3. Pulau Aman

Translated as the ‘Island of Peace’, Pulau Aman is a 116-hectare island located off the coast of Batu Kawan in the Penang Strait. A popular tourist destination especially for its array of cheap seafood, it is also the only island in Penang State that has a permanent habitation, concentrated in a village on the northern coast. The first settlers to Pulau Aman arrived from Kedah in the late 1700s and evidence of this rich and illustrious history can be seen all around the island, like at the old Telaga

Mas (or Golden Well) and the oldest Breadfruit Tree in Malaysia, planted in 1891.

The island is dominated by a hill ridge which rises steeply from the coast and legend has it that, in the past, this hill ridge was a vantage point for pirates to look out for passing trading ships which they could then raid. Today, a trail which starts from the village onward to the summit and steeply down to the coast, presents a worthy challenge for hikers. For the less experienced, there is an easier and more relaxing stroll, a coastal trail which goes around the island, offering panoramic views of the mainland, Penang Second Bridge and nearby Pulau Gedung as well as the sight of mudskippers sparring with fiddler crabs at low tide. After a long and tiring day of exploring, you can top off the outdoor adventure with a bowl of spicy Pulau Aman Prawn Mee.