Tropical Spice Garden
Tropical Spice Garden
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Asia's Hidden Eden! Timeless and enchanting, Tropical Spice Garden is an eco-attraction tucked within a natural valley fronting the Straits of Malacca. The showcase garden houses over 500 species of herb, spice and tropical plants. Explore and discover the fabulous diversity of nature as you through trails and pathways that meander through undulating hills, jungles terraces and natural streams. Garden Audio Tours available in 7 Languages: English, Chinese, Malay, Arabic, Japanese, German & French. Alternatively, you may take the Live Guided Tour that starts at 9am, 11am, and 1.30pm. The trails are slightly inclined so do wear comfortable walking shoes - unfortunately wheelchairs & strollers are not recommended.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Wendy SBrisbane, Australia826 contributionsTranquilityA tropical delight. Go early in the day to avoid the humidity. A calm place to wander, sit, absorb. Lots of paths so ensure good footwear. Use Insect repellent. Take time to read the plant history. Great for photos.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 17, 2023
- Lisa GLincoln, United Kingdom3 contributionsFabulous, but needs investmentWe went immediately after the tropical fruit farm. The fruit farm was well organised but the spice garden less so. Our experience would’ve been better if we were even allowed our taxi driver in with us! We weren’t offered the audio guide, just a map which was a little confusing. It was an enjoyable visit nevertheless and we saw spices growing that we ordinarily wouldn’t have (smell the lemongrass! Wow!) We got a little lost in there but it’s not too big. It’s a worthwhile visit, but the experience is not as good as the fruit farm. I just hope that they get the profit needed to have guides! XVisited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 14, 2024
- _Lyn_m_8Brisbane, Australia2 contributionsWonderful experienceBeatrice Goh ("Tummy") gave us a wonderful tour of the Tropical Spice Garden. Very impressed with her knowledge of the plants and Penang which she shared with great humour. Thanks Beatrice, so lucky to have you as our guide for the 9.30am tour, we thoroughly enjoyed our time and found it very interesting. All the staff were very friendly and helpful as well. Fish spa in the running stream was fun and herbal tea was refreshing. Even though we didn't see the monkeys (macaque and dusky leaf monkeys) it was good to know they live in the wild in this piece of paradise, definitely worth the visit. Lyn & Richard, AustraliaVisited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 22, 2024
- Richard A16 contributionsA Trip to the Tropical Spice GardenThis is located just a short distance from the end of Batu Ferringhi and is easily reached by a Grab or by the local 101 bus. It used to be a rubber tree plantation and is on a hillside so is not advised for those with mobility issues as there are very narrow paths and a good number of steps. The place is a very lush garden and is full of all sorts of plants , including a poison garden where everything is deadly poisonous. You can go around on a self guides tour with a map which is cheaper than the guided one but your going to miss so much if you take that option... i would very much describe it as a false economy. We went for the guided tour and the guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about everything that it made a potentially dull subject very interesting. You'll be educated about palms, plants from the ginger family and a large number of spices. As you go around he pulled some plant off to smell and taste and without it you wouldn't have a clue of what is what unless you take some considerable time searching for the plant labels. All in all a very worth while trip and a beautiful place in its own right. I'd advise buying some fish food at reception... the pond doesn't look like it has fish in it but it boils as the fish take the food....Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 24, 2024
- thornbury_travellersThornbury, Australia746 contributionsDo guided tour if possible.Do the guided tour on weekends if possible. If not possible the audio tour will suffice but our guide Joseph was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience all the more educational and interesting. Make sure you put on the bug repellant before visiting. Probably cooler in the morning rather than the afternoon . Really good value for money .Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 30, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,420 reviews
Excellent
723
Very good
471
Average
165
Poor
36
Terrible
25
pilou12017
Basel, Switzerland12 contributions
Aug 2022
We saw quite a few things on Penang, and overall it was a great experience. A few things really stood out though. I can't list them all here, but to me the Kek Lok Si temple is a place everybody should go visit. There is a peace that permeates through the entire place, and you're just left totally mesmerised. The Khoo Khong Si temple is another highlight, simply because of its incredible beauty.
If you are into architecture then you mustn't miss all the wonderfully restored colonial buildings. Some of them are really very nice and interesting, and they give Georgetown a certain je ne sais quoi.
You like the feeling of being in a jungle? Then go no further, Penang is your place. The Botanical Garden will give you a run for your money because it's one of the largest I've ever seen, and it's spectacular. Bring lots of mosquito repellent tho... You'll need it.
By far one of the best experiences on Penang is the food. The Hawker Centres are all over the place, and if they don't look like the sort of place you'd eat during the day, I can assure you that by night this is all you want to do. The food is fresh, delicious, includes a complete mix of Indian, Chinese and Malay food, plus of course everything else the region offers, Thai, Vietnamese etc. etc.
