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Traveloka SG

06 Aug 2019 - 4 min read

Leave the thorny friendships behind, get your durian-loving buddies to these 5 orchards in Malaysia

We are not tooting our own horns, but Malaysia is a very special place for durian lovers. Our durians are so good that you can smell them from a mile away, and we have not even started talking about the golden, meaty, creamy durian flesh each fruit contains. That’s why, our neighbors down south would fly all the way to Malaysia just for our durians. And China’s demand for our durians keeps ramping up (but so do our durian prices, sigh). We’ll say it again, our durians are that good.

However, in this household, we do not GrabFood our durians because, let’s be honest, where’s the thrill in that? We’re campaigning for all Malaysians to make a trip to the many durian orchards in the country to have a feast on freshly harvested durians instead. If you have never been to durian orchards, trust us, the experience is worth it. Before the durian season ends, forget the thorny friendships, and use our guide to the durian orchards you must visit with your fellow durian-loving buddies!

Karak Organic Durian Farm

Credit: Karak Organic Durian Farm Facebook

If you want to indulge in the best organic durians out there — and we mean no genetic modifications, added chemical, artificial fertilizer or insecticide — this is a farm you should put at the very top of your Must-Visit list.

Guided durian tours through the orchard are common, but Karak Organic Durian Farm is not your typical tour. Mr. Ng Swee Pen, the owner of this organic durian farm, is armed with a degree in agriculture from the University of Malaysia and has managed Sime Darby oil palm plantation for years. This means, this farmer knows about farming, and his durians inside out.

Note: The farm is right in the middle of an oil palm plantation and a little tricky to reach, but the full-on durian experience is unlike any other!

Address: Sabai Estate, 28600 Karak, Pahang.

Jimmy’s Durian Orchard

Credit: Jimmy’s Durian Orchard Facebook

Approximately an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, the family-run Jimmy’s Durian Orchard has all the durian varieties that strike your fancy, starting from the Musang King to the D24, D101, Tekka, and of course the classic durian kampung. Go #YOLO and have them all!

Take a guided walk through the durian orchard with Jimmy, the owner of the orchard himself, and listen to his detailed explanations on the biology of the trees, how to identify the many varieties of durians and, most importantly, how to choose a good durian! If you are wondering how good the durians are, we’ll just tell you they are usually sold out by mid day.

If you have more room in your belly (no judgment passed), the orchard also cultivates some of the best mangosteens, papayas, rambutans and langsat we have ever tasted! We would have made a second trip the very next day, had the orchard not been fully-booked. *sigh*

Address: Jalan Lama Bentong, 28600 Bentong, Pahang.

Bao Sheng Durian Farm

Credit: Bao Sheng Durian Farm Facebook

Who would drive all the way to Penang just for durians? The real question is, who wouldn’t? We know we would! Each year, the Balik Pulau durian harvest is so famous, especially among Singaporeans, these tourists would fly in just to have a durian feast amidst the trees. Different time slots are allocated for various species of durians, so check out their website for more info.

Address: 150 MK 2 Sungai, 11010 Balik Pulau, Penang.

Haw Kee Durian Orchard

Credit: Haw Kee Durian Orchard Facebook

Haw Kee Durian Orchard stocks the same thorny crowd favorites such as D13, Tawa, Golden Phoenix, the highly sought-after Musang King and the rare Red Flower. It was our first time trying Red Flower, which the owner of the orchard, Kok Chow Hioong discovered from the Orang Asli community. We have to say, we lived to tell this story.

Once you’ve had some good “Negeri Sembilan durians”, there’s a narrow jungle trail heading to Gunung Berembun where you can visit the crash site of an old World War II plane or just to burn off those calories. You can also chill out at one of the waterfalls in the area.

Address: Lot 2013 Kampung Kolam Air Mukim Pantai Baharu, Jalan Jelebu, 71700 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Yes Orchard

Credit: Yes Orchard Facebook

If you know someone who has been to Yes Orchard, tucked in Sungai Klau, a tiny town about 30 minutes’ drive east of Raub, it’s likely that you’ll never hear the end of how good the durians there are. The orchard is a haven for durian lovers.

Priding themselves for producing some of the best Musang King, the durian farmers claim that they will leave tingling senses on your tongue because the flavor of a freshly-harvested durian is especially strong. This unique, “numbing” taste can only be experienced within 30 minutes after the durian drops to the ground.

There’s also a Durian Orchard café, with a menu of durian-based savory dishes such as the gulai tempoyak ikan patin (fermented durian curry) and durian pizzas, and desserts such as durian mini tarts.

Address: 206 Jalan Sungai Chalit, Kampung Sungai Klau, Raub, Pahang.

All the durians got you feeling full and sleepy? Here’s an idea — go for a staycation with your fellow durian buddies where you can feast on durians all day while taking in the gorgeous surrounding kampung scenery. But first, check out our promotions before you go!

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