Voted as one of the places to go in 2009 by The New York Times, Penang is a popular tourist destination in Asia. My family runs Penang private tour and Penang culinary tour services, catered specifically to foreign tourists and visitors. Unlike other mass-market packaged tours with a van that loads and unloads visitors at various tourist traps, our Penang private tour is completely customized, attentive, and friendly. Send email to rasamalaysia@gmail.com now to inquire further.
- Penang Private Tour—a 9-hour day tour to the best sights and places of interests in Penang.
- Penang Culinary Tour (as featured on SilkAir)—a 9-hour culinary tour to local wet markets, belacan and soy sauce factories, plus the best local food experiences (hawker centers, kopitiam/coffee shops, and private dining)
- Penang Day and Night tour—12-hour tour that covers places of interests plus sunset tour, night market tour, and sampling Penang seafood dinner.
PENANG PRIVATE TOUR (Sample Itinerary)
Day 1 Georgetown UNESCO World Heritage Tour
9:00 am—Pick up at hotel
9:30 am—Georgetown UNESCO Heritage Walking Tour
12:00 pm—Lunch (sampling local cuisine of Indian “nasi kandar” and “teh tarik“/pulled tea)
1:00 pm—Pinang Peranakan Mansion Tour
2:00 pm—Penang floating village of Chew Jetty (a UNESCO site)
3:00 pm—Cheong Fatt Tze mansion
4:00 pm—Fort Cornwallis and Esplanade
5:00 pm—Tea break at local street food stalls and Penang Road walking tour
6:00 pm—Car transfer back to hotel
Day 2 Nature and Heritage Temples
9:00 am—Pick up at hotel
9:30 am—Wet market tour
10:30 am—Sleeping Buddha and Burmese Temple
11:30 am—Botanical Garden and Youth Park (Monkeys!)
12:30 pm—Lunch (sampling Nyonya cuisine or local Chinese food)
1:30 pm—Penang Hill
3:30 pm—Kek Lok Si Temple
5:00 pm—Penang street food (hawker food) experience
6:00 pm—Car transfer back to hotel
Day 3 Round-the-island Tour
9:00 am—Pick up at hotel
9:30 am—Penang Spice Garden
10:30 am— Butterfly Farm
11:30 pm—Tropical fruit farm and waterfall hike
1:00 pm—Sampling famous Balik Pulau Laksa
2:00 pm—Balik Pulau tour and various scenic view points
3:30 pm—Kampung Seronok (traditional Malay village)
4:30 pm—Snake temple
5:00 pm—Fishing village plus sampling Malay “ikan bakar” (grilled fish wrapped with banana leaves)
6:00 pm—Car transfer back to hotel
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RASA MALAYSIA CULINARY TOUR
Rasa Malaysia culinary tour takes you to sample the best of local street food (hawker food), great restaurants and hidden gems known only to the locals. You will get to sample the world famous Penang hawker food, visiting soy sauce and “belacan” (shrimp paste) factories, wet market, food culture tour, and more! We also offer Nyonya Food culinary tour with the focus on Nyonya and Peranakan food, legacy, and heritage.
Click the image below to view delicious Penang food.
If you are going to Penang and wish to tour Penang with a knowledgeable and friendly local guide for sightseeing, food, nature, culture, or simply wanted someone to drive you around, please contact us at rasamalaysia@gmail.com for our rates. Rates depend on the number of people in your group/type of vehicle used.
We look forward to touring with you in Penang!
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Penang is red hot! I have read about Penang quite a bit in magazines and newspapers lately. I am an American and would love to visit Penang (and Malaysia) someday. Thanks for putting together a trusted Penang private tour and culinary tour service. I hope to try out the food you introduced on your blog.
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I’ve never been a big fan of those packaged tours, but I think the best way to see a place is with a local. This sounds fantastic! I’ve definitely been wanting to see more of SE Asia and Penang is high on the list.
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Have to stopped by one day when I travel to Indonesia.
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Anonymous, Marc, Indonesia-Eats,
Thanks for your interest in Penang and the private tour/culinary tour service. Penang is a gem. Born and raised in Penang, I still find it amazing and keep learning more about it. Penang has it all, really, and it’s waiting for your discovery. :)
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this is a fantastic biz. wish you and your family sarng yee heng loong :D
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You are right, Penang rocks the most!! Thanks for promoting our hometown.
Happy Chinese New Year!
My Taste Heaven
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I just came back from a trip to SEAsia and stopped in Georgetown for a few days. Its a great place to visit and I highly recommend it. My hotel was a stone’s throw from both the new “New World” food court as well as the one next to the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion. New World was great for an afternoon meal but the one by the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion was definitely the place to go at night for “finger foods”.
