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One of the wonders of Malaysia, Cameron Highlands is the largest and most famous hill resort in the country. This highland paradise still retains much of the charm of an English village. Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in the state of Pahang which is located in the north-western corner of the state. Although it is in Pahang, its two main exits go to Tapah and Ipoh in the state of Perak. It is made up of 3 main townships at different elevations. The first town from the south is Ringlet, followed by Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampong Raja.
Tanah Rata
Local tours and transfers out of Cameron Highlands can be obtained from the various tour operators in town. Money changers and internet cafe's can also be found here. Tanah Rata would be a nice place to enjoy the highlands, especially during the weekdays. It is much more quieter compared to Brinchang where most of the big hotels and restaurants are located. Brinchang Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla & Kampung Raja |
Being a primarily agricultural domain, you will find an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms here. Also, Cameron Highlands is a leading producer of flowers in Malaysia; be prepared for a lovely sight of extraordinary flowers you won’t see flourishing elsewhere in Malaysia! Drive up as high as 1500 metres above sea-level to get here among the peaks of the main range of Peninsular Malaysia and enjoy temperatures as low as 16 ˚C.
Further up is Tanah Rata which is about 20 minutes drive from Ringlet. This is the administrative capital of Cameron Highlands where most of the government offices are located. The general hospital and the district police station is also located here. If you're taking the express buses, this is where the journey would end. Most of the chalets and backpacker's accommodation is located here in and around Tanah Rata. Almost all the jungle trekking and waterfall trails starts from here. History
Cameron Highlands was named after William Cameron, a British surveyor who stumbled across the plateau in 1885 during a mapping expedition. Failing to mark his discovery on the map, the location of the plateau was a finally confirmed by subsequents expeditions.
In 1925, Sir George Maxwell visited the highlands and decided to develop it as a hill station. A development committee was then formed which functioned until 1931. During this time, the winding road up to the highlands was constructed and this enormous task was done entirely by manual labour.
Once the road was constructed, wealthy residents and British government officials started building retreats on the slopes of the highlands. Later some settled here permanently and a business community developed. Farming was the main activity at that time. A permanent British army base was also established soon after that.
In 1929, John Archibald Russell, who was the son of a British administrative officer started a tea plantation which is now the famous Boh Tea Plantation. The highlands had developed successfully until the outbreak of World War II. After the war, the British returned to administer the highlands. Development continued even after the independance from the British in 1957.
Getting Here and Around
Getting To Cameron Highlands
The only way to get to Cameron Highlands is by road. Until a few years back, you could only get to Cameron Highlands from the south via Tapah but since the opening of the new Simpang Pulai road, traveling to the highlands has become much more easier from the north. You can also get here from the east coast via Gua Musang in Kelantan but take note that this road has yet to be gazetted by the authorities.
Self drive
From the South via Tapah
Cameron Highlands is about 300kms from Kuala Lumpur and it takes less than 3.5 hours to get here via the North-South Expressway (NSE). If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, get find your way to the NSE by following the sign to Ipoh. Once you're on the expressway, keep on driving north until you reach Tapah which will take about 1.5 hours. Watch out for the sign that indicates the Tapah and Cameron Highlands exit (Exit 132). Once you have passed the toll booth, turn left at the traffic lights. From here onwards you will be on the long winding road to Cameron Highlands which is about 60 km's away. If you're driving from the north just take Exit 132 at Tapah and follow the same direction. It takes an average of 1.5 hours to reach Tanah Rata from Tapah.
Driving Tips :
The road from Tapah to Cameron Highlands is narrow and has a lot of sharp bends. If you have passengers who get motion sickness, its time to get those plastic bags out (just in case).
The roads have been upgraded recently so the drive up can be quite pleasant. There will be lots of heavy vehicles going up and down this road so be careful especially when you are overtaking. Most local heavy vehicles will give you the signal to overtake when its save so be patient. Its also common courtesy to let the vehicle behind you overtake you if you're driving slower that vehicle.
From the north via Simpang Pulai / Ipoh
Now that the new road from Simpang Pulai is open, more people are traveling to the highlands via this route. The road condition is much better here than the Tapah route and it only takes about 45 minutes to get to Kampung Raja from Simpang Pulai.
Take Exit 137 (Simpang Pulai) and turn right at the traffic light right after the toll booth. Turn right again at the next traffic light about 200 metres away. You are now on the way to Cameron Highlands. Eventually you will see signs to Kampung Raja or Cameron Highlands along the way. After about 1 hour, you will reach the Kampung Raja junction where you will have to turn right from the new road into Kampung Raja town. You're now in Cameron Highlands and you can just follow the main road to your destination. Brinchang & Tanah Rata is about 25-30kms from here.
Driving up this road is definitely a pleasant experience because it gives you some great views of mountains. Since the roads are less winding, people tend to speed here but watch out for the sharp bends at some stretches. There is NO mobile coverage along this road.
Weather & Climate
The weather in Cameron Highlands is temperate/cool all year round. The temperature here ranges from a minimum of 14o C to a maximum of 25o C. Rain is common throughout the year althought the monsoon season is from Nov-Feb. The dry season is from Feb-April.
The coldest time of the year is between December-February where the temperature can drop to 10o C at certain places.
