cameron highland

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands was named after and discovered in 1885 by an English man named William Cameron during a survey operation in the Titiwangsa Mountain Range. Forging a path through the dense vegetation, he finally reached a magnificent and sublime plateau ‘shut up in the mountains'. From then on, the British colonists recognised its potential for growing tea, a precious commodity then.

Over time, townships began to sprout around Cameron Highlands as the tea plantations grew. After Malaysia's independence, its popularity as a highland holiday retreat steadily rose (Though the idea was already implanted in 1925 by British Official Sir George Maxwell). Today, it is a popular tourist destination to visit on holiday, due to it cooling atmosphere, serene environment and picturesque scenery.

The Cameron Highlands is part of Pahang state, though most entry points, via Tapah and Simpang Pulai, lie in Perak state. From Ringlet to Brinchang, the Cameron Highlands is mostly cooling throughout the year, enabling visitors to enjoy a holiday here anytime.

In terms of culture, the Chinese make up the largest community in Cameron Highlands, running most of the businesses and plantations in the valley. Indians and Malays from the next two largest communities with similiar economic activities. There are also a large number of labourers from Bangladesh and Myanmmar, who come to work the fields of tea and vegetables. Finally, you can also find tourists from places like Europe and Asia that have decided to settle down in the Cameron Highlands and call it their home.

Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia's most popular holiday destinations, situated high above the clouds on a nest of serene mountains. Located in the center of a vast mountain range that cuts across Peninsular Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands offer visitors a chance to spend their vaction in the cool of the highlands, where lush landscapes and peaceful sceneries abound in this green environment.

This beautiful place provides a welcome retreat from the madness of city living and heat of the tropics. Each year, the Cameron Highlands attracts countless tourists and visitors from all over the world who come to appreciate its natural beauty and charming lifestyle. The wonders of nature and cultural richness of the highlands combine to provide an unforgettable experience for anyone willing to visit this amazing destination in Malaysia. Don't miss out on the chance of a lifetime to discover the Cameron Highlands through our website and dedicated Tours!

Our Cameron Highland tours for tourists and visitors are guaranteed to be a special and unique experience for those who have never been to Malaysia's leading highland and holiday retreat. The tours offered here are provided for by an English speaking guide who will personally bring you to explore and visit Cameron Highland's popular tourist landmarks and attractions. The guide will also ensure the well-being and utmost care of your group on tour. It is for this reason that our tours are a prefered choice for small groups on holiday or even individuals on travel.

As each of our tour packages are conducted on a personal basis, our offerings are distinct from those offered by other commercial operators. The tour you book will be strictly for you and your accompaniments only, so you're not joining a mass tour and sharing your space with other noisy travellers, all the while riding in a stuffy bus where you have to follow a strict schedule of visiting places on limited time. On the other hand, you will enjoy the comfort of a private car driven by the guide (or van for large groups) for your group only.

You'll also explore places on the itinerary at your own leisure, with you dictating how long you want to spend the time. During the tour, you can also expect the guide who will act as a form of butler, attending to your needs and well-being, while being commited to your safety and personal enjoyment of the tour. The guide speaks with precision in the English language, so there is no communication breakdown and everything is explained cleary during the tour.

The 2 Days 1 Night Tour is a weekend or weekday package that allows tourists to experience the lifestyle and culture of Cameron Highlands over a one night stay. Most of the main attractions and landmarks in the Cameron Highlands are conveniently wrapped into this overnight itinerary. Expect to visit places like the Boh Tea Valley, Butterfly Garden, Lata Iskandar Waterfalls and the peak of Gunung Brinchang.

The Brinchang Night Market is usually available on Fridays till Sundays while Boh Tea closes on Mondays. On peak tourist seasons, the night market and Boh Tea will be open throughout the week. *Currently available for weekend dates only

Day 1 - Morning - Depart from Kuala Lumpur

 

Lata Iskandar Waterfalls :

Majestic waterfalls along the way to Cameron Highlands with handicraft stalls.