There was also a fantastic kedai kopi place on Jalan Burma (?) with all kinds of roti and curries.
My only complaint is that accommodations there can be expensive (from a Southeast Asian standpoint). Unless you are staying at one of the backpacker hovels, a reasonably nice place is about twice as expensive as a hotel with a similar level of quality in Thailand.
Having said that, I still really enjoy Penang. I hadn’t been there in over 12 years and it was great to see that the historic part of town has maintained its character. Its a great area to roam around, take photos, and enjoy the scenery and people.
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Well with all the talk of recession here in the UK it might be a while before I manage to travel any further than to work and back!
Still, the forthcoming baby should keep me occupied.
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As a fellow Penangite, I was happy to know that your family had came up with this wonderful idea. It would be useful for friends of mine who will be visiting Penang when I am still abroad.
Going through the list of places and activities to be done in the itinerary, made me miss Penang a lot. I’ve not been home for some time now.
All the best with the tours! :)
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As if I needed another reason to to finally visit Malaysia! This is fantastic Bee! When I finally do make it there I’ll definitely be letting you know…this is the type of tour I would love to go to, as opposed to the usual generic ones…especially knowing how confident I am in your ability to find the best places to eat! :)
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Can I join? I stay in Penang but probably never went around like a tourist that much! :-)
This is good tour stuffs!
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Hi Babe_KL – thanks for the wishes. :)
My Taste Heaven – yes, Penang absolutely rocks and it’s one of the must-visit places of 2009, according to the New York Times!
Mr. T – Thanks for visiting Penang. In regards to accomodations, yes, it’s more expensive compared to Thailand because land is scarce in Penang island as you know. However, with so many hidden treasures, great good, and cultural gems, it’s all worth it. :)
Hi Scott – Going to Penang is very affordable with British pound. Do check out travel deals from Malaysia airlines and you never know, you and your family might be on your way to Penang soon.
Ally – Thank you. If you have friends coming to Penang, we will be more than happy to take good care of your friends on your behalf.
ChichaJo – you just have to come. The next time I am home, I will let you know so you can come. Or I can personally organize this private and culinary tour myself and take you guys around. It’s very possible.
MyF – sure, you are more than happy to join as our tour guide. I think it will be great. :)
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My husband and I just got back from a fabulous trip to Penang! Thanks to Bee who tailored an itinerary based on what we wanted to see, do and eat! It was no less than Bee’s impeccably mannered and knowledgeable brother, CK who took us around and found the best places for us to sample glorious Penang food! We would have had CK for the whole trip if we could have afforded it :) On the whole, their personalized service came out to be more both time and cost effective vs. doing all the things we wanted to do on our own. We covered a lot of ground but were also free to roam as and when we wanted.
We chose Penang as a holiday destination because of its food, culture and heritage, nature trails, the beach and got more than we expected–the people are very warm and welcoming–we met several locals (including a Baba!) and we hope to be able to nurture these newfound friendships. To top it off, we came at the start of the Chinese New Year and so we were able to witness some of the events and merriment that took place. Penang really deserves its spot on the list of the NYT places to go in 2009! If you are planning a trip to the tropics, make it Penang, then place yourselves in the capable hands of Bee and CK—you won’t regret it! :)
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We recently toured Penang with this private tour and culinary tour service and were very happy with the tour. The two-day tours were excellent, fun and very-very interesting!
And thank you very much for your culinary tour! We got to sample the famous Penang food and eventually we came to appreciate Malaysian food a lot! We also really liked the coffee shop near our hotel the guides had recommendeded (with fresh seafood every evening)! Very fresh, very tasty and cheap! We wouldn’t have found such a fine local restaurant ourselves.
Thank you very much! We missed the spicy, fresh and very tasty dishes that we had tried in Penang!
All in all though, we strongly recommend this private tour if you want to experience Penang with a friendly local guide and get the authentic local experiences.
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We recently joined this private tour when my cruise ship docked in Penang and absolutely loved it and strongly recommend it. The local guide CK is very friendly and took us to all the local places. It’s great to experience the real Penang rather than the “packaged tour” Penang for foreign tourists. We also got to sample the freshest coconut water in this small alley where a local Indian-Malaysian runs his coconut trading business. We’d never seen so many fresh coconuts. After that, we tried out some delicious local “hawker food” at this old restaurant/shop where we were the only two white people around!
We enjoyed the Penang tour so much and only wished that our cruise ship didn’t have to leave so soon. We will be back for sure.
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Yeay!!.. Great way to promote Penang.. I miss Penang too…!! Miss it so much even though, I’ve just been in the US for a little over a year.. Being a Penangnite myself, Rasa Malaysia’s tour package sounds just as interesting..! :) I wish more people will come to appreciate all that Penang has to offer and love it more..! Good Luck Rasa Malaysia.. You’re really great! Thank you so much for all the wonderful Penang recipes.. :)
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The weather wasn’t always on our side.
