Penang City Break

📍 Transfer from Penang Airport to Penang Hotel (20km): 40mins HD Experience: The Habitat at Penang Hill 14:00 – 18:00 (4 hours)

Upon arrival in Penang, check-in to the hotel and freshen up before meeting the guide and be transferred to The Habitat on Penang Hill.

Pick up by driver at 13:00 and guide to visit The Habitat on Penang Hill and take the funicular railway to enjoy panoramic views of Georgetown and the mainland.

The Habitat preserves the natural beauty of the Penang hills. Reconnect with nature in its purest form as you immerse yourself in the 130-million year old rainforest. Starting at the forest floor, Habitat’s Naturalists will take you on a journey along its Nature Trail to explore the myriad of flora and fauna – plants, trees, insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals that call The Habitat home. Rest at the Golden bromeliad and Orchid pavilions and take a moment to reflect on the sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest before going on the 230m Langur Way Canopy Walk. Visit Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk at the top of Penang Hill, and embrace the 360-degree panoramic views of Penang Island from the highest viewing point of Penang.

16:00 Take a drink and snack (at your own expense) at The Habitat Café before taking the train down to meet the vehicle and continue back to the hotel.

Spend dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Penang.

Inclusions:

📍 FD Experience: Where Nature meet Streets Art at 08:30 – 16:30 (8 hours)

At 08:30 this morning, take a trip deep in the hills of the winding road of Teluk Bahang towards Balik Pulau to a sculpture garden called Art & Garden, where nature meets with art. The garden was created by a Penang-born glass artist Fuan Wong for nature and art lovers, fusing an appreciation for the environment with sculptures and other art installations.

Take a pleasant walk within the 1.5acres along the terraced hill of green sanctuary showcases an amazing variety of bromeliads, air plants, aloes, agaves, gingers, trumpet pictures and orchids seamlessly blended with glass, clay, metal sculptures, colourful mosaics as well as paintings, landscaped along with many other mediums of work and tropical plants. At points in the garden, keep a look out of the scenic views of the northwestern slopes of Penang Hill and the lowlands of Sungai Pinang and Balik Pulau further south. Beyond the immediate boundaries of the garden is the ‘durian’ orchard belonging to the artist's family.

From here transfer back to Georgetown with a stop in the quiet town of Balik Pulau in the centre of Penang. Three Murals reside here on the outside of pre-war shops that represent the community; a fisherman, a traditional Malay martial art silat and a dancing Hakka girl. Learn about the significance of each mural to Balik Pulau with a short walk and photo shoot.

Then, take a 35-minute transfer back to Georgetown to Hin Bus Depot (Sundays offers a pop-up crafts market from 11:00-17:00), a community art space that supports and nurtures emerging artists. Once an old Bus Depot, the area is now reformed into a unique space with a Mural Garden and cafes. Enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the restaurants of choice within the Mural Garden.

At 13:30, continue on for a short transfer to Penang to complete the day's art tour with a walking tour and rickshaw ride of Georgetown’s Street Art. Discover whimsical paintings and sculptures as well as interactive murals inspired by daily life. Learn about the commissioning of one of Penang’s largest street art collections and the growing community of local artists who help add touches of personality to the city’s streets.

Stop by Fuan Wong’s glasswork studio on Armenian Street to view more of his great work before picking up a trishaw for a short ride through Georgetown before returning to the hotel for 16:00.

Overnight in Penang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 FD Experience: The Heritage Trail Penang at 08:30 – 15:30 (7 hours)

08:30 From a variety of ethnic Chinese clan houses to streets full of Bollywood music and saris, Penang never fails to amaze. Join our guide for a full day walking tour to discover all of this and much, much more.

Start in Georgetown, an area rich in history, culture and food. The guide will give a short introduction to the town’s past, learning how merchants from around the world used Penang as a refuge between two regional monsoon weather systems and thus bringing a variety of international influences into the local culture.

Armed with this understanding of Penang’s cultural background, set off through town to explore. Stop for a cup of local coffee at a bake house and sample Bengali bread, while the guide explains the origins of this popular Penang breakfast.

Continue the Penang walking tour through the old town, stopping to admire some of the architectural wonders that earned the town UNESCO World Heritage status. Admire the streets’ mix of old and new, hearing the fascinating tales behind some of the historic structures and seeing modern, whimsical street art. Keep an eye out for small workshops where craftsmen may be making items such as joss sticks or weaving rattan items.

Next up is a visit to Khoo Kongsi to learn about the practice of ancestor worship that is so embedded in the local culture. Continue down the so-called ‘Street of Harmony’ where various spiritual shrines and houses of worship can be found then step into vibrant Little India. Mingle with the locals as they shop for colourful flower garland offerings and enjoy the smells emanating from the street hawker stalls. Then pop into a 150-year-old wet market, still abuzz with local life.

Having experienced the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Penang, return to the hotel around 15:30.

Please note: Snacks on this trip are offered on a shared basis to provide a diverse sample of the various cuisines available on your walk.

This trip can also be done by trishaw – additional charges apply

Overnight in Penang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Transfer from Penang Hotel to Penang Airport (20km): 40mins

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and some free time before receiving a transfer to the airport for an onward flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast