Monkey Beach (Teluk Duyung)

Last updated: October 2026

Monkey Beach, known in Malay as Teluk Duyung, is a curved bay of pale sand and coconut palms on the northern shore of Penang National Park, at the foot of the Muka Head headland in the far north-west of Penang Island. It takes its English name from the long-tailed macaques that come down from the forest to forage along the beach. There is no road: you either walk in on the coastal trail from the park headquarters at Teluk Bahang or take a short boat ride from the jetty beside it.

It is the most visited beach in the park and the usual turning point for day hikers, with a few simple stalls, calm water on most days and the 1883 Muka Head lighthouse on the hill above. This guide covers the beach's background, the trail and boat options, park fees, what to do once you arrive and practical tips, checked in October 2026. Fees and boat prices can change, so confirm at the headquarters before you set off.

History of Monkey Beach and Muka Head

Teluk Duyung sits in what was once the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, a stretch of hilly forest and small bays on the north-western tip of the island. Fishing communities at Teluk Bahang used these coves for generations, and before the park existed the bay was already a favourite day-trip and camping spot reached by fishing boat. Some old bungalows built by the late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew, the Penang businessman best known for bringing Honda motorcycles to Malaysia, still stand near the beach, now in poor repair.

The headland above the bay, Muka Head, has the oldest structure in the area. British engineers built the Muka Head lighthouse in 1883 to guide steamships approaching Penang from the north-west. The tower is about 14 metres tall and sits on a hilltop roughly 230 to 240 metres above sea level (published figures vary). It is still a working light.

In 1991 Universiti Sains Malaysia opened its Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) research station at Teluk Aling, the bay just before Monkey Beach on the coastal trail, which is why you pass a university jetty on the walk in. In April 2003 the forest reserve and its coastline were declared Penang National Park, which brought Teluk Duyung under national park rules and introduced registration at the Teluk Bahang headquarters. The park is usually described as one of the smallest national parks in the world, covering roughly 1,200 hectares of land and sea.

The name the bay is known by today comes from its residents. The park's long-tailed (crab-eating) macaques regularly forage on the sand and in the trees behind it, and over the years they have learned that day visitors carry food.

What to See and Do at Monkey Beach

Swim and relax

The beach is about a kilometre long, backed by coconut palms and forest, and faces north into a sheltered bay. The water is usually calmer than at Batu Ferringhi, and on a clear morning it is one of the more pleasant places to swim on the island. Conditions still change with the weather and the tide: after storms the waterline can be strewn with driftwood and litter, and jellyfish appear at times, so look before you go in.

Food stalls and water activities

A few makeshift stalls sell drinks, coconuts and simple snacks, and operators on the beach offer activities such as jet skis and boat rides. Supplies are limited and prices are higher than in town, so bring water and some food of your own (kept sealed, see below). There are no proper shops, ATMs or reliable card payment on the beach.

Climb to the Muka Head lighthouse

From the western end of the beach a steep path of about 1.2 km climbs through the forest to the lighthouse. It starts as steps and narrows to a jungle track near the top; most people take 30 minutes to an hour. Visitors have been able to climb the short spiral stairway for views over the Strait of Malacca and the north coast, but access to the tower itself is at the discretion of the staff, so treat the hilltop view as the goal and the tower as a bonus.

Watch the wildlife

Apart from the macaques, the forest behind the beach holds dusky leaf monkeys and many birds, and the trail in passes small rocky coves where crabs scuttle along the shore. Early morning is the best time for wildlife on the trail.

Camping

Monkey Beach has long been popular with campers. Camping in the national park is only allowed at designated sites with a permit arranged in advance at the park office.

Getting to Monkey Beach: Trail or Boat

The coastal trail

The northern trail starts at the park headquarters at Teluk Bahang and follows the coast past the small coves of Pasir Pandak, Teluk Tukun and Tanjung Ailing (Teluk Aling) before reaching Teluk Duyung, a distance of about 3 km. Allow roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way at a steady pace. The path is well marked but has tree roots, rocks, short climbs and a few sections that get slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes rather than sandals.

By boat

Boats leave from the jetty next to the park headquarters and take about 10 minutes to reach the beach. Each boat carries about 10 people with life jackets, and prices are per boat, not per person: about RM70 one way or RM100 return to Monkey Beach. A popular plan is to walk in during the cool morning and take a boat back, or the reverse if you want the lighthouse climb with fresh legs. Agree the pick-up time clearly with the boatman before you are dropped off.

Park Fees, Hours and How Long to Spend

• Registration: at Penang National Park headquarters, Jalan Hassan Abbas, Teluk Bahang, 8 am to 4:30 pm (closed 1 pm to 2 pm). Every visitor must register and state the trail they plan to take.
• Park entrance fee: foreign adults RM50, children aged 3 to 12 RM10, Malaysians RM10. Payment is by card only.
• Boat: about RM70 one way or RM100 return per boat to Monkey Beach.
• Time needed: about three hours for a boat trip with time on the sand, four to five hours if you walk both ways, and most of a day if you add the lighthouse climb.

Plan to leave the beach by mid-afternoon so you are back at the headquarters before it winds down in the late afternoon.

How to Get to the Park Headquarters

• Rapid Penang bus 101: runs from Weld Quay and KOMTAR in George Town along the north coast through Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi to its last stop at Teluk Bahang, a short walk from the park entrance. Allow an hour or more, depending on traffic.
• Bus 102: from the airport side of the island also terminates at Teluk Bahang.
• Grab or taxi: about 40 to 50 minutes from George Town. Ask for Penang National Park, Teluk Bahang.
• Driving: there is parking opposite the park entrance.

Tips for Visiting Monkey Beach

• Keep food out of sight. The macaques are bold and will open bags, grab plastic bags and snatch drinks. Keep everything zipped, do not eat in the open near them, never feed them and do not stare at or corner them. Give mothers with babies plenty of room.
• Start early. The trail is cooler before 10 am, the light is better for photos and the beach is quieter before the boatloads arrive.
• Carry water. At least 1.5 litres per person for the walk, plus sun protection; shade on the beach is limited to the palms.
• Check the weather. Boats may not run in rough seas, and the trail is slippery after heavy rain. The drier months, roughly December to March, are usually the most comfortable.
• Swim with care. There are no lifeguards. Watch for jellyfish and stay out of the water if it is rough.
• Take your rubbish back. There are few bins, and litter attracts the monkeys.
• Eat in Teluk Bahang. The village by the park entrance has seafood restaurants and simple stalls for a meal afterwards, and Entopia and the Tropical Spice Garden are a short drive away.

Monkey Beach (Teluk Duyung) Location

Nearby

• Penang National Park — Attraction, 2.3 km away

Plan a route with opening times using the Where2Go trip planner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Penang National Park, Wikipedia
• The smallest national park in the world, Time Out Penang
• Teluk Duyung, Penang Travel Tips
• Muka Head lighthouse, Travel Penang Malaysia
• Penang National Park, Lonely Planet

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