be an iconic landmark in the district, as well as it being the centre of hajj and umrah activities in the state.
Masjid Razaleigh can accommodate a congregation of 5000 people at any one time.
SOMETHING DELICIOUS
Okay, Gua Musang may not have what Kota Bharu has in terms of variety and numbers. But, the town has enough to surprise any fussy foodies.
For those looking for a spread of delicious local food with an ambience and a view, the standalone Restoran Dalam Taman D'Tasek is the place.
As the name suggests, the restaurant that comes in the form of a beautiful Malay traditional house sits at the bank of Gua Musang Lake Garden.
Mostly cooks Thai-influenced dishes, the restaurant offers three styles of seating - the typical chair-and-table seating, a traditional Malay-style, on the floor seating and al fresco dining.
Another by-the-lake restaurant is the humble roadside restaurant, Restoran Selera Sri Kolam.
Located at the busy Jalan Pulai, the restaurant sits at the edge of a fish pond, facing a limestone outcrop.
Opened only for lunch, the restaurant's signature dish is its gulai ikan tilapia, which looks like masak lemak cili api (spicy turmeric coconut-milk gravy) but not as thick and spicy like those served in Negeri Sembilan.
For dinner, head to Anjung Selera Seafood which is located at a food court at the far end of the old town. Thai food lovers will feel at home at this outlet.
Specialising in Thai-influenced seafood dishes, Anjung Selera Seafood gets its fresh source of seafood from Tok Bali, a small fishing port located about 180km from Gua Musang.
Among its most-sought after dishes are Maggie Ketam (yes, that popular instant noodle cooked with an abundance of seafood including one big crab) and "shellout" (a spread of cutlery-free, all-in-one seafood dish).
Enjoy outdoor activities with extra discounts when applying Hotels.com Coupon Code.
