How does 2 weeks in exotic Penang sound for less than $1,500 including airfares, accommodation, transfers, sight-seeing, entrance fees and some meals?
August 6th - 20th, 2010
Staying at Batu Ferringhi in spacious 3 bedroom apartments ( you can have a whole apartment to yourself or share with family and friends ). Five minutes from the beach, restaurants, night market and bus into George Town. The apartments have their own private garden and swimming pool. Each apartment has two balconies with views. Click on the link below to see inside an apartment.
Marco Polo Guesthouse Click on 'suites' and view Type A ( Fairway Suite )
Cost: ( Total Land Content )
Price per person with two couples sharing a 3-bedroom apartment - $920
Price per person with one couple having a 3-bedroom apartment to themselves - $1,170
Price for single supplement with one person having an entire apartment - $1,670
Airfares to Penang are very cheap through Air Asia if you book ASAP.
We do not book group airfares now, they are much cheaper to book on-line.
As of December 12th the cost of travelling to Penang return is $437.
Total cost for 2 couples sharing would be $1,357 per person.
A seriously cheap holiday with an itinerary that goes well beyond the major tour operator travel formulas.
Link to Booking flights to Penang 2010
Itinerary
August 6 - 20, 2010
Friday Aug 6
Arrive into Penang airport at 12.45 pm and transfer to our apartments in Batu Ferringhi.
After settling in we'll go out to Dinner together at a vibrant local food court.
Saturday Aug 7
Transfer into George Town for lunch at our favourite vegetarian restaurant.
George Town is a World Heritage listed city full of temples, clan houses, Chinese coffee shops, local trades operating in crumbling pre-war buildings, narrow alleyways, a vibrant Little India , Malay enclaves with mosques, Chinatown, Trishaw riders ( Rickshaws ), colourful markets, superb restaurants and hawkers, Baba mansions and an ever present sense of excitement.
We will wander down some of the historic streets, through Chinatown to meet a group of trishaw riders who will take us on a trail through the backstreets of Little India, the Colonial district, clan houses built on stilts over the water and several historic landmarks.
Our tour will conclude at a Cendol stall before ascending Komtar ( Penang's tallest building ) for views over the city.
Sunday Aug 8
Today we will enjoy a bus tour around Penang Island. From the Northern beaches we will head to the Batik factory to watch a demonstration of this fine local art before visiting their showroom. I always have trouble getting people out of this shop.
We head up into the beautiful jungle highlands of west coast Penang, past Durian plantations with views over the straits of Melaka. Next stop is a tropical fruit stall with a rubber tapping demonstration. If there has been recent rains we will get to see the Titi Kerawang Waterfall.
We then drive through several Malay kampongs ( villages ) before arriving at the small town of Balik Pulau. Lunch will be at a Thai restaurant perched high above the surrounding villages and offering spectacular views.
We'll call into the infamous Penang Snake Temple on the way back before spending an hour or so at Queensbay mall ( Penang Island's largest and most modern shopping complex ).
Monday Aug 9
Today is free to enjoy the beach, laze by the pool, explore the kampongs of Batu Ferringhi, do some shopping, take a jungle walk or catch a bus into town.
In the evening the entire main strip of Batu Ferringhi comes alive as a huge night market.
Tuesday Aug 10
This morning we'll meet up with a couple of local friends and take you to a great Restaurant on Gurney Drive for a real mouth-watering Malaysian breakfast. The special fried tofu is extraordinary.
After breakfast we will drive to Kek Lok See . Towering over the village of Air Hitam, this is the largest Buddhist complex in South East Asia.
From Kek Lok See it's only a five minute drive to the base of Penang Hill. We will ascend the hill by Funicular Rail for commanding views over Penang and parts of mainland Malaysia.
We intend to have lunch or high tea at the majestic David Brown's Restaurant and Tea Terraces before any brave souls in our tour party try the Air Walk ( a matted rope walk-way slung high in the jungle tree-tops ).
Wednesday Aug 11
The start of a very relaxing and fun day.
We will drive to the Penang Tropical Spice Gardens for a guided tour and then make our way to the outdoor platform restaurant perched on the edge of the jungle clad hills with wonderful views across the bay.
You will meet our friend Nazlina who will conduct a hands-on Cooking Class for those who want to attempt an authentic Nyonya dish.
You may just prefer to kick back and relax on the deck, enjoy the view and dodge falling sea almonds dropped from above by cheeky Dusky Leaf Monkeys.
Afterwards we will join together for a traditional banquet cooked by Australian Nyonyas.
