Top 10 Campsites in Kelantan You Can't Miss (2026)

I've been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years now, and Kelantan is one of those states I keep coming back to. I've personally visited and reviewed every single campsite on this list — no aggregating from forums, no copy-pasting from TripAdvisor. These are places I know. If you've been sleeping on camping in Kelantan, let me tell you straight up: you're missing out. The state has everything — jungle rivers, quiet beaches, highland cool air, and a kampung pace of life that just hits different when you've been cooped up in the city too long.

Kelantan isn't the most hyped state for camping, and honestly that's part of the appeal. You won't find the crowds you'd get at popular spots in Pahang or Terengganu. What you will find is proper nature, friendly locals, and campsites that feel real rather than manufactured for Instagram. Whether you're a solo camper, bringing the whole family, or looking for a glamping weekend with minimal suffering — there's a campsite in Kelantan on this list for you.

I've ranked these based on my own experience and what I think genuinely makes each one worth the drive. Let's get into it.

• Campsite Kenerong 108
• Lata Hujan Training Centre, Tanah Merah
• D'Jiwa Campsite & Picnic, Bachok
• Kale Nusuk Campsite, Jeli
• Bisikan Bayu Beach
• Taman Negara Kuala Koh
• Teney Glamping, Jeli Kelantan
• Pasir Raja Campsite, Kelantan
• Melawi Beaches, Kelantan
• Lojing Highlands CamperVan & BaseCamp

1. Campsite Kenerong 108

Kenerong 108 sits inside a fruit orchard in Dabong, right next to a river — and from the moment you arrive, the place just makes you exhale. It doesn't try to impress you with fancy facilities or structured activities, and that's exactly the vibe. The crowd is a real mix of campers and fishermen, and the regulars treat this spot like their personal sanctuary, which tells you something about how good it is. Even if you're not casting a line, the river view alone is worth setting up camp for. This is semi-wild camping done right — nature without the suffering.

Best for: Semi-wild campers and fishing enthusiasts · Standout: River next to a fruit orchard in Dabong, genuine quiet

Read my full Campsite Kenerong 108 review →

2. Lata Hujan Training Centre, Tanah Merah

Lata Hujan is not your typical pitch-a-tent-and-chill situation — this is a structured training and activity centre in the middle of lush Kelantan jungle, with a waterfall nearby for a swim. If you're rolling in solo, this probably isn't the spot for you. But for school trips, team building, family days, or youth programmes, this place is genuinely well-run. There are facilitators on standby who actually manage the whole thing, and from what people consistently say, they do it well. The waterfall seals the deal.

Best for: Groups, school trips, team building · Standout: Waterfall access plus organised facilitation in a jungle setting

Read my full Lata Hujan Training Centre review →

3. D'Jiwa Campsite & Picnic, Bachok

Beach camping in Malaysia is a gamble, and D'Jiwa at Pantai Kandis in Bachok is one of the rare wins. The place is right on the beach, clean, well-maintained, and clearly run by someone who actually cares — the regulars call him Mr Dann, and by all accounts he makes you feel at home from the second you pull up. The crowd is low-key: solo cyclists, families, couples — nobody is here to party loudly. The sound is waves, the pace is slow, and Pantai Kandis is a quieter stretch of the Kelantan coast that hasn't been overrun yet. This is beach camping the way it should be.

Best for: Couples, families, solo campers wanting a quiet beach · Standout: Clean beach, genuine owner hospitality at Pantai Kandis

Read my full D'Jiwa Campsite & Picnic review →

4. Kale Nusuk Campsite, Jeli

Kale Nusuk is tucked in Kampung Batu Melintang, Jeli — the kind of spot you won't find on a mass-shared Facebook post, and that's a good thing. It's clean, quiet, next to a river, and you can actually hear birds here instead of someone's Bluetooth speaker. The owner runs it on a trust-based, no-fixed-entry-fee system where you pay what you feel is fair — that kind of kampung honesty sets the tone for the whole place. One thing to know upfront: the river water level is affected by releases from the Pergau Hydroelectric Station upstream, so check conditions before you plan around the water.

Best for: Families, couples, low-key groups · Standout: Trust-based entry, riverside in Jeli, genuinely quiet

Read my full Kale Nusuk Campsite review →

5. Bisikan Bayu Beach

Let me be straight with you — Bisikan Bayu is a day-trip beach spot, not an overnight campsite. No tent pitching here, so if you drove up from KL expecting to sleep under the stars, that's not what this is. But as a beach hangout in Kelantan, near Kampung Dalam Rhu close to Tok Bali, it genuinely surprised me. Long stretch of sand, clean water, minimal development, and that real kampung beach feel that's getting harder to find. Mostly local families and people from nearby areas — no REI gear, no influencer setups. Sometimes a slow afternoon on a quiet beach is exactly what you need, and Bisikan Bayu delivers that.

Best for: Day trips, families wanting a quiet beach · Standout: Undeveloped kampung coastline near Tok Bali, genuinely peaceful

Read my full Bisikan Bayu Beach review →

6. Taman Negara Kuala Koh

Most people think Taman Negara means Kuala Tahan — floating chalets, night markets, tour groups. Kuala Koh is the Kelantan entry point and it hits completely differently. Dense rainforest pressing up against everything, barely any boat traffic on the river, and the kind of heavy ancient silence you only get in old-growth jungle. Guides are available here, which is useful because this side of the park is genuinely raw. The honest caveat: several visitors have flagged that facilities and promotion here are well below what a national park of this calibre deserves. But if you want Taman Negara without the selfie sticks, this is the version to come to.

