Cycling around Balik Pulau: exploring the back of Penang Island on two wheels

Cycling through the rice paddies and villages around Balik Pulau offers an insight into a slower pace of Penang rarely visited by tourists to the island.

Balik Pulau translates into English as ‘the other side of the island’ and, for those who make the effort to visit, the name feels particularly apt. If your experience of Penang so far has been the heritage streets of George Town or the sandy beaches of Batu Ferringhi, Balik Pulau will feel a world away. With terrain as flat as a roti canai and little to no traffic to contend with, renting bicycles is the perfect way to get to know the other side of Penang.

Bike hire in Balik Pulau

The best place to hire bikes in Balik Pulau, and the one we’d personally recommend, is AMJ Cyclestation (located here).

AMJ Cyclestation offers two types of mountain bikes: premium and standard. Premium bikes feature higher-quality gears, reputable brands, and a wide range of sizes, including options for taller riders. Standard bikes are mostly medium-sized and ideal for everyday use.

Premium bike: RM70/bike
Standard bike: RM50/bike

They also have children’s bikes (limited gears) and child seats. Helmets are included free of charge with all rentals and there are some mobile phone holders to borrow.

The shop doesn’t open until 11am, but if you wish to beat the heat and start your ride sooner, they are happy to arrange this for you.

To book, contact Farah via WhatsApp, which can be found on the Amj Bike Rental Facebook page.

Getting to Balik Pulau

There’s no getting away from it, Balik Pulau is a bit of a trek from most other parts of Penang. AMJ Cyclestation is also a few kilometres from the centre of Balik Pulau, so if you haven’t got your own wheels, it’s recommended to take a Grab directly to the shop. Expect the journey to take around 40 minutes from George Town and 40 minutes from Batu Ferringhi, but rush hour will add a significant amount of time.

Technically, you could take a 404 bus from Balik Pulau, but they only run every hour or so, meaning it’s unlikely to be an option.

You don’t need to do a tour!

It might be tempting to assume you need to book a guide and/or sign up to a group tour to explore Balik Pulau on wheels but you really don’t need to. With a combination of the well-planned routes (see below) and Google Maps, it’s straightforward to find your own way and not get lost.

This way, you’re free to set your own pace, stop for photos and breaks when you need to, and experience the countryside either alone, or with your own group.

The two route choices

While you’re free to choose your own route if you prefer, it’s highly recommended to follow one of the two tried-and-tested routes provided by AMJ.

Click here for the shorter route (see below map). 2 hours, 19.4km.

Click here for the longer route (see below map). 4 hours, 28.1km.

The shorter route is the two-hour, 19km option that rolls through the flat countryside passing:

• Pantai Malinda (Mangrove Beach), an exposed stretch of coastline with sweeping views out to sea and a jetty to explore.
• Penang International Container Art, distant cousins to the Penang Street Art found in George Town, these former shipping containers have been stood upright amongst the paddy fields, offering an unexpected but fascinating cultural experience.
• You’ll also pass several paddy fields along the way.

The longer route adds another 9km to take in Pantai Pasar Panjang (Long Sand Beach), a beautiful stretch of golden sand in the southwestern corner of the island. There are a couple of hills to contend with on this longer route, but it’s well worth the detour if you have the energy and good weather. Although do note that swimming isn’t recommended due to the ever-present threat of jellyfish. Even so, it’s definitely still one of the best beaches in Penang.

What to expect on your ride

Arguably the biggest obstacle to a successful bike ride is hilly terrain but this isn’t something to worry about around Balik Pulau. Aside from a couple of road bridges, the route is almost entirely flat with only a few metres of ascent spread across the entire distance. It’s a simple, stress-free ride and the 19km (or 28km) roll by with barely any exertion.

On the whole, the tracks are away from the main roads and you’ll hardly ever encounter any other vehicles, aside from the occasional moped or slow-moving car. That being said, the first 300m and the last couple of kilometres are on a main road, but they don’t tend to get very busy and there’s plenty of space for vehicles to overtake you.

There aren’t a huge amount of sites to tick off along the way, the real joy of the ride is the solitude and views across the paddy fields to the rainforest-covered hills in the distance.

Tips for your ride

• Make sure you have enough phone battery available for Google Maps to be running constantly.
• There aren’t any road signs or markers for the route, so you do really need to have your mobile phone with you at all time. AMJ can provide you with a phone holder to attach to your rental bike.
• Bring a waterproof pouch for your mobile phone.
• It’s safe for children. Smaller bikes / child bike seats are available. Do keep the kids closely supervised on the busier sections though, Malaysian drivers don’t always slow down for cyclists.
• Take plenty of water, there aren’t any places to buy supplies for the first 70% of the ride.
• Wear sunscreen and some mosquito repellent as bugs can be present.
• Depending what time of year you’re here, prepare for the occasional rainstorm. A poncho is a good idea if you have space in your bag.
• Getting a Grab back to your accommodation can be tricky. Consider pre-booking one if you know your approximate end time. Otherwise, be patient with the app when ordering your return ride.
• Payment at AMJ Cyclestation is either via cash or e-wallets. Credit cards aren’t accepted.

Final thoughts on cycling in Balik Pulau

Largely due to its location, Balik Pulau only receives a fraction of the visitors to Penang, but this quiet side of the island is home to some of its most beautiful scenery. Thanks to the flat landscape, it’s ideal for a bike ride and the best place to hire is at AMJ Cyclestation, who are friendly, helpful and professional.

The 19km (or 28km) might sound a long way but it’s actually a very gentle ride, with the two or three hours rolling by in a hurry. This really is the perfect way to explore Balik Pulau and to combine some exercise and sightseeing into your Penang itinerary.