Orang Asli (Aborigine) House:

See how the Aborigines of Malaysia's rainforest live their lives.

Afternoon till Evening:

Multi Crops Central Market:

A complex with a beautiful landscaped garden inside, filled with flowers, plants, handicraft and souvenirs for shopping.

Kea Farm:

Open daily, this is Cameron Highland's most popular traditional market for fruits, flowers and vegetables grown here.

Butterfly Garden:

A delightful variety of butterflies along with other insects and wildlife such as birds, reptiles and amphibians can be viewed here.

Boh Tea Plantation:

The largest tea producer in Cameron Highlands, we'll visit the tea factory and marvel at the tea fields, breaking for scones in the cafe if you so desire.

Mossy Forest:

We'll travel to the mist shrouded mossy forest that grows only at the highest elevations of Cameron Highlands, passing tea fields.

Gunung Brinchang Watchtower:

We head to the peak of Gunung Brinchang at 2000 m above sea-level to climb the watchtower. With some luck, it'll be a clear day and you can see, all around, the amazing landscape of mountains and rainforests.

Brinchang Night Market:

This popular traditional market takes place in Brinchang Town on weekends, allowing you a peek at the way Malaysians shop.

Depart for Kuala Lumpur or other destination.

Full Tours for Cameron Highlands Wildlife and Nature Discovery

The Cameron Highlands Full Tours are a form of expedition or eco tour geared for nature tourists, such as herpetologists, herpetoculturists, ecologists and documentary-makers. The duration for the full tour is at your specification, from a minimum of 2 nights to as long a month, depending on your requirements.

We will organise expeditions to bring you into unexplored rainforest areas of Cameron Highlands, far away from the commercial trails and parks, where you will discover a rich diversity of flora and fauna. This is truly a different holiday experience, that will bring you closer to the heart of nature and wildlife.

Expect to see some of Cameron Highland's most fascinating wildlife species, such as the endemic Cameron Highlands Pit-Viper (Trimeresurus nebularis), Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) and Cat Gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus). You'll also get to experience the atmosphere of a true tropical rainforest and marvel at the many plants and trees that make up this delicate ecosystem.

This nature and expedition tour is demanding and reflects field work of sampling by researchers and herpetologists. On the other hand, this tour is also open to both tourists and professionals for conducting their research of Malaysia's wildlife and nature diversity. During the day, you have the flexible option of exploring and visiting some of Cameron Highland's conventional attractions such as parks, farms and nurseries.

During the night, we'll head into the forests to begin our exploration, as this is when wildlife such as snakes, lizards and frogs are in their element. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience and Cameron Highlands discovery, only in Malaysia!

Accommodation

Hotels and Resorts

Accommodation in Cameron Highlands can easily be found in and around the major towns of Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang, but during peak seasons, do remember the price can shoot up dramatically while enough rooms may not be available. Book your room, apartment or chalet early to avoid sleeping under the stars when you make your way here. Below is a list of popular hotels and chalets with their contact numbers. For even cheaper options, you can look at backpacker inns or lodges. For large families or groups, apartments are recommended. This information is provided for tourist reference and we are in no way affiliated with any of the hotels and apartments below.

Luxury Hotels and Resorts

Name	Address	Contact
Bala's Holiday Chalet	Lot 55, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1660
Casa de la Rosa	Lot 48, Jalan Circular, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1333
Century Pines Resort	Lot 42, Jalan Masjid, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 5115
Equatorial Resort	Kea Farm, 39100 Brinchang	05-496 1777
Heritage Hotel	Jalan Gereja, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 3888
The Lakehouse	30th Mile, 39200 Ringlet	05-495 6152
Rosa Passadena	No. 1, Bandar Baru Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 2288
The Smokehouse	By the Golf Course, PO Box 77, 39007 Tanah Rata	05-491 1215
Strawberry Park Resort	Lot 195 & 196, Tanah Rata 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1166
Cameron Highlands Resort	Main Road, just opposite the Golf Course, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1100

