8 Best Things to Do in Cameron Highlands and Ultimate Guide
Sip on tea looking across endless lush tea plantations, explore the enchanted Mossy Forest, hike through untouched jungle, unwind at a spa with traditional ancient rituals, see sunrise above the mountains over gorgeous tea fields, try delicious local cuisine at the night market and explore little houses where hobbits live. These are just some of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands. Read on for everything you need to know to visit Cameron Highlands.
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Escape the heat of the lowlands and head for the rolling hills. After a couple of days exploring Kuala Lumpur or Penang, you’ll be incredibly grateful for the fresh, cool air of Cameron Highlands.
At an altitude ranging between 800 and 1603 metres, Cameron Highlands benefits from cooler temperatures than the rest of Malaysia. Combine this with wetter weather and you have beautiful, lush green landscapes full of adventures.
Pretty patterns of tea plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, epic viewpoints across jungle-dense mountains, fairytale-like ancient forest and incredible food – there are many wonderful things to do in Cameron Highlands. With scenic drives, bustling markets, tranquil spas and some of the best hikes in Cameron Highlands, it’s the perfect mix of adventures, culture and relaxation.
Cameron Highlands is named after British surveyor William Cameron, who mapped the area in 1885. Because of the cooler temperatures, the region became a favourite retreat for British colonials wanting to escape the heat.
As we Brits love a good cup of tea, it wasn’t long before tea was produced as the conditions in the region were ideal – more on tea plantations in Cameron Highlands later.
Cameron Highlands is an absolute foodie haven! Thanks to Malaysia’s cultural diversity, its cuisine has a range of influences – Malay, Chinese, Indian and European. This, together with its unique agricultural landscape, allows you to enjoy fresh, locally produced ingredients that add to the food’s diversity and distinctive flavours. You’ll read about our favourite restaurants in Cameron Highlands soon.
In this guide, we’ll share with you all the very best things to do in Cameron Highlands, followed by everything you need to know, including how to get there, how to get around, the best time to visit Cameron Highlands, where to stay, restaurant recommendations and more.
Our top tip: to manage your expectations, Cameron Highlands can get extremely busy, particularly at the weekends. We’d also recommend avoiding visiting during a Malaysian holiday as it’s incredibly popular for domestic tourism.
There aren’t many roads through the area, and accommodation is increasing, so traffic can back up for hours come the afternoon and evening – particularly for the weekend night market (more on the night market and how to manage the traffic later).
We’re not saying this to put you off going, as it’s such a beautiful area and definitely worth spending a few days. Just take it into account when planning your days and head out as early as possible.
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Contents
8 Best Things to Do in Cameron Highlands
Stroll Through Endless Tea Plantations
We’ll start our list of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands with what the region is most well-known for: endless rolling tea plantations!
As soon as you reach Cameron Highlands, you’ll see lush rolling tea plantations stretching out beyond the horizon, beautifully maintained in wave-like patterns.
In the 1920s, BOH Tea was founded by a British businessman, J.A Russell. He recognised the area’s cool climate, high altitude and fertile soil as ideal for tea cultivation. This was the start of the Malaysian tea industry.
BOH Tea and Bharat Tea are the two main tea producers in Cameron Highlands. You can stroll amongst their tea hedges, hear how tea is produced and enjoy a cup of tea and scone from a cafe overlooking the vast green fields.
BOH Tea Plantation Cameron Highlands is now Malaysia’s most famous tea plantation and one of Southeast Asia’s leading tea producers, so we’d definitely recommend visiting. We also visited Cameron Valley Tea, part of the Bharat group, and surprisingly found BOH to be much quieter. Unsure if that was just a coincidence, but Cameron Valley Tea was incredibly busy.
Our top tip: the best way to experience a few of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands is to join a tour. This takes care of all your transport, as places are really spread out. You can drive yourself if you’ve rented a car, although roads are narrow and get very busy in the afternoon. Book a tour that includes BOH Tea, the Mossy Forest and a Strawberry Farm (more on those below).
Explore the Mossy Forest; unique places to visit in Cameron Highlands
Deemed to be the oldest forest in Malaysia, at around 200 million years old, the Mossy Forest is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Cameron Highlands.
