Cherok Tokun Nature Park (National forest)
The tallest point on mainland Penang at 545 meters and one of Seberang Perai main attractions, this park has a beautiful jungle, the biggest trees in Penang, and hiking trails that will satisfy all visitors.
What To Expect?
Consider a hike in the mainland of Seberang Perai?
Cherok Tok Kun, or Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest, has a beautiful jungle, the biggest trees in Penang, and hiking trails that will satisfy any level of fitness. This is a Well reserved secondary rain forest less than 4 km away from the heart of the city, and designated as one of the national forests of Malaysia.
The dome-shaped peak, often called Tok Kun or To’Kun Hill by the locals, is the tallest point on mainland Penang at 545 meters and one of Seberang Perai main attractions. It towers over the vast flat plains around it making it a clearly visible landmark from miles away and is home to some of Penang mainland best hikes — check our in-depth guides to Bukit Juru, Bukit Panchor State Park, Berapit and Frog Hill. And if you are looking for an offbeat island, don’t forget Pulau Aman.
The main activity to do here is hiking. There are 3 paths going up the hill: 2 jungle trails and 1 by the tarred road.
Road Option:
Naturally the road option is the recommended way to go for beginners and first timers. Most of the locals will use the main road to go up there.
As the road are generally well paved, cycling is also an option here. Going uphill will be challenging though.
The road areand it has three pit-stops for visitors to take a rest, though the second and third stop is quite near to each other (roughly 200 meters apart).
The road areand it has three pit-stops for visitors to take a rest, though the second and third stop is quite near to each other (roughly 200 meters apart).
The summit offers a breathtaking view of Penang mainland. In a good day, you can see the Mengkuang Dam from the top observatory if the sky is clear.
There are two Telekom Towers that soar from the top of Bukit Mertajam summit.
A loop from the carpark to Trek 800 and returning from Trek 500 will take around 3/4 hours at a normal pace — something you may consider doing on your next visit.
Can you explore all trails in a day? We suggest not. Do consider that exploring the whole of Cherok Tok Kun through all trails in a single day is a long, tiring pursuit. Instead try to visit multiple times to try out different routes.
The Big Tree
While here, do make sure to check out the big tree. Located at the foothills of Bukit Mertajam, this tree stands as one of the marvels of mother nature, a remarkable tree with the largest buttress trunk in Penang.
Identified as a Mengkundor (Tetrameles nudiflora), it is estimated to be more than a century old with a buttressed trunk which is twice or thrice the height of an average human being.
Another interesting people do here is to fetch the spring water back for consumption purpose.
Address: 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia
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