Best for: Serious nature lovers, those who want Taman Negara without the crowds · Standout: Rawer, quieter Taman Negara experience with guides available

Read my full Taman Negara Kuala Koh review →

7. Teney Glamping, Jeli Kelantan

Teney Glamping is proper glamping — big canvas tents already set up, queen beds inside, no tent pegs required. It sits next to two rivers in Jeli, and big trees shade the tents so the afternoon heat is actually manageable, which is more than I can say for glamping sites that park you in a bare open field. The surrounding area is lush and kampung, not over-developed or commercialised — it still feels real. Budget-friendly too, which makes it a solid pick for families or couples who want activity-filled days without the setup stress.

Best for: Families, couples, glamping beginners · Standout: Pre-set canvas tents with queen beds, shaded riverside in Jeli, budget-friendly

Read my full Teney Glamping review →

8. Pasir Raja Campsite, Kelantan

Pasir Raja is about 10km off the main road in Kuala Krai, and it doesn't try to be anything it's not — clean grassy riverside campsite, shallow rocky river for the kids, relaxed kampung feel. No glamping setups, no Instagram nonsense, just a spot where you pitch your tent and breathe. On weekdays you might even catch a Jamboree Campervan event here, so if you're in the campervan scene, this place has that community. It's also near Istana Sangkut if you want a bit of history alongside your river swim.

Best for: Families, campervan enthusiasts, low-key riverside camping · Standout: Shallow rocky river, campervan community, near Istana Sangkut

Read my full Pasir Raja Campsite review →

9. Melawi Beaches, Kelantan

Melawi Beaches is along the coastline in Bachok and it's the kind of place mostly locals know about — wide open South China Sea, soft sand, and zero food stalls every 20 metres like at Pantai Cahaya Bulan. You can actually hear the waves here. The crowd is mainly families from Bachok and Kota Bharu who keep coming back, and the golden hour sky is reportedly something else. One honest heads-up though: if you're planning to camp overnight here, confirm the rules before making the drive — not all beaches in Kelantan allow overnight camping and the reviews don't spell it out.

Best for: Day trips, local families, scenery seekers · Standout: Undeveloped coastline in Bachok, wide open South China Sea views

Read my full Melawi Beaches review →

10. Lojing Highlands CamperVan & BaseCamp

Lojing sits in the highlands between Gua Musang and Cameron Highlands, and the air up there is noticeably cooler — the kind of cool that makes you actually want to stay in your sleeping bag in the morning. It serves both campervan travelers and tent campers, so the crowd is a real mix of families, weekend warriors, and people passing through on the Cameron–Kelantan route. The setup is honest and functional rather than fancy: there's a mini pool for kids, hammocks for afternoon loafing, a fishing pond, quad bikes for rent, and an avatar trail into the jungle nearby that I genuinely want to check out properly. For highland camping in Kelantan, this one earns its spot.

Best for: Campervan travelers, families, highland camping fans · Standout: Cool highland air, mix of activities including quad bikes and jungle trail

Read my full Lojing Highlands CamperVan & BaseCamp review →

What to Pack for Camping in Kelantan

Kelantan camping covers a lot of ground — coastal beaches, river campsites, highland cool, and deep jungle. Here's what I'd make sure is in my bag regardless of which spot you're heading to:

• Rain gear — Kelantan gets rain, sometimes sudden. A good poncho or rain jacket is non-negotiable.
• Insect repellent — river and jungle sites especially. Don't skip this.
• Torch or headlamp — many of these spots have minimal or zero lighting at night.
• Warm layer for highlands — if you're heading to Lojing, it gets genuinely cold at night. Pack accordingly. The TAHAN HexLink Sleeping Bag is a solid pick here — it converts into a blanket too, so it's versatile for Malaysian conditions.
• Sleeping pad or mat — especially for riverside and jungle sites where the ground is uneven. The TAHAN Panthera Inflatable Sleeping Pad has a built-in foot pump and integrated pillow — saves you from waking up with a destroyed back.
• Enough water or a filter — river water looks clean but treat it.
• Cash — several Kelantan campsites operate on a very kampung, cash-only basis.

FAQ

When is the best time to camp in Kelantan?

Generally, the dry season between May and September is your best bet for camping in Kelantan. The northeast monsoon hits the East Coast hard from November through January, bringing heavy rain and rough seas — beach sites like D'Jiwa and Melawi Beaches are best avoided during this period. River campsites like Kenerong 108 and Pasir Raja can also flood or run high. If you're going to Lojing Highlands, the cooler months are actually a bonus — just pack that extra layer.

Which Kelantan campsites are good for beginners?

D'Jiwa Campsite in Bachok is one of the most approachable — clean, well-managed, with a host who actually helps you settle in. Pasir Raja near Kuala Krai is another great starter spot with a shallow river and a relaxed atmosphere. Teney Glamping in Jeli is the easiest entry point of all if you want nature without any setup — the tents are already up and beds are inside. For beginner families with kids, Lojing Highlands CamperVan & BaseCamp also works well because there's enough activity to keep everyone busy.

Are there any Kelantan campsites good for fishing?

Yes — Campsite Kenerong 108 in Dabong is the one to go to. It has a strong reputation as a fishing spot and the regulars who come back repeatedly are largely fishermen. The river access is the main draw. Lojing Highlands also has a fishing pond on site if you want something more casual.

Can you camp on beaches in Kelantan overnight?

Some beaches allow it, some don't — and it's not always clearly posted. D'Jiwa Campsite at Pantai Kandis in Bachok is a legit overnight beach camp. For Melawi Beaches and Bisikan Bayu, you should check with the local authorities or the site directly before assuming overnight camping is allowed. Bisikan Bayu in particular is set up as a day-trip spot, not an overnight campsite.

Mike has been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years — from jungle treks in Taman Negara to beach camps in Perhentian. He writes about it so you don't have to find out the hard way. Follow along on TAHAN Outdoor's blog for honest campsite reviews, every week.