Cameron Highlands Itinerary: Cameron One Day Trip, 2D1N & 3D2N (New Guide 2020)

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 plan your Cameron Highlands itinerary!

Table of Contents:

1. Best Time To Visit
2. Cameron Highlands Tour
3. Top 10 Things To Do
4. Cameron Highlands Trip Itinerary
5. Hotels In Cameron Highlands
6. Hotels In Ipoh
7. 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.

1.2. When Is Cameron Highlands Most Crowded?

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!

School holidays play a role in the traffic jams too with the peak season between May to September.

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!

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 if it’s your first time!

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!
• 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 that start from Ipoh.

Why Ipoh?

Ipoh is more than a jumping-off point for Cameron Highlands. A 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!

Our tours 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) by sending us a message on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Itineraries are highly customizable and you can combine 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

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!

1. Visit a Cameron Highlands tea plantation

2. Pick strawberries at a strawberry farm

3. Stroll through Lavender Garden
4. Visit a local market like Brinchang Night Market or Kea Farm Market
5. Admire how big flowers get in a rose garden

6. See plenty of cacti
7. Enjoy British cream tea at a colonial-style tea house
8. Do some hiking (e.g. mossy forest, Gunung Brinchang, Robinson Falls, Gunung Jasar etc)
9. Have a steamboat lunch or dinner
10. 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!

Read more: Butterfly Farm Cameron Highlands: Everything About This Farm + Review

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!

4.1. Cameron Highlands One Day Trip Itinerary

This is a classic itinerary for first timers to Cameron Highlands!

1. Have an early morning local breakfast at a kopitiam or dim sum restaurant in Ipoh
2. Head up to Cameron Highlands (~2 hours)
3. Stretch your legs at a BOH tea plantation
4. If time allows, make a quick stop at a bee farm (Ee Feng Gu honey bee farm)

5. Sit down to a steamboat lunch
6. See a cactus nursery
7. Stop by the Kea Farm Market
8. Pick some strawberries and have a treat at a strawberry farm (EQ strawberry farm / Raju’s Hill strawberry farm)
9. Visit Lavender Garden

10. Head back down to Ipoh (or Kuala Lumpur)

Read more: 11 Best Strawberry Farm In Cameron Highlands

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

1. Early morning local breakfast Ipoh-style (kopitiam or dim sum restaurant)
2. Detour to Kellie’s Castle or one of Ipoh’s many cave temples

1. Head up to Cameron Highlands (~2 hours)
2. Detour to Sam Poh Temple at Cameron Highlands
3. For lunch, you can try some renown Cameron Highlands food (e.g. Delicious & Happiness Kitchen 有口福美味小厨)
4. Cactus Valley
5. Have a look at the Time Tunnel Museum
6. Steamboat dinner
7. Check out the Brinchang Night Market

Day 2: Cameron Highlands

This day will 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

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!

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!

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!

Read more: 17 Best Hotels In Cameron Highlands

6. Hotels In Ipoh

One obvious advantage of staying in Ipoh is having more opportunity to sample Ipoh local fare.

But other than this, there is the 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!

Read more: 19 Affordable & Best Boutique Hotels In Ipoh

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!

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 tranquility!

Read more: 11 Exceptional Homestay In Ipoh

7. FAQ For Cameron Highlands Trip

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.

And 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!