Guests can enjoy a rejuvenating yoga session by the river. — Photos: GISELE SOO/The Star
Waking up to the harmonious sound of insects and birdsongs was certainly a delightful experience, my friend and I discovered during our recent stay at a farm in Pahang.
The expansive farmland, called Karakita Retreat, spreads over 40ha and borders the Lentang Forest in Karak. The place started off as a durian orchard, but today it also offers accommodation for guests who wish to experience staying on a farm.
We spent the night in a wooden chalet amid the peaceful surroundings, and then started our day early the next morning, before the sun rose. To our surprise, it was pleasantly cool.
Stepping outside our room transported us to a world that was seemingly free from air pollution, thanks to the trees that form the verdant landscape.
Breakfast was prepared for us at a wooden terrace located by the river overlooking the forest. We gazed in awe at the clean and clear water, listening to the roaring sound of the rapids as we ate.
Prior to the trip, we were told to park our car at a designated area a few kilometres away from the farm, where we would be picked up by someone in a 4WD vehicle. It was a bumpy 30-minute ride to the farm through an oil palm plantation but as we drove deeper into the woods, the scenery began to change – the oil palms were gone and the hilly forest took over.
The Karakita Resort has chalets surrounded by lush greenery.
The roads were narrow but our driver skilfully navigated the paths. Along the way, I chatted with our host, Chong Sook Fun, who also manages the farm. Karakita Retreat is owned by Soh Swee Huat and his wife, Christina Cheong, who are passionate about farming and agriculture. They decided to turn their farm into a homestay as they wanted more people to learn about sustainable farming, and also give them a glimpse of what rural life is all about.
Chong added that we may just get the chance to see some macaques and gibbons, which I thought was exciting. I kept my eyes glued to the trees almost the entire time we stayed there hoping to spot the primates, but alas, they seemed to be “hiding” that weekend.
However, we did see a lot of fruit trees – apart from durian – like custard apple, papaya, avocado, and even coffee, during our guided farm tour. According to Soh, the harvested crops will be distributed to local stores in the neighbouring area as well as to a company in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Of course, of the various fruits planted on the farm, the durians are always the crowd favourite.
Later, we headed to the idyllic pond, where we sat on a wooden platform. There was a kayak available for guests to use, but we chose to just enjoy some quiet time.
Before we knew it, lunch was ready. Soh and Cheong served us a scrumptious spread which we heartily ate. He suggested we check out the waterfall nearby after lunch as it was only a 20-minute trek to get there. We happily went, and were pretty impressed by the cascade.
Wading pool at Karakita.
Back at the farm, we took a dip in the wading pool by the river. We were initially hesitant to get in as the water was freezing cold, but we ended up spending more than an hour in the pool.
As the sun set, we were ravenous and couldn’t wait to go for dinner, which we were told was going to be steamboat. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill steamboat dinner in a restaurant, mind you, as the host had prepared a traditional charcoal-fired steamboat for us in an open hut.
An iron pot filled with a flavourful broth was placed over the hot charcoals. It had a pleasing aroma that wafted through the cool air. Soh and his wife had prepared for us some fresh fish and prawns, as well as vegetables picked straight from their garden, for the steamboat. Needless to say, it was a delightful dinner.
Though our stay was short, it was pleasing and enjoyable enough. The change of scenery was what we needed to recharge our batteries.
Traditional charcoal-fired steamboat at Karakita.
Farm stays, a sub-category of agritourism, is becoming more popular these days especially among local families and city-dwellers. There’s just something relaxing and at the same time, enriching, about spending time in a farm or forest, escaping the city’s traffic congestions, crowds and even pollution.
The rise in interest in agritourism among Malaysians is one of the reasons why domestic tourism expenditure in the country is increasing. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), domestic tourism expenditure in the first quarter of 2024 recorded RM24.1bil, an increase of 1.2% from the same quarter in 2023.
Meanwhile, domestic tourism in general recorded a whopping 58.6 million visitors just in the first quarter of 2024, a boost of 19% as compared to the same quarter last year.
Of course, agritourism in general is one of Malaysia’s top niche tourism products, with more international tourists now choosing immersive experiences and accommodations like farm stays and kampung homestays than in previous years.
For those who wish to experience staying at a Malaysian farm or orchard, here are some suggestions.
