Penang City Explorer Tour
Your first stop on this five-hour tour is the Wat Chayamangkalaram, or Reclining Buddha Temple, which houses one of the world’s longest reclining Buddha statues. Then go back in time to Penang’s colonial past with a visit to the Colonial Penang Museum. Make a quick stop at the Cocoa Boutique for some retail therapy before the tour moves downtown to the heritage zone. The heart of the zone is Fort Cornwallis. Built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century, its structure and cannons stand proudly to this day. A walk on the Clan Jetty gives you views of the traditional houses built on stilts. Complete the tour with a slow drive through the Street Of Harmony, where you can find places of worship for all the four main religions: St. George’s Church, the Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Temple), the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Kapitan Keling Mosque. (Duration: Half Day; Private activity; Meal: No; Fitness level: Easy)
George Town Heritage Tour on a Trishaw
Go back in time as you explore George Town in a trishaw, the city’s oldest mode of transportation. Your five-hour guided tour begins at Fort Cornwallis, the largest standing fort in Malaysia. As you wind your way through the city’s narrow lanes, you will pass the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, presented to Penang by local millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen. Cruise through Little India, with its colourful saree shops and array of spices. Spot St. George’s church, the oldest Anglican Church in South-East Asia. Your ride ends at The Blue Mansion, the most photographed building in George Town. This 38-room, 220-window mansion was commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze, a Hakka merchant known as the ‘Rockefeller of the East,’ for his seventh and favourite wife. An indigo-based lime wash gives the building its distinctive blue colour. (Duration: Half Day; Trishaw ride will be for 2 hrs;Private activity; Fitness level: Easy)