Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang, the third largest state in Malaysia after Sarawak and Sabah. Nestled in the mouth of Kuantan River, facing the South China Sea, Kuantan is populated mainly by Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic people, and has a population of about 600,000 people. Sent on a mission by Asian Itinerary to collect traveling information and discover more parts of Malaysia not yet exposed to you, our dear readers, I without any hindrance set off to visit Kuantan. Since Kuantan is mostly famous for its beautiful beaches along its long coastline, in this article I wish to expose to you the three best-rated beaches in the area. Teluk Cempedak Located about 5 kilometres from Kuantan city, this is known as the resident area for the royal clan; in fact, most of the landscaped gardens, villas and buildings you find along the way there belong to royal family. Thanks to its white sandy beach, a coast dotted with rocks of different sizes and the several coconut plantations,Teluk Cempedak is a must visit area for tourists and locals. This is the perfect area for a plethora of activities, the most popular being sunbathing, water-sports, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and surfing. Malaysia is near the equator line, which means lots of sun throughout the year: get your mat, towel and sun lotion and enjoy the bake! Picnic and camping are also recommended as the beach is amazingly clean. Besides this, Teluk Cempedak offers fresh air, good for those who want to go walking or jogging: I advise a walk on the sand or alternatively along the pedestrian walk arranged by the local government. This pedestrian walk connects you directly to the jungle trekking routes. I used this path and I can guarantee fun: amuse at the beautiful environment, watch the monkeys and admire their lifestyle, take pictures and observe the amazing diversity of the tree population. Suitable for family and friends, Teluk Cempedak has a children playground, a volleyball court and some battery-operated cars to feed your needs. There are a few good restaurants and shops for dining, and for your social and business lifestyle. But visiting won’t be enough. For a tourist like me, who always want some memories from the places I visit, getting a fridge magnet is a must. There are plenty of stores and shops selling souvenirs and handicrafts for you to take back home. If you are visiting Kuantan, Teluk Cempedak is a must must must do! To get to Teluk Cempedak, catch a bus, a taxi or drive; the journey should take less than 7 minutes from Kuantan city. The best accommodation option is the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Hotel. Pantai Batu Hitam This translates into English as the ‘Black Stone Beach’. The beach area is known by this name thanks to the presence of different black and dark stones, similar to those found in Teluk Cempedak, which are mainly brown. There is a group of big black stone along the beach that s believe to have originated from an ancient volcano eruption. The fantastic view of this beach, with black stones sparkling in the sun and the amazing beach, is a sight to behold. Activities there include swimming, sightseeing, picnic, camping and finding a seashells. Not far from this beach there is a seafood stall where you can indulge yourself in local cooking. The most recommended dish there is the grilled fish, known as Ikan Bakar in the local language, Bahasa. Pantai Batu Hitam can be reached either by self-drive, bus or taxi, and it is located about 10-kilometers away from the town. Duta Sands Beach Resort is the hotel we recommend. Pantai Cherating This beach, located about 47 kilometres from Kuantan town, is famed as Asia’s first Club Med. Pantai Cherating is well catered for visitors, with a wide range accommodation – resorts, chalets, hotel – as well as services like restaurants and souvenir stalls. Apart from that, the scenery offered by the beach, with lots of coconut trees swinging in the wind and an amazingly green sea, is overwhelming. Pantai Cherating is popular amongst Europeans. This is probably because it has a truly exotic feel to it, and thanks to the beautiful surrounding nature. The area, needless to say, offers a wide range of activities like kayaking, surfing and watching fireflies and turtles. Pantai Cherating is recommended for families, honeymoon and picnic groups. To get there you can either take a taxi, a bus or drive on your own. I drove, which made me feel free from sticky schedules and quick stopovers. I took my time and stopped anywhere I pleased. _______________________________________________ I hope the above information stirs your curiosity, and that these three beaches inspire lots of fun under the sun. Kuantan can be reached by plane, car or bus. If you plan to arrive by plane, both Airasia (www.airasia.com) and Malaysian Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com) cover the Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan route. If you are driving from Penang, you will amaze at the several beautiful places and yummy delicacies you will encounter along the way… Enjoy Pahang and Kuantan! Asian Itinerary stayed at Le Village Beach Resort

The post The 3 best beaches in Kuantan appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