Thursday Aug 12
This is an optional add-on to the tour. A two day one night trip to the Cameron Highlands in the centre of Mainland Malaysia.
We will cross the bridge from Penang to Butterworth and head south for the highlands.
Enroute we will stop at Bukit Merah, a huge resort with a water-world fun park but more importantly, a lake with an interesting island accessible only by boat. This island contains many Orangutans and provides the chance to get up close and personal with some juvenile apes.
We then drive up into the Highlands, past Orang Asli ( native ) villages to our preferred accommodation Bala's Holiday Chalet.
Friday Aug 13
A day of sight-seeing around the Cameron Highlands includes a tea plantation, the cute little town of Tanah Rata, Sam Poh Chinese Temple and a short jungle walk if we have time.
Our drive back to Penang will include a stop off at Ipoh , Malaysia's 4th largest city, for a famous Ipoh Koay Teow dinner.
Saturday Aug 14
After packing a lot into the past two days - today is a free day.
Sunday Aug 15
An early start as we bus it into George Town to join a group of Penang friends for Dim Sum.
Before that we can stroll through the best morning market in Penang - Chow Rasta. Bring a camera.
We will explore some more of George Town on foot including more of Chinatown, magnificent Armenian St, Khoo Kongsi, Yap Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, the Street of Harmony and much more.
Lunch at Edelweiss Cafe owned by our good friend Teresa.
Anyone who wants to spend more time exploring George Town with us may choose to stay in town. If you need to relax then you may prefer to head back to Batu Ferringhi.
Monday Aug 16
The day is free to relax. In the evening we will transfer to the fishing village of Teluk Bahang ( only 10 minutes away ) and be overwhelmed by all the amazing colours, sights, sounds, smells and friendly atmosphere of a local Malay Pasar Malam ( night market ). This market is only held on a monday night and hardly any tourists know about it.
A short walk away is the Fishing Village Restaurant where we'll relax over dinner. Great food the locals will travel from all parts of the island to enjoy.
Tuesday Aug 17
For those who are reasonably fit we will transfer to Teluk Bahang to start a great 90 minute jungle walk to Monkey Beach. The trail is not too difficult through dense jungle with the chance of spotting Long Tailed Macaque and Dusky Leaf monkeys, huge Monitor lizards, Flying Lemurs, scorpions, green tree pit vipers, squirrels and maybe even a python. It's hot and sweaty but worth every step.
Those who don't wish to do the trek will come to Monkey Beach on a fishing boat. The sea here is gentle and the boat ride only takes about 25 minutes.
We will enjoy a picnic under coconut palms, take a dip in the warm waters off Monkey Beach and then all return by boat.
Wednesday Aug 18
Today will be a fairly relaxed and informal trip into George Town.
We will visit the beautiful Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion , chocolate factory, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel , Nagore Place and Penang's New World Park.
Thursday Aug 19
We have kept today free for any last minute shopping, re-visiting any favourite places or just to laze by the pool before returning to winter.
We will have options for anyone wanting to explore more of Penang. We have been coming to Penang every year for the past 13 years and still not seen and done everything this amazing place has to offer.
Tonight we will plan to have dinner together at a local restaurant ( Alternatively, Veronica might cook up a great curry for us all ).
Friday Aug 20
Early morning transfer to the Penang Airport for our flight back to Australia.
This Itinerary is only a brief outline of activities and the actual tour will involve far more content. Any festivals or cultural events occuring while we are in Penang will be added to the itinerary. Specific shopping requirements ( such as music, movies, jewellery, tailored articles or optical needs ) which are significantly cheaper in Penang, will be highlighted for tour members.
This is not a tai chi tour but tai chi is available for anyone interested. A group of local friends practice tai chi every morning from 7.15 - 8.15 in the park next to our apartments. They do the Beijing 24, 42, 40, 42 sword, 48, Chen 56 and a fan form under the tutorage of Master Peter Lim. We will also be there most mornings to help anyone wanting to give tai chi a go.
In the past 2 days Air Asia has increased the airfares by approximately $60.
If you want to join us in Penang at this amazing price, you need to act quickly. Airfares will continue to rise. It is worth bearing in mind though that even well into 2010, despite price increases, Air Asia will still be offering cheaper flights into Penang than otherwise available.
Please click Booking flights to Penang 2010 to book your flights.
Important: Please ensure that your passport is valid at least until February 2011.
Passports must be valid at least 6 months after intended travel dates. You cannot book your airfares without a valid passport.
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