Penang ATV Eco Tour REVIEW: explore Balik Pulau the fun way

• Instagram
• Facebook

Very few tourists venture over to Balik Pulau, on the ‘other’ side of Penang Island, but they’re missing out on seeing a very different side of the island, with wide, open rice paddies, quiet lanes and a more traditional local feel.

One way to explore this quieter corner of Penang is by renting a bicycle, but if pedal power feels rather too energetic in the tropical heat, an ATV is a fantastic alternative that adds a sprinkle of adventure to your outing.

Penang ATV Eco Tours offers one-hour ATV rides with a group tour guide, taking you through the countryside to explore a very different side of Balik Pulau.

Disclaimer: The On Penang team were invited on a complimentary tour to experience Penang ATV Eco Tour first-hand. This review reflects our own experience and honest opinions.

Getting to Penang ATV Eco Tour

If you don’t have your own wheels, the easiest way to get to Penang ATV Eco Tour is by Grab. Just be aware that the entrance is accessed via Lrg Kampung Perlis 5, not Jalan Bharu, so make sure your driver follows the correct route.

Getting a Grab back after your tour can be much trickier, as you’re very much out in the sticks. We recommend pre-booking a Grab for your return journey or arranging a driver to collect you.

Before Your Tour Begins

Make sure you pre-book your tour online. On arrival, you’ll need to complete a short form and provide passport numbers for everyone in your group. A RM200 cash deposit is also required. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour begins.

There is a small counter selling drinks and snacks, as well as a nearby toilet (bring loo paper).

When you’re ready, grab a hairnet and helmet to begin your tour.

What to Expect on Your Tour

Your tour begins with a quick introduction to the ATVs, including how to start them, use the throttle and brakes, and steer. Once everyone is ready, you’ll head off as a group, following your guide along the quiet lanes and countryside of Balik Pulau.

It’s worth setting expectations before you arrive; the pace is fairly slow throughout the tour. Your guide will also regularly stop to take photos and videos of the group from ahead. And while there are some gravel tracks, don’t expect a full-on off-road experience; much of the route follows fairly even paths and quiet roads, some of which we recognised from our Balik Pulau cycle tour.

That said, the slower pace makes this a fun and relaxed way to explore this quieter side of Penang. There’s plenty of time to take in the surrounding rice paddies and countryside, rather than simply concentrating on the track ahead.

The tour also includes a brief stop at the mangroves, where you can leave your ATV and walk along a wooden boardwalk through the mangroves towards the sea.

The whole tour lasts just over an hour, covering around 10km. Water is provided by your tour guide.

How to book and pricing

Book directly through the Penang ATV Eco Tour website. Before booking, make sure you check the age requirements, particularly if you’re visiting with younger children:

• 15-75 years: Can ride an ATV as a single rider.
• 5-14 years: Can ride as a passenger with a double-rider booking.
• 4 years and under: Can ride for free. Parents are advised to bring a baby carrier for younger children.

Tours run daily at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm (sunset tour).

On the website you will see that there is very different pricing for Malaysians and non-Malaysians.

What to Wear

Wear trainers or other closed-toe shoes for protection, along with comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Sunglasses are also handy for protecting your eyes from dust as you ride.

A complimentary poncho is provided if it rains. We have friends who have done the tour in the rain and report that it’s brilliant fun, splashing through the puddles as you make your way around the countryside tracks!

Final thoughts on Penang ATV Eco Tour

We’re not entirely sure what makes this an ‘eco’ tour; essentially, it’s an ATV tour through the Balik Pulau countryside. But it’s a really fun way to explore a part of Penang that many visitors never see.

Just don’t arrive expecting an off-road adrenaline rush. The pace is fairly sedate, and much of the route follows gravel tracks and quiet roads rather than challenging off-road terrain. But that slower pace actually works well here as you have time to enjoy the rice paddies, countryside and mangroves, and take in a much more traditional side of the island.

Overall, it’s an easy-going adventure that’s well worth doing if you fancy seeing a different side of Penang.