Teluk Bahang Forest Reserve

Penang


This 873-hectare forest reserve contains a chunk of Penang's virgin rainforests. Guides are rarely available, so pick up a hiking leaflet at the ranger's office at the park entrance or at the Penang State Forestry Department in George Town; the leaflets have trail maps and some information on plant identification. Also ask at either of these offices about camping in the reserve. There's a small forestry museum near the ranger's office.

There are five mapped trails in the park, although some were temporarily closed when we were in the area. The best-known is the 15.5km Penang Hill Forest Challenge, the longest trail in Penang, which leads all the way to the top of 821m Penang Hill. This walk is less strenuous in the downhill direction; from the Teluk Bahang end, expect the trek to take at least eight hours.

One of the better walks is the easy 800m Monkey-Cup Forest Trail, where you can search for carnivorous nepenthes (monkey cups), more commonly known as pitcher plants.

Intermediate trails are the 1.2km Simpoh Gajah Trail, which passes through virgin jungle; the 2.9km Charcoal Kiln Trail, which has some gnarly uphill sections through lovely forest to an old 1950s charcoal kiln; and the much more difficult 4.2km Ridge Top Trail, which branches off the Charcoal Kiln Trail to reach a ridge 400m above sea level. This last trail has some fantastic views over Teluk Bahang, as well as pitcher plants to look out for along the way – if you don't have too much blinding sweat stinging your eyes.

Transportation

  • bus: 501

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Penang attractions

1. Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm

0.2 MILES

Entopia is about so much more than tropical butterflies – although there's some 13,000 of these beauties from around 120 species fluttering freely around…

2. Escape

0.33 MILES

It's fun for all the family here, but be warned: adults report being more challenged than kids by the adventurous games and attractions at this play park,…

3. Penang National Park

1.26 MILES

At 23 sq km, this is Malaysia's smallest national park, but it's beach-fringed forests are home to silvered leaf monkeys, flying lemurs, leopard cats and…

4. Tropical Spice Garden

1.76 MILES

Facing a beautiful white-sand beach on the 101 bus route, this beautifully landscaped oasis preserves 500 species of tropical flora, spread across 200…

5. Art & Garden by Fuan Wong

2.11 MILES

Rising up a hillside on a part of the family’s durian orchard is this amazing conceptual garden where glass artist Fuan Wong marries his collection of…

6. Tropical Fruit Farm

2.15 MILES

About 8km south of Teluk Bahang is this 10-hectare hillside farm, which cultivates more than 250 types of tropical and subtropical fruit trees, native and…

7. Monkeycup@Penang Hill

3.67 MILES

Weird and wonderful nepenthes (Monkey Cup) species from around the world are planted in this mossy garden. The guides will explain how these carnivorous…

8. The Habitat

3.77 MILES

Bordering one of Penang's two virgin rainforest reserves, the spine of this fantastic addition to the Penang Hill experience is a finely crafted 1.6km…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "malaysia/teluk-bahang/attractions/teluk-bahang-forest-reserve/a/poi-sig/1218880/1322048",
      "destination": "Penang",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Malaysia",
      "region": "Penang",
      "position": "superzone"
    }