It’s located near the summit of Mount Brinchang, the highest peak in Cameron Highlands, so throughout the forest, you’re rewarded with sweeping views across the vast, lush landscapes.
Walking through the Mossy Forest feels like you’ve stepped into the pages of a fairytale. Twisted branches wind their way around trees and fauna draped in moss, the air is cool and often misty, and a mystical and eerie atmosphere lingers like you’re being watched.
To protect the forest, there’s a 200-metre wooden boardwalk you must walk on. When I first visited Cameron Highlands in 2014, this didn’t exist. However, tourism has increased substantially since then. You also have to visit the area on a tour with a jeep; no other vehicles are allowed.Â
While this is to protect the environment from the effects of overtourism (and also probably to make more money from tours), it can dampen the atmosphere a bit. There are also a lot of vehicles and a lot of people. We’re not telling you this to put you off, as it’s truly one of the most beautiful places to visit in Cameron Highlands, but just so you know what to expect.Â
Visit a Strawberry Farm
Thanks to the region’s cold climate, Cameron Highlands is the ideal place for strawberry cultivation – it’s also where the majority of Malaysia’s strawberries are produced.
Most of the farms are centred around the towns of Tanah Rata, Brinchang and Kea Farm – where you’ll most likely be staying.
In season, many farms offer strawberry picking. You can also enjoy drinks such as milkshakes and strawberry-flavoured tea, coffee and homemade jam.Â
We visited Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm on our tour with the Mossy Forest and BOH Tea. It’s in a beautiful setting amongst greenery and rolling hills – a lovely spot for a strawberry milkshake while taking in the scenic views.
While the strawberry farms aren’t the most interesting of places in our opinion, they’re usually included as part of a tour to tea plantations and the Mossy Forest, which is why we’ve included it in our best things to do in Cameron Highlands. If you’re not joining a tour, you can skip it.
Go Hiking; best things to do in Cameron Highlands
One of our favourite things to do in Cameron Highlands and anywhere we go, really, is hiking. Lush rolling tea plantations, untamed jungle, endless mountain views and the cool climate make for some fantastic hiking.
There are 14 hiking trails around Cameron Highlands, and from what we saw, they’re not very popular – most people tend to stick to the tea plantations and Mossy Forest. Hiking is a great way to see a side of the region away from the tourism and crowds and experience the untouched natural beauty of Cameron Highlands.
One of the best hikes in Cameron Highlands combines routes 10 and 6 for a great half-day hike. You’ll start in Tanah Rata, take Route 10 to the peak of Gunung Jasar and Route 6 to descend to the Cameron Valley Tea House. Route 10 is also great if you only have a couple of hours.
From Tanah Rata, you’ll ascend through lush, dense jungle for about an hour. At the summit of Gunung Jasar, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over the town, surrounding mountains and into the valley below.
Jump onto Route 6 underneath the unfortunately placed power line. The route quickly becomes narrow and overgrown – it’s much less hiked than Route 10. You’ll descend through untouched jungle for about an hour and a half. When you reach the road, turn right and continue until you see tea plantations. When the road bends sharply to the right, turn left. This is the best part of the hike.
These tea plantations are part of the Cameron Valley Tea House; however, they’re so far away from the main visitor’s entrance and cafe that you’ll probably have them all to yourself, so take all the photos you want without the crowds! Hiking is definitely one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands to experience the quieter areas of the tea plantations.
Hike through the tea plantations; the route is fairly obvious, and you’ll come to the main area of the Cameron Valley Tea House. You need to pay to walk through the tea plantations, which you’ll do when you walk out the exit (it’s fairly obvious you haven’t paid, as you won’t have a wristband). It costs RM4.
To round off the hike, head to the cafe for a cup of tea and a scone overlooking the endless tea fields.
Call a Grab Taxi or hitchhike back to Tanah Rata or wherever you’re staying.
See Sunrise Over Boh Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands
One of the absolute best things to do in Cameron Highlands is to experience sunrise over the tea plantations.
Sunrise is without a doubt my favourite time of the day!
There’s something so magical about being up before the world wakes up – the silence, the stillness – it’s incredibly peaceful and a beautiful reminder for us to slow down sometimes. And sunrise over a tea plantation? Count me in!