Sometimes, it was sweltering hot. Then, it would rain cats and dogs. But, I have to say having Jenny, Bee’s sister-in-law showing us around her Penang was really a blessing. She was kind, generous and always patient. So while, our planned tour did not always go…as planned, have Jenny to guide us around more than made up for it.
Oh about the food, it is everything they say it is. Any serious foodie should find his or her way to Penang as soon as possible. I suggest asking Bee to take you off the tourist beaten track and eat where the locals go. I swear the food was not only delectable, it was impossibly cheap – by any standard. I know I missed a lot. So, I’m hoping I’ll find a reason to return — or failing at that, I’ll just make up one…
Thank you, Bee.
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I would like to thank you and CK (the guide) for making my visit to Penang so memorable. You created the perfect itinerary for me, and CK was an outstanding guide. As a longtime resident of Penang, he has an extraordinary knowledge of the local food culture. He took me to places that I never would have found on my own, and he introduced me to a wide variety of Chinese, Malay, and Indian dishes that I had never experienced before. I cannot wait to return to Penang and rediscover it all again.
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
John – I am very glad that you have had a great and wonderful time in Penang. It was fun taking you around in Penang. We hope to see you again soon! :)
Take care,
CK
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Thanks for Mr. C.K. Low arranged me a one day private tour to see the must-go places, because I had a short stay only in Penang, He is professional and very familiar with his home town history. He is not only a tour guide because he even help me to get an idea to find a business supplier. Rasa Malaysia, keep going!!!
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
John – it was a pleasure showing you around Penang. See you again in Penang.
- CK
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I am just writing to convey our thanks to CK for his fantastic tour of Penang. It was a very memorable experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to see the real Penang, slightly off the beaten track. The fact you were able to accommodate us at such short notice was impressive, and CK was fabulous as a guide, his local knowledge of areas of beauty, local foods and places to eat as well as the history of Penang made it a very personal experience and his time and enthusiasm were well appreciated. The food was amazing especially the Dimsum and the Laksa, and it is something that will remain with us for a very long time. I am so very glad we were able to do this during our much too short a visit and I am looking forward to visiting Penang again in the not too distant future.
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Ihian and Gwynne – please come back again to Penang soon and we will take you to visit more places and eat more delicious Penang food.
- CK
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I would like to take this for thanks to CK for our group of private tour as driver and tour guild(9 persons). He is good for introduce of Penang & local food to us . Let us know of culture of Penang & foods. Good idea to take a private tour at Penang with CK.
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Thanks for your comment, Terrence. I am glad that you enjoyed our tour.
- CK
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Thank you and CK for the most marvellous 3 days in Penang. The memory of them is still very fresh in our minds and the taste too!
- David White, New Zealand
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
David – thanks for joining our tour. We hope to see you in Penang again in the future. :)
- CK
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hello there!
im travelling solo to penang in september.
how much would it cost me if i follow your sample itinerary?
thanks
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Hi Frances, please email rasamalaysia@gmail.com for more information. I will also send an email to you. :)
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Hi, just would like to feedback about my family trip to Penang few weeks back. It was very memorable and i like the food so much !
Thank you RasaMalaysia and my tour guide – Jenny!
Cheers
TY, KL/Singapore
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
TY – thanks for joining our tour! :)
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have just returned from 3wk holiday around malaysia,and one of the highlights has been our 2 day tour in Penang,thanks mainly to Bee and CK.Bee was great to deal with via e-mail,always replying promptly and making suggestions to improve our stay.Our guide,Ck was fantastic-we would have only seen a fraction without him.He was extremely helpful and full of suggestions that made our stay special.We particularly enjoyed-the walk through Penang National Park to see monkeys and baby turtles;the visit to the traditional soy sauce factory;lunch at Shanghai Ding dim sum restaurant (must try the Pokey Mouse!!!);sampling hawker food (especially Laksa);watching the sunset at Batu Ferrenghi while our teenagers para-glided over the sea and of course all the wonderful temples.
We felt the tour was very good value for money and it was lovely to escape the heat and humidity and be transported around in a comfortable air conditioned car!.Be warned-the suggested plans are very intensive and the temperature is very high but you get to see such a lot-a five star experience
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Denise and Mike – we were so happy to have guided your tour in Penang and am very pleased that you are happy with our service. Thanks again and we hope to see you again in Penang! :)
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Thank you for arranging our Penang tour with CK. He is a great guide and took us to few local food stalls that we really enjoyed ourselves. I think you have done a great job together with CK and will definitely recommend your services to friends and clients who plan to visit Penang!
