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In this guide we will tell you everything you need to know to plan a trip to Monkey Beach Penang in 2026. Lots of things have changed in the national park in the past couple of years. Therefore it is very important to read this article carefully – there is still a lot of old out of date information on the internet.
In this article we will tell you how to get to Monkey Beach Penang, prices, opening hours, what things you can do at Monkey Beach Penang and we will also warn you about some things to be careful of.
Monkey Beach Penang is a beautiful beach located in the Penang national park on the north west tip of Penang Island. This is a great way to connect with the beautiful Penang wildlife and experience an intrepid adventure.
If you love crazy adventures don’t miss these AMAZING things to do in Penang
Which beach is best to visit; Monkey Beach or Turtle Beach?
Monkey Beach and Turtle Beach are both beautiful tropical beaches located in the Penang National Park.
What is turtle beach like?
Turtle beach is a beautiful and clean west facing beach with soft golden sand and some trees for shade.
There is a small turtle sanctuary and you can see Turtles at the sanctuary most of the year round. Turtle Beach also has a Meromictic Lake (which is a unique combination of saltwater and freshwater). Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on how to get to turtle beach.
What is monkey beach like?
Monkey Beach Penang has a couple of small (very basic) cafes, a small campsite and there is also a hill next to Monkey Beach, which has a lighthouse (Muka Head). It is possible to trek up to the lighthouse and get beautiful views over the ocean and National Park. The trek to Muka Head lighthouse is around 1km and involves climbing a large hill. It is likely to take around 30 – 40 minutes each way to trek to the lighthouse.
It is very common to see Macaque monkeys at Monkey Beach Penang. You may also see the beautiful black dusky leaf Monkeys at Monkey Beach. However, both of these species of monkey are common in the Penang National Park. You can often see Macaque monkeys near the entrance of the Penang National Park. It is also fairly common to see Dusky Leaf monkeys playing in the trees throughout the National Park. Monkeys can often be seen on Turtle Beach as well.
The turtle beach trail is a lot of fun. It is a steep muddy jungle trail. The path itself is easy to navigate along. The Path to Monkey Beach follows the north coast of Penang and has plenty of epic ocean views. In sections this route can be tricky to follow and the terrain is more challenging that the turtle beach trail.
How much does it cost to visit Monkey Beach Penang?
Monkey Beach is located in the Penang National Park. There is an entrance fee of RM50 for non-Malaysians and RM10 for Malaysians. There are also discounts for students. For a non-Malaysian student it costs RM20 and for a Malaysian student RM5 (bring a student card as proof). For children 3 – 12 years old it costs RM15 for non-Malaysians and RM5 for Malaysians. Children under 3 years old are FREE of charge. 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.
What are the opening hours of 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
STEP 1: Getting to the Penang National Park
The first step is to get to the Penang National Park (situated in Teluk Bahang on the northwest corner of Penang Island)
- Take the 101 bus all of the way to the National Park Entrance. RM2 – RM3 (around £0.40 – £0.60 or $0.50 – $0.80) 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 (which is likely to cost RM10 – RM50 depending where you are traveling from (roughly £2 – £10 or $2.50 – $12)
- Use a Car Rental (you can park for FREE on the side streets close to the National Park entrance) – a car rental in Penang is likely to cost around RM100 per day (roughly £20 or $25)
TOP TIP: Plan your return trip! The 101 bus does go all of the way to the National Park entrance to pick passengers up – BUT you may be dropped off near the Teluk Bahang roundabouts to wait for a different bus. This is normal so don’t panic if this happens. You don’t need to pay for the first short journey. If you are using Grab for your return journey you may need to wait a while to be picked up. Teluk Bahang is a quiet area and there aren’t always drivers nearby. Be patient and keep trying or just take a bus back.
STEP 2 Getting to Monkey Beach
OPTION 1 Walking trail to Money Beach (Cheap & Intrepid!)