Cameron Highlands temperature and rainfall index
| Month | Mean Temperature oC | Mean Total Rainfall (mm) | Mean Number of Rain Days | |
| Daily Minimum | Daily Maximum | |||
| Jan | 14.5 | 21.4 | 89.9 | 15 |
| Feb | 14.6 | 22.3 | 142.4 | 13 |
| Mar | 15.2 | 23.0 | 208.3 | 19 |
| Apr | 15.8 | 23.3 | 243.5 | 19 |
| May | 16.1 | 23.1 | 278.2 | 22 |
| Jun | 15.7 | 22.8 | 172.9 | 16 |
| Jul | 15.2 | 22.3 | 177.2 | 17 |
| Aug | 15.3 | 22.0 | 234.3 | 20 |
| Sep | 15.2 | 21.9 | 283.1 | 24 |
| Oct | 15.3 | 21.8 | 383.9 | 26 |
| Nov | 15.3 | 21.6 | 318.4 | 24 |
| Dec | 14.9 | 21.0 | 205.1 | 21 |
Source:Malaysian Meteorological Services
Activities
-Camping
-Jungle Treking 
| Trail | Trail starts | Trail ends | Duration | Difficulty | What to look |
Jungle Treking Tips
Generally most jungle treks in Cameron Highlands are pretty safe. Although most are not clearly marked, the trails are wide and clear enough for you to get through easily. During the rainy season, the trails can get very muddy and slippery.
Get a map from your hotel or from the shops in town if you are planning to trek on your own. Get a guide if you want to explore the trails which are not in the map.
Here are a few basic tips to follow before you head into the rainforest.
• When choosing a trail, be sure that you have enough time to complete the entire route before darkness falls. Check with your hotel on the estimated time and difficulty level.
• Always inform your hotel on your destination and plans especially your estimated return time.
• Take plenty of water and pack a few easy to eat snacks to keep energy level up.
• Do not eat fruits you find in the jungle or drink water from the streams unless you are with a guide who says its ok.
• The weather here can unpredictable here so be prepared for sudden rain showers. You can buy the disposable raincoats for about RM5 at any mini market in town.
• Wear suitable and comfortable clothing. A good pair of shoes is mandatory as the treks can get muddy and slippery. Shorts are ok but long pants are recommended to provide protection from thorny plants.
• Lastly, use good judgment and common sense.
-Mountain Hiking
The most popular mountains are Gunung Beremban, Gunung Brinchang and Gunung Jasar. For the more adventurous there are other less well-known mountains but a guide is recommended on these journeys.
Maps are available for the more common routes and you can find these at local shops or tour operators.
Gunung Beremban
Located in Tanah Rata, it can be reached via the Mardi Station, Brinchang (behind the Sam Poh Buddhist temple) or the golf course, past the Arcadia bungalow where the road stops (this is the easiest trail). It takes about 11/2 to 2 hours to reach the summit. It is also possible to climb Gunung Beremban from Robinson Falls.
Gunung Jasar
Also located in Tanah Rata, Gunung Jasar is a good track for beginners. The trail which starts next to the road to the weather station will take you 11/2 hours to reach the peak. Another trail which leads to the peak is located near the Oly Apartments in Tanah Rata.
Gunung Brinchang
Gunung Brinchang, is the highest peak in Malaysia accessible by road. The trail which starts from Sungai Palas will take about 11/2 hours to reach the summit. The view from the summit offers a great panorama of the plateau, although it spends most of its life shrouded in cloud. The road up the mountain starts near the Sungai Palas tea estate.
-Golf
There's only one gold course in Cameron Highlands and it is located between Tanah Rata and Brinchang.
The 18-hole Cameron Highlands Golf Course is quite challenging with its tricky greens and terrain.
Rates
Weekends
RM84.00 (Whole Day)
RM42.00 (After 5pm)
Weekdays
RM52.50 (Whole Day)
RM26.25 (After 5pm)
For more information, please contact the Cameron Highlands Golf Course at 05-491 1126
Each part of Cameron Highlands has its own individual charm and attractions, and together they combine to provide all the ingredients for a memorable holiday, no matter what your interest or what time of the year.
Fruits and vegetables like tomatos, cauliflowers, cabbages, oranges and strawberries grow fresh and healthy in the cool climate and fertile soils of the highlands. You can buy them either at the various markets or the farms which are located throughout the highlands.
Tea Plantations
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Boh Tea Plantations
Click on the links below to read more about :
Sungai Palas Tea EstateThis is another tea plantation owned by Boh and it is located further up north from the mail plantation. A definite must on the list of things to do in Cameron Highlands is a visit to the new Sungei Palas Tea Centre. Recently opened by BOH Plantations at the Sungei Palas tea garden, it is just above Brinchang, in the very heart of the Cameron Highlands tea country. Located on a hilltop, amidst rows of tea bushes and close to Gunung Brinchang, it offers the best possible introduction to Malaysian teas in a truly spectacular setting.
Click on the links below to read more about :
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Tea plantations is one of the must-see features of Cameron Highlands. You can visit the factories to see the process of tea production and some have shops where you can drink and buy tea. The view overlooking the plantations is beautiful, perfect for the picture album. The 3 most famous tea plantations are :
BOH Plantations Sdn Bhd is the leading tea grower in Malaysia with four tea gardens – Boh, Sungei Palas and Fairlie situated in Cameron Highlands; and Bukit Cheeding in Selangor – constituting a total land area of 1200 hectares. With a production capacity approaching 3000kgs per hectare, the Company produces 4 million kgs of tea annually which translates to about 5.5 million cups per day. This represents about 70% of all tea produced in Malaysia. 
Here is a list of some of the strawberry farms in Cameron Highlands
- Kasimani's Strawberry Farm
- KHM Strawberry
- EQ Strawberry Farm
- Healthy Strawberry Farm
- Raju's Hill Strawberry Farm
 | Big Red Strawberry Farm & Gift Center |
| Four acres of strawberries and lettuces which are all hydroponically grown. A good place to get the the best price for Cameron Highlands strawberries. Location : Located in Brinchang town. Same location as Cactus Valley. From the main road, turn into road where Star Regency is located. Take a right at the junction and go in about 200 metres, | |
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