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How do you get to Turtle Beach Penang in 2026? In this guide we will tell you everything you need to know to plan an intrepid adventure to turtle beach Penang. Several important things have changed at Turtle Beach in recent years so it is important to read this up to date guide carefully.
We have visited Turtle Beach Penang many times over the years and we are super excited to share this gem with you. Turtle beach Penang (Pantai kerachut) is a small, beautiful west facing beach located in the Penang National Park. Turtle Beach Penang has a small lake (a meromictic lake which is a unique mixture of salt and freshwater creating a unique habitat), a jetty and a small turtle sanctuary. Turtle beach is located in the Penang National Park – the smallest National Park in the world.
Which is THE BEST beach? Turtle beach or Monkey Beach? AND our FULL guide on how to get to Monkey Beach
Disclaimer: If you are dreaming of swimming with turtles in crystal clear waters this isn’t the best option for you. Redang island and the Perhentians are much better for snorkelling and swimming with turtles. Ok now we have that out the way lets learn about Turtle Beach Penang.
DON’T MISS our epic guide on THE BEST beaches in Penang
Watch our adventures to turtle beach Penang
Where is Turtle Beach Penang located?
Turtle beach Penang is located in the Penang National Park on the northwest corner of Penang island, peninsular Malaysia. In brief, there are two ways to get to Turtle Beach Penang:
1 Trek along a jungle trail (3.5km each way)
2 Take a boat (expensive but fun)
To trek to Turtle Beach Penang you need to trek along a jungle trail through the biodiverse Penang rainforest. This is a hilly, challenging and beautiful trek. To take a boat to Turtle Beach Penang, you need to arrange a boat at the entrance to the Penang National Park. Read on for ALL the details…
How much does it cost to trek to Turtle Beach Penang?
Turtle Beach is located in the Penang National Park. There is an entrance fee of RM50 for non-Malaysians and RM10 for Malaysians.
It costs RM20 for a Non-Malaysian student and RM5 for a Malaysian student (bring a student card as proof).
For children 3 – 12 years old it costs RM15 for non-Malaysians and RM5 for Malaysians. It is FREE for children under 3 years old. Both Malaysian and Non-Malaysian Senior Citizens (60 years and older) are FREE.
You also need to pay additional fees for activities such as commercial filming, fishing and camping in the Penang National park.
The National Park office is open for registration in the morning and for a few hours in the afternoon:
Saturday – Thursday 8am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm
Fridays 8am – 12.15pm and 2.45pm – 4.30pm
How do you get to the Penang National Park entrance?
The national park entrance is in the village of Teluk Bahang on the north west coast of Penang, Malaysia. The main ways to get to the Penang National Park are bus and taxi.
Take a bus to Teluk Bahang (stops right at the National Park entrance):
Local bus is the cheapest option and will only cost a few ringgits. Take the 101 bus running westbound along Chulia street. The journey to Teluk Bahang may take around 45 minutes depending on stops and traffic. The bus route is as follows:
George Town – Tanjung Bungah – Batu Ferringhi – Teluk Bahang
Take a Grab taxi to Teluk Bahang:
The other way to get to the Penang National park is to take a taxi. Grab is the main taxi app in Malaysia – this is a quick, flexible and convenient way to get around.
- Expect to pay around RM10-15 for a Grab taxi from Batu Ferringhi to the National Park (roughly £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4)
- Expect to pay around RM30-40 for a Grab taxi from Georgetown to Batu Ferringhi (roughly £6 – £8 or $8 – $10)
1 TREK to Turtle Beach Penang
Here is a map of the trekking route from the National Park Entrance in Teluk Bahang to Turtle Beach Penang. This route goes over a hill in the Penang National Park.
Map of the Turtle Beach Penang trekking route
We recommend getting an early start before the day gets too hot. This will also allow plenty of time for enjoying the beach and for the return trek.
The trek to Turtle Beach Penang is around 3.5km each way. This is likely to take around 1 – 1.5 hours to trek from the national park entrance. The path has a reasonable amount of use and is easy to follow and there are some signs along the way to help with navigation. The terrain is rocky and steep at points. There are obstacles on the path such as large roots, branches and logs.
Top tip: Teluk Bahang (the village at entrance to the national park) has a few cafes but at present there are no good shops for buying snacks and drinks. There are no shops on turtle beach or in the national park. Buy your snacks and water before you head to Teluk Bahang. We recommend bringing several liters of water per person.
Trekking route to Turtle Beach Penang
After you sign in at the park entrance, follow the path into the national park. Keep your eye open for signs to Pantai Kerachut (some websites spell it Keracut). “Pantai Kerachut” is Malay for “Turtle Beach”.
The route is pretty easy to follow. The trail is well trodden and there are plenty of signs. Hopefully this will help:
(1) Walk for 5 minutes along the well paved path (the sea is to your right)
(2) Cross the bridge and turn left immediately after the bridge
(3) Follow the path up into the jungle- it quickly becomes steep steps up a hill
(4) Keep your eye open for a small waterfall on your way up the hill.
(4) You will notice a few smaller paths turn off the main path – don’t take these turnings just stick to the main path. Keep trekking up the hill.
(5) Around half way to turtle beach the path starts going back down hill again. You will pass several rest pavilions
(6) You may notice a path turning off to the left towards the end of the trek. Don’t turn off. Just stick on the main path (this is an alternative route to turtle beach so don’t worry if you take this turning by mistake)
(7) Keep following the main path down some steps and the way to turtle beach
When you arrive at turtle beach there is a small suspension bridge to cross and you will see the meromictic lake to your left. This unique lake as a mixture of freshwater and salt water creating a very diverse and beautiful ecosystem.
The total trek will take around 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes depending on pace and stops. Drink plenty. Navigation is not too challenging. Stay on the main path which is very well trodden.
