Sea Turtle Nesting Season — Pantai Kerachut
Green turtles nest at Pantai Kerachut in Penang National Park from May to October. The beach is accessible by boat or a 3-hour jungle trail — the National Park conservation centre monitors nests throughout the season.
From May to October, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and occasional leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) come ashore at Pantai Kerachut in the Penang National Park to lay their eggs. Pantai Kerachut is one of the few turtle nesting beaches on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, and the Penang National Park runs an active conservation programme to protect the nests. The beach is accessible only by boat from Teluk Bahang (15 minutes) or by a 3-hour jungle trail. The nesting season peaks in July and August. Hatchlings emerge approximately 60 days after nesting and make their way to the sea. The National Park conservation centre at Pantai Kerachut tracks nesting activity and sometimes allows visitors to observe (from a distance) during the night nesting season. The forest trail to Pantai Kerachut passes through primary rainforest and crosses a rare meromictic lake (Tasik Meromictic, where fresh and salt water layers do not mix) — a unique geological feature found in very few places in the world.
Insider Tips
- 1Book a boat from Teluk Bahang jetty (RM 20-30 per person return) rather than hiking — the trail is 3 hours through dense jungle
- 2The Penang National Park office at Teluk Bahang (open 8am-5pm) can advise on current nesting activity and whether night visits are permitted
- 3Visit the meromictic lake (Tasik Meromictic) on the trail to Pantai Kerachut — a rare geological feature with visibly distinct freshwater and saltwater layers
- 4If a nesting turtle is present, the rangers guide you to observe from at least 10 metres — no flash photography and no approaching the nest
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When
May–October (peak nesting: July–August)
🌿 Seasonal — occurs annually
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Where
Pantai Kerachut, Penang National Park (Teluk Bahang end)
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A must-see highlight of Penang's cultural calendar