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Balik Pulau Tour: Discover Penang's Hidden Gem
5.0
12 Ratings
George Town
Explore Balik Pulau’s lush landscapes, traditional industries, and local delicacies on a captivating half-day tour of Penang’s hidden gem.
Explore Balik Pulau’s lush landscapes, traditional industries, and local delicacies on a captivating half-day tour of Penang’s hidden gem.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory - This longstanding nutmeg factory has been operational for many years. Visitors will have the chance to explore the nutmeg orchard, observe the nutmeg fruit, and gain insights into its numerous benefits through comprehensive explanations. The factory also offers a range of nutmeg products for sale, providing an excellent…
- Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory - This longstanding nutmeg factory has been operational for many years. Visitors will have the chance to explore the nutmeg orchard, observe the nutmeg fruit, and gain insights into its numerous benefits through comprehensive explanations. The factory also offers a range of nutmeg products for sale, providing an excellent opportunity for visitors to take home this delightful product.
- Balik Pulau - Breakfast will be enjoyed in Balik Pulau, with the menu depending on which vendors are open that day. Rest assured, all options are delicious Penang cuisine. After breakfast, a leisurely walk through the fishing village will allow visitors to appreciate the picturesque harbor, the moored boats, and the tranquil atmosphere that promises complete relaxation. Along the route, there will be a drive past traditional Malay houses, with stops for photos to capture the charm of this unique countryside experience.
- Pulau Betong - Another cottage industry to visit is the shrimp paste factory in Pulau Betong, a quaint fishing village in Balik Pulau. Visitors will witness the process of making belacan (shrimp paste) and its sun-drying method. Shrimp paste is a vital ingredient in many Malaysian dishes.
- Kampong Terang - The beautiful installation art at the paddy field will be admired. This is one of the five container art pieces located in Penang. The scenery is highly Instagrammable, offering views of the surrounding hills and the adjacent paddy field.
- Balik Pulau - A visit to Balik Pulau is incomplete without trying Assam Laksa. “Assam” refers to tamarind, and this dish boasts a flavor unique to Penang. Balik Pulau provides the fresh ingredients essential for this delicacy, and even locals often make special trips to enjoy it. It has also been highlighted by CNN as one of the world’s best foods. After savoring the Laksa, visitors can continue by sampling another Balik Pulau specialty—brown sugar buns.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- A licensed guide is included in this tour.
- Private transportation
- A licensed guide is included in this tour.
What's Not Included
- All meal expenses and the cost of purchasing souvenirs are to be borne by the participants.
- All meal expenses and the cost of purchasing souvenirs are to be borne by the participants.
Additional Information
Balik Pulau is located on the opposite side of Penang Island, where vibrant greenery flourishes. Encircled by mountains and the sea, it hosts traditional Malay villages and fishing harbors. This journey invites exploration of this lesser-known part of the island, with visits to traditional industries like nutmeg and shrimp paste factories, appreciation…
Balik Pulau is located on the opposite side of Penang Island, where vibrant greenery flourishes. Encircled by mountains and the sea, it hosts traditional Malay villages and fishing harbors. This journey invites exploration of this lesser-known part of the island, with visits to traditional industries like nutmeg and shrimp paste factories, appreciation of traditional Malay architecture, and sampling of local delicacies as part of the experience. It promises to be an unforgettable countryside adventure.
Location
JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La
Magazine Rd
We will contact you prior the tour date to provide vehicle number. We will meet you at the lobby of Jen hotel on the travel date. Private arrangement can be made to pick up from others location with some fees incur, communication will be done prior the date.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(12 Ratings)
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Jonandmand99
Feb 26, 2026
A wonderful tour to see a different side of Penang. - This trip was wonderful.
Jenny our driver guide was very knowledgeable and excited to tell us more about ‘the other side of the island’. Ramadan and Chinese New Year celebrations meant some places were closed but Jenny’s knowledge helped navigate this and create a great experience for us. We got to see the agricultural area and appreciate how this contributes to Penang’s economy. The food stops were delicious and we got to try local food.