LATEST UPDATE – At present the trail to monkey beach is closed for repairs
The trail to monkey beach follows the north coast of the national park and is around 3.5km in length. We have included a full detailed route guide below. Trekking this route is challenging. Be prepared to sweat a lot! Bring light loose clothing, good shoes and plenty of water and snack (keep these hidden from the monkeys!) “3.5km?! That’s nothing!” I hear you say. Ah ha. This is 3.5km in tropical humidity, with roots and rocks and mud. There are little sections of steep up and down. You also need to trek across a beach (the USM beach) and finding the trail at the other end of the beach can be tricky. So although it is around 3.5km, it is likely to take 1 – 2 hours depending how much you beast it. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to take in the scenery.
OPTION 2 Take a boat to Monkey Beach (Fast & Fun)
At present, officially the only way to get to Monkey Beach Penang is to take a boat. You can take a boat from the entrance of the Penang National Park. The boats are private charter boats. So it is not possible to ask a boat driver to wait for a boat to fill up and then share the price between the passengers. Boats drivers seem to be very reluctant to barter and will try to stick to a fixed-price. It is always worth trying anyway!
Boat prices are as follows:
Route: National Park Entrance – Monkey Beach Penang
ONE WAY: RM70 (roughly £14 or $18)
RETURN: RM100 (roughly £20 or $25)
Top tip: If you want to share a boat to Monkey Beach Penang to reduce the price, the only way to do this is either arrange people to travel with in advance or to ask around when you arrive at the national park. Boats can generally take up to 10 people. It is normally quite easy to find other people who also want to do the journey and will be willing to share a boat with you, reducing the cost of the journey.
Trekking route to Monkey Beach – Step-by-Step Guide
LATEST UPDATE – At present the trail to monkey beach is closed for repairs
Route in brief: From the entrance of the Penang national park the trek to Monkey Beach Penang is approximately 3km and is likely to take 1-2 hours.
Route Map for Monkey Beach Penang trek
The trail to Monkey Beach Penang is relatively flat with short sections of steep up and down. The terrain is quite challenging with rocks and routes on the path. The path itself is pretty easy to follow – except for a few sections where navigation can be tricky. The most challenging navigation is finding the second section of the trail at the far end of Teluk Ailing (the USM beach). There are no signs for the trail at this point, and it is overgrown in sections.
The path stays close to the coast – as you trek to monkey beach the ocean should be to your right – and for most of the trek you can see the ocean through the trees.
Here is the route to get to Monkey Beach Penang:
(1) Start at the entrance of the National and follow the path into the national park for 5 minutes until you reach the bridge. This first section of trail runs alongside a very clean and beautiful section of beach called Adverlabs Beach. You’re probably rearing to go at the start of your walk – so consider leaving some time to stop here on your want back (it is one of the nicest beaches in the National Park). ALSO watch out, groups of Macaque monkeys often hang out on this path. Don’t feed or approach them and definitely keep any food zipped up in your bag! They can be aggressive around here. We have also seen monitor lizards on this section of trail from time to time!
(2) Cross the bridge and turn right at the sign. If you turn right you follow a small coastal path (with the ocean to your right) After this the trail starts to undulate and becomes more challenging. To your right you can get some NICE costal views along this section of trail.
(3) Keep following the path. This first section of trail is very beautiful. You will notice a small fishing community to your right. The path is generally uneven and can be tricky especially when wet. Pace yourself as you still have a long way to go from here.
(4) Follow this trail all the way until you reach a beach (around 1.5 – 2km). This is Ailing Beach – known locally as “Teluk Ailing” (or the USM beach). This is a good time to stop for water and a rest – BUT not a particularly nice beach, so we don’t recommend spending too long here.
