Betong to Penang (Butterworth) via Baling

The distance from Betong to Penang (Butterworth) is just over 100 km. Does it mean you can not cycle it in one day? Well, I cycle it both ways in one day but you don't have to. Lets start in Betong

In the morning it's an easy 8 km up to the border, despite the climb. After the border it's another few 8km or so to Pengkalan Hulu. Although you can stay here, it's probably nicer to add a few more kilometers

Cycling into Baling
From Betong to Penang, after 20km you will cycle into Baling

Butterworth is still over 100 km from the border but it is good to do in one day. You simply follow the descending after the border into Pengkalan Hulu. If you come out of Betong, here in Pengkalan Hulu you can change money, have a breakfast (if you skipped it in Betong) and continue. Going south leads to Gerik, going north and west leads through the hills to Baling.

Betong to Penang, a nice and mostly reasonable quiet road

Take the direction to Baling and from there to Butterworth and Penang. The first few kilometers it's slightly going up. At the highest point you will have a nice view over the surrounding valley and hills after which a 7 km descent to Baling starts.

Baling has a few hotels, should you want to stay here. There's some caves and hot springs in the area and it is quite popular during the weekends with local daytrippers.

The only "nasty" hill after Baling
The only "nasty" hill on the road from Betong to Penang after Baling

After Baling it will still be mostly a pleasant and quiet road until Kulim where the road turns into a motorway. About 15 km after Baling, there's a junction (Kuala Ketil) which leads ultimately to Sungai Petani.

This is an even more quiet road. If you have enough time and energy but do not want to visit Sungai Petani, you can follow this road to Kuala Ketil Just after the town, there's a junction leading to Tasek Gelugor (K21, followed by 136, K112 and P112). After Tasek Gelugor follow the road to Butterworth.

Should you choose this road, you will skip the busy part from Kulim to Butterworth, which is partly a motorway (and partly also a motorbike lane).

The road from Tasek Gelugor to Butterworth

I would NOT suggest to get off the road in Kulim to take the old road to Bukit Mertajam. This is a small and very busy road and certainly not worth the effort. The main road from Baling to Butterworth changes at Kulim in a motorway. It's only 20 km or so from the Lunas junction to Butterworth and you will cycle on a motorbike lane, so you're quite safe. It's the least interesting part of this journey.

From Betong to Penang... following the motorway a kampong near Penang

Trust me... these 20km next to the motorway, though nice, is far safer than cycling the old road from Kulim to Bukit Mertajam. Even if I don't cycle from Betong to Penang, but Penang to Taiping via Kulim, I always take this road.