Budget Hotels
Name	Address	Contact
BB Inn	79A Persiaran Camelia 3, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 4551
Brinchang Hotel	36, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1755
Camlodge	55C & 55D, Persiaran Camelia 3, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 4549
Chua Gin Hotel	No.11, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1801
Cool Point Hotel	891, Persiaran Dayang Endah, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 4914
Country Lodge	Lot 47, Section 3, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1811
Downtown Hotel	41 Main Road, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 2868
East Garden Hotel	Lot 13, Section 2, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 2380
Golden Shop Hotel	39, Main Road, Cameron Highlands	05-495 6048
Golden Star Hotel	26, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1247
Green Garden Hotel	Lot 13, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 5824
Highlanders Hotel	80b, Persiaran Camelia 4, 39000 Tanah Rata	017-413 7204
Hill Garden Lodge	No.15-16, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 2988
Hotel Plastro	19, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1009
Hotel Wira Awan	PT826 Jalan Pecah Batu, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 4251
Iris House Hotel	No.56, Jalan Kuari, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1818
Jasmine Hotel	No.29-32, Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1588
Kavy Hotel	44, Main Road, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 5652
Kowloon Hotel	No.34-35, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1366
Lido Hotel	9, Brinchang 39000 Cameron Highlands	05-491 1271
New Cameron Hotel	29 & 30 Jalan Besar, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1160
Orient Hotel	38A, Main Road, 39007 Tanah Rata	05-491 1633
Pines & Roses Hotel	Bandar Baru Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 2203
Parkland Hotel	Lot 45, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1299
Raffles Country Inn	Lot 65, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 4600
Rainbow Hotel	Lot 25, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 4628
Roselane Hotel	Main Road, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 2377
Sentosa Hotel	38 Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1907
Shahzan Inn Hotel	Istana Kayangan, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 4975
Star Regency Hotel	39 Main Road, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 5133

Backpacker Inns and Lodges
Name	Address	Contact
Cameronian Inn	16 Jalan Mentigi, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 1327
Daniel's Travelers Lodge	9 Lorong Perdah, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 5823
Father's Guest House	PO Box 15, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 2484
Hillview Inn	17 Jalan Mentigi, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 2915
Jurina Lodge	No. 819 Jalan Mentigi, Tanah Rata	05-491 5522
New Garden Inn	Jalan Masjid, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 5170
Sri Juliana Chalet	F32 Jalan Sultan Abu Bakar, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 4461
Twin Pines	2 Jalan Mentigi, 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 2169
Apartments
Name	Address	Contact
Arabella Apartments	Puncak Arabella, 39000 Tanah Rata	019-219 6813
Honeymoon Villa	Jalan Quarry, 39100 Brinchang	05-491 1346
Leisure Holiday Apartments	Jalan Gereja. 39000 Tanah Rata	05-491 4371
Num Song Apartments	No. 40 Main Road, Tanah Rata	05-491 1250

Tourist Guide

Cameron Highlands

Tourists in Cameron Highlands can expect a peaceful community with a laid back outlook of life. There are plenty of amenities such as banks, cyber cafes and a bus station in Tanah Rata Town. As Cameron Highlands is a popular tourist spot, most of the infrastructure is modern, so you can find all the conveniences you need. Learn in this section about the best time to visit the Cameron Highlands as well as getting around to places.

The weather of Cameron Highlands can best be described as ‘cooling wet'. Being high up the mountains means it's constantly cold and humid, with lots of mist in the early mornings and late evenings. Wearing wind-breakers, jackets and other approriate clothing is encouraged. Rainfall is prominent throughout the year in the Cameron Highlands , but there is usually a short spell of low rainfall that can fall anywhere between May till July. If you like sunny weather, this is the best time to go. From September onwards, the rain begins to pick up; expect bright mornings that will drastically become overcast in the afternoon, slowly progressing to a strong shower of rain in the late evenings. The rains sometimes continue into the night, along with heavy mist.

