Penang countryside Balik Pulau Half Day Tour
Description
Balik Pulau is the other side of Penang Island, where lush greenery thrives. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, it is home to traditional Malay villages and fishing ports. On this journey, we will take you to explore this hidden side of the island, visiting traditional industries such as nutmeg and shrimp paste factories, admiring the traditional Malay houses, and of course, tasting the local delicacies as part of the experience. I’m sure it will be an unforgettable countryside trip.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is a nutmeg factory that has been in operation for decades. During the visit, we will explore the nutmeg orchard, see the nutmeg fruit, and learn about its various benefits through detailed explanations. The factory also sells a variety of nutmeg products, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to bring this wonderful product home.
We will enjoy a breakfast in Balik Pulau, and what we eat will depend on which vendors are open that day. But don't worry—it's all delicious Penang cuisine. After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll through the fishing village to admire the scenic harbor, the docked boats, and the relaxing atmosphere that will leave you feeling completely at ease. Along the way, we’ll drive past some traditional Malay houses, where we’ll stop for photos so you can capture the charm of this rare countryside experience.
Another cottage industry we will visit is the shrimp paste factory located in Pulau Betong, a small fishing village in Balik Pulau. We will observe the process of making belacan (shrimp paste) and how it is dried under the hot sun. Shrimp paste is an essential ingredient in many Malaysian delicacies."
We will admire the beautiful installation art at the paddy field. This is one of the five container art pieces found in Penang. The scenery there is highly Instagrammable—you can enjoy the view of the hills rising in the surroundings and the paddy field right beside it.
When you come to Balik Pulau, you definitely can't miss Assam Laksa. "Assam" means tamarind, and this dish has a flavor unique to Penang. Balik Pulau has the fresh ingredients needed for this delicacy, and even locals often make a special trip here to enjoy it. It has also been featured by CNN as one of the world's best foods. After savoring the Laksa, we'll continue by trying another Balik Pulau specialty—brown sugar buns.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(16)
Margaret was a wonderful guide. She showed us so much of rural Penang and told us all about it. She took loads of photos for us, its so nice to have both of us in photos together! She also encouraged us to try local delicacies, food that we would never have eaten without her suggestions. I would highly recommend this trip.
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip with Mag. Thank you for your wonderful review and for sharing your experience with us. Your support means a lot to our team and inspires us to keep delivering the best possible service. We look forward to hosting you again on your next adventure!
The morning tour started with breakfast at a traditional café, with a choice of kaya toast or scones, followed by a stop where you could buy local nutmeg products. The tour continued with a scenic viewing point by the water, then to a rice paddy with a painted shipping container and also included a visit to a church. Lunch was Penang laksa. The guide, William, was helpful and knowledgeable. Overall, it was an enjoyable way to experience the countryside around Penang.
Thank you for your support. We’re glad that you enjoyed the countryside tour, and we hope to see you again in the near future.
Jenny is a warm, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. I learned so much and it was wonderful to visit small businesses passed through the generations. The bird and plant life in the countryside was awesome. Great photo opportunities and good food too! I enjoyed this trip very much ... well worth the cost.
We’re so glad you enjoyed the Balik Pulau tour with Jenny. Thank you for your lovely review—it truly means a lot to us. We’ll continue improving and sharing more of Penang with travelers. We hope to welcome you again in the future!
This guide was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. He brought us to places off the beaten track as well as things we had read about. We highly recommend him for any experience in Penang.
Thank you for your support. We’re glad that you enjoyed the countryside tour, and we hope to see you again in the near future.
James, our guide, is a knowledgeable and diligent guide. We thoroughly enjoyed each sight he showed us, and James prevailed on the experts, like the nutmeg farm owner, to tell us about the places we visited. James went over the call of duty, bringing us to a unique breakfast experience, squeezing an extra visit, and regaling us with stories of the places we passed by as well as entertaining us with interesting tidbits about Penang. Even the Penang-born members of our group learnt so many new interesting facts. We enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed longer than we should, but James was proud to show us his Penang. Thank you James for a unique and enjoyable morning.
Thank you for your support. We’re glad that you enjoyed the countryside tour, and we hope to see you again !
It was a very interesting tour which included information about agriculture, (nutmeg, palm oil, rice, coconut), history of the area, nature and great food. Jenny always added interesting details. Jenny was a wonderful tour guide.
Thank you for your support. We’re glad that you enjoyed the countryside tour, and we hope to see you again in the near future.
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.
Thank you for liking the tour. It was such a great pleasure to spend time with both of you too.
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.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and recommendation! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the agricultural and local Malaysian side of Penang in Balik Pulau. Timothy will be very happy to know that you appreciated his knowledge and enthusiasm. It truly means a lot to our team. We’re glad you had the chance to experience a different side of Penang beyond George Town, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
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.
Thank you for your support. We’re glad that you enjoyed the countryside tour, and we hope to see you again in the near future.
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!
We are glad that you enjoyed the tour, thank you for the review ~ looking forward to host your family again~
