Cameron Highlands is accessible from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh which is why a Cameron Highlands trip is a perfect short getaway from city life!
Those seeking something wholly different from the rest of the mainland will find pleasantly cool temperatures. And verdant countryside views at this famous hill station in Malaysia!
This guide is all about what you need to know before you book that Cameron Highlands trip. And how to plan your Cameron Highlands itinerary to make the most of your time!
Table of Contents:
- Best Time To Visit
- Cameron Highlands Tour
- Top 10 Things To Do
- Cameron Highlands Trip Itinerary
- Hotels In Cameron Highlands
- Hotels In Ipoh
- FAQs
1. Best Time To Visit Cameron Highlands
There are two things to keep in mind when it comes to picking your travel dates for a Cameron Highlands trip!
1.1. When Is The Monsoon Season?
While it rains often in Cameron Highlands, you might want to avoid the monsoon season which is between November and February.
Landslides are increasingly common with each year.
1.2. When Is Cameron Highlands Most Crowded?
Secondly, never underestimate the popularity of Cameron Highlands! Locals love coming up here as much as international visitors do.
Particularly so if there is a big public holiday (e.g. Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Merdeka, Deepavali, Christmas, etc) coming up!
Note: Even non-peak days can be busy (especially around the Kea Farm area) and during lunch time.
School holidays play a role in the traffic jams too with the peak season between May to September. You have to take Singaporean public holidays and school holidays into account as well.
1.3. So What Is The Best Time To Visit Cameron Highlands?
If you can afford to take off a weekday from work anywhere between mid-February to April:
You will be rewarded with temperatures below 25°C, less chances of rain and fewer crowds!
Note: If you want to enjoy the coldest temperatures that Cameron Highlands has to offer, then plan your trip between December and February when the temperature can drop close to 10°C at night!
2. Cameron Highlands Tour
Locals drive up for a Cameron Highlands trip literally every chance they can get.
But if you’re not familiar with Malaysian roads (or the behaviour of other drivers), then the winding uphill drive can be intimidating for first timers!
So why not take a tour instead?
Other reasons to consider a tour:
- Places like the BOH Sungai Palas tea plantation are not an easy drive!
- If you have a larger group, this is how you can stick together!
- Someone else to plan the trip itinerary for you
- No worries with parking
- Sightseeing with local insight
- Comfortable and convenient way to get around Cameron Highlands
2.1. Private Tour From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands
RayTheTour/Travelswithsun offers private tours to Cameron Highlands that start from Ipoh. The earliest departure from Ipoh is 8:30am.
RayTheTour covers Ipoh day tours as well. Because Ipoh is more than just a jumping-off point for Cameron Highlands.
And few hours are certainly not enough to really appreciate all the history, culture and Ipoh food!
Have an Ipoh-born guide show you where all the lesser-known attractions are!
Tours with RayTheTour include:
- An experienced local guide
- Transport from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands
- Pick-up from anywhere in Ipoh (e.g. Ipoh hotel, airport, bus station, train station, etc)
- Transport around Cameron Highlands
- Transport back to Ipoh from Cameron Highlands (on the same day)
See reviews on our Tripadvisor page.
You can book a Cameron Highlands trip (Cameron Highlands Tour Package From Ipoh) with RayTheTour by sending them a message on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Itineraries are highly customizable and you can combine your multi-day trip to Cameron Highlands with other locations in like:
- Ipoh (Ipoh Old Town, Concubine Lane, cave temples, etc)
- Taiping (Taiping Lake Gardens)
- Kuala Sepetang (Fireflies, mangroves, charcoal factory, etc)
- Gopeng (Gua Tempurung and Gaharu Tea Valley)
- Sitiawan (Impressive seaside temple)
- Kuala Kangsar (Royal town)
- Bukit Merah (Orangutan sanctuary)
Read more: 27 Best Things To Do In Ipoh
Rather plan things on your own?
3. Top 10 Things To Do In Cameron Highlands
When you’re in Cameron Highlands, there’s no need to rush from one attraction to the next!
The point of it all is to take your time and appreciate the natural beauty around you!
- Visit a Cameron Highlands tea plantation
- Pick strawberries at a strawberry farm
- Stroll through Lavender Garden
- Visit a local market like Brinchang Night Market or Kea Farm Market
- Admire how big flowers get in a rose garden
- See plenty of cacti – maybe buy a couple
- Enjoy British cream tea at a colonial-style tea house
- Do some hiking (e.g. mossy forest, Gunung Brinchang, Robinson Falls, Gunung Jasar etc)
- Have a steamboat lunch or dinner
- Visit an orang asli village
And if you run out of things to do in Cameron Highlands, don’t fret! There’s more that we did not cover in this post!
