Monkey Beach is a hidden beach tucked away within Penang National Park; it’s the kind of lovely beach you’d find in Thailand, but without the people. You can’t drive here, so you’ll have to take a boat. From the national park’s entry (around RM 50 per boat). Or risk the 1.5-2 hour journey through the forest to reach the beach. Once there, unwind with a drink at one of the shack bars on Monkey Beach. There are also highly modest huts available for rent for overnight stays!

Teluk Duyung, located at the northwestern corner of the island near Teluk Bahang. One of the top things to do in Penang. This is one of Penang’s best beaches. It’s popularly known as “Monkey Beach” because of the many crab-eating macaques that live there — and which. Thanks to the large number of tourists who visit have learned how to snatch bags and steal valuables. So please be cautious if you visit Monkey Beach in Penang.

Aside from the monkeys, Monkey Beach is one of Penang’s most famous and longest beaches. A cove of sand backed by tropical jungle that can only be reached by boat or trekking along Penang National Park’s northern shore.

Hiking to Monkey Beach Penang: Step-by-step guide

The distance between the Penang National Park headquarters and Monkey Beach is approximately 3,5 kilometers.

Begin your walk at the Penang National Park headquarters, where there are accessible public toilets and showers if needed, and go beneath the large archway, following the main paved route. In less than ten minutes, walk along the coast and a rocky beach until you reach a suspended wooden bridge across the Tukun river that flows into the sea.

Sungai Tukun Junction

The Sungai Tukun Junction is the only turn you’ll ever make on your journey to Monkey Beach. And you must turn right, as lots of signage indicates. If you continue to the left, you will reach another route. That will take you across the National Park to two western beaches.
The first is Pantai Keracut, which has a little Turtle Sanctuary. And the second is the lovely (but further out) Teluk Kampi.

Penang National Park contains a Canopy Walkway, although it was still closed in writing due to a long-overdue renovation. Take another right and continue along a well-marked trail alternating between a concrete roadway and iron steps above Penang’s northern shore.

Teluk Aling/USM Marine Research Center

The first colossal beach you’ll come across on the way is Teluk Aling. A less-visited cove where Universiti Sains Malaysia’s marine biologists establish a research center. It is not open to the public unless you have made previous reservations. It should take around 30 minutes to get from Penang National Park’s headquarters to Teluk Aling.

Teluk Aling is nice enough for a swim and some relaxation, but if you’re heading to Monkey Beach. Don’t spend too much time here because it’s not quite halfway there. It takes roughly an hour to walk from Teluk Aling to Monkey Beach. The walkway continues down the shore, utilizing the park rangers’ aluminum steps constructed years ago.

Arriving at Monkey Beach

It shouldn’t be challenging to follow it, but keep in mind that, as previously said. Some fallen trees impede the route, and you’ll have to curl under or climb over them to proceed. For experienced hikers, this should be no trouble.

However, there is one unclear section about 10 minutes before arriving at Monkey Beach. Because a large tree has fallen over the path, the new route travels over and around it, using the slope on the path’s left side. When descending, be cautious since the earth can be brittle, and a fall here is not unusual despite the presence of ropes.

You must be very cautious when returning because the trail is not well-lit. If you come to a white concrete and steel staircase, you must turn around. The right track is approximately 50 meters back towards Monkey Beach: look up to your left as it snakes up over the hill to avoid a massive clump of fallen trees that should not be attempted.

The final danger before reaching Monkey Beach is the last footbridge, which is split in half. People have laid planks across the two sections to let people go through, but be cautious because they are not very sturdy. You could opt to stay on the ground and walk around the bridge.

Map It: Jalan Hassan Abas, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia | Free entrance (boats from 50 RM) | Take a Grab taxi or Bus 101 from Georgetown