Penang City Sightseeing Tour

George Town, Malaysia

7 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket

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Overview

Experience a taste of all that Penang has to offer on a grand tour of the island with a private guide. Travel in comfort by private vehicle to Penang’s top attractions, including Kek Lok Si Temple, Snake Temple, the funicular railway on Penang Hill and the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. You'll learn about Malaysian arts including pewter-making and batik, stop at a traditional fishing village and fruit plantation, and see Buddhist temples and other architectural gems, all while enjoying informative commentary from your expert guide.

Penang city sightseeing tour with private guide
Enjoy sweeping views on a scenic drive and from Penang Hill by funicular railway
Watch batik artisans at work and make a pewter bowl in a hands-on workshop
See live pit vipers coiled at the Snake Temple (Temple of the Azure Cloud)
View a statue of Guanyin at Kek Lok Si Temple (Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas)
Hotel pickup and drop-off by private vehicle

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional English-speaking driver cum guide
Entrance: Return Penang Hill Furnicular Train (Fast Lane)

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Entrance: Chocolate Making Workshop (optional)
Entrance: Snake Farm inside Snake Temple

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

After morning hotel pickup in Penang, travel with your private guide in a climate-controlled vehicle along a famous stretch of the Batu Ferringhi beaches.

Stop at a traditional fishing village, then visit a batik factory. There, watch artisans shape designs from wax and dye to create this classic Malaysian textile art. Then drive by fruit plantations and learn about commonly grown fruits and spices such as clove and nutmeg.

Continue to the famous Snake Temple (aka Temple of the Azure Cloud), which was built in 1850 in memory of a Chinese monk who sheltered jungle snakes. Inside Snake Temple, venomous pit vipers coil around temple altars, the reptiles supposedly made drowsy and harmless by incense smoke, but their venom removed for safety.

Next up, head to one of the largest Chinese Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia, Kek Lok Si Temple. The temple complex contains many pagodas, prayer halls and bell towers built in varying styles—from Chinese to Burmese to Thai. A bronze statue of the goddess of mercy, Guanyin, looks down from the hill above the pagoda.

Your final destination is the funicular railway that ascends Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)—a 2,625-foot (800-meter) peak and Malaysia's oldest hill station. Disembark at the top for sweeping views of the island and mainland. When descending the hill, visit the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre and enjoy a 30-minute lesson about crafting pewter. Learn 19th-century techniques for manipulating the versatile metal into a simple pewter bowl using basic hand tools.

Your tour includes a stop for lunch at a local restaurant (own expense) and ends when your guide returns you to your hotel. Alternatively, you can opt to be dropped off at the Straits Quay Mall for some shopping on your own.

Snake Temple

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kek Lok Si Temple

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Penang Hill

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Penang Batik Factory

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Habitat Penang Hill (Pass By)

Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Sdn. Bhd (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
In case of the Penang Hill Train not operating, it will be replaced with visit to Botanical Garden
Please advise that to avoid delays and the heavy traffic on weekends and public holidays, it is preferred to book this tour on weekdays
Please be ready to go at least 15 minutes prior to departure time
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.4

based on 8 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Please thank Ricky as our...

Andrew_R, Mar 2025

Please thank Ricky as our driver today. The tour was fantastic. Awesome experience. We will both be back to do it again

Total waste

Shan_J, Feb 2024

Total Rip off. Useless and a total waste The Driver made us pay for another Malaysian Ringgit 136 just to take the usless train down .We had paid full for this tour . Why were we charged so much more

Best of Penang

thomask_h, Jan 2024

Fernando was a terrific guide...highly recommended for his comprehensive knowledge of Penang and its culture, history, and food!!

Enjoyable and Interesting

Ed_K, Dec 2018

Very enjoyable tour and our driver/guide was excellent. Saw all the highlights of the island and our guide flexed the tour to our wishes.

Wasn't obvious where to meet the...

Annette_B, Aug 2016

Wasn't obvious where to meet the driver at the port but eventually found our driver Dave amongst the many taxi drivers milling around. With that adventure over, we began our tour. Have to say that in summary, the day was excellent with a wide variety of culture experiences. Our two teenage boys didn't find it as interesting and exciting as my wife and I initially but they too enjoyed the latter half of the tour, which included a behind the scenes experince with pewter, making your own dish. From the Durien we tried and wont try again to the spices and fishing village experience,and the Batik factory were great culturally. This tour was done at our pace with a very friendly and local driver in Dave in a comfortable mini bus. Highly recommend. Can be customised. May have done the butterfly farm on review. Highly rcommend - ask,for Dave too.