4. Cameron Highlands Trip Itinerary
Unless you plan to do some serious hiking or visit Brinchang Night Market:
You can cover most of the main highlights in Cameron Highlands in one day! Provided that the weather behaves and that traffic is not too crazy.
4.1. Cameron Highlands One Day Trip Itinerary
This is a classic itinerary for first timers to Cameron Highlands! The order in which you see these attractions depends on your priority and how much you detest being stuck in traffic.
The peak time for most attractions seems to be 10am to 12pm. At the same time, you should avoid passing back and forth through Kea Farm to save yourself the trouble of getting through the traffic again.
It really pays to plan your route carefully before starting on your journey. Check Waze too before you begin your journey – you never know when a tree or landslide is holding up the traffic!
This itinerary assumes that you are making a day trip from Ipoh and that you’ll be having scones for brunch or a light lunch:
- Have an early morning local breakfast at a kopitiam or dim sum restaurant in Ipoh
- Head up to Cameron Highlands (~2 hours with light traffic)
- Stretch your legs at a tea plantation (the crowd-favorite is the Sungai Palas BOH tea plantation which is closed on Mondays)
- If time (and traffic) allows, make a quick stop at a bee farm (Ee Feng Gu honey bee farm) or a flower nursery like Robertson Rose Garden
- Pick some strawberries and have a treat at a strawberry farm (EQ strawberry farm / Raju’s Hill strawberry farm)
- Stop by the Kea Farm Market; we suggest visiting the Sheep Sanctuary only if you don’t see a long queue at the ticket counter
- See a cactus nursery (or the Time Tunnel Museum)
- Sit down to an early steamboat dinner in Brinchang or Tanah Rata
- Visit Lavender Garden on the way back to Ipoh
- Head back down to Ipoh (or Kuala Lumpur)
Note: If you take the older (windier)Tapah road up, you can detour to Lata Iskandar Waterfall!
Read more:
- 11 Best Strawberry Farm In Cameron Highlands
- Butterfly Farm Cameron Highlands: Everything About This Farm + Review
4.2. 2D1N Cameron Highlands Itinerary
A 2-day itinerary gives you a little more time to spend in Ipoh and Cameron Highlands!
Day 1: Ipoh & Cameron Highlands
- Early morning local breakfast Ipoh-style (kopitiam or dim sum restaurant)
- Detour to Kellie’s Castle or one of Ipoh’s many cave temples
- Head up to Cameron Highlands (~2 hours)
- Detour to Sam Poh Temple at Cameron Highlands
- For lunch, you can try some renown Cameron Highlands food (e.g. Delicious & Happiness Kitchen 有口福美味小厨)
- Visit Cactus Valley
- Have a look at the Time Tunnel Museum
- Go for a steamboat dinner
- Check out the Brinchang Night Market – usually only open on Friday or Saturday evenings
Day 2: Cameron Highlands
This day will mostly follow the 1 Day itinerary above except you have breakfast at a tea plantation instead.
4.3. 3D2N Cameron Highlands Itinerary
With this itinerary, you get to fully immerse yourself in the wilderness by taking on a hiking trail in the jungle on the second day!
This 3D2N itinerary is exactly the same as the 2D1N itinerary above except for an extra day between the two days!
Day 1: Follows Day 1 Of The 2D1N Itinerary
Day 2: Hiking In Cameron Highlands
A combination of hiking trails, #10 and #6 allow you to see:
- A tea plantation (Cameron Valley Tea Plantation)
- Panoramic views of the valley below
Start the half-day hike from Tanah Rata to Gunung Jasar and continue on to Cameron Valley.
Round-trip duration: ~3.5 hours
Note: There are numerous trails in Cameron Highlands
After your hike, you can relax at one of the tea houses at the tea plantation.
Follow this with some well-deserved downtime at your hotel.
Other options for this day:
- Go on a tour with EcoCameron to find the rare Rafflesia flower
- Or visit an orang asli village (Pos Rantau)
- Or attempt Trail #1 (Gunung Brinchang) and see the mossy forest too!
Day 3: Follows Day 2 Of The 2D1N Itinerary
5. Hotels In Cameron Highlands
Want to relish the cool environment longer?
Here are some go-to hotels to check out according to your budget!
5.1. Traveller Bunker (Budget Option)
Conveniently close to a bus stand:
This budget hostel in Tanah Rata has clean rooms with capsule beds, a kitchen and toilets for guests to share. And heaps of common areas where you can meet other travellers!