Mui Ne Backpacker Village 137 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien,  Mui Ne, Vietnam Binh Thuan Province +84 62 3741047  info@muinebackpackervillage.com http://www.muinebackpackervillage.com With the motto Relax, Enjoy and Just Be, Mui Ne Backpacker Village is one of the most affordable, beautiful and comfortable place to stay in the Mui Ne beach area.  Run by Vietnamese born Thuy and her Australian husband John, this place has fantastic facilities, namely great rooms, a pleasant restaurant with good food, a bar, a swimming pool, internet access, cable TV, bicycle hire, free motorbike parking, currency exchange and laundry service. Set back from the main road, this resort is just a short 100 meter stroll to the main beach and it is located right in the middle of the main tourist attractions: Fairy Stream, Red Sand Dunes, Mui Ne Harbor and Po Shanu Cham Tower. This year my friend and I had the opportunity to stay at Mui Ne Backpacker Village during our sightseeing trip to Mui Ne. We found both the owners and the staff very amicable and informative. I was glad to be given a room just opposite the swimming pool, which gave us a good view of the whole resort. I was indeed fortunate to book well in advance since the resort was fully booked when we arrived there, thanks to its popularity. So for those who plan to stay here, do remember to book early. For a nature lover like me, I would highly recommend this place for its beautifully arranged gardens decorated in Vietnamese style. The food served at the restaurant was nice and yummy. A tip for Malaysian tourists: don’t miss a try to their bread, it is unique! Mui Ne Backpacker Village is also close to Mui Ne nightlife, making it all within easy walking distance. They accept US Dollar and also Vietnamese Dong. For more details, check their website at  http://www.muinebackpackervillage.com/home.html or call the resort directly at +84623741047 for reservations. Read my article on http://asianitinerary.com/mui-ne-between-sand-and-history/

The post Mui Ne Backpacker Village appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

Many travelers visit Phuket and complain that the main beaches are overcrowded, too touristy and lacking that special something we all desire. The simple solution is to head to your own private island. Luckily for all of us, it is not as expensive or as difficult as you might think. Phuket has plenty of hidden germs just waiting to be discovered. You’ll find one such gem about 15 minutes from Phuket’s east coast. A visit to Rang Yai Island is an affordable way to experience your own private, tropical resort. Located on just 275 rai of land, Rang Yai Island boasts white sands, inviting waters and a dense jungle. Getting to Rang Yai Island is a piece of cake. You can take a speed boat from either Sapam Bay or Laem Hin. It is the ideal place to visit on a one-day excursion or for a unique camping opportunity as the island is full of things to do and points of interest. One of the best things about Rang Yai Island is the pearl farm, known as Phuket Pearl Farm. When you arrive at Rang Yai Island, you will be greeted and presented with a fresh coconut before being taken to a live demonstration of how pearls are cultured and harvested at the farm. The step-by-step explanation of how the pearls are formed and then turned into the precious stones we know today is fascinating. You will learn all about oysters and the farm itself. As you would expect, where there are pearls there is business and there is ample opportunity to buy pearls in their various guises at the island’s own pearl store. Phuket Pearl Farm’s treasures are also exported all over the world. There is no pressure to buy pearls, but if you are a pearl fan or after a suitable present for your mum, the convenience is there to be used. The island is small enough to have its own trail around the perimeter. Bikes can be hired and the whole island can be circumnavigated in less than half an hour. If you want to make it last a bit longer, there are some tucked-away spots at which you could stop off and enjoy the views. The trail is easy-going without too many steep slopes. With the island being owned by one company, Richy Island Phuket, there is only one resort and restaurant. Thankfully, the food is top notch, with a wide range of delicious dishes offering some of the best Thai food around. The seafood in particular is as good as anywhere on mainland Phuket. Fresh prawns, fried fish and other marine delights will satisfy your taste buds. Meals by the sea as the sun sets are particularly memorable. The beach at Rang Yai is charming and clean and the water is warm and a joy to swim in. If watersports are your thing, there are kayaks available for people to paddle about in. One of the focal points of the island is the number of recreational activities that have been made available without imposing on the natural charms of the island itself. Everything from darts and petanque, to volleyball and golf can be played at Rang Yai Island. The on-site putting course is a cute touch and great for whiling away an afternoon. Rang Yai Island is not a hive of activity, but a place to go, relax and enjoy the scenery. It attracts many couples and there is even the option of getting married on the island. A number of lovers have chosen to say their vows on Rang Yai Island. What could be more romantic than saying “I do” in the seclusion of your own private paradise? The wedding team can cater to your every desire should you decide to take the plunge. Most people visit Rang Yai Island on a day excursion and there are a number of packages available. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken from your doorstep to the island. The half-day excursion includes a live pearl demonstration and time at the beach, as well as snacks and refreshments. GOOD TO KNOW A full-day excursion includes the live pearl demonstration and an extended time to relax on the beach or get involved with activities such as snorkeling. Half-day excursions cost 1,200 baht for adults, 600 baht for children, while full-day excursions cost between 1,600 baht and 2,200 baht for adults, between 800 baht and 1,100 baht for children. Rang Yai offers the perfect island getaway and the ideal retreat from mainland Phuket. A night in one of the bungalows will set you back 1,000 baht. For further information visit www.rangyaiisland-phuket.com

