Things to do in

Penang

Discover George Town's heritage sites on a half-day tour with included hotel pickup and drop-off in George Town or Batu Ferringhi. Get the most out of your exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a private, English-speaking guide.  Begin your tour with hotel pickup, then head to the Khoo Kongsi, a Chinese clan house with stunning architecture, with your guide. Continue to be amazed as you visit Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple and the oldest clan temple in town, Cheah Kongsi. Hear all the background stories and insights from your expert guide. Don't miss a visit to the Taoist Chinese temple, Yap Kongsi, and Ciji Temple. Enjoy the last highlight with a visit to Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a house museum dedicated to Penang's Peranakan heritage which once served as the residence and office of a 19th-century Chinese tycoon, Chung Keng Quee. After 4 hours full of history and cultural insights, you will be dropped off back at your hotel in George Town or Batu Ferringhi.

This 4-hour tour will start from your hotel lobby at your chosen time slot of 9:00AM or 4:30PM. Meet and greet your professional English-speaking driver or guide and start your tour in a clean air-conditioned vehicle. Explore the back lanes of Penang off the beaten track, where you’ll make four or five stops to taste delightful snacks, drinks, and desserts. Along the way, listen to your foodie guide describe the street-food phenomenon in Penang. Infused with a variety of spices, Malaysian food showcases Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors. Try traditional fritters such as prawn, tofu or yam; bite into Penang lobak, a spiced deep-fried pork roll; slurp signature noodles; and sample delicious seafood among other savory snacks. When it’s time for dessert, sink your teeth into a sweet Indian pancake called an apom — deliciously crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Or, try a bite-sized kuih, a traditional sweet treat made of sticky glutinous rice. Other delectables available are heow piah (brown-sugar biscuits), coconut tarts and a variety of tropical fruits: jackfruit, assorted guava, coconut, dragon fruit, rambutan, and mangosteen. Drink it all down with a local favorite, choosing from a variety of non-alcoholic options including lime juice with sour plum, nutmeg juice, Chinese herbal tea, grass jelly, chrysanthemum, winter melon, fresh calamansi lime juice with plain or rose syrup, and more.

Your tour begins with pickup from your hotel at Georgetown on time for a 10am departure. Meet and greet your friendly driver at the hotel lobby and proceed for your tour. Your driver will pick you up from your respective hotel then you will head out to visit Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, and the streets of George Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then you will also visit Penang Hill where you will ride a funicular train to its peak at 833m above sea level to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of George Town and mainland, Butterworth. Colonial bungalows can be found around this hill due to the British preferring to stay in a cooler climate compared to the hot and humid environment in the city. After that, you will visit Kek Lok Si Temple. Built in 1891 as a small shrine, it has since expanded to become one of the most majestic and largest temples in South-East Asia. Since its founding in 1930, the “Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas” is considered one of Penang’s most beautiful architectural wonders as it is able to incorporate 3 cultures into one structure – with its Chinese octagonal base, Thai middle tier, and Burmese Crown. A 30.2m Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) bronze statue was erected in 2002 on the highest point of the temple. It can be reached via an Inclined lift at the middle. On the way, you will stop for some free sampling of Penang’s famous White Coffee/Tea at Coffee Tree.

Through this fascinating audio tour you will see the how this once British colonized city evolved to its present day mecca of culture and multiculturalism. While moving forward with time, Penang has also retained some of the old historic charm with its beautiful colonial buildings and elaborate Chinese and Indian temples, each having its own unique hand carved characteristics. You will meander through the narrow streets to visit some of the most historical and intricate temples in the world. For a different view of the city, wander through Little India where you have the opportunity to try delicious Indian cuisine such as roti canai, thosai, briyani rice and tandoori chicken. The food is affordable and tasty, and you can also experience tasting food on a banana leaf with your hands and no utensils if you wish. There is also a unique chance to visit The Clan Jetties, which are a collection of water villages at Weld Quay where the Indian community built many elaborate temples such as the Mahamariamman Temple. While the Muslim influence can be seen at the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the Acheh Mosque, and the Penang Islamic Museum. The Clan Jetties form part of the Penang Heritage Trail. It is considered as one of the last bastions of old Chinese settlements on the island, and this waterfront society is home to houses on stilts of various Chinese clans. Each of these water villages are over a century old, and are named after a Chinese clan (with the Chew Jetty being most tourist-friendly). This guided audio tour will help you discover that Penang is indeed the Pearl of the Orient in Malaysia.

Begin your tour after a 9:00 pick-up by visiting Clan jetty, a small floating village filled with souvenir shops and food stores. Move on to Kuan Yin, Penang’s oldest temple, built in 1728 by early immigrant settlers from China.   Head to Masjid Kapitan Keling to see a 200 year-old masjid. Head out to Sri Maha Mariamman, a beautiful south-Indian style temple covered with carvings of gods and goddesses. Move on to St. George Church, a fine example of Georgian-style architecture with displays of its history. Proceed to Pinang Peranakan Mansion and experience what it feels like being the richest Malaysian. Full of old world charms and collections, this is a great place for photography. Your next stop is Fort Cornwallis, an example of British Colonial architecture of the period. Finally, end the tour with some mouthwatering local dishes, before your hotel drop-off.    

Begin your tour by meeting your informative, English-speaking guide at your hotel lobby. Then, discover the city of George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the next 3 hours. Ride for 1 hour in a traditional trishaw, a 3-wheeled taxi, and enjoy the great sights of the city's streets in comfort. Learn the background stories as you ride past the town's historical attractions such as Fort Cornwallis, Penang Town Hall, Beach Street, Khoo Kongsi, and Acheh Street. Visit Kapitan Keling Mosque and the Goddess of Mercy Temple. After your last stop at Little India, you will be dropped off at your hotel in George Town or Batu Ferringhi.

Experience complete convenience on your visit to Penang with this private airport transfer service. Save time searching for a local taxi and enjoy a hassle-free transfer from the airport to your accommodation on the island of Penang, or vice versa. Choose between an air-conditioned car for up to 3 people or an air-conditioned van for up to 7 people. For arrival transfers, your personal driver will monitor your flight and pick you up straight after you land in the airport arrivals area. Look out for a sign with your name on it. After meeting your driver, get assistance with your luggage, be escorted to your vehicle, then drive directly to your hotel or condo in Penang. For departure transfers, meet your driver at the lobby of your hotel or condo in Penang. Sit back and relax in complete comfort before leaving the island.

Begin your tour after a 9:00am pickup by visiting Clan jetty, a small floating village filled with souvenir shops and food stores. Move on to Kuan Yin, Penang’s oldest temple, built in 1728 by early immigrant settlers from China. Head to Masjid Kapitan Keling to see a 200 year-old masjid. Head out to Sri Maha Mariamman, a beautiful south-Indian style temple covered with carvings of gods and goddesses. Move on to St. George Church, a fine example of Georgian-style architecture with displays of its history. Proceed to Pinang Peranakan Mansion and experience what it feels like to be one of the richest Malaysians. Full of old world charms and collections, this is a great place for photography. Your next stop is Fort Cornwallis, an example of British Colonial architecture from this period. Finally, end the tour with some mouthwatering local dishes, before your hotel drop-off.