Professed by many to be the "Queen of Sunrises", this bustling riverine village, about 15km south of Kuala Terengganu, grew originally from a cluster of fishing folks' homes. It is today acknowledged by many as the most advantageous point along the East Coast to witness and photograph the most spectacular daily sunrise in the country.

Thousands of postcards depicting the sunrise in all its blazing glory over the fishing villages amidst the silhouettes of massive coconut groves are circulated throughout the world regularly. In this respect, a string of budget Hotels is located along the banks of the river and near the estuary offering " the most glorious sunrise views".

The most popular spot for this purpose is the bridge across the river mouth where one can also admire the colourfully painted fishing boats as they plough down the river towards the sea in the early moments of dawn. Marang beach is unique in that its broad golden sands form a remarkable stretch of sand dunes like a wall that slopes dramatically into the sea, creating an unusual two-tier beach.

Marang is also well known for its river and mangrove environment, and one can hire a boat at the Marang jetty for an insightful ride upriver to observe some of the intriguing wetland flora and fauna, including monitor lizards and otters.