MY · Kelantan · 6.22°N 102.22°E

pulau suri floating market

A boat across the Kelantan delta to a weekend market of nasi kerabu, kuih and fried seafood.

Best time
March to October. The market runs on Fridays and Saturdays, Kelantan's weekend. Get there early, before the midday heat. Skip the November–January monsoon, when the river floods.
How long
Half a day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kota Bharu (about an hour). The quickest crossing is from Jeti Kuala Besar, about 20 minutes' drive north of the city, then about 15 minutes by boat. Boats also leave from Jeti Kok Majid on the Tumpat side, a longer ride. By car from KL it's about 7 hours via Gua Musang.
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MY · Kelantanpulau suri floating market6.22°N 102.22°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A boat across the Kelantan delta to a weekend market of nasi kerabu, kuih and fried seafood.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPulau Suri Floating MarketMY, Kelantan
KLpulau suri floating market
≈ 347 km from KL, as the crow flies

Pulau Suri is a small island in the Kelantan River delta with no road to it, so the outing starts with a boat ride. The villagers have run a floating market here since 2016, selling food from boats and stalls along the bank, and ECERDC added proper toilets and a prayer room in 2024.

Makan

  1. Nasi kerabuBlue rice with herbs and sambal, the breakfast to start with.Map ↗
  2. Celup tepungPrawns, squid and crab fried in batter, best eaten straight from the wok.Map ↗
  3. KuihVillage kuih by the packet. Buy a few kinds to share.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The boat rideA slow crossing through the delta, past fishing boats and the river's other small islands.Map ↗
  2. The marketVillage cooks sell from boats tied up at the bank and from stalls on the shore. Walk the whole row before you choose.Map ↗
  3. Kampung gamesFree tug-of-war, coconut bowling and coconut grating, and sometimes dikir barat or silat.Map ↗

Good to know

  • It only runs on Fridays and Saturdays, so plan your Kota Bharu trip around it.
  • Bring cash for the boat, the entry fee and the stalls.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.