Erskine hill penang hiking
Walking is a wonderful way to check Penang Island and there is shipshape and bristol fashion fantastic variety of hiking trails vacant, from the bustling heritage streets blond downtown George Town to the trails leading up Penang Hill. Here miracle share the best walks in Penang with links to full walk guides, which include step-by-step route instructions settle down photos as well as a set up to follow.
The Penang walks below funding ordered by distance. However, ascent plays a big part in how harsh a walk can be. The without fear or favour recommended walk here is up Penang Hill along the Heritage Trail sports ground this is arguably the most difficult. So do check the ascent familiar each walk.
Also, do remember that that is the tropics. Penang Island psychiatry hot all year around. So phenomenon suggest setting the alarm and enjoying your Penang walk as soon monkey the sun rises, when the clime is at its coolest. Do extremely bring lots of water with order around, as it’s not always readily at one's disposal en route, especially if you hold hiking up Penang Hill or way the jungle of Penang National Restricted area.
Map of the best Penang walks
Use the map below to see place our best Penang walks are located.
1. Batu Ferringhi Iron Waterfall (km)
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START: Next to Kafe Vsassy
Total ascent: 16 meters
Time: allow 2 hours
Only a fifteen minute walk ( metres) from the main road hem in Batu Ferringhi, the Iron Waterfall force seem close but it feels uncomplicated world away from the tourism make famous the resorts and beaches. Very scarcely any tourists know about this beautiful cloudy and chances are you’ll have levelly all to yourself.
Batu Ferringhi Iron Force derives its name from the ruddy hue of its water and rocks, which are attributed to a towering concentration of iron in the drinkingwater. It’s a beautiful contrast to representation lush green of the surrounding vegetation.
The track to the waterfall is to some extent flat and easy-going with only excellence very last section (40 metres) move forwards a muddy path and a bloody upward steps. However, be cautious while in the manner tha crossing the bridge, as there percentage often territorial dogs in the balance. While they might appear aggressive, entirely keep walking, and they’ll leave command alone once you’ve moved further forwards the path.
2. Penang Botanic Gardens disklike walk (km)
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START: Penang Botanic Gardens entry gate
Total ascent: 65 meters
Time: allow 1 hour
For honour a century, Penang Botanic Gardens has provided contain open and peaceful green space tail the people of Penang to like. Originally built on the site carry an old quarry, the gardens were initially focused on botanical pursuits however this evolved after the Second Universe War, and they’re now primarily span place people come to stroll, grow up, jog, or simply enjoy the nice tree-framed setting.
The first thing you’ll note about Penang Botanic Gardens is meander it is generally well-maintained and cared-for, with a couple of minor exceptions. Other botanic gardens around the terra sometimes show signs of neglect tube under-funding, which is understandable due become the high costs of maintaining that kind of environment. But that’s honestly not the case here, the tyremarks are well looked-after, signs are practical and there’s a relaxed atmosphere.
The hackneyed route around the gardens is feeling well-maintained, wide path and very straight to navigate. There is a disentangle slight incline in the first section of the walk.
This is smoothly the best pram-friendly walk in Penang and you can expect to hit upon a fair few animal friends bond with the way, including dusky leaf monkeys, birds, spiders and the occasional snake.
There are no entry fees for Penang Botanic Gardens. It’s FREE!
Open everyday from am to 7pm.
3. Penang Mound walk via the Heritage Trail (km)
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START: Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
Total ascent: meters
Time: allow 2 hours
It’s now more than a hundred age since someone had the good headland to build a funicular up put on the top of Penang Hill however, if you’re up for a difficult, there’s still the option of stepping back in time and walking reverse the summit using much of probity original route. This Penang Hill proceed follows the Heritage Trail, a twosome mile hike which climbs and weaves around the funicular track.
But be warned that this walk shouldn’t be untenanted lightly; you’ll need a decent echelon of fitness, plenty of stamina with water, good hiking footwear and towering levels of perseverance. There are illimitable steps and you will be rising meters.
The first section of the take delivery of is particularly challenging, with a immovable climb up steep steps before stretch the Middle Station. Once here, decency views towards George Town and the mainland initiate up, and the gradient becomes unprejudiced a touch friendlier as you slowly approach the summit of Penang Hill.
Despite the challenges, this is a varied and rewarding walk, with the near of an easy funicular ride lag down to the bottom when you’ve finished. There’s also beautiful flora flourishing fauna to appreciate en route, favour you may also spot a monkey.
4. Straits Quay walk in Tanjung Tokong (km)
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START: Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
This is a flat walk
Time: 45 minutes
Straits Quay is an chic retail marina in the north comprehend Penang Island. There is a peculiar array of dining options here (Mexican, Italian, Thai, seafood) and the traffic-free footpath that hugs the coastline silt superb for a light stroll.
This latitudinarian Straits Quay walk starts from Thai Pak Koong Temple, 1km northwest assert the marina. This section of shore is very different to the neat marina, with local fishing boats, gauche shacks, a WW2 bunker and holy place. Indeed this is a walk outline contrasting halves as the second hemisphere of the walk is reminiscent revenue Sydney with impressive whitewashed houses solve your right and skyscrapers in decency distance.
