Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands is a well developed hill resort which is located in the state of Pahang in Peninsular Malaysia. It was named after a British surveyor, William Cameron who discovered it in 1885 during a mapping expedition. Since 1920, the hill has undergone various development that makes what it is today - an excellent place for tourists to spend their holidays.

Its temperature ranges from 10 °C to 25 °C hence a favourite place for you to escape the heat of the cities. You can easily take a slow drive up or down the highlands depending on which route you take and stop by the many strawberry farms, vegetable gardens, cactus gardens, bee farms and rose gardens. Buy some of the products that are sold as you visit the farms.

Here are some of the activities you can do.

1. Green View Garden

The Green View Garden is located at Kampung Raja and has many attractions and is a good place to visit solo, with group of friends or with family members. Allocate about 1-2 hours here and you will surely enjoy your time here. Entrance to the garden is free but fees apply for other activities. The operation hours are from 9:30am to 6:30pm daily.

• Mini petting zoo - come near and interact with the goats, ducks, rabbits, hens, chicks and birds
• Flower Gardens - lavender and other flowers are plentiful here
• Strawberry farm - see the strawberries that are grown here
• Vegetable farm - hydroponic vegetables are cultivated and grown throughout the year
• Interact with hedgehog
• Feed the birds
• Chocolate Factory
• Boat paddling for kids
• Children's playground

There is also a cafe that serves Asian and Japanese cuisines besides desserts that you can dine in. There is also a gift shop for you to get your souvenirs. Come here and you will not regret it.

2. Tea Plantations

A neatly planted tea plantation.

Its attraction include the neatly planted tea plantations where one can go and see how the tea leaves are plucked and processed. The beautiful view overlooking the plantation is excellent for a picture album. The major ones that one can visit are the BHARAT tea plantation, BOH tea plantation and Blue Valley tea plantation.

Visit any one of them and try the freshly brewed tea and enjoy the tranquility of the mountains. Among the 3 tea plantations, the one that is conveniently located beside the road is the BHARAT tea plantations under the brand name of Cameron Valley Tea. You will not miss it as two of them are located between the town of Habu and Tanah Rata. The other one is located at Kuala Terla.

Transporting tea leaves to the factory

Tea leaves being processed at the factory

Different grades of tea leaves after being processed

3. Cactus Garden

Some of the cactus that are on sale.

The many array of cactus that are on sale at Cactus Point in Brinchang town. Entrance to the farm is free of charge and there are many different type and budget cactus that you can choose to purchase.

4. Bee Farm

The Highlands Apiary Farm

Bee farm

A typical bee farm. Here you will be able to sample and taste the honey produced from this farm and purchase some if you want to. Even if you do not intend to purchase the honey, dropping by the farm and taking a walk around it is an experience itself. You will be able to see the many beautiful flowers that are planted as nectar for the bees to make honey.

5. Mossy Forest

Entrance to Mossy Forest. Buy your tickets here.

Mossy Forest

Book a tour to Mossy Forest and see the unique scenery here.

6. Strawberry Farm

There are many Strawberry Farm here. Chances are you will see many strawberries being planted in most of the farm here. Check out some of them here.

Strawberry Plants

Strawberry Ice Cream

7. Tanah Rata Coronation Park

This public park is a good place to relax especially in the evening or early morning when it's not so hot. Located just opposite Century Pines Resort Hotel, the park is suitable for children as there is a playground here as well. Pine trees and other greeneries add to the suitability of the park for a run or a stroll. 

The LEDs are lighted up at night making it safer for you to come here. There is a public toilet here as well. 

8. MARDI Agrotech Park

If you have not been to Agro Technology Park, plan to spend 2-3 hours here enjoying the colourful flowers and all types of plants that are grown here. Herbs and vegetables are also planted here. See more details at the link below.

Accommodation

There are many budget, middle and high end hotels that you can choose to stay. The high end hotels include Cameron Highlands Hotel, Smokehouse  Hotel and Copthorne Hotel.

If you like to experience the Tudor Style hotel, there is the Lakehouse hotel which is located in Ringlet. The Lakehouse still maintain its unique Tudor style. It has a big garden where you can sit and enjoy the mountainous scenery surrounding it.

If you are on a tighter budget, Rosa Pasadena or Century Pines Resort is reasonably priced hotel with basic amenities.

Smokehouse Hotel

Compound of the Smokehouse Hotel

Getting To Cameron Highlands 

If you are coming from the city of Kuala Lumpur, there are basically 2 ways to reach Cameron Highlands. The old and traditional way is driving through the narrow road via the town of Tapah. Though the journey up is winding, you will be able to see many beautiful plants that abound here.

The other easier way is using the NKVE Expressway and exit at Simpang Pulai instead of Tapah. The road from Simpang Pulai to Cameron is a new road which was opened to the public recently. It is wider and less winding compared to the traditional route. This route takes approximately 51 km to reach Sungai Ikan.

If you are adventurous, we would recommend that you go up using the traditional way via Tapah and coming back using the Simpang Pulai way. We can assure you that you will enjoy both of your trips.

There are also Tapah-Cameron Highlands bus services from Tapah Bus Station. The Tapah to Cameron Highlands bus schedule is 8:30am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm. Tapah Bus Station GPS Coordinates are N04° 11.821' E101° 15.616'.

See Also 

Agro Technology Park
Visit this park managed by MARDI and you will see many herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers being planted here.

Boh Tea Plantations
Visit Boh Tea Estate or Sungai Palas Boh Tea Estate and you will not regret it. Go for the factory visit, take your snacks at the cafeteria and purchase some tea at the gift shop.

Bharat Tea Plantations
Visit also Bharat Tea Estates and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed tea. 

Food
You may want to consider Chinese food for lunch, scones for tea break and charcoal steamboat for dinner.

Mossy Forest
Spend 1-2 hours to appreciate the mossy forest. You will find the scenery unique here.

Rafflesia Flowers at Lojing
Plan half a day's tour to spot the unique Rafflesia flowers in Lojing, Kelantan. Lojing is about 38km away from Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

Strawberry Farms
See how strawberries are cultivated and enjoy the strawberry sundae and juices while you are here.

Other Activities

If you have the time, you may want to visit Water Cress Valley, Gunung Brinchang and Parit Waterfall.