Walk across this beach to the far end (the west side of the beach). Find a trail that leads along the coast through the jungle (the start of the trail is near this rock)
(5) Finding the start of the trail is tricky in this area. We recommend going carefully and slowly until you are confident you have got the right trail. The correct path is reasonably well trodden – but there are a few things that make it look like you cannot continue (e.g. rocks, trees and branches across the path…)
(6) The Ailing to Monkey Beach trail gets pretty challenging – you really feel like an intrepid jungle explorer at points! In some sections you may need to climb over trees and rocks. Keep looking carefully for the path and remember the ocean should always be to your right and pretty close. Keep an eye out for Dusky Leaf monkeys playing in the canopy along this section.
(7) The second section of the trek (after USM beach) is more challenging. After around 5-10 minutes trek from USM beach you should find some walkways (this should reassure you that you are on the right trail)
(8) Keep following the trail. Some of the trees along this route are very impressive.
(9) There is also a very steep slope to climb down – there are ropes to help. Use the rope and take your time. This section can be very slippery during or after heavy rain.
Eventually you will follow some final walkways that lead to Monkey Beach Penang. You will know when you have got there! This is what the view looks like when you finally arrive at monkey beach – and by this point you have definitely earned a rest!
What wildlife can you see at Monkey Beach Penang?
At Monkey Beach Penang it is common to see macaque monkeys. You may also see dusky leaf monkeys. Along the trail leading to Monkey Beach it is common to see large monitor lizards. These can sometimes be seen around the rocks along the north coast of the Penang National Park, including the beach at the entrance to the Penang National Park.
Can you swim at Monkey Beach Penang?
It is possible to swim in the ocean at Monkey Beach Penang. However be aware that the water can be quite murky and the waves can be quite large depending on the weather. There is also a risk of jellyfish in the water around Penang.
Is it possible to stay at Monkey Beach Penang?
It is possible to stay on Monkey Beach Penang. In fact, Monkey Beach Penang is now the only place that you are allowed to camp in the national park without a guide. In order to camp in the Penang National park you will need to purchase a camping permit for RM15 (in addition to your entry permit). You buy this at the National Park office on arrival.
The Lazyboys campsite and cafe is located on Monkey Beach. They offer tent rental so that you can camp in this beautiful place. It costs RM30 to rent a two-person tent for one night at Lazyboys Campsite. There is also an additional charge of RM15 per person, per night to use the facilities which include toilets, a shower, a basic kitchen and access to drinking water. Be aware that the facilities at Monkey Beach are very basic. If you are planning to camp on Monkey Beach Penang, you do not need to arrange camping in advance. It is very unlikely that the campsite will be full.
Can you buy food and drinks at Monkey Beach Penang?
There are NO shops at Monkey beach (or in the National Park). However, there is a small shop selling some drinks and snacks, located just outside the entrance to the National Park.
There are a few basic cafes offering food and drinks on Monkey Beach Penang. Be aware but the menus are pretty basic and simple. You generally have to take whatever they have at the time. A dish is likely to cost around RM10 – RM15 on Monkey Beach Penang (this is around £2 – £3 pr $2.50 – $4). Examples of food that may be available on Monkey Beach include things like fried rice, omelets, french fries and noodles. There is drinking water available at Monkey Beach Penang, however be aware that this water is from the hills and is not treated. To the best of our knowledge no one has reported any problems with the drinking water at Monkey Beach. We do recommend bringing plenty of your own drinking water and snacks.
What else is there to do near the National Park?
Don’t miss the AMAZING ESCAPE Adventure Park and the innovative Entopia insect and reptile conservatory. BOTH located in Teluk Bahang and not far from the Penang National Park.
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.
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.
Alternatively, if you are on a budget check out the Rasa Motel – very cheap and excellent location in Batu Ferringhi.
If you are looking to splash out on a stylish superlative then check out the colonial Eastern and Oriental Hotel – pure luxury and decadence.
If you want style for a lower price tag- then check out the new Prestige Hotel – also located in Georgetown. An amazing 5 star hotel for 3 star prices!
