No plans for the weekend? Why don’t you get out of your house and step into nature! 

Here are some hiking trails in Penang that you can visit this weekend!

+ Carpet Hill

If you’re the kind of person who loves hiking but is terrified of creepy crawlies hiding in ground, then you should hike at Carpet Hill. It is mostly made up of cement trails and tarred roads. 

The trail begins at Sungai Ara near Zan Pavilion and it is definitely not for people who hate steep ascends.

When you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of Balik Pulau/Bayan Lepas and the second bridge.  

There is also an insta-worthy spot up there which is the Glasshouse. 

Bear in mind that it is located at a higher point from the top so you will have to hike a little further, and you will not be able to enter the Glasshouse as it is private property. However, you can still take some cute photos with the Glasshouse in the background. 

+ Bukit Jambul 

The Bukit Jambul hiking trail is definitely for those who prefer a shorter and less challenging hike. The entire trail is paved with large stones that form sort of like stairs leading up to the peak. 

It is well taken care of and has a lot of beautiful plants planted at beginning of the trail and also along the trail, closer to the peak. 

The peak of the hill has a seating area, two huge gazebos and a makeshift gym that was put together with some old gym equipment. You can lift weights and even do some pullups on the pull up bar attached to a tree’s trunk. 

If you’re not into weightlifting then you can definitely go there to enjoy the view of Penang, both the bridges and even Pulau Jerjak! 

+ Moongate Trail to Penang Hill

This trail is definitely not for the weak! It is long hike! You can easily spot it along the road to the Botanical Gardens. 

This trail splits into one, one with steep stairs and another without the stairs where you can properly experience nature. While the trail without the stairs is definitely better for the knees, it is also still very steep. 

At the end of this hike, you will reach Moon Gate Station 5 which has over the years transformed into a fancy rest stop. 

You can definitely stop here to catch your breath, take in the beautiful view and of course do some exercise. Just like the peak of Bukit Jambul, this place also ha a makeshift gym with old gym equipment. 

+ Taman Negara (Pantai Kerachut Trail)

Taman Negara Pulau Pinang is definitely one of the most popular hiking spots. While you will be tempted by some of the boatmen before the hike, do not fall for it or you will miss out on the beauty of the trees and a beachy trail. 

The Pantai Kerachut Trail is definitely for beginners and it takes you all the way across the park to a nice but very deadly beach. We say deadly as there have been many jellyfish spotted in the water, so stay out of the water!

We definitely recommend packing a snack and having a small picnic on the beach after the hike. There are also some other attractions on the beach like a turtle sanctuary and a meromictic lake that you can learn all about when you reach there. 

What seems to start of as a simple jungle trekking experience will transition into never ending steep ascends, but don’t worry, what goes up must come down. 

You will also get to pass some small streams and rivers using tree trunks as bridges which will make you feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones movie. 

+ Penang Hill Heritage Hill

Another trail for beginners as it is the most direct trail to the top of the hill! It is hidden near the Penang Hill Funicular Train Lower Station and sticks closely to the train route with multiple stops along the way for you to catch your breath. 

This hike starts with some concrete steps before slow transitioning you to a dirt path. After a while you will reach the middle point which is a perfect place to stop for a while and take some photos of the view. 

While you take a break there, you can watch the cable car pass by and be jealous of all those people enjoying the cool air conditioning. 

After that, when you continue your journey to the top you will pass by some houses and gardens which will not have much shade. Then after you reach the next stop, you will get to the jungle path with tall tress and huge roots sticking out of the ground. 

After the forest you will go underneath the underpass of the cable car by climbing up some stairs and a few minutes later you will reach the top. As you can see this trail has variety. 

+ Cherok Tokun

This hiking trail is located in the town of Bukit Mertajam. It is actually a nature park with many hiking trails. 

The best trail for beginners is the one next to the waterfall as it is less steep. If you want the best view, then take the viewing point trail which is marked with the colour red. 

To get on the viewing platform trail, you just have to follow the road until you reach the small hut, and the trail is located in the corner.

It is not a difficult trail, and beginners can also try it out. It is definitely worthwhile for the view you get at the viewing point. It is a very mountainous view, and you can see all the way to Gunung Bintang in Baling.