MY · Terengganu · 5.00°N 102.80°E

tasik kenyir

Huge jungle lake with houseboats, waterfalls and hundreds of little islands.

Best time
March to October. The northeast monsoon, from about November to February, brings heavy rain to Terengganu.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kuala Terengganu in about an hour, then drive about an hour to the main jetty at Pengkalan Gawi. Driving from KL takes about 5–6 hours.
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MY · Terengganutasik kenyir5.00°N 102.80°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Huge jungle lake with houseboats, waterfalls and hundreds of little islands.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTasik KenyirMY, Terengganu
KLtasik kenyir
≈ 241 km from KL, as the crow flies
Kenyir Lake, Malaysia

Photo: RoB · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A vast man-made lake deep in the Terengganu interior, created when the Kenyir Dam flooded the valley in 1985. The old hilltops are now islands, and people come for houseboat stays, waterfalls, fishing and the forest all around.

Things to do

  1. Houseboat staySpend a night or two on the water, moving between quiet bays and islands.Map ↗
  2. Lasir WaterfallOne of the lake's best-known waterfalls, reached by boat.Map ↗
  3. Kelah SanctuaryA protected river at Sungai Petang where you can wade in among big kelah fish.Map ↗
  4. Gua BewahA limestone cave by the lake where prehistoric remains have been found.Map ↗
  5. FishingAnglers come for toman and sebarau. You'll need a fishing permit.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book houseboats and boat trips ahead. Everything on the lake goes by boat.
  • Phone signal is patchy out on the water, so sort out what you need before you leave the jetty.
  • The kelah sanctuary is strictly no-fishing.

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