However, the year-end period spiralling into the next year is filled with heavy rain and thunder storms. Landslides can occur frequently but the Cameron Highlands still attract massive amounts of visitors. The heavy rain during this period is also when the natural fauna and flora are out in all its glory due to the increased moisture and cool. This is the best time to visit the Cameron Highlands if you want to explore the wildlife and nature opportunities, and don't mind getting wet. The climate of Cameron Highland ranges between 20°C - 25°C during the day on average but does get a little hotter

How To Go

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands may be accessed by three major roads. Decades ago, the windy road from Tapah was the only way of getting there, and it was prone to landslides and other dangers. Today, due to the modern development of Cameron Highlands for tourists, an additional two roads have been built, approaching Cameron Highlands from the north while the old road has undergone much renovation and repair works.

Since there is no air strip for planes to land on or a railway track up into Cameron Highlands, you'll need to know your way to this holiday destination. Visitors will either have to drive their own vehicles or take public transport such as taxis and buses. Getting there by bus is inexpensive, and can be taken from cities such as Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.

However, the major complaint is the way some of the bus drivers drive wildly careening along the windy road and even the shape of some of the coaches, which looks like they haven't been serviced for 100 years. Taking an executive coach up is highly recommended for stability. On the other hand, you can take a taxi but that costs much more than a bus ticket.

From Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

From Kuala Lumpur (provided you are driving your own vehicle), there are two main ways to reach the Cameron Highlands; the old and traditional Tapah Road or the more recent Simpang Pulai exit near Ipoh. A third highway connects to the Cameron Highlands from Gua Musang in Kelantan, meeting up at the end of the Simpang Pulai road, and then proceeding to Tringkap and Kampung Raha. Finally, visitors can take the Karak Highway from Kuala Lumpur which connects to Kuala Lipis, where there is another highway recently built to Ringlet in Cameron Highlands. At the open, it is only accessible with a special pass that you can obtain from the police station in either Ringlet or Kuala Lipis.

For visitors from Singapore, they have to drive their own cars across the causeway or take the bus from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur. The North-South Highway or various trunk roads offer a 3-4 hour drive from Singapore to KL, and from there, follow the same directions listed above. For those on a coach or bus, purchase a ticket to the Cameron Highlands from Puduraya Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur. Upon seeing the exit to Tapah, make your way through this small town that's located at the base of the mountain range. Tapaha can also be reached via the old trunk road from Rawang located near Kuala Lumpur, if you want to avoid paying toll. This road will lead up to the first township of Cameron Highlands, which is Ringlet.

The old road meanders through mostly pristine rainforest areas, passing by numerous Aborigine (Orang Asli) villages along the way over its 35 km stretch. The scenery along the road, especially at the higher elevations, offers breath-taking views and vistas. Orang Asli people also open makeshift stalls along the road side, selling harvest from the forest such as ferns, plants, orchids, drift wood and seasonal fruits such as Durian and Petai. Shady and quiet, the only thing breaking the peaceful atmosphere is the cacophony of jungle wildlife, but that is itself a pleasant sound. Visitors will pass by some awesome mountain ranges on the right as they navigate their way around the twisty bends. For best effect, open up the windows and enjoy the cool, refreshing air as the road steadily ascends up the mountains.

From Penang or Destinations in the North

The traditional Tapah road suffers from frequent land slides and occassional pot holes due to the thick trees that line the sides of the road and immense amounts of rain that fall in these parts. Because the road is densely forested at each side and curves sharply around steep bends, you can't see far ahead and honking should be done at risky corners to alert incoming traffic. In a nut shell, moderately-paced driving is advised, especially during heavy rainfall or mist at night. For these reasons, visitors and tourists from Kuala Lumpur sometimes prefer to take the Simpang Pulai Road, which although further, offers an apparently clearer drive.

The road from Simpang Pulai, a small town near Ipoh city is a relatively new road up to Cameron Highlands. It approaches Cameron Highlands from the north side of Peninsular Malaysia and passes through some lesser-known towns such as Tringkap and Kampung Raja near the top before reaching Brinchang. Visitors coming from Penang and other destinations in the north such as Kedah and Perlis will use this road to head up to Cameron Highlands. The Simpang Pulai is well-paved but cuts across secondary forests that have all been previously logged. This means that the scenery isn't as amazing as going through the Tapah Road, and the trees are much less dense with a strong flavour of bamboo and similar vegetation.

