The Habitat Penang Hill features a scenic canopy walk over an ancient rainforest which allows visitors to observe wildlife at a safe distance (for both parties)!
And they have guided nature walks to explore the forest floor too!
But the main highlight is the Curtis Crest. This tree top walk is the highest viewing point on the hill!
Some Fun Facts
The construction of The Habitat began after 2012 and comprised of 2 phases.
The first phase with a 1.6km nature trail and the impressive Curtis Crest, was officially launched in 2016. Soon after, sunset walks were introduced.
And the highly anticipated canopy walk (Phase 2) was finally ready for the public in 2018. Langur Way Canopy Walk has two spans, and each span is 115meters long – a total length of 230m! The concrete canopy walk is 40m above the ground.
Approximately 900 people (each person weighing 100kg) can be on the bridge at the same time.
What To Do Here
Admire the 130 million old rainforest from different perspectives!
1. Be Among The Tree Tops (Langur Way Canopy Walk)
Named after the dusky leaf monkeys or langurs that live around here, the Langur Way Canopy Walk will take you up into the canopy!
The monkeys move in a big group and usually hang around humans hoping for food but please don’t feed them. We always see these monkeys whenever we visit Penang Hill. Look out for the cute orange babies.
The lofty bridge of 230m spans over 2 valleys so prepare for some incomparable views of the forest (and even the sea) from the multiple viewing platforms!
Keep an eye out among the tops of the trees and you might spot some unusual wildlife you don’t see on the mainland.
2. Have A 360° View Of Penang From The Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk
As the highest viewing platform on Penang Hill, this is undoubtedly a haven for sunset worshipers and anyone who wants to have a 360 view of Penang.
Even Langkawi can be seen on an exceptionally clear day!
Up to 120 people can be on this platform at any one time. And in case, you’re wondering, Curtis Crest is named after a renowned 18th century botanist, Charles Curtis.
The oval shape of the walkway was designed with the surrounding trees in mind!
3. Wander The Trails & Gardens
You can start this 1.6km trail a short distance from the upper station of the Penang Hill funicular.
It begins right after the ticket counter.
On this shaded trail, you’ll pass some old bungalows and a good portion of the nature reserve!
There are some specialty gardens along the way. Like the Fern Garden, Palm Grove and Butterfly Bank!
Either rely on the information signs or join a guided tour (Kancil Walk) to learn about the flora!
4. Join The Sunset Walk
Savor a dreamy sunset from the top of Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk. And as you do, listen as the nocturnal jungle creatures awake!
After sunset, begin your guided night walk into the jungle. Depending on your luck, you could spot a flying lemur (Colugo), scorpions, frogs, owls and others like the Penang gecko!
Note: Private tours are available too.
5. Experience The Flight Of The Colugo
Aptly named after the resident flying lemurs at the reserve, this heart-pumping adventure course will have participants gliding through the trees!
They have 5 zip lines, 1 abseiling line and 1 rope bridge. Slots are limited (last slot at 4pm) so book ahead if you’re interested!
6. See The Forest From A Giant Swing
What better place to relax than a giant wooden swing that doubles as a wonderful vantage point of the lush undulating rainforest?
There are two such swings at The Habitat. One is along the Canopy Walk while the other is somewhere between the Drongo Circle and the Squirrel Circle.
PS: You might be waiting quite a while for your turn on weekends and public holidays.
We went on a weekday so there were only 3 small groups besides us. The swings are very heavy-duty and the views from them are great!
7. Check Out The Habitat Shop & Café (Kommune)
On a rainy day, this is a welcome site to wait out the rain. Have a meal or coffee while you do so.
The air-conditioned shop is just before the exit of The Habitat. You do have to enter the shop to exit the Habitat. And inside, there are many goods on sale.
Like essential oils, solid perfume, tee shirts, batik pieces, and other various handicraft, tote bags, and hand-woven bags by the Women of the Penan Community!
The back of the shop leads out to the café which is an open-air space (albeit shaded) with plenty of beautiful greenery all around. We really enjoyed sitting out here among the plants.
How Much Does A Visit Cost?
Adults pay RM60 to enter this place. Which is steep for Malaysian standards. If your bringing your kids, you might be able to get some discount with a family combo.
Do check out the official site before your visit as you may be able to score limited promotions there.
Summary
To sum it up, we think this place is worth going at least once if you really enjoy being out in nature but don’t want to have to jungle trek.
The trails are all highly accessible and family friendly too so all ages will be able to enjoy their visit here.
However, as stunning as this place is, we feel that fees are overpriced (e.g., guided tours don’t include entrance fees) and if you can afford to wait for a promotion or deals, you might want to do so.
But if you can only visit Penang Hill on a busy day, the high fees are a good deterrent for the crowds.
What You’ll Like:
- Beautiful place that is well maintained
- Insightful nature tours by knowledgeable guides
- Amazing views of Penang from Curtis Crest
- Safe and fun zip lining experience!
- Comfortable way to enjoy nature without having to go deep into the jungle!
Good To Know:
- Reception isn’t good on the hill. If you bought your tickets online, download the QR code beforehand!
- Free shuttle service to take visitors from the exit of The Habitat to the funicular station
- Train ticket is not included in the entrance fees
- Don’t forget your identity card (or proof of Penang residency) if you’re Malaysian! You might be eligible for a discount.
- The zip lines won’t be open if it is raining (sometimes The Habitat is closed due to heavy rain)
- Pre-bookings are required for the zip line course (Flight Of The Colugo) and guided nature night walks
- Mosquito repellent is advised
- Allocate up to 4 hours to fully explore at a leisurely pace (and with kids in tow)
Note: We encourage our readers to be environmentally responsible, do not litter and bring your own reusable water bottles.
Getting Here
Since visitors cannot drive up to The Habitat Penang Hill directly, you might want to read more on the available transportation options listed below:
Transport Options To Get Up/ Down Penang Hill
- Funicular train from Air Itam
- Private jeep Service Botanical Gardens (Penang Hill Jeep Service)
- Hike from the Botanical Gardens
For more details on the above transportation options, see our separate post on Penang Hill.
Conclusion
The Habitat Penang Hill gives even past visitors another reason to return to this ever-evolving city! Get a much-needed break from urban life at this stunning nature reserve park!
Highlights here include the canopy walk, zip lines, the now-iconic Curtis Crest and the underrated nature walks!
Things To Do In Penang
The Habitat Penang Hill is only one of many things you can do in Penang. So don’t fret if you don’t have the time or budget for it!
Entopia
Those with kids can consider a visit to Penang’s Entopia. It’s fun and educational. Do allocate a few hours excluding the time it takes to get to the place from town.
Penang National Park
For even more nature-related activities, you might want to explore the Penang National Park. See monkeys, remote beaches, a meromictic lake and more!
ESCAPE Penang
If you wanted to try ziplining through the jungle canopy, ESCAPE Penang is another place to try this daring activity besides The Habitat Penang Hill.
