The Unicorn Trail in Penang is more than just a hike – it’s a journey that tests, pushes and ultimately rewards in ways you’d never expect.
When we think of Penang, images of tantalising street food, historic streets and rich culture come to mind. But recently, together with some of my secondary schoolmates, we decided to tackle a hidden hiking beast, the 26km Unicorn Trail.
We were warned this is not an easy trail. It is a daunting dawn-to-dusk hike and encompasses all the terrain imaginable, including rolling terrains, jungle trails, steep ascents and descents, flat routes, runnable paths, long and short staircases, tarmac roads, and cemented farm paths.
The trail boasts an elevation gain of 1,400m and will leave you in awe, exhilarated and perhaps a little wiser.
The Writer at the Moniot Trail entrance.
We started our hike from the Moongate of Penang’s Botanical Gardens early in the morning, and easing into the first few kilometres on flat tarmac, a gentle warm-up for what’s ahead. It was still dark, so most of us had our headlamps on.
The initial ascent was quite steep, and despite the early morning hour, sweat was already dripping by the time we reached Station 3.
But for all the grumbling and gasping, the forest rewards you. As we climbed higher towards Station 39, stunning views of the city peeked through the trees, creating a striking contrast to the rugged terrain beneath our feet.
The Moongate of Penang's Botanical Gardens serves as a starting point.
Station 39 marked the first major milestone of the hike. From here, we descended to the Bukit Bendera base station, via Hye Keat Estate trail.
The descent down the difficult and steep Hye Keat Estate trail demands patience and agility. Poorly marked paths and thorny branches sometimes forced us to grasp at trees for balance. Our hiking poles proved invaluable here.
Eventually, we emerged from the jungle trail onto cemented path. The relief was palpable. We had a quick pit stop at the base of Bukit Bendera, preparing ourselves to tackle the daunting Heritage Trail ahead.
The Unicorn Trail boasts an elevation gain of 1,400m and will leave you in awe, exhilarated and perhaps a little wiser.
Climbing 1,440 uneven steps on the Heritage Trail is one of the most gruelling parts of the journey. The thought of climbing these steps was intimidating, as it is equivalent to climbing Selangor’s Batu Caves five times over.
Despite the challenge, we pressed on, remembering the age-old adage that the journey of a thousand steps begins with the first step.
Exhaustion set in as we reached the Lower Station, but we continued.
The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction upon completing the Unicorn Trail is unparalleled.
After reaching the Middle Station, the trail soon leads back into the jungle, where we zigzagged upwards, battling humidity, mosquitoes, and sheer fatigue.
Yet, amid the discomfort, there were moments of quiet beauty – the stillness of the Moniot Trail, one of Penang’s oldest, felt like a step back in time. The air was cooler, the surroundings more picturesque, and for a brief moment, the hike felt almost magical.
Finally, the summit of Penang Hill appeared. The climb had taken its toll, but the reward was sweet.
A view of the Penang Hill funicular railway tracks along the ascent.
A well-deserved lunch with non-hiking friends felt like a banquet. Penang’s famous fried kuey teow and ice kacang had never tasted better.
By now, we had completed about 18km of the 26km trail.
After the quick lunch, we descended downhill on cemented paths, negotiated some challenging slopes, and then walked on tarmac to reach Station 46, the gateway to the Unicorn’s Horn.
Climbing the 1,440 uneven steps of the Heritage Trail, equivalent to scaling Selangor's Batu Caves five times, is one of the most challenging parts of the journey.
The final stretch, the descent towards the Unicorn’s Horn, was steep and treacherous, as the tip of the Horn lies at the bottom of the ravine. Relying on ropes and sturdy branches to navigate narrow, unmarked paths, it was a slow and tiring descent.
Yet, reaching the tip of the horn – the climax of this mythical hike – brought an unparalleled sense of accomplishment.
Exhausted, bruised, and euphoric, we began the final climb back up the horn and the long descent towards the Botanical Gardens.
Hikers taking a break before tackling the steps of the Heritage Trail.
Though it started to drizzle and thunder rolled in, there was still daylight, and we were in good time, descending and nearing the end of the jungle trail.
After a staggering 41,270 steps, 5,500 calories burnt, as recorded on my device, we finally emerged from the forest into the Botanical Gardens.
Though my knees hurt, it didn’t matter, I had tamed the Unicorn with my friends.
This challenging trail is certainly not for non-hikers or inexperienced hikers, as it requires thorough preparation. However, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction upon completion is unparalleled.
A map of the unicorn Trail in Penang Hill.
