Penang Known as the "Pearl of the Orient", Penang is renowned as a foodies paradise with its fusion of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Nyonya and western cuisines.

Not exactly the tropical island paradise you’d imagine it to be, the Malaysian island of Penang is home to Malaysia’s second largest economy after Kuala Lumpur. Not only is it known as the "Pearl of the Orient", Penang is renowned as a foodies paradise with its fusion of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Nyonya and western cuisines. Penang’s main city, Georgetown is sister city to Adelaide. In Georgetown, you’ll discover charming Chinese Shophouses, intricate temples, impressive colonial architecture, food stalls billowing with smoke and fragrant scents and an innumerable amount of trishaws crawling through the traffic.

See the 33 metre reclining Buddha at Malaysia’s largest Thai temple, Wat Chayamang Kalaram while opposite you’ll find the only Burmese temple in Malaysia, Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. See the lavishly decorated Khoo Kongsi Temple or Kuan Yin Teng Temple, built in 1800 and devoted to the Buddhist goddess, Kuan Yin. For some respite from the heat, take the cable train up Penang Hill for cooler temperatures, wonderful views and some of the islands best laksa at the Ayer Itam market.

Spanning 1,213 hectares of land and sea, the Penang National Park is a great spot for jungle trekking, fishing, a canopy walk and wildlife spotting. Its highlight is the Penang Turtle Sanctuary, where Green Sea Turtles lay and hatch their eggs on the beach. Most of the beachside resorts can be found on the stretch of beach known as Batu Ferringhi on the north coast of the island. You will also find delightful market places, an endless amount of mouth-watering seafood restaurants and loads of different watersports and activities to keep you busy during the day.