The walk to the summit of Pearl Hill (212m) is popular with expats living in Tanjung Bungah and offers a steady incline to a viewpoint to get the blood pumping. The majority of the walk is along paved roads and offers a great opportunity to check out some of the impressive Penang property that wouldn’t be out of place in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia.
Towards the end of the walk, you leave the road and walk along a track that leads to a jungle path lined by prayer flags to the summit. It’s an impressive view over Tanjung Bungah and the sea beyond to reward your efforts. Do be aware of dogs on this last section; carrying a walking stick can be helpful. Additionally, applying mosquito repellent is advisable for the brief rainforest segment.
This Pearl Hill walk features on our best Penang walks guide.
Allow 1.5 hours for this walk (50 minutes up, 10 minutes at the view point, and 30 minutes down)
Map of Pearl Hill walk
Route instructions
Allow 1.5 hours for this walk.
START: Ingolf’s Kneipe German Restaurant And Bar
Total distance (to the summit and back): 5km
Total ascent: 193 meters
There is a Happy Mart and 7-Evelen at the start/end of this Pearl Hill walk should you want to stock up on drinks and snacks.
1. With 7-Eleven and Happy Mart on your right, take a right at the junction. Pearl Hill is the hill immediately in front of you.
2. Then after just 60 metres, take a right along Puncak Bukit Mutiara. This is the road that winds uphill almost to the summit. Don’t take any turnings from this road. Follow this road steadily uphill for 1.7km.
3. After the 1.7km steady incline, the road flattens out and there’s a slight decline. You can’t miss it. Here the road splits in two. Take the road on the right and continue walking uphill and around the bend to the right.
4. At the end of the road, just past the NO PARKING sign, take the track following the red arrow on the right. You may want to apply mosquito repellent for this last section.
5. At the end of this short track is a parking area with a small shrine. Climb up the steps from the parking area and follow the stone footpath uphill. This soon merges into a jungle path. The way is lined with prayer flags.
6. At the large rock (you can’t miss it) take a right and follow the footpath leading uphill behind. This short section leads you to the summit of Pearl Hill. There are a few chairs that have seen better days, but there is a perfect clearing for the view across Tanjung Bungah.
7. Retrace your footsteps back downhill and follow the same route along the road back to the start point.
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Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Penang
15 BEST restaurants in Penang
Top tips for visiting Penang
One day Penang itinerary
Best hotels in Penang
How to get around Penang
A brief history of Penang
