Go to Bentong in durian season if you can. The town is about an hour to an hour and a half from KL over the Karak Highway, and when the fruit is in, usually around June and July, it's at its busiest and most fun. Outside the season it's a quieter day out: an old tin-mining town with good noodles, a waterfall and the ginger the district is known for.
In durian season
In season the town fills with visitors from KL and other states who come for the fruit, and the markets are at their most crowded on weekends.
The catch is timing. The main season usually peaks around June and July, but weather moves it. In 2022 the peak was pushed back to October after an unpredictable year. So before you plan a durian day:
- Ask a stall or orchard you know, or check their social media, whether the fruit is falling that week.
- Go on a weekday if you can, and arrive in the morning, when the choice is widest.
- Bring cash and a plan for getting the fruit home.
That last point matters in a rental car. Durian smell lingers in upholstery for days, and CHECK: may customers carry durians in a Grandpride rental car, and is there a cleaning charge if the car smells of them?. Eating at the stall and taking only sealed, frozen packs home is the safe route.
The rest of the year
Bentong has plenty to fill a day without durian.
- Ginger. Bentong ginger, grown in the cool hills of the district around Bukit Tinggi, has had Geographical Indication status since 2015. It's sharper and more pungent than ordinary ginger. Catfish with ginger is the dish to try.
- The old town. The name is said to come from "bund untung", a profitable bund, from the tin-mining ponds of the 1880s. Kwong Fook Temple, from 1890, is said to be the oldest building in town, and the Chinese Town Hall dates from 1914.
- Food. Wantan mee, yong tau fu and tau fu fah are the local favourites, and ginger and honey are what people buy to take home.
- Chamang waterfall. Reached through Kampung Chamang and over a suspension bridge across the Perting River, it drops through a series of pools. One upper pool is deep and has a warning sign; take it seriously, and stay out of the water after heavy rain.
- Bentong Walk is a Saturday evening market with food stalls and performances. Check it's still running before you plan your evening around it.
Exits off the Karak Highway
From KL, take the Karak Highway east from Gombak, through the Genting Sempah tunnel and past the Genting and Bukit Tinggi turn-offs. After the Bentong toll plaza you have two exits:
| Exit | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Bentong West | Heading into town from KL. It works for eastbound traffic only, so you can't rejoin towards KL here |
| Bentong East | The way back to KL, and the exit for Raub if you carry on north |
The town is about 80 km from KL. From Petaling Jaya the round trip comes to roughly 160 km before you drive around town. The Karak Highway is the main road to Genting and the east coast, so it's heavy at the start and end of long weekends; a weekday is much easier. Our guide to driving up to Genting Highlands has more on this stretch of road.
Which car, and how much mileage
An SUV with a big boot handles the fruit boxes and shopping, and sits comfortably at highway speed on the long climb. The BMW X5M costs RM 1,600 a day; the Proton X70, at RM 800, does the same practical job for less.
Every Grandpride rental includes 120 km a day, with +50 km, +100 km or unlimited on top.
| Plan | Roughly from PJ | What to book |
|---|---|---|
| Bentong town and back | About 160 km | +50 km (170 km) is tight; +100 km is safer |
| Town plus Chamang waterfall | 170 to 190 km | +100 km a day |
| Bentong with Janda Baik or Bukit Tinggi on the way | About 180 to 200 km | +100 km a day |
| Bentong and Raub, or Bentong and Genting | Over 220 km | Unlimited |
Our guide to car rental mileage and toll cards explains how the extra kilometres are charged. Fuel goes back at the level you collected it, and only the named renter drives.
A durian trip is also one where everyone wants to eat and nobody wants to drive. A chauffeur booked by the hour, from 3 to 23 hours, takes that problem away; see the chauffeur service for the cars and rates.
Before you go
How far is Bentong from KL?
About 80 km, an hour to an hour and a half on the Karak Highway depending on where you start and the traffic.
When is durian season in Bentong?
The main season usually peaks around June and July, but the weather can move it by months. Check with a stall or orchard the week before.
Is Bentong in Pahang?
Yes. Bentong is a town and district in western Pahang, just across the Titiwangsa range from Kuala Lumpur. The district also takes in Genting Highlands, Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik.
Bentong di mana?
Bentong terletak di Pahang, kira-kira 80 km ke timur laut Kuala Lumpur, melalui Lebuhraya Karak.