The post Rang Yai Island – Serious seclusion in private paradise appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

Krabi è una provincia sulla costa del mare delle Andamane nel sud della Thailandia. Una regione il cui panorama marino è formato da un labirinto di arcipelaghi, dove centinaia di isole sembrano erompere verticalmente fuori dal mare e ricca di spiagge appartate accessibili solo tramite barche locali dai colori vivaci, chiamate “long tail boats”. Innumerevoli baie e calette riparate hanno dato asilo a pirati, mercanti e zingari del mare per migliaia di anni mentre diversi rinvenimenti archeologici hanno dimostrato che a Krabi, i primi insediamenti abitativi, risalgono addirittura a circa 25.000 – 35.000 anni fa. Tra le sue attrazioni principali troviamo sorgenti di acqua calda, santuari di fauna selvatica, grotte marine, barriere coralline ricche di vita marina esotica, scogliere calcaree che attirano gli appassionati di arrampicata da tutto il mondo, e parchi nazionali che includono la paradisiaca isola di Koh Phi Phi e Koh Lanta. Con queste premesse appare chiaro che si potrebbe facilmente trascorrere a Krabi soggiorni di intere settimane senza temere di annoiarsi. Se ciò non bastasse, a Krabi si puo godere di tramonti che sono tra i piu suggestivi della Thailandia, spesso decorati da nuvole dalla forma spettacolare, che ne arrichiscono l’intensità. Ammirarli mentre si gusta un aperitivo da un bar sulla spiaggia o da un ristorante, rende la fine della giornata ancora più rilassante. Nel frattempo, con tutti i turisti sparsi tra le varie spiagge e isole, la vita va avanti a Krabi Town, il capoluogo di provincia un po’ assonnato ma affascinante, situato lungo le rive di un fiume che sfocia nel Mare delle Andamane e che la rende anche  un importante porto sia commerciale, per pescatori locali, sia turistico per i collegamenti verso altre destinazioni. Sorprendentemente pochi turisti trascorrono il tempo nella suggestiva cittadina sul fiume, le cui strade presentano una serie di accoglienti caffè e locali di cucina tailandese poco costosa e autentica , servita presso un mercatino serale all’aperto lungo il fiume. Il centro turistico principale, invece, è Ao Nang, una piccola località di mare con i suoi hotel, i bar, i ristoranti e i negozi di souvenir. In continua crescita grazie all’aumento dei visitatori, Ao Nang è, fra l’altro, il punto di partenza delle gite in barca in direzione delle splendide isole circostanti e delle spiagge isolate di Phra Nang e di Railey Beach. Andando da Ao Nang verso nord, si raggiunge la baia di Noppharat Thara, la cui tranquilla spiaggia ombreggiata fa parte di quel parco nazionale che comprende anche le isole Phi Phi. La provincia di Krabi che, come detto, si trova nel sud della Thailandia lungo la costa del mare delle Andamane, è diventata una destinazione turistica di spicco grazie si all’abbondanza di attrazioni naturali tra cui, in particolare, le sue spiagge e le sue oltre 130 isole, ma anche grazie al notevole miglioramento della qualità dei servizi. L’incremento della ricezione alberghiera a tutti i livelli, offre attualmente una estesa varietà di camere sia per persone che amano viaggiare in semplicità, sia per viaggiatori dal palato più esigente, e non è certamente un caso che catene di livello internazionale come lo Sheraton, o il Ritz Carlton, abbiano aperto proprio qui una loro proprietà.

The post Vacanze a Krabi appeared first on Asian Itinerary.