But now to the downsides... DON"T go to Penang if you're looking for a beach holiday. The beaches are nice enough, but the water isn't blue and it's certainly not clean. So you'll never know in what you're swimming. In fact you'll see it clearly, the locals only go into the water for the shortest of time, and they don't hang around. I swam in what I could only describe as sludge and consider myself lucky that I didn't start pushing any boils after that....
So, YES to Penang!
If you are into architecture then you mustn't miss all the wonderfully restored colonial buildings. Some of them are really very nice and interesting, and they give Georgetown a certain je ne sais quoi.
You like the feeling of being in a jungle? Then go no further, Penang is your place. The Botanical Garden will give you a run for your money because it's one of the largest I've ever seen, and it's spectacular. Bring lots of mosquito repellent tho... You'll need it.
By far one of the best experiences on Penang is the food. The Hawker Centres are all over the place, and if they don't look like the sort of place you'd eat during the day, I can assure you that by night this is all you want to do. The food is fresh, delicious, includes a complete mix of Indian, Chinese and Malay food, plus of course everything else the region offers, Thai, Vietnamese etc. etc.
But now to the downsides... DON"T go to Penang if you're looking for a beach holiday. The beaches are nice enough, but the water isn't blue and it's certainly not clean. So you'll never know in what you're swimming. In fact you'll see it clearly, the locals only go into the water for the shortest of time, and they don't hang around. I swam in what I could only describe as sludge and consider myself lucky that I didn't start pushing any boils after that....
So, YES to Penang!
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine W
Mornington Peninsula, Australia72 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We would not recommend as we were disappointed that we paid for a guided tour at 9.30am to beat the heat . We arrived at 9am and were told we had to join the first group which was huge and full of very very pushy people which made it so hard for us to hear or ask a question . Whilst we did manage to learn a little bit it was a disappointing experience . We also felt unfortunately that the whole place was very run down . The viper snakes at the entrance were amazing to see .
Written July 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunita W
7 contributions
Jul 2023
We signed up for a cooking class at this beautiful place and are so glad we did! The lush garden and the beautifully maintained plants contained within are a tribute to centuries of local history - medicinal lore, cooking traditions carefully passed down through generations, and rituals that define Penang's rich culture as a spice port. James was our guide and he was excellent: funny, wise and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge. After an hour-long tour, we began the cooking class with Chef Jamie and her two assistants. Each of the nine stations available had been beautifully set up with our ingredients and cooking equipment. Chef Jamie walked us through each step, answered questions patiently and explained rich and intricate recipes so clearly that even a non cook could be inspired to cook with confidence. Later, the nine people who had attended the cooking class ate the fruits of our labour together, bound by a delicious meal and the realization that we had shared a truly magical experience together.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue S
Mt Martha, Australia126 contributions
Jan 2020
The Spice Gardens on Penang were interesting and the self guided tour well worth having, easy to follow and informative. The heat was fairly unbearable but there were seating spots to rest. Take plenty of water. Worth a visit to learn of local vegetation and spices used world wide. Make sure you climb the steep driveway next door to the gardens to visit the cafe for a drink, bite to eat and a great sea view. Maybe the best bit of the Spice Gardens!
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard A
16 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This is located just a short distance from the end of Batu Ferringhi and is easily reached by a Grab or by the local 101 bus. It used to be a rubber tree plantation and is on a hillside so is not advised for those with mobility issues as there are very narrow paths and a good number of steps. The place is a very lush garden and is full of all sorts of plants , including a poison garden where everything is deadly poisonous.
You can go around on a self guides tour with a map which is cheaper than the guided one but your going to miss so much if you take that option... i would very much describe it as a false economy. We went for the guided tour and the guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about everything that it made a potentially dull subject very interesting. You'll be educated about palms, plants from the ginger family and a large number of spices. As you go around he pulled some plant off to smell and taste and without it you wouldn't have a clue of what is what unless you take some considerable time searching for the plant labels. All in all a very worth while trip and a beautiful place in its own right. I'd advise buying some fish food at reception... the pond doesn't look like it has fish in it but it boils as the fish take the food....
You can go around on a self guides tour with a map which is cheaper than the guided one but your going to miss so much if you take that option... i would very much describe it as a false economy. We went for the guided tour and the guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about everything that it made a potentially dull subject very interesting. You'll be educated about palms, plants from the ginger family and a large number of spices. As you go around he pulled some plant off to smell and taste and without it you wouldn't have a clue of what is what unless you take some considerable time searching for the plant labels. All in all a very worth while trip and a beautiful place in its own right. I'd advise buying some fish food at reception... the pond doesn't look like it has fish in it but it boils as the fish take the food....
