Johor or ‘Jauhar’, which means ‘precious stone’, is endowed with a wealth of natural wonders and lives up to its tagline – “endless excitement”.

There are many reasons to visit Johor. The state offers plenty of thrilling and enchanting moments; from sandy beaches to engaging folklores. Flora and fauna abound and in certain gazetted areas, nature thrives undisturbed. True adventure can be experienced in its 100 million-year-old tropical rainforests of the Endau-Rompin National Park.

The national park boasts more than 200 species of birds, 180 butterflies, 50 types of fish and other diverse and intriguing species cannot be found in other parts of the world. You can see these animals in their natural habitat.

The legendary Gunung Ledang will enchant you in its fascinating story of a lovelorn princess. Tales of supernatural encounters make the forest even more mysterious and alluring. Other eco-tourism destinations worth visiting are Gunung Belumut and Gunung Arong. Recreational forests such as Gunung Pulai, Soga Perdana and Gunung Panti are mostly
frequented by town dwellers, as they are closer to urban areas.

A short drive from the city is Desaru, a village lined with rows of casuarinas, well-preserved beaches and lush tropical forest. The beach offers an idyllic and unspoilt setting in the southern part of the peninsula.

Driving down to Tenglu beach, a quiet getaway awaits, offering various leisurely sightseeing. Other popular beaches are Tanjung Leman, Teluk Endau, Tanjung Balau and Teluk Ramunia.

On the west coast in the district of Pontian is the swampy island of Pulau Kukup. It is gazetted as the state’s nature park and preserved for its wetland sanctuary. The trip here will bring you to a typical fishing village about 85km from Johor Bahru. Along the journey, you will see lush rubber, coffee, oil palm and cocoa plantations.

The real treasures of Johor are its islands. Among the famous ones are the Sibu group of islands, Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Pemanggil and Pulau Sibu. An array of activities from jungle trekking, snorkelling, wind surfing and scuba Diving can be enjoyed here. For the adventurous, you can try Diving at these waters as it unveils a plethora of marine life and a spectrum of colourful coral reefs.

Every district in Johor offers its own culinary specialties that add to the rich variety of the state’s traditional delights. It is not surprising that some people are willing to travel many kilometres to savour specialities found at different areas. Delectable local fare include Johor Laksa, Otak-Otak, Mee Bandung and Nasi Beriani Gam.

Johor will also amaze you with some of the most interesting traditional Malay dances such as Kuda Kepang and Zapin. Ghazal and Barongan also originate from this state.

Art lovers can browse and shop at Ayer Itam, a haven for pottery, porcelain and earthenware sold at very reasonable prices. There are rows of shops offering an endless range of these items. If you are shopping for textiles, Tangkak is the place to go.

Johor also has modern hypermarkets, shopping malls and supermarkets as well as specialty shops and stores. From internationally famous designer merchandise wares, to local talent, from fabulous malls to colourful market stalls, selling fresh produce, specialty shops and craft shops; you’re sure to find something delightful.