Countryside Cycling Tour. T1.0 by Matahari
Description
We uphold originality, quality, safety, companionship, and trust, and maintain a passion for being the best. We are here to make something rarely offered in Malaysia conveniently available to you. The brand is a small, 100 percent locally-owned company representing a team of highly motivated, innovative, adventurous, experienced, and fun-loving people. The dazzling line-up cares for local communities, wildlife, mountains, jungles, forests, and rivers. Our team’s primary focus is the rural livelihood and real-life outdoor experiences. Our tour products provide authentic local offerings, creating profound holiday encounters and ensuring a meaningful and transformative travel experience. We chose a more challenging field of responsibility and sustainability. We honour ordinary rural matters by making vital recognition to their economic sectors. When joining our tours, you use tourism to create an undeniably positive impact and value social benefits to our local communities.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join this exceptional Malaysian cycling adventure that lifts you off on an endless parade of rustic experiences. Your escapade through the bucolic side of Penang Island provides breathtaking scenery with the opportunity to connect with ordinary folks, taste the simple lifestyle or even try out your hands on local tasks and trades. Your cycling adventure in the first sector sets you off with a gradual approach and provides you with a rare opportunity to witness our diverse culture and ethnic race. Navigating on trails and back paths that run along waterways towards contrasting hamlets, villages, and farmlands lands you an opportunity to witness the local community while being entertained by our guide and the ever-gracious countryside folks.
After a short stop for coffee at a Hakka Chinese hamlet, the second sector restarts with an approach to the fisherman's outpost at a river mouth. The trip turns around to cover further distances as we set you to encompass different landscapes. Roam on the extensive network of trails snaking the palm oil estate in search of the labourers to get an inside story about the two-edged tales of this controversial commodity. Watch out! Herds of wild cows can easily get startled, stampede alongside us, and sometimes might change their direction into crossing our path. We then cross a Hokkien Chinese hamlet famed among locals for its cuisines. Viral by social media, at times this place is bustling with local visitors from across the country as they try to get a taste of all the exquisite assortments this place has to offer.
Getting off to a calmer side, we ride to the rice field. The vast plains composed a picturesque view intensified by the species of birds dotting the muddy paddy plots, others flying across as raptors circling in the skies. Identify the different types of birds and have our guide reveal each of them to you from the endemic to the migratory species. A cosy little hut built for the farmers to rest is our setting of choice to arouse your taste buds. Situated amidst the rice field, you can reach there by the normal route or choose a more fun way by riding on the bund separating the paddy plots. On the menu, the dishes introduced to you are carefully chosen and each of them is from our selected vendors. These are the best from Balik Pulau and top those found in the other parts of the island. Some mentioned that this tour is partially a food tour and it is the only food tour that you needed to experience in Penang.
Relaxing and soothing at this cosy little hut, claim your deserving time by spending some precious moments refreshed by the tranquillity with the absence of the tense world outside. Restart your ride to end your journey with fond and nostalgic memories. Oh ya! If it rains, it will add a lot more fun to your activity.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please let us know of your hotel or the location of your stay.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children Friendly
- Childs Bicycle Seat available upon request
Reviews(150)
Fantastic cycling tour! If you want to experience traditional Penang and enjoy cycling, don’t miss this tour. Beautiful countryside and passionate and informative guides who shared their knowledge of local plants, food, history and culture. Lots of stops to taste delicious tropical fruits too! Matahari Cycle Tours & Travel were excellent to deal with, from initial enquiries to the tour itself! Highly recommend!
We had an amazing experience with Matahari Cycling Tours, especially with our guide Princilia. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and shared so much interesting information throughout the tour. One of the highlights was visiting a local fishing village and a palm oil plantation, where we were able to meet locals and learn more about daily life in the area. We were also lucky enough to see monkeys in the wild, which was such a memorable experience for our family. The tour also included delicious local treats and authentic Malaysian coffee, which made the day even more special. Princilia was friendly, engaging, and passionate about the region, and she made everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to experience the real beauty, culture, and nature of Malaysia.
Thank you so much Princilia and the Matahari Team. Your cycle tour was absolutely amazing as was your stories, histories and many deep insights into Penang life, culture and community. The tour may only be a brief one but the memories of this experience will run deep for a long time.
It was an exceptional adventure. We cycled off the main roads and discovered breathtaking landscapes. The tour was very well organized, with perfectly timed breaks, and all participants had a similar level, so we never had to wait. Our guide was excellent: she constantly ensured our safety and shared plenty of information about the animals, plants, and local communities. She had a great sense of humor and extensive knowledge, as did the driver who met us at each stop. The entire excursion was conducted with the utmost respect for the local populations, which we truly appreciated.
Princilia guided a small group of us on a most beautiful tour of the countryside. We rode along rivers, through small hamlets, along rice paddies and through the jungle. We finished the tour at the coast where we were picked up. The bikes were excellent and the bike path was either smooth asphalt or smooth dirt road. It was all flat except for four small hills at the end. Princilla provided insights into the geography, local culture, history and wildlife all along the way. She also served as the tour photographer, providing all the photos for free at the end of the tour. Lunch was a tasty delight. Everything including water was provided. All we needed to bring were sunscreen and sunglasses. I'm sad it's over! Maybe I'll book another tour?
A great way to see the "real" Penang away from the bustle of George Town, the Matahari Countryside Cycle Tour in Balik Pulau was one of my highlights. I can't recommend it enough. A stunning, flat ride through rice paddies, palm oil plantations, and traditional Malay villages. You get to see a side of the island that feels untouched by time. They provide excellent quality bikes that are well-maintained and comfortable—definitely not your average rental bangers I've had in the past. Communication was seamless from the start. They even have a support vehicle following along with chilled water and snacks, and traditional lunch, so you never have to worry about the heat or getting tired. Our guide Princilia was wonderful. The highlight of the day was definitely our Her passion for the local culture and environment is infectious. She knows every bird, plant, and hidden corner of the countryside, and her stories made the landscape come alive. She’s warm, knowledgeable, and ensures everyone in the group feels safe and included. One of the highlights of my trip to Penang—fresh air, great atmosphere, and the perfect route.
A special experience, taking in the quieter, more rural side of the island. Cycling through local villages with no other tourists in sight was brilliant and understanding village life was great. The team went above and beyond to make sure we were well looked after and they had thought of every detail. The scenery was beautiful. A bonus was the hundreds of photos and videos sent to us after the tour, a perfect way to remember it. Thank you for an excellent day!
A great experience and way to get to know the island. Country and people are very friendly and the food delicious. No influencers and everything real. The team deserves more than 5 stars. Any time again and there is no shortage of tours.
We had an amazing experience on this cycling tour. We joined as a family of four (with a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son) for the 4-hour ride, and it was absolutely worth it. Along the way, we enjoyed lots of cultural explanations, tried local food, and saw beautiful scenery that we would never have found on our own. The tour ended at a wonderful spot where we had a delicious laksa, and our kids were very happy too. Highly recommended for families as well as anyone who wants a fun and meaningful local experience. Special thanks to Prinsilia and SJ — we truly appreciate your kindness, guidance, and support throughout the tour.
My thank you to Sj and Princlia for a wonderful experience. The pace of the tour was excellent, the stops along the way were most informative and the Malaysian countryside was extraordinary. I recommend this totally.