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire G
13 contributions
Jun 2023
Spent a couple of hours wandering around late one afternoon, did not join a tour but enjoyed reading the information points. Really lovely gardens with lots of inviting flora, we found it interesting to see the plants where so many of our cupboard spices come from. It's a very tranquil patch of lush greenery, with the added benefit of seeing (placid) monkeys and skinks when we were there. The gift shop is worth a visit for their home-grown spices, blends and aromatherapy oils.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DShalders
Glen Waverley, Australia3,066 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
We visited with 3 teen kids and grandparents and were looking forward to the ‘monkey tree cafe’ at the top of the hill, only to be told it’s closed since COVID. There is a cafe next door ‘Flora Cafe’ which is ok. The jungle walk is beautiful but it’s run down re the spices and other attractions. But worth the walk.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian A
Penang Island, Malaysia79 contributions
Mar 2023
The Tropical Spice Garden is a pleasant, enchanting, and natural place to visit on the north coast of Penang. It takes about an hour to wander around the various pathways, admiring the sights, sounds and smells of this little oasis. If you like a variety of flora and fauna, for a relatively decent price and you have a spare hour, this is worth a visit.
It might be nice to return at different times of year when the flowers are in bloom, so I'm sure that we will pop back again. The staff are also nice, and happy to point out the resident Pit Viper that hangs around in the tree near to the entrance!!
It might be nice to return at different times of year when the flowers are in bloom, so I'm sure that we will pop back again. The staff are also nice, and happy to point out the resident Pit Viper that hangs around in the tree near to the entrance!!
Written March 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil
United Kingdom2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
A wonderful experience and incredible gardens. All the staff there are very helpful and friendly.
We did the cookery class at a reasonable cost but well worth every penny. Several people were at hand throughout the experience and you couldn't go wrong. If you like spices and spice cooking this is one for you. Even amateurs (like myself) come away knowing you've achieved something.
The gardens themselves are beautiful with wonderful hints of fragrance as you walk round.
A truly magical experience and worth a visit. Access around the garden is quite steep at times, with steps so less able bodied people might struggle.
We did the cookery class at a reasonable cost but well worth every penny. Several people were at hand throughout the experience and you couldn't go wrong. If you like spices and spice cooking this is one for you. Even amateurs (like myself) come away knowing you've achieved something.
The gardens themselves are beautiful with wonderful hints of fragrance as you walk round.
A truly magical experience and worth a visit. Access around the garden is quite steep at times, with steps so less able bodied people might struggle.
Written September 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
glenda g
Perth, Australia21 contributions
Feb 2020
I was so disappointed in my visit - the audio guide is really interesting telling the story of different spices but it was extremely difficult to know what you were looking at as it appears the jungle has taken over everything. I had the impression the spice garden relies on bus tours spending money in their gift shop and even then I was disappointed as I bought some mixed pepper corms only to find that some of the ingredients were imported. To my mind not worth a visit.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi, can i have a garden map for a preview of the route? also, does guided tours goes via all the route / best route? and does the guided tours schedule still the same as below?
Live Guided Tours
9am/ 11.30am/ 1.30pm/ 3.30pm
Written June 20, 2019
hi, if we are coming in a group of 16 persons by a 40 seats tour bus, is there any parking lot near and how far we need to walk to your garden after the bus parked? And we are thinking to have lunch at your restaurant on Aug 2 around 11:30, is it possible to book?
Written June 20, 2019
Hello there! Thanks for writing in. Our cooking classes range between RM160 to RM320. All of them include a walk or a tour around the garden and lunch. Hope to see you soon. Thanks!
Written November 29, 2018
There is live guided tour at 1:30 pm but can i choose between live guided tour and audio tour? Or i have to buy ticket for live guided tour? I am not really like live guided tour much, because 2 of my group speak chinese, not english.
And can you update the tickets price?
Thanks.
Written June 16, 2018
Hello Quynh,
Yes, you can choose between the two.
We look forward to your visit!
Written July 3, 2018
Hi Megan, we do not have baby changing rooms at the moment, however, you may get in touch with our front office personnel in advance, we can spare out a private area for your needs. Cheers
Written April 23, 2018
Is it easy to get/walk around the garden, are there any steep inclines. Thank you.
Written March 9, 2018
The person I went with had some mobility issues. (Parkinson's) You can choose to some degree your own path ... and if there's a set of steps that looks daunting, you can usually find another route to see something else in the garden.
Written March 9, 2018
Hi, what are your opening hours on 16th and 17th of February? Tnx
Written February 15, 2018
Sorry M B, did not check my mail box the last few days. Please check on the Internet for details
Hope you will try them out.
Written February 25, 2018
Hi guys, how long does a guided tour take? Approx?
Written January 18, 2017
The official duration is about 45 minutes. Our guide spent over an hour with us as we had many questions as well.
Written January 19, 2017
Is there a parking lot? We've only seen people parking on the side of the highway.
Written December 4, 2016
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