Cameron Highlands
Cool highland escape with tea plantations & strawberry farms
State / Region
Pahang
Best Time
March – September
Daily Budget
RM 60–120 (budget)
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit
About Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is Malaysia's most beloved hill station — a refreshingly cool escape at 1,500m above sea level where rolling tea plantations, strawberry farms, and mossy forests create a world apart from the tropical heat below.
Top Things To Do
BOH Tea Plantation Tour
FreeTour Malaysia's most famous tea estate, watch the processing, and sip fresh tea with highland views.
Mossy Forest Trek
Budget-friendlyHike through an ethereal cloud forest draped in moss at the summit of Gunung Brinchang.
Strawberry Farm Picking
Budget-friendlyPick your own strawberries and enjoy fresh strawberry ice cream and jam.
Butterfly Farm
Budget-friendlyWalk through a tropical butterfly garden with hundreds of exotic species.
Night Market at Brinchang
Budget-friendlyBrowse local produce, corn, steamboat ingredients, and highland vegetables.
Jungle Trekking
Budget-friendlyExplore well-marked jungle trails through primary rainforest with a local guide.
Where To Stay
Affiliate disclosure: Some hotel links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — this helps keep MyTravelTip2U free.
Father's Guesthouse
RM 50–100 / nightLegendary backpacker favourite with a cosy common room and great local tips.
Check Availability on Booking.comHeritage Hotel Cameron Highlands
RM 100–180 / nightTudor-style hotel with a garden, good restaurant, and central Tanah Rata location.
Check Availability on Booking.comCameron Highlands Resort
RM 500–1,000 / nightYTL's flagship highland retreat — colonial elegance, afternoon tea, and spa.
Check Availability on Booking.comThe Lakehouse Cameron Highlands
RM 400–800 / nightEnglish country house hotel on a lake with fireplaces and a romantic atmosphere.
Check Availability on Booking.comTravel by Style
Romantic Getaway
- 1The Lakehouse Cameron Highlands is one of the most romantic hotels in Malaysia — an English country house on a lake with fireplaces, four-poster beds, and a genuinely cosy atmosphere. Book a lake-view room and have dinner by the fireplace.
- 2The Cameron Highlands Resort (YTL) offers a beautiful afternoon tea experience in the colonial dining room overlooking the golf course and tea plantations — a quintessentially romantic highland afternoon.
- 3Walk the BOH Tea Plantation trail in the early morning when the mist is still on the hills — the silence, the cool air, and the extraordinary green landscape are genuinely magical. Arrive before 9am for the best light and fewest visitors.
- 4Book a private guided jungle trek to the mossy forest at the summit of Gunung Brinchang — the cloud forest is ethereal and otherworldly, and a private guide makes the experience far more intimate and informative.
- 5Have a slow dinner at a steamboat restaurant in Tanah Rata — the cool highland evenings, the bubbling broth, and the leisurely pace of a steamboat meal make it one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in the highlands.
Family Travel
- 1Strawberry farm picking is the quintessential Cameron Highlands family activity — children love picking their own strawberries and eating fresh strawberry ice cream on the spot. Raaju's Hill Strawberry Farm and Big Red Strawberry Farm are the most popular.
- 2The Butterfly Farm in Kea Farm is a reliable family favourite — hundreds of exotic butterflies fly freely through the enclosed garden, and the insect and reptile exhibits add extra interest for curious children.
- 3The BOH Tea Plantation is fascinating for children who have never seen a working tea estate — the factory tour explains the entire process from leaf to cup, and the hilltop cafe with its extraordinary views is a great lunch stop.
- 4The Cactus Valley in Brinchang has a large cactus garden, a small petting zoo, and a butterfly garden — a good 2-hour stop for families with young children, especially on a clear morning.
- 5The night market at Brinchang Square is a fun family evening activity — local produce, corn on the cob, highland vegetables, and simple street food in a lively outdoor setting. Children enjoy the atmosphere and the novelty of the cool highland night air.
Shopping Guide
- 1The Cameron Highlands is famous for its fresh produce — strawberries, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, and highland vegetables are all available at roadside stalls and the Kea Farm market at prices well below what you would pay in KL. Buy a box of strawberries to take home.
- 2The Kea Farm market is the best place for fresh produce shopping — a long strip of stalls selling highland vegetables, local honey, tea, and fresh flowers. The prices are negotiable and the quality is excellent. Go in the morning for the freshest selection.
- 3BOH Tea Centre at the Sungai Palas plantation has the best selection of BOH teas — the full range of Cameron Highlands teas, including limited-edition and plantation-exclusive blends, is available at the plantation shop at prices lower than in KL supermarkets.
- 4The Brinchang night market (held on weekends) is the best place for local handicrafts and Orang Asli products — honey, rattan baskets, and jungle produce sold directly by the indigenous communities of the highlands.
- 5Local honey from the Cameron Highlands is one of the best souvenirs — the highland bees produce a distinctive, fragrant honey from the highland wildflowers. Buy directly from the roadside honey stalls rather than from tourist shops for the best quality and price.
Insider Travel Tips
- 1Bring a light jacket — temperatures drop to 15°C at night.
- 2Roads are winding; if you're prone to motion sickness, take medication.
- 3Book accommodation in advance for weekends and school holidays.
- 4Try the steamboat restaurants — perfect for the cool highland evenings.
- 5The drive from KL takes about 3 hours via the Simpang Pulai route.
How to Get There
By Car
Kuala Lumpur
The most convenient option. Take the E1 North-South Expressway to the Simpang Pulai exit (Exit 137), then follow the winding mountain road up to Brinchang and Tanah Rata. The road is well-maintained but narrow in sections.
By Bus
Kuala Lumpur (TBS), Ipoh
Direct buses from TBS (KL) to Tanah Rata run several times daily. Operators include Transnasional and Unititi Express. From Ipoh, local buses connect to Cameron Highlands in about 2 hours.
By Train + Bus
Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral)
Take the KTM ETS train from KL Sentral to Ipoh (2 hours), then connect to a Cameron Highlands bus from Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Terminal. A good option if you want to stop in Ipoh along the way.
Read Our Cameron Highlands Guide
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