Markets and Handicrafts Tour, Kota Bharu Malaysia, Eastern Malaysia

Siti Khadijah, Khota Bharu’s famous Central Market in Kelantan, is the first stop on this half-day guided tour. The market itself is mainly operated by women and named after a role model for female entrepreneurship, the wife of Prophet Muhammad. Siti Khadijah is a paradise for traditional crafts and delicious home-made desserts, and most fittingly, it has a delightful community feel to it.

Once you’ve sampled the baked goods and admired the handiwork, The Craft Museum in the centre of the cultural zone of Khota Bharu will give you insights into local artisan trade. Enjoy a traditional Kelantanese lunch at Balai Sulur Gadung before continuing on to the Handicraft Village next door. Here, you’ll see plenty of stunning examples of delicate embroidery, elegant wood carvings, intricate weaving, sophisticated silver work and colourful batik prints.