2 TAKE A BOAT to Turtle Beach Penang
Another way to get to Turtle Beach Penang is to take a boat. Unfortunately there are no scheduled boat services running to turtle beach so you will need to arrange a private boat transfer (which is more expensive). Private boats can normally take up to 10 people (depending on the boat)
Top tip: Watch out for other people who may be willing to share a boat with you and split the cost.
You can arrange a boat trip to turtle beach from the National Park entrance. Negotiate a price depending on group size and how long you want to stay. This does not generally need to be pre-arranged in advance. Just rock up and start bartering!
The total boat price is likely to be RM100 (£20 or $25) one way and RM200 two ways (£40 or $50). Remember to agree on waiting times and also whether you would like to include another stop at Monkey Beach (may cost more).
If you plan to take the boat one way be aware that it may cost more to arrange your boat on Turtle Beach. Also be aware that there is no phone signal on Turtle Beach so you will not be able call a boat. Boats do arrive at Turtle Beach quite regularly.
If you are planning to take a one way boat to Turtle Beach and trek back, the trail starts at the bridge near the Meromictic Lake.
What do you need to pack to visit Turtle Beach Penang?
Being well prepared is vital for any intrepid outdoor expeditions. This pack list should help you plan your trip.
- LOTS of water (around 2 litres per person or more)
- Food and snacks (fires are not allowed on the beach)
- Breathable rain coat and/or umbrella (yep this is surprisingly useful!)
- Lightweight breathable clothing + at least one change of clothes (you will probably end up soaking your clothes in sweat on the trek… LOVELY!)
- Mosquito repellant (Those containing DEET are best)
- Good shoes (trainers / sneakers)
- Swimming stuff if you fancy a dip (beware of strong currents and jellyfish!)
- Towel (even if you don’t swim you may appreciate it after the trek)
- Sunscreen is advisable but not essential (much of the trek is covered by the canopy)
When can you see turtles at TURTLE BEACH Penang?
There is a wonderful turtle sanctuary located on the south side of turtle beach. It’s amazing how many people visit Turtle Beach and don’t even know that this hidden gem is HERE…
Turtles come to lay eggs on turtle beach. They are pretty cute! You can see turtles at the Penang Turtle Sanctuary throughout the year. There are no specific turtle seasons in Penang. Most of the wild turtles arrive in the night. SO you best bet of actually seeing turtles is to visit the Penang Turtle Sanctuary.
The Penang Turtle Sanctuary has FREE entry and it is open 10am – 4.30pm EVERY day (may be closed on some public holidays). This is a great chance to connect with these majestic animals and learn more about conservation and protection.
We definitely recommend a visit to the turtle sanctuary if you are able to get to turtle beach.
What type of wildlife can you see in the Penang National Park?
You can see a beautiful array of wildlife in the Penang National Park. For example; it is common to see monitor lizards on the rocks, beaches and in the water near the entrance to the Penang National Park. You can also see smaller lizards in the Penang national park. We even saw a flying lizard one time!
You can see tortoises on the jungle trails in the Penang National Park. Around the entrance to the Penang National park it is common to see Macaque monkeys (these tend to hang around in packs – be careful they can be territorial and may grab food and bags).
You can also see the beautiful black and white dusky leaf monkeys (these are more timid than Macaque monkeys). Keep your eye open for insects and snakes in the Penang National Park. We always recommend staying on the trail.
Can you swim at turtle beach Penang?
You can swim at turtle beach Penang; however, there is a risk of jellyfish at this location. Furthermore, the water is not particularly clear at Turtle Beach Penang. If you are hoping to swim in clear waters we recommend Langkawi or the islands on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia (specifically Perhentians, Redang island and Tioman island)
Can you camp at turtle beach Penang?
Alas, you cannot camp at turtle beach Penang anymore. In the past it was possible to camp at Turtle Beach Penang. People are not allowed to camp at turtle beach without a guide.
Are there any other beaches in the Penang National Park?
There are other beaches in the National Park. The other main beach is Monkey Beach. Unfortunately there is no way to do a round walk that includes both Monkey Beach and Turtle Beach. Actually the trekking route to monkey beach is officially closed at present
What is there to do near Turtle Beach Penang?
The Penang National Park is located in Teluk Bahang. There are some other AMAZING things to do in Teluk Bahang:
Check out the epic ESCAPE adventure park – slides, zip lines, high ropes, and record breaking attractions… this really is a MUST DO for any adventure traveller in Penang.
Check out the wonderful, beautiful and bizarre at Entopia. This is a large insect, butterfly and reptile conservatory with an education centre and they even have a huge INDOOR waterfall. You have to see it to believe it!
Where is the BEST PLACE to stay in Penang?
The closest hotel to the Penang National Park is the Angsana Teluk Bahang – an innovative new 5 star hotel located on a tranquil beach. Watch out for special rates for the Angsana on Booking.com. They are also on Agoda
If you are planning to stay in Batu Ferringhi we LOVE the Hard Rock hotel Penang – a great option for families and surprisingly good value for money. You can find discounts for the Hard Rock on Agoda and the on Booking.com
If you are on a budget check out the Rama Motel – very cheap and excellent location in Batu Ferringhi. You can book the Rasa Motel on Agoda or on booking.com
If you are looking to splash out on a stylish superlative then check out the colonial Eastern and Oriental Hotel (PICTURED above) – pure luxury and decadence. Watch out for great deals at the Eastern and Oriental on Agoda. They also have deals on booking.com too.
If you want style for a lower price tag- then check out the new Prestige Hotel – also located in Georgetown. You can reserve the Prestige on booking.com. An amazing 5 star hotel for 3 star prices! ALSO keep an eye open for offers for the Prestige on Agoda.
