My Offbeat Cameron Highlands Itinerary + Interesting Things To Do

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It is almost given that every country has a cool hillstation where you can escape the heat and humidity of the city.

Kuala Lumpur has one as well and that’s Cameron Highland for you.

Despite being in KL, I had hiked the mossy forests ages ago and did that one or two odd detours to the strawberry highlands.

It was touristy and that’s about it but now in 2024, things are different and Cameron Highlands has changed. The weather is not as cold hovering at 21 to 25 degrees but it remains pleasant and atleast way better than KL.

For a short getaway to explore hiking trails, stay in a colonial bungalow and sip tea and munch on scones, Cameron Highlands fits that bill entirely!

a view of the cameron highlands scenery from bharat tea plantation

There is also a range of things happening here like a new flower park, Hobbiton village and so on which makes it very disney-fied at times, to be honest.

If I were you, I would strike a balance and figure out a nice place to stay with a family or in a British tea estate and venture off-the-beaten path by exploring some of the trails.

Here’s my Cameron Highlands Itinerary on how to get around (especially if you don’t own a car).

But first some things you should know:

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How do you get there?

how do you get to cameron highlands?

To get to Cameron Highlands, you can take the bus from TBS bus station. The most common companies are Unititi and Cs Travel & Tours. I have used both but I feel the upkeep on Unititi was better!

You can book your bus tickets from 12go.Asia.

💡 A tip: don’t visit Cameron Highlands on weekends or public holiday. The traffic is nuts. Go there on a weekday!

How many days is enough?

You could definitely do Cameron Highlands in 2 nights and 3 days but because the weather is awesome and there are some hiking trails worth checking out, I would extend it to 3 nights and 4 days.

However, there’s also a day tour from KL to Cameron Highlands if you don’t have time.

How do you get around? Is Grab available in Cameron Highlands?

Transportation is the biggest issue in Cameron Highlands and taxi drivers can overcharge.

To my surprise, I tried Grab and it worked. Sometimes it takes longer than usual but otherwise I got a Grab driver in 10 mins. In total, there are only three grab drivers in the whole town.

I took down their numbers and you can call them in case you’re stranded somewhere and your hitchhiking plans didn’t work. (Note: I also hitchhiked and it was quite easy to get one actually!)

Here are the Grab guy numbers: Parimannan (+6010 377 3040), Din (+6010 379 8667) and Wong Nou (+6018 766 2663). If you want them to wait for you, it costs RM30 per hour.

A little history about Cameron Highlands

view on the half-day tour of cameron highlands boh tea plantation

Cameron Highlands was discovered in 1885 by Sir William Cameron, an English surveyor.

William Cameron, a British colonial government surveyor, accompanied by his companion, Kulop Riau, went on a mapping expedition (or that’s what they called it instead of trekking those days) of the Titiwangsa Range.

They travelled around using elephants to carry them for months in a journey to explore the Titiwangsa Range. The entire land was also a fertile land for tea!

Cameron Highlands became famous then and grew during the colonial era when British planters realised the potential of its fertile mountain slopes for growing tea.

Where to stay in Cameron Highlands

a glimpse of rovers inn from outside

You can stay in Tanah Rata which is the main area with access to cafes and restaurants or also stay in a fancy-ish British colonial resort. Here are my picks:

Day 1: Arriving in Cameron Highlands

the gorgeous tea fields of cameron highlands

The windy roads and switchbacks from KL can be a bit but much sometimes but it was also an opportunity for me to see the lush jungles of Malaysia.

You’ll notice a lot of fern trees mushrooming in Cameron and that’s quite common in cooler climates. Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of development and massive hotels which ruins the climate and the beauty of Cameron Highlands.

We stayed in a guesthouse owned by a lovely couple called Rovers Inn. It was basic but extremely clean which was what we were looking for!

The highlight over here was being able to book tours with them directly as the owner is a naturalist and goes into great detail to tell you everything about Cameron Highlands including the various flora available.

Exploring Tanah Rata and taking a walk to the cafe - Growing Seeds Cafe

having flower tea and amazing chocolate mousse at the naux cafe

There’s a lot of restaurants and cafes but if you want a bit of walk to stretch out your legs, it is worthwhile venturing off the path to visit this cafe.

The food and desserts at the Growing Seeds Cafe were perfect to chill and take in the surroundings of Cameron Highlands. Another option is checking out these artisan desserts at Naux cafe in the main town.

Visiting Mardi Agro Technology Park

If you still have time and would love to walk around more, I highly encourage you to visit the government’s own park which has access to flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs and even friendly goats.

It is not too far from the main centre — about a 20 minute walk.

There’s way less people over here and the entrance fee is cheap at only RM10. You also get in some steps and are able to visit the gardens and admire the flowers.

As it closes at 5pm, it is probably best to go only if you have time. There’s also a nice trail with mossy forest called Trail 5 that merges with Trail 6. Again, you should only do this if you have time.

It is also easy to get lost in some of the trails here. I would recommend downloading Maps.Me or AllTrails app on your phone at all times.