BOH Tea Plantation is one of the best places for sunrise in Cameron Highlands. Seeing the rolling fields start to light up in a golden, fiery glow as the sun peaks above the mountains is absolutely stunning and the perfect slow start to your day.
Our top tip: the mornings are quite chilly, so wear layers.
There’ll be quite a few people watching the sunrise with you, although it’ll 100% be much quieter than sunset. Another reason I prefer sunrise is that it’s always quieter than watching the sunset – not many people want to get up super early!
You may even meet a friendly local!
Taste Local Produce at the Night Market; things to do in Cameron Highlands at night
Every Friday and Saturday, one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands at night is to visit Brinchang Night Market, also known as the Golden Hill Night Market.
This market was established decades ago as a small farmer’s market and has grown with the increase in tourism. It’s popular amongst both locals and tourists, has a lively, bustling atmosphere and is well worth a visit.
There are tons of stalls – mainly of food, so it’s great to try lots of things – strawberries from the local area, fresh produce, grilled meats and vegetables, local dishes, snacks and fruit drinks. You’ll also find a few stalls selling souvenirs like keyrings and locally-produced handicrafts – great to take home as gifts or just to remember your trip.
The market gets very busy, so arrive when it opens at 5pm. We were there between 6pm and 7:30pm, and when we left, we couldn’t get a taxi for an hour as the roads were blocked with traffic. Fortunately, the Cameron Highlands Resort is just around the corner has has a lovely bar – so we popped in for a drink while we waited.
Rejuvenate at a Spa
One of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands, particularly after a day out hiking or enjoying the fresh mountain air, is to unwind at a spa. The tropical surroundings and cool climate make Cameron Highlands a perfect setting for some rejuvenation with a relaxing spa treatment.
Many treatments use ingredients from the local area – tea, strawberries, roses and more that are all grown nearby. Some also use Orang Asli-inspired rituals, the Indigenous Peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, adding a fascinating cultural touch to your experience.
One of the best places to visit in Cameron Highlands for spa treatments is the Spa Village at Cameron Highlands Resort. Set in a gorgeous and peaceful space, where tea is the foundation for treatments along with healing therapies using local jungle produce and ancient tea rituals. This is combined with the wisdom of the Orang Asli, blending local culture and natural ingredients to create a unique and deeply relaxing experience – without a doubt one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands.
If you visit Cameron Highlands over a weekend, we’d recommend combining the Spa Village with the night market as they’re next to each other, about 3.5km from Tanah Rata. We had our spa experience, then went to the night market and then back to the Cameron Highlands Resort for a couple of drinks before getting a taxi back to our hotel.
Explore Hobbitoon: most surprising places to visit in Cameron Highlands
One of the most unique things to do in Cameron Highlands, and which may take you by surprise, is Hobbitoon. We weren’t expecting this at all, and it’s definitely just a money-making activity, but if you’re driving between Cameron Highlands and Ipoh/Penang or vice versa, it’s worth a stop to stretch your legs.
Essentially, Hobbitoon is an unofficial version of Hobbiton in New Zealand. It’s built like The Shire from The Lord of the Rings and set on a hill nestled amongst mountains.
The houses are really cute from the outside and fun for photos. Most of the houses don’t open; however, we did go in one, and it wasn’t anything special – just a small bed, and it was quite dirty.Â
We spent about an hour at Hobbitoon strolling around and taking in the surrounding views while sitting on chairs outside the houses, having a chat.
There’s a restaurant with overpriced Western-style food, and the reviews aren’t great, so we wouldn’t recommend eating here, but wait until you get to your destination. You can also buy coffee, ice cream and snacks.
Entrance fee is RM 40 – worth it if you like the LOTR movies.
That rounds off our list of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands. Continue reading for everything you need to know before you visit Cameron Highlands.
Everything You Need to Know to Visit Cameron Highlands
The best time to visit Cameron Highlands
If you want to avoid the heavy rain, the best time to visit Cameron Highlands is February to April. These months tend to be a lot drier, and you can enjoy the lush green landscapes with clear blue skies.
If you don’t mind a bit of rain, May to September are considered the monsoon season, which brings afternoon showers. However, the landscapes are at their most spectacular with the tea plantations in Cameron Highlands turning a deep, vivid green.
