The best beaches of Penang

The island state of Penang is located on Malaysia’s north-western coast. The state gets its name from the Malay word pinang, which is the name for the areca plant, which grows on the island in abundance. The history of Penang can be traced back to the 15^th century, when it was a remote backwater, inhabited by Malay communities and South Indian trade merchants. Francis Light an agent for the British East India Company landed in Penang in 1786 and this incident changed the complexion of Penang, forever as it went on to become a prominent settlement for the British in Malaya.

Modern-day Penang state constitutes the pearl-shaped Penang island and a strip on the mainland. The city of Georgetown, a vibrant multicultural enclave that is littered with gleaming skyscrapers and crumbling colonial edifices, is the capital of Penang. A world-renowned street-food destination, Georgetown welcomes hordes of ‘foodies’ all throughout the year, who descend on its famed Gurney Street to sample the many mouth-watering delights. However, aside from being a foodie destination, Penang is also known for its many stunning white-sand beaches which are a popular draw for tourists and locals alike.

Here’s a guide to the best beaches in Penang

Batu Feringghi

Batu Feringghi is the best-known beach of Penang. Easily accessible via a thirty minute taxi ride from Georgetown, this white sand beachfront offers a good selection of accommodation and dining options to suit all budgets. The white sand beachfront of Batu Feringghi, is a popular spot for beach sports like beach buggy-riding, horseback riding and beach volleyball, though the beach also hosts vendors of various water sporting activities like deep-sea fishing, parasailing and jet skiing. An adjacent beach, Teluk Bahang is a popular spot for snorkeling. Another popular attraction of Batu Feringghi, is its vibrant night market, populated with a multitude of local crafts and eats vendors.

Pulau Jerejak

The small tropical island of Pulau Jerejak is situated off the south-east coast of Penang and can be easily accessed by a ferry ride from the Bayan Lepas Ferry terminal. A study of the history of Pulau Jerajak, indicates that the island has quite a colorful past having served as a leper asylum and even a penal enclave over the years. Today, however the island is known for its many stunning beach resorts and its ancient rainforests that date back more than 400 years.

Monkey Beach

Located within the state’s star attraction, the Penang National Park located on the north-west tip of the island, Monkey Beach or Teluk Duyung, is named after the crab-eating primates that are resident in the park. This remote powder white sand beach which is often touted to be the ‘best beach’ in Penang, can only be reached via a boat ride which originates from the entrance of the national park or then via a long trek through the park itself.

Pantai Keracut

Pantai Keracut is yet another unspoiled beachfront located within the Penang National Park. Equally remote as Monkey Beach, Pantai Keracut is famed as a nesting site for both the Green and Olive Ridley turtles. These magnificent creatures come ashore here between the months of September and February. Yet another attraction in Pantai Keracut, is its mysterious meromictic lake which appears for only half the year, and features non-mixing layers of the sea and fresh waters.

So if you are planning a holiday to Malaysia’s ‘Pearl of the Orient’ anytime soon, be sure to pencil in a Penang beachfront or two to add the ‘wow’!