Finding somewhere to eat is easy and will not require a car!
Location: No. 82, Jalan Persiaran Camelia 4, 39000 Tanah Rata, Pahang
Close to: Tanah Rata Town
Price range: ~ RM70 to 200 (Dormitory room starts from RM30)
Check Best Price On:
Remark: Can be noisy at night
More cheap hotels in Cameron Highlands.
5.2. Century Pines Resort Cameron Highlands (Mid-range)
Century Pines Resort offers cosy and stylish rooms in a location that’s close to local eateries in Tanah Rata town.
Breakfast is commendable!
Location: Jalan Masjid, Tanah Rata, 39000 Tanah Rata, Pahang
Close to: Agro Technology Park Mardi Cameron Highlands, Lord’s Café
Price range: RM250 to RM430 for 2 pax/ night
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Remark: The deposit fee is RM200
5.3. Cameron Highlands Resort (Luxury)
Cameron Highlands Resort has luxurious colonial-style rooms with lovely views of the neighbouring golf course. Expect nothing less than warm service from their well-trained staff!
Join their complimentary jungle walks in the morning!
Location: By The Golf Course, 39000 Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Close to: Cameron Highlands Golf Course, Jim Thompson Tea Room, Brinchang Night Market
Price range: ~RM700 to RM1,900 for 2 pax/ night
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Read more:
6. Hotels In Ipoh
One obvious advantage of staying in Ipoh is having more opportunities to sample Ipoh local fare.
But other than this, there is an abundance of Ipoh hotels to consider!
6.1. De Café & Rest House (Budget Option)
Dormitory-style accommodation with awesome facilities and privacy when you need it most!
De Café & Rest House even has its own café downstairs which doubles as a common area!
Location: 35, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Close to: Kedai Kopi Ah Chow, Han Chin Pet Soo, Concubine Lane, Kong Heng Square, Lim Ko Pi
Price range: From RM90+ for 2 people a night
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6.2. Hotel Excelsior (Mid-range)
Get the usual trappings and modern amenities of a contemporary hotel without compromising on the price. Or being too far from the local sights!
At Hotel Excelsior, guests can expect spacious and clean rooms and excellent service!
Location: 43, Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, Kampung Jawa, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Close to: Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum, Restaurant Foh San, Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
Price range: From RM140 to RM170 a night for 2 pax
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6.3. The Banjaran Hotsprings Resort (Luxury)
Luxury comes with a hefty price tag but you will not be disappointed!
The Banjaran Hotsprings Resort is where you go for absolute peace and relaxation! They have their own massage spa and services on-site!
Location: 1, Persiaran Lagoon, Sunway 3, 31150 Ipoh, Perak
Close to: Sunway Lost World Of Tambun
Price range: From RM1,500 to RM1,800 for 2 people a night
Check Best Price On:
Read more:
7. FAQ For Cameron Highlands Trip
A1: Avoid the monsoon season (November and February) and weekends overlapping with school holidays & major public holidays (e.g. Hari Raya, Merdeka, Deepavali, Chinese New Year).
A2: It is wet most of the year. The driest month is February. Months closer to June see less rain as well. The coldest months are between November and February.
A3: Summer wear with at least 1 jacket, pair of long pants & comfortable walking shoes. For hiking – waterproof jacket and hiking/ sports shoes.
A4: Hiking (e.g. waterfalls, jungle, Brinchang peak, mossy forest, etc) and visiting tea plantations, farms, gardens, and British-colonial tea houses. There is one golf course too.
A5: Tuck into a hearty steamboat. Go for the tom yum or herbal soup base for something extra! At the best steamboat restaurants in Cameron Highlands.
A6: Tanah Rata, Brinchang or Kea Farm. There are many budget hostels, some mid-range hotels and a few luxury resorts (European feel) like Cameron Highlands Resorts.
A7: If you want to use the public transport (e.g. bus, taxi) in Cameron Highlands, choose a hotel in Tanah Rata. Note that the bus usually suffers from delays.
A8: Cacti, honey products, and fresh produce. Buy them on your last day to ensure maximum freshness. The Brinchang Night Market, Kea Farm Market and most bee farms have souvenirs for sale.
Further reading:
- How To Go To Cameron Highlands From Kuala Lumpur
- How To Go To Cameron Highlands From Singapore
- How To Get To Cameron Highlands From Penang
Conclusion
The essentials of an awesome Cameron Highlands trip include knowing when to go, how to go and where to stay.
As well as how long to stay! Consider extending Cameron Highlands itinerary with an Ipoh itinerary too!
Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to have some handy travel tips in your arsenal before you go!
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