This is a very special trip where you get to see a very different side of Penang.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eloise_s
Feb 7, 2026
Beyond George Town - This trip to Bali Pulau was very interesting as we got to learn more about the agricultural and Malaysian side of Penang. Our guide, Timothy, was very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. This tour is highly recommended for anyone who want to see more of Penang, beyond George Town.
Review provided by Viator
G8153omchriso
Jan 7, 2026
Half day tour of pulau belong.perfect. - Our guide was perfect.he was friendly, professional,and very knowledgeable. We learnt alot about the area and culture's. We would recommend Timothy as your guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway06327609330
Dec 11, 2025
Balik Pulau Day Tour - We had 2 Adults + 2 Elderly + 2 Kids on the Balik Pulau Day Tour. We particularly enjoyed enjoyed the Peace and Tranquility of the Country Side, especially the Paddy Fields! Our Tour Guide, Jenny and Driver Jeff took care of us very well. Jenny also shared a lot about the place, making it a very informative and enriching experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hoont2023
Sep 9, 2025
Serene trip around an area of Penang full of the old ways - Just fantastic. For a fellow Malaysian wanting to learn about Penang heritage this was perfect. My favorite was learning about the origins of the Hakka community in Balik Pulau
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrea_f
Jul 29, 2025
Balik Pulau tour with Jenny. - A big thanks goes to our driver and tour guide, Jenny, for her expert and friendly service. We enjoyed exploring the rural part of Penang, away from the more crowded area of George Town. Jenny's knowledge and all the local information she shared with us along the way enhanced our visit to Penang. Our lunch destination was also delicious- we loved trying the local Penang speciality, Asam Laksa (yum!). All in all, it was a great half day tour - and one which we highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
236mnat
Jul 28, 2025
Balik Pulau with Jenny - A big thank you to Jenny, our tour guide, who picked us up direct from Sunway Hotel and took us to many interesting spots in Balik Pulau. We experienced another side of Penang, visiting the more rural areas, and tasted different local foods along the way. The Assam Lasksa was especially delicious and now we know that the tamarind makes it a local Penang speciality (yum!). Jenny knows a lot and left us with many new cultural insights. It was an excellent tour, allowing us to get some nature into our day (from her cool and comfortable car).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simon_h
Jul 19, 2025
Great visit to rural Penang. - This is an all-round great experience with insight into rural Malaysian life and traditions. Jenny was warm and friendly, she provided lots of very interesting information and happily answered all our questions. We saw many local businesses and stopped to try lots of different traditional Malaysian foods, which were extremely reasonably priced. We also really enjoyed seeing the Malaysian countryside as we drove between stops. We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Lukasz_d
Jul 3, 2025
A wonderful experience - We had a great tour with Jenny, and we highly recommend this tour. Jenny is very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information on the different areas we went to. Overall we had a great time, ate some fantastic food and discovered a different side to Penang.
Luke and Lisa
Review provided by Viator
Kendallsd2019
Feb 15, 2025
Outstanding tour of Balik Pulau and surrounding countryside. - Although we have visited Georgetown many times before, we have never ventured too far from the city. In search of something different we decided to book this half day tour to the nearby village of Balik Pulau and surrounding countryside. Wow. What a revelation. Jenny was an informative and very interesting guide who personalised the tour to suit our interests. The visits to local, family run factories provided insights into traditional industries and the peaceful countryside around Balik Pulau was a world away from the busy streets of Georgetown. The tour also included a look at local murals and container art, as well as delicious breakfast, lunch and snack stops (at your own expense but extremely reasonable). Jenny was a safe driver, with excellent English and the tour was very well organised. In addition, Jenny was happy to provide recommendations for Georgetown eateries, shopping and attractions. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Georgetown for the first (or 15th) time. A fantastic day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