November to January are peak season with the holidays, so if you can, avoid this time. The infrastructure isn’t built for the number of visitors the region attracts, and you could spend several hours of your day in traffic.
Where to stayÂ
Tanah Rata and Brinchang are the two largest towns and great bases to explore the best things to do in Cameron Highlands.Â
Tanah Rata is the largest town, with more restaurants to get out to in the evenings. It’s also great if you want to hike Route 10, as it starts right in town.
Brinchang is more laidback and quieter, although you’ll probably have to travel more.
If you don’t mind getting taxis and/or shuttle buses, we’d recommend staying out of town amongst the gorgeous green scenery. We stayed at Strawberry Park Resort and our room overlooked the lush highlands – the perfect start to our day was seeing sunrise from our balcony.
A more luxurious and absolutely stunning property is the Cameron Highlands Resort, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. The decor goes back to its colonial heritage with timber-beamed ceilings, plantation shutters and tall French doors. It’s also around the corner from the Brinchang Night Market, so you won’t need to worry about waiting for taxis.
Restaurants in Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is an absolute foodie haven with influences from Malaysia, China, India and Europe. You’re spoilt for choice with restaurants in Cameron Highlands, so here are some of our top recommendations:
- Singh Chapati, Tanah Rata: a small family-run restaurant serving North Indian food. The menu may be small, but everything is absolutely delicious and so flavourful and fresh. Let them know your spice level when you order – we had a butter chicken and mutton biryani.
- Restoran Sri Brinchang, Tanah Rata: known for banana leaf specials and tasty tandoori and naan bread. The staff are super friendly and welcoming, and the prices are very reasonable.
- Highland Steamboat Cheese and Grill, Brinchang: a must-try when you visit Cameron Highlands, is steamboat – perfect in the chilly evenings for heating up. This spot in Brinchang has a great all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide variety of marinated meats, seafood and vegetables.
- Yong Teng Cafe, Tanah Rata: a lovely cafe and a great spot for breakfast. A charming couple who are deaf run this cafe, so you write your order down and hand it to them. The pancakes and economy noodles are especially good.
How to get to Cameron Highlands
There are a few ways to get to Cameron Highlands.
Renting a car in Malaysia is popular as the roads are in good condition, and this gives you complete freedom and flexibility to get around on your own time.
A private transfer is also great, as this gives you the choice of when you’d like to travel, without having to drive yourself, and leaving it to a local who knows the roads. This is how we got around on our honeymoon. Private transfers, although the most expensive option, are still a reasonable price as it’s a popular way of getting around Malaysia.
The cheapest way to visit Cameron Highlands is by bus. You can book comfortable air-conditioned coaches from various places around Malaysia to get to Cameron Highlands, and the bus terminal is in the centre of Tanah Rata.
Finally, if you’re short on time and can’t visit Cameron Highlands for a few nights, book a day tour from Kuala Lumpur.
How to get around
The easiest way to see the best things to do in Cameron Highlands is by tours – even if you have your own car. Roads are narrow, traffic builds up, and junctions can be a nightmare. Also, local guides often know handy shortcuts down backroads. To visit the Mossy Forest, you have to join a tour anyway to access the entrance. Overall, it’s less stressful, allowing you to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery out the window.
If you’re staying in Tanah Rata, in the evenings you can walk to restaurants. If you’re staying out of town, some hotels have shuttle buses. They don’t run all day, and times are limited, so you’ll also likely rely on taxis. Grab exists, but there aren’t many drivers, so you’ll have to use regular taxis. The hotel reception can call you one, and the taxi rank is at the bus station for the ride back.
How long for a Cameron Highlands itinerary
For a Cameron Highlands itinerary, we’d recommend 3 nights and 2 full days. 1 day for a tour of some of the best places to visit in Cameron Highlands – The Mossy Forest, Boh Tea Plantation and a strawberry farm. And 1 day for sunrise and one of the best hikes in Cameron Highlands.
That rounds off our guide to the 8 best things to do in Cameron Highlands. If you have any questions or want to say hi, feel free to leave a comment below. And, make sure to check out our other in-depth Malaysia guides below for top things to do and everything you need to know before you go.
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