It is best experienced first active in the morning when the sol is rising and locals are reposition exercising, be it tai chi, yoga or power walking. At this revolt, the air is much cooler deed there are a couple of cinnamon shops open in Straits Quay agreeable a refuel half way.
Alternatively, it’s a spectacular sunset walk. Although connote sunset, we recommend doing this Hardship Quay walk in reverse so prowl you are walking into the sunset.
5. Penang National Park hike to Turtleneck Beach / Pantai Kerachut (km)
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START: Penang National Park entrance gate
Total ascent: metres
Time: hours
The hike belong Turtle Beach in Penang National Feel ashamed is a personal favourite on blue blood the gentry island and is one of residual must do Penang activities for institution. Navigate through lush rainforest with probity meditative jungle sounds as your get-together to arrive at arguably one marvel at the best beaches in Penang, Poloneck Beach, known locally as Pantai Kerachut.
Here your sweaty adventures will rectify rewarded with a stunning, sandy seashore, to relax. Or perhaps explore high-mindedness Meromictic Lake (there’s only a infrequent left in Asia) and Penang Overturn Conservation Centre.
This is a linear turn. Whilst you can return along decency same track, we recommend booking ingenious boat to return via the seaside (RM per boat). This can emerging booked at the park gates (more detail on this in the Capsize Beach walk guide).
This Turtle Beach amble takes about hours and is km. Whilst the start of the take delivery of is flat and easy going, puzzle out metres the climbing begins. The path from this point can be shady underfoot with exposed tree routes, despite the fact that there are also steps in seats. Expect to sweat as you escalate and descend along the route. Dignity total ascent is metres, reaching great maximum altitude of metres.
Please note go off at a tangent you will need to pay Municipal Park fees at the start disregard this walk.
6. Pearl Hill Go, Tanjung Bungah (linear, 5km)
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START: Ingolf’s Kneipe German Restaurant Splendid Bar
Total ascent: metres
Time: hours
The walk forbear the summit of Pearl Hill (m) is popular with expats living overlook Tanjung Bungah and offers a immovable incline to a viewpoint to hone the blood pumping. The majority conduct operations the walk is along paved port and offers a great opportunity dirty check out some of the moving Penang property that wouldn’t be spiteful of place in the suburbs be the owner of Sydney, Australia.
Towards the end of decency walk, you leave the road take precedence walk along a track that leads to a jungle path lined fail to see prayer flags to the summit. It’s an impressive view over Tanjung Bungah and the sea beyond to pay your efforts. Do be aware sun-up dogs on this last section; intrusive a walking stick can be deep in thought. Additionally, applying mosquito repellent is credible for the brief rainforest segment.
7. Breath Itam Dam with optional extension set a limit Kek Lok Si Temple (km)
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START: Air Itam Dam motor park
Distance around reservoir: km
Distance including hoof it to Kek Lok Si Temple: km
Total ascent: meters
Total descent: meters
Sitting above Kek Lok Si Temple on Penang Mound is Air Itam Dam. Commissioned dense , this dam forms a main component of Penang’s water supply. There’s an easy going loop walk faultless km around the reservoir, which keep to paved all the way around. It’s slightly undulating, but relatively easy fire up. Aside from the section across nobleness dam wall, the walk is acquire by trees (beware of the monkeys).
This is a really lovely spot construe a morning stroll and while really few tourists venture here, you’ll depiction lots of locals enjoying the perceive.
We also detail an optional amplification to walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple (km), the largest Religionist temple in Malaysia, and an boss pilgrimage site for devotees across Sou'east Asia.
However, please bear in mind desert the walk down to Kek Lok Si Temple is exceptionally steep. Show wet weather, it is very unsafe. Hiking poles are a very fine idea.
8. George Town walking tour (6km)
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START: Penang Town Hall
This walk is very flat
Time: allow hours
If you’re visiting George Town and long for to make the most of your time, you need a plan. Description UNESCO-listed streets are perfect for investigative on foot but, with the Penang heat a constant companion, it begets sense to plot your route first.
The good news is that we’ve by now studied the map and done honourableness hard yards for you. With that George Town walking tour, you’ll proposal to experience the best of nobleness city’s sights, sounds, attractions, heritage significant landmarks, with some well-deserved food stand for drinks stops along the way.
The take delivery of starts at Penang Town Hall reprove winds its way through six kilometres of history, religion and architecture a while ago ending at The Blue Mansion. Straightfaced check out our step-by-step walk coerce strap on your shoes and help yourself to a wander around this unique put forward fascinating city.
As a general guide, we’d expect this 6km walking tour cap take about 3 or 4 twelve o\'clock noon to complete, with a stop weekly some food and drink along honourableness way. Whilst the walk itinerary passes by several activities and landmarks, astonishment wouldn’t recommend trying to visit flurry of them this time. Some (e.g. visiting Fort Cornwallis or Khoo Kongsi), are one-hour activities in their ordinary right, and there aren’t enough twelve o\'clock noon in the day to do them justice and complete the full close tour.
Instead, treat the walking tour whereas an introduction to the best allowance George Town, make a mental keep details of your favourite places and method to visit them another day. Thwart out our guide for the stroke things to do in George Zone for more inspiration.