Cameron Highlands tourist guide

Malaysia’s foremost hill station of the Cameron Highlands is a verdant medley of tranquil countryside and lush forest. A favourite retreat for sweltering British administrators and industrialists since the 1920s, the cooler temperatures and fresh air are still rejuvenating hordes of weary travellers who flock to the higher climbs for fun and exercise. The Cameron Highlands stand at over 1,500 metres above sea level and feature countless fruit and vegetable farms plus tea plantations. In keeping with its colonial past, tea and scones with fresh strawberries are dished out with reckless abandon, which can make a lovely change from the ubiquitous rice and spice diet of the lower reaches.

The main local settlement of the Cameron Highlands is Brinchang which is a pleasant place to stay and close to some stunning waterfalls and tea plantations. Tanah Rata, five kilometres away, is a small town of barely more than one main road but remains the main tourist centre with travel connections, restaurants, a good range of accommodation choices and a couple of lively bars. There are regular bus and taxi services linking the two but it can make an extremely pleasant stroll or bicycle ride as well.

Hiking and jungle trekking are the main pastimes in the Cameron Highlands and these can be undertaken by oneself or part of a larger group. Most hotels and guesthouses will be able to arrange a guide that can show you around, or alternatively provide maps and directions if the spirit of adventure takes hold. Dotted around the landscape are numerous waterfalls, viewpoints, strawberry farms and butterfly enclosures which make perfect resting places en route. So it pays to plan a leisurely route encompassing as many of these as possible within your itinerary.

It is possible to explore aboriginal Orang Asli villages with local tribespeople and learn about their traditional way of life including age-old herbal remedies and hunting with blowpipes and primitive weaponry. Naturalists who visit in January or February have a real chance to see one of the largest and most illusive flowers in the world. The Rafflesia arnoldii, or Malaysian monster flower, has a bloom measuring one metre in diameter and can weigh up to 11kgs.

Attractions
There are numerous tourist attractions both in the popular centres and dotted around the breathtaking countryside which are well worth visiting on excursions… more

Activities
The great outdoors beckons like nowhere else in the country with a large variety of activities and sports on offer which allows visitors to embrace the natural world… more

Hotels
Accommodation options in the Cameron Highlands offer great value for money with some comfortable backpacker options plus luxury resorts with attached spa facilities… more

Restaurants and bars
There is a strong Indian influence in Cameron Highlands cuisine with spicy curry dishes as well as Oriental steamboats appearing frequently on restaurant menus… more

Transportation
Getting between the different areas of the Cameron Highlands is relatively easy with good bus connections and long distance services linking the area with farther afield… more