Try making your own mulberry jam at Dicky’s Leisure Farm. — Dicky’s Leisure Farm/Facebook
1. Dicky’s Leisure Farm
Fancy a fruit jam? Guests at Dicky’s Leisure Farm Homestay in Melaka get to taste the various fruit spreads made from ingredients harvested from the farm. There is an abundant supply of tropical fruits like cempedak, durian and mangosteen on this farm, as well as a wide range of vegetables and herbs.
Visitors can interact with the animals living on the farm such as ducks, chickens and peacocks, too.
You can even prepare your own breakfast, using produce and ingredients gathered from the farm.
At Bao Sheng Durian Farm, guests get to see how durian fruits are harvested (and they can later feast on them too). — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
2. Bao Sheng Durian Farm
About an hour’s drive from George Town in Penang is Bao Sheng Durian Farm. The farm has been in existence in Balik Pulau since 1959.
There are over 23 varieties of durians grown in the orchard today, so guests may very well get a full durian-themed experience here. Apart from the durian tasting tour, you can also learn all about Bao Sheng’s sustainable farming techniques.
The farm is tucked at a higher elevation, which provides a stunning vista of the island on the horizon.
For a little adventure, head into the Bukit Teruna Dara forest for a hike to check out the beautiful waterfall. The entrance to the forest is about 5km from the farm, while the hike takes about 100 minutes complete.
Located 9km away from Bao Sheng is another attraction, Entopia By Penang Butterfly Farm. This is a great place to discover the winged beauties, as it’s home to some 15,000 butterflies and other insects.
A goat with its baby at the UK Farm Agro Resort. — Filepic
3. UK Farm Agro Resort
From fruit picking to goat feeding, the UK Farm Agro Resort in Kluang, Johor has plenty of activities for guests. This is one of the largest goat and sheep farms in Malaysia, with over 4,000 of the animal living on the sprawling 40ha land.
The farm promises an exciting experience for both adults and kids. Go on a fruit tour where guests get to taste local fruits like soursop, passionfruit and durian.
Besides that, there is a mini petting zoo where visitors get to see exotic animals like ostrich and deer.
Experience the resort’s longhouse-themed stay while taking in the peace and quiet of the area.
Before heading back, drop by the Kluang Street Art to check out some cool murals, and the Kluang Coffee Powder Factory (Cap Televisyen), which has been around since 1966. You can request for a factory visit, or just check out their cafe and retail space, where you can get some information on the history of Kluang coffee.
The Kebun in Sarawak has plenty to offer guests. — The Kebun/Facebook
4. The Kebun
A more authentic longhouse experience that visitors can explore is at The Kebun in Kuching, Sarawak. The farm was initially meant to be a place for the owners to retire, and they started working on building the structures in 1998.
Two of the “bungalows” were actually used as sets for the Hollywood film, The Sleeping Dictionary. The bungalows – Adrian’s Bungalow and Olivia’s Bungalow – were disassembled from the film locations, and then reassembled at the farm.
In 2012, The Kebun was opened for overnight stays, offering guests the chance to experience farm life, feeding all the animals, harvesting vegetables from the garden, picking tropical fruits and fishing in the river. Guests will also get to learn more about some of the native communities and locals in Sarawak.
There are four types of accommodation available here, and interestingly each one comes with a different type of car that guests can borrow from the hosts. The idea is for guests to go on a self-drive tour to neighbouring attractions, like the Kubah National Park, Bako National Park and Sarawak Cultural Village.
Although there is no rental fee for the cars, you do need to pay for petrol. And if you can’t drive, or feel uneasy driving on your own, the hosts will help you get in touch with a trusted driver or guide, which you would have to pay for separately.
Padas Farmstay in Sabah lets guests sample and pick fruits. — Sabah Tourism
5. Padas Farmstay
Located some 150km away from Kota Kinabalu, Padas Farmstay in Tenom, Sabah opened its doors to the public in 2017. The main agricultural produce here is coffee, which is unsurprising as Tenom is famous for the elixir.
The farm frequently hosts tours for schools and tourists, mainly focusing on coffee cultivation. This walking tour is not only entertaining, but also educational for both adults and young children.
Situated not too far away is Yit Foh Coffee Factory & Park, another popular tourist attraction. This is the state’s oldest coffee producer which began in 1960.
Also interesting in the quaint town of Tenom is the Murut Cultural Centre. Established in 1996, the centre displays a vast collection of artefacts belonging to the Murut people of Sabah, the last ethnic group in the state to renounce headhunting practices.