The road up can also get really bright and hot, due to the lack of tall trees but this road offers the convenience of enabling you to see what's mostly ahead. Using this road is actually longer than the Tapah road because it coves over 50 km in total distance to reach Brinchang, the first main township of Cameron Highlands. While well-paved and the roads even, it still does get very bendy and twisty at times so careful driving is advised. Along the way, you can see some Orang Asli villages that have adapted to living in the surrounding secondary forest, which is far less bountiful.

From Gua Musang and East Coast Destinations

Visitors and travellers coming from the east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu will use the Gua Musang Highway as a short cut to Cameron Highlands. The road cuts through a mix of secondary and primary forest and offers some picturesque scenery and it faces the range of valleys and plains at the side. While well-paved and hardly used, the road can get really steep especially nearing the T-junction from which you turn left to head into Cameron Highlands. This road will also pass by the northern section of Taman Negara Pahang, which is Peninsular Malaysia's National Park. Elephants can sometimes be seen walking along this highway during the day or night. Hopefully, all these directions will help you in getting to the Cameron Highlands safely and surely.

Map

Cameron Highlands

The tourist map shows Cameron Highlands as a stretch of towns connected by a main road from Ringlet, the base town, going through Tanah Rata, the biggest, followed by Brinchang, the most popular and finally all the way down to Kampung Raja, where it forks into two opposite directions heading either to Ipoh (Simpang Pulai) or Kelantan (Gua Musang). Most of the attractions and places to visit are concentrated around the Brinchang area, while Tanah Rata is the commercial center. Tourists will find the map below useful for a quick and general guide to travel and explore Cameron Highlands.

Strawberry Farms

Cameron Highlands is the only holiday destination in Malaysia where strawberries are grown and harvested commercially. The strawberry farms found here are also open for visitors, making them one of the top tourist attractions in Cameron Highlands. The farms are great places for shopping products made from strawberries, such as jams and tarts. The best season to enjoy strawberries is usually from April till June, the driest months.

The strawberries harvested during this time are at its sweetest due to the decrease of humidity in the air, which somehow affects the taste. The strawberry farmers explain that heavy moisture (rain) soaks the plants, causing them to bear fruits that are less saturated in sweetness. Still, visitors can enjoy strawberries all-year-round in the Cameron Highlands, sweet or not.

About a decade ago, this little berry was grown from the ground up, in typical soil beds. Today, modernity has caught up with the farmers, for they now raise the plants using hydroponic methods. Growing them in bags mixed with rich soil results in faster fruit production, while stacking them on racks increases the quantity that can be produced at any time.

The strawberry farms can be found mostly before and after Brinchang, along the main road. Visitors and tourists can pluck their own strawberries from these farms as well as buy them in traditional markets, night or day. Shops are also open in these farms that sell strawberry-derived products which include jams, tarts, scones, cordial juice and other treats.

To visit any of these farms; meaning to actually enter the area where the strawberries are grown, you'll be required to make a purchase of at least half a kilogram. This minimum amount can be plucked directly with your hands inside the farm. A basket will be given to visitors which, at the end of the day, will be weighted and charged accordingly. Inside the farm, you can see how the strawberries are grown. Wooden racks stack up layers of strawberry plants nestled in soil bags. Water sprinklers feed these plants at certain intervals during the day.

A roof of taupalin sheets provide shade and protection from excess rain water. If you intend to pluck strawberries, here's a tip; only harvest the large strawberries for they are the sweetest. Anything smaller than your thumb size will tend to be very sour. Also, as mentioned earlier, the rainy season affects the taste of the strawberries. Excess rain and humidity in the air make the strawberries that are produced during this time have a soggy taste. The drier months between April till June is when the strawberries are generally at their sweetest.