Monkey Beach
Among Penang’s numerous beaches, there is one secluded beach that is the hidden paradise known as Monkey Beach. Located along the northern coast of the island, accessing the beach requires a two-hour walk through the jungle, or a 30-minute boat ride. Once you’ve arrived, Monkey Beach offers an exquisite blend of natural beauty, tranquility, and fascinating wildlife.
From the pristine shores to the lush tropical jungle that serves as a natural backdrop, this secluded haven has long been a popular destination for locals and tourists. Thankfully, we finally got there on our recent trip to check it out. Along with being a great beach, it’s also a great place to picnic for the day, or enjoy the delicious Malaysian food being cooked on the beach. But, true to the name of the beach, do not leave your food unattended for any length of time, because within seconds, it will disappear.
Penang’s National Park
When making a trip to Monkey Beach, you will be in a portion of Taman Negara Pulau Pinang, a designated Natural Park on the island. The park is vast and fun to hike, as it provides a sanctuary for various wildlife species. As you walk through the park’s trails, you’re likely to encounter an array of unique creatures, including macaque monkeys, monitor lizards, colorful butterflies, and exotic birds. Equally interesting on the jungle trails are the plants and flowers you discover, such as pitcher plants and rare orchids.
The park does a great job of actively promoting responsible tourism practices to ensure the conservation of its natural treasures. Visitors are encouraged by signs and park staff to respect the environment, adhere to designated trails, and avoid littering. Oh yeah, and don’t feed the monkeys!
Best Way to Monkey Beach
Take the drive north from George Town on Highway 6, and follow the road west through Batu Ferringhi, arriving in the village of Teluk Bahang. Once you arrive at the main roundabout, take the second exit onto P247, and follow that all the way back until it dead ends at the entrance to the park. There is a parking lot next to the entrance, where you will pay a few ringgit to park, depending on the day and if you want covered parking.
To reach the beach from the entrance, you can either choose to make the two-hour walk through the park, or hire one of the boats from the stand outside the gate. The price for the boat varies depending on the duration, but typically it’s RM100 ($25 USD) for a round trip with a few hours for you to enjoy the beach.
Beach Hawker
Many Malaysian families bring a feast out to the beach and make a full day of it, which is a great way to go. But if you don’t feel like packing a picnic and a cooler, there are options. There is a fantastic stall on the beach where Tammy and the crew will cook you up a plate of Char Kway Teow, Mee Goreng, or some other fabulous Malaysian dish for around $3. There are also a few stands that sell sodas, water, and beer. The beach offers bathroom facilities, along with tables, chairs, and designated areas for barbecuing.
Tour and Shop for Your New Batik
After Monkey Beach, another great thing to do if you’re in Teluk Bahang is to tour Craft Batik. You can see firsthand the intricate work that goes into making batik shirts, robes, and other clothing and accessories. You can even commission them to create a shirt according to your preferred colors and design. The store is fantastic, and the prices are excellent. We had a wonderful time on the tour, and we picked up a few items from the shop. We were also pleasantly surprised to see the Malaysian artwork they had for sale. Browsing through the display, we were delighted to discover our cousin Ginger Brand’s work prominently featured in their collection. We love her work, and we found another piece we simply had to have. If you’re in Penang, Craft Batik offers much to see and is definitely worth checking out.