Day 2: Half Day Tour of Boh Tea Plantations & Mossy Forest

with my mum on the mossy forest and boh tea plantation tour

If you’re staying at the guesthouse, it is easy to book the tour with them directly. It is only Rm50-60 per person.

You can also book a half-day tour here in advance in case you want it sorted beforehand!

Suresh, the guesthouse owner of Rovers Inn took us to hidden spots where we could spot the best views of the tea plantation. This was followed by a tour of the mossy forest.

He did not just be a guide but he was very knowledgeable about all the plants that grow around this area. We spotted wild ginger leaves, eucalyptus shrubs and even wild orchids.

He also said the constant gimmicky spots takes away from the real beauty and charm of experiencing these mossy forests.

These tapestries are hugly important to the rainforests. They support ecosystems to human society by serving as water source, erosion control and habitat for several endemic species.

The Mossy Forests

on the way to the mossy forests

the pitcher plant

Wooden steps have been installed by the government to ensure the mossy forests remain intact. We stopped just before the mossy forests to take it all in its true beauty and form.

Sure, the steps and walk inside is beautiful but not as much as the road up there where you spot more.

The entrance fee is RM30 for tourists which can be a bit steep but it is still worth it to visit.

The Boh Tea Plantation & Tea Factory Tour

having tea at the boh tea plantation

Boh Tea is perhaps the best-selling tea in Malaysia and everyone almost goes to the factory tour which is free and stops for tea and some bites at the cafe.

The cafe can be crowded and not very nice to be honest. But you’re here to just take in the tea fields and enjoy the climate, try out some tea and perhaps scones.

Cameron Highlands Flora Park

the floral stairs at cameron flora park

After the tour ends, you could get the tour guide to drop you off here since you’re already in Brinchang and it makes sense to visit this spot.

Out of all the touristy places, I think the Cameron Flora Park is worth visiting. It is huge, there’s tons of flowers and a long 230 stair climb to the top.

When you first arrive, you’ll be transported in a jeep to the entrance and it is about a 5 or 10 minute drive to the park. The entrance fee is RM50 — yes quite steep but it was worth spending the entire afternoon here.

You can visit the glass sanctuary, petunia garden and floral hills. There are atleast three (3) cafes inside worth stopping and pausing to take it in.

Day 3: Hiking in Cameron Highlands (Trail 10) or Coral Hill

There are two hikes worth considering in Cameron Highlands. You could go for the coral hill hike which is a cool experience to see the mossy forests with the tour guide from Rovers Inn.

Or you could also hike yourself up trail 10 in Cameron Highlands. On Google Maps, it is easy to find the spot as it is behind Camelia’s garden.

Both hikes can easily take up half your day but they’re worth it to see the other side of Cameron that’s away from the crowds.

If you don’t want to hike and want more family-friendly walks among the tea plantation, you should visit Bharat Tea Plantation.

Walking through Bharat Tea Plantation

sights of cameron valley’s tea plantation

The only plantation in Cameron Highlands that allows you to walk among tea fields. It is also such a nice walk and not that touristy.

You could take a grab from Tanah Rata to Cameron Highlands Tea House 2 and walk towards Cameron Highlands Tea House 1. It is easier to do it this way as it would be a downhill walk compared to uphill.

The walk is incredibly scenic for RM4 — you don’t need the buggy because there are plenty of stops along the way to pause, admire the tea leaves and maybe even read!

Once you reach Cameron Highlands Tea House 1, you can stop to get some tea and scones. Though their food is not worth it, to be honest. I’ll recommend spending your afternoon tea elsewhere!

Have the best Masala Chai and Scones at Michael Sue & Co

best masala tea and scones in cameron highlands

If you want awesome clotted cream and strawberry jam, Michael Su & Co has one of the best scones and masala chai in Tanah Rata.

Homemade and passed down from her mum recipes, this was the perfect afternoon tea to wind down. You can also ask her to make stawberry jam for you in advance as gifts.

Dinner at Singh Chapatti

amazing food at Singh chappati

We came here for lunch but if there’s one place you have to go for homemade Indian food it is Singh Chappati. The rotis and butter chicken are to die for and down it with some mango lassi!

The prices are reasonable and the owners are wonderful. During dinner time, it gets pretty crowded so I would recommend coming here early like 6.30pm.

Day 4: Have Breakfast at The Hidden Lab

This was perhaps one of the best cafe we found called The Hidden Lab — with cosy interiors, books, good coffee and breakfast options with half the price.

If you have time to kill before your bus, I would suggest having a leisurely brunch here.

If you’re going to Penang or Ipoh next, read my latest posts on these places:

Other Tours Worth Considering

Malaysia’s has the largest flower called Rafflesia and there’s a hiking tour that takes you to see these flowers!

It is called the Rafflesia Kerrii - the second largest species and found in the beautiful protected forest reserves in Lojing Highlands Malaysia.

During this tour you get to discover its unique characteristics from their trained “Orang Asli“ guide from the Temiar Tribe.

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