Penang holidays

Sitting just off the northwest coast of Malaysia, Penang is rapidly becoming a tourist hotspot for adventure travellers who want something a little different. It’s an island packed full of culture, both Malay and other colonial influences. It has plenty of great beaches, but its real draw is the fabulous food you’ll find here. Penang is referred to throughout the region as the ‘food paradise’ of Malaysia, so if you want a culinary experience like no other, then this is the destination to choose.

Penang’s capital is George Town – a mish-mash of old British colonial buildings and ultra-modern city developments. Its older sections make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so make sure you have your camera with you when you go for a wander around its back streets and alleyways. The air is scented with incense, and trishaws ply their trade along the streets and boulevards of the old quarter.

Penang holidays are ideal for couple and groups of friends, although the hotels also cater for families, welcoming younger visitors with typical Malay warmth. Package holidays to Penang with Qatar Airways Holidays will introduce you to a location that’s filled with colour, passion, and fabulous flavours.

• Head to Simpang Ampat, a small town that’s famous for its fabulous seafood.
• Tour the UNESCO world heritage zone and Armenian Street, the historical heart of old Georgetown and grab a bargain in the flea markets and trinket stalls.
• Find some peace and quiet in the Kek Lok Si-Temple of Supreme Bliss, said to be the largest Buddhist temple in South-east Asia.
• Discover the scents and secrets of the spice trade in the Tropical Spice Garden, an eight-acre plantation that packs in over 100 different varieties of spices and herbs.
• Relax on unspoilt beaches – head for Teluk Duyung (Monkey Beach) and the white sandy shores of the Penang National Park in the northwest of the island.
• Celebrate all year round, with the Chinese New Year, the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival, the Songkran Thai Water Festival in April, or the Nine Emperor Gods vegetarian festival. For an authentic taste of Asia, look out for mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which usually falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar.