Awana Skyway: the cable car ride up to Resorts World Genting

A scenic ~10-minute cabin ride from Awana base station to SkyAvenue, with optional glass-floor cabins. Here's what to expect and how to plan it from Singapore.

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The Awana Skyway is the cable car system that lifts you out of the rainforest at the foothills of Genting Highlands and drops you straight into the Resorts World Genting (RWG) complex at SkyAvenue. For a lot of Singapore visitors, it’s the most-photographed leg of the whole trip — and a sane alternative to driving the last winding stretch of mountain road yourself.

TL;DR — Awana Skyway in 4 lines

Cable car connects Awana Station (~1,000m, foothills) to SkyAvenue Station (~1,800m, top of Genting). Ride is around 10 minutes through rainforest canopy. Standard cabins for everyone; glass-floor cabins available for an extra fee. Heavy fog or lightning can suspend service — verify hours on the day.

What is the Awana Skyway?

The Awana Skyway is a gondola-style cable car connecting two stations on the Genting Highlands access route. The base is Awana Station, located near the Awana Hotel and the Chin Swee Caves Temple side of the hill. The top is SkyAvenue Station, which spills you straight into the SkyAvenue mall complex — the same building that connects to First World Hotel, Genting Grand and the Sky Casino floors.

It replaced the older Genting Skyway and runs through the rainforest canopy. The ride is roughly ten minutes, depending on cabin spacing and any wind hold. There are two cabin types: standard cabins for general use, and glass-floor cabins for travellers who don’t mind seeing the canopy directly under their feet. Tickets are sold at the base station counter and through partners like Klook, KKDay and the official RWG website. Pricing varies by cabin type and season — check on the day rather than budgeting from a stranger’s old blog post.

Who’s it for, and when does it make sense

The Skyway works for several different traveller profiles:

First-timers who want the photo. The view across the canopy as the cabin lifts is genuinely good. Glass-floor cabins are the Instagram pick.
Travellers staying at Awana Hotel. If you’ve booked the foothills property for the quieter pace, the Skyway is your daily commute up to RWG for meals, casino floors, theme park and the SkyAvenue mall.
Drivers who’d rather skip the hill. Park at the Awana base, ride up. You avoid the last 30 minutes of switchbacks and the peak-weekend top-of-hill car park crush.
Wet-weather backup. When mountain road traffic stalls in heavy rain, the cable car often keeps moving above the queue (lightning is a different story — see below).

Best riding windows are mid-morning before the SkyAvenue lunch rush and late afternoon for the descent shot. Mornings in the November-to-February window often have low cloud sitting on the cable line, which is either atmospheric or a non-view depending on your luck. March through October tends to be clearer.

The actual ride — what to expect

From Awana Station, you queue at the platform, scan your ticket and board a cabin. Cabins seat a small group — typical loadings put four to eight people in each, depending on the model, with families usually grouped together. Once the doors close, you’re climbing through forest within seconds. The first half is a slow lift over treetops; the second half opens up over a steeper drop with the Chin Swee Caves Temple visible on the ridge. On a clear day you’ll see all the way down to the foothill road.

Glass-floor cabins are a separate queue. They cost more, the line is longer, and they’re worth it if you specifically want the floor shot. Standard cabins still have the panoramic side windows — the only thing you lose is the down-view.

At the top, you exit directly into SkyAvenue. From there it’s a covered walk to First World Hotel, the SkyWorlds theme park entrance, the casino floors, the cinema, or the GAME ON arcade. There’s no shuttle to wait for and no separate car park to navigate.

Practical use cases that actually save you time

Park at Awana base, ride up. Cheaper parking, less hill driving, no top-of-hill weekend gridlock.
Mid-stop at Chin Swee Caves Temple. The Skyway has a station option that lets visitors break the journey at the temple complex — verify on the day, since not every cabin stops.
Use it as the descent if weather closes hills. When fog drops onto the road, the Skyway sometimes still runs.
Move groups between Awana Hotel and RWG without herding cars. One ticket per person, ten minutes, you’re there.

How to plan it from Singapore

The Skyway sits at the end of a 5.5–6 hour drive from Singapore, so it’s not a destination in itself — it’s part of a Genting weekend. The honest trip shape is 2D1N or 3D2N, because day-tripping that distance and still riding the Skyway, eating, walking SkyAvenue and getting home is a brutal ask. We cover the longer-form options on the Genting weekend guide.

From Singapore, we book the chauffeur door-to-door. Pickup in SG, full Causeway clearance, North-South Expressway up through Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, then the Karak Highway turn-off and the climb to Awana base or all the way up to the SkyAvenue drop-off. All cross-border tolls, Malaysian highway tolls and the hill-climb are included in the flat fare. From SGD 480 (Standard MPV) for SG↔Genting one-way — full matrix on our pricing page, with Standard MPV, Luxury MPV and Combi options on our fleet.

If you’ve stacked Genting with a hotel further down (Awana base or Goh Tong Jaya), the Skyway is your daily climb — see the Genting hotel guide for which property maps to which trip shape. And once you’re at the top, the SkyAvenue mall guide covers what’s worth your time.

Pitfalls and things to know before queuing

Fog suspensions. Heavy fog (most likely Nov-Feb mornings and evenings) can pause service. Have a Plan B — usually that’s the road via the regular hill drive.
Lightning suspensions. Thunderstorm safety stops are short but can leave you waiting at the platform. Avoid riding at the front edge of an obvious storm.
Maintenance windows. Periodic maintenance closes the line. If your timing is critical (e.g. concert at Arena of Stars), check before committing.
Glass-floor queue. The premium cabin line can run 20–40 minutes on weekends. If the floor view isn’t a must-have, take a standard cabin and get on with your day.
Vertigo and nervous riders. Mention it to the staff. Standard cabins are fully enclosed and genuinely fine for most people, but the height is real.
Cool air at the top. You go from 22°C at the base to single-digit-feeling wind chill at SkyAvenue exit on some evenings — see the cool weather guide for what to layer.
Cabin pricing changes. Cabin and ticket prices shift over time and by partner. Buy on the day or verify on the official RWG website rather than from old blogs.

FAQ

How long is the Awana Skyway ride?

About 10 minutes from Awana Station to SkyAvenue Station. Add queue time at peak weekends and longer waits if you specifically want a glass-floor cabin.

Where does the cable car drop you off?

SkyAvenue Station, which sits inside the SkyAvenue mall at Resorts World Genting. From there you can walk under cover to First World Hotel, Genting Grand, the Sky Casino floors, the SkyWorlds theme park entrance and the cinema.

Should I book the glass-floor cabin?

Only if the floor view is the point of the trip. It costs more and the queue is longer. Standard cabins have the same panoramic side windows; you only lose the downward view.

Does the Skyway run in bad weather?

It runs through light rain and most fog, but heavy fog and lightning can suspend service. If your trip hinges on a specific timing (concert, theme park slot), build in a buffer or have the road as a backup.

Can I park at Awana base and ride up instead of driving to the top?

Yes. A lot of self-drivers do exactly this — Awana base parking is cheaper, you avoid the steepest switchbacks and the top-of-hill weekend congestion. Buy your cable car ticket at the station before boarding.

Is the Awana Skyway suitable for kids and elderly travellers?

Standard cabins are fully enclosed and generally fine for both. Mention any vertigo or mobility concerns to platform staff and they’ll help you board calmly. Skip the glass-floor cabin for nervous riders.

How do I plan an Awana Skyway trip from Singapore?

Treat the Skyway as one stop in a 2D1N Genting trip, not a day-trip target. We drive you door-to-door from SG to Awana base or directly to SkyAvenue. From SGD 480 (Standard MPV) for SG↔Genting one-way — see pricing.