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Shirley – thanks so much for your nice testimonial. We look forward to serving your friends and clients in Penang. :)
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The tours offered sound great. They cover pretty much what I’ve seen of Penang last year, The added knowledge of local food is a great plus though, and i would have gladly completed my own visit by a day of food tour had I known about it!…
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hello there!
it took me along while to post here.
anyway, i took a 3 day trip to penang last september 2009. booked 2 day tours with rasa malaysia (thanks bee for answering all my questions and giving me prompt reply)
penang is very interesting. the place is quite compact for anything and everything you want to experience. I like it better than Kuala lumpur…hehe..
i would like to thank CK for the wonderful tour, i learned a lot of interesting info.
the highlights for me are the hawker food he made me try, the soy sauce factory, the dim sum, the chinese doughnuts, CK feeding the monkey while i took the pictures, the temples and more temples we went…
there are still a lot of nook and crannies of penang i would love to go to if i have the chance to come back.
i would definitely come back. hope i can bring my family with me next year….
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Frances – thank you for your comment. We look forward to seeing you and your family in Penang soon. And next time, please stay longer. :)
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Dear Bee
I ‘ve made a link about your Penang Tour to my post !.
Thanks .
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I think this is the best way to visit Penang
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Hi CK and Bee,
We really thank to CK who accompanied us around Penang during our holiday end of September. It’s a private tour with my parents and family – 6 persons. The tour is really highly recommended to friends and families who want a trip to Penang. Penang is a beautiful city and has a lot of interesting places. The food is really tasteful ; ‘Shanghai Ding’ and Penang Peranakan Food are outstanding and have affordable price. Thanks also to Bee who is really helpful and quick replying my questions. Thanks again and hope to see you again soon.
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Dewi – thanks so much, we are very happy that you enjoyed your trip in beautiful Penang. Hope to see you soon.
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Hi Bee Yinn,
It’s so interesting n very exciting to see /read all the comments reg yr pg private tour together with CK. Wow! your rasa malaysia blog is so well connected and linked to CK’s private pg tour to CKean’s dim sum, Superb!!!!! I’ll explain in much clearer details to Ah Kor so that she’s so much more happier and 辛福 that all your siblings are so united and care among one another. I am very touched by your interview with Kwong Wah. Hopefully u are able to email me with this new hotmail id. My very best wishes to you.
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interesting tour…might consider taking this tour after discussing with my mom…after flying so much around the globe, the only place i truely want to see is Malaysia, still…looking forward to go to penang already =p
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Esther – please make sure you come to Penang during your next vacation. See you soon. :)
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Dear Bee & CK,
We had a wonderful time going around Penang last sunday 01/11/2009. Now I can proudly say that I have tasted Penang food in Penang. All the stops we had for food were timely and coordinated. The asam laksa at Air Hitam was so good, we ordered extra bowls of them.
Thanks for a delicious trip.
RJ Stidi, KK, Sabah
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
RJ – we are very happy to have serviced you while you were in Penang. Please come back again soon for your golf holidays. There are a lot more eating places that we have yet to take you to. :)
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Hi CK,
Just a note to thank you for the wonderful time we had in Penang especially the 1 day journey ( 1st Nov 2009 ) we had going thru all the many interesting places you have arranged in the tour package. Most of all, we had a fantastic time trying out all the local food centres with the best hawker food/delicacies that is offered in Penang.. I believe our intentions for visiting Penang is complete…. We certainly had a memorable time with your fine services…
Thank You,. From Alfred, Richard and families..
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Rasa Malaysia replied:
Alfred – thanks for your kind note. We are very happy you enjoyed our tour. You will have to come back again soon because there are too many great local food that we wanted to share with you. See you soon!
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I have spent a 3 days tour with CK in early Nov 09 and I was impressed with his knowledge of where the authentic good Penang food are, which is usually located “off the beaten tracks”. I still miss the Balik Pulau Assam Lemak Laksa, which my family ordered extra bowls, the push cart chendul where ‘Phua Chu Kang’ also patronaged, the Shanghai Ding unique dim sum and the ‘Tau Sa Bia’ (a type of chinese pastry) from the one and only shop ‘Him Heang’ in Penang. CK also went the extra mile to bring us for some shopping spree in town and patiently waited for us beyond the planned schedule so that we can returned to our hotel in Batu Ferringhi conveniently. This is definitely a added convenience when I was bringing my two aged parents around.
Overall, I have a comprehensive experiences of Penang, which is reflected in my recently completed photo albums, which can be broadly categorised into 4 themes:
1. Heritage Penang
2. Religious Penang
3. Nature Penang
4. Food Haven Penang
Thank you to Rasa Malaysia, esp CK for making these experiences possible.
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