Want to experience a roadside vegetable market in Cameron Highlands? Open for most of the day, Kea Farm Market is just between Tringkap and Brinchang town, on the main road.
Arguably the largest of these markets, Kea Farm Market is a well-known shopping destination for visitors to get fresh produce sold by the local traders and farmers!
Here’s what you can expect if you make a trip to Kea Farm Market!
Table of contents:
- Opening Hours
- What To Buy
- What To Eat
- Attractions
- Other Interesting Places
- Kea Farm Hotel
- Kea Farm Homestay
- Getting To Kea Farm Market From Ipoh
Kea Farm Market
Because of the cool weather up in Cameron Highlands, shopping in an open-air market like this one can be fun (even if it is mostly just vegetables!) as you can take your time wandering through the various stalls!
Kea Farm Market however, has changed quite a lot in recent years. Previously, there were stalls on either side of the road. See the photo below.
Today, the hill on one side is completely flattened to make way for a paid car park (costs RM7 per vehicle per entry).
Note: The large carpark that used to be opposite Kea Farm Market has been demolished to make way for new shop lots. Which are currently under construction.
And if you drive further in, you’ll come to one rose garden, as well as a large and brand new car park for CH Flora Park.
Kea Farm Market Opening Hours
Although the market is open every day, it’s at its liveliest during the weekends and public holidays.
Traffic around this area can be very congested. And we find it to be busy even in the middle of the week.
As such, it’s no easy feat to find a slot to park your car at Kea Farm Market. Even with two new paid car parks.
The photograph below shows the traffic situation on a busy day at Kea Farm Market before all the recent development:
Occasionally, there will even be a policeman to help direct the traffic!
Looking at Kea Farm Market now, it’s still a hectic place full of tourists. And while the road has been expanded tremendously, there are many cars jostling for an available car park.
Therefore, you should plan your itinerary well before you head up to Cameron Highlands to avoid getting caught up in the Kea Farm Market jam.
You don’t want to go through this place more than once if you can help it.
- Location: 43&44, Medan Argo, Kea Farm, 39100 Brinchang, Pahang
- Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm
What To Buy At Kea Farm Market
You’ll have a greater selection to choose from if you go early in the morning! Strawberries are particularly popular!
Do not be tempted to get everything at the same stall because chances are, stalls at the back may sell the same thing for a better price!
Some vendors steam vegetables like sweet potato on the spot as snacks if you would prefer to eat them while exploring Kea Farm Market.
What you can find at Kea Farm Market:
- Vegetables
- Strawberries
- Fresh flowers
- Sweet corn of various grades – double check your order after you get them
- Honey
- Souvenirs (e.g. tee-shirts, key chains, etc)
- Fried snacks (e.g., sweet potato)
- Candy
- Ice cream (Puku and Popstick)
- Petai
- Potted plants
Shopping Tips For Kea Farm Market
- Don’t underestimate how fast heat can spoil your newly acquired food. And if you can help it, don’t leave them in the car when it’s parked in the sun.
- Goods sold at the market may repeat from stall to stall so don’t buy from the very first stall you see. You might get a better price at another one!
- When closing time draws near, you may find unexpected bargains for the vegetables and fruit.
Read more: Cameron Highlands Night Market: Brinchang Night Market One-stop Guide
What To Eat At Kea Farm Market
You’ll only find snacks like deep-fried sweet potatoes, steamed corn, and handcrafted ice-cream at Kea Farm Market.
Speaking of ice-cream:
1. PUKU Café
PUKU Café at Kea Farm is a cute stall selling homemade yoghurt ice-cream. It costs just RM7-8 per stick for their delightful ice-cream!
Can’t decide on a flavor? Try chocolate, strawberry (for selfie purposes), green tea, or tiramisu!
In our opinion, the strawberry flavor is more delicious (i.e. more flavorful) than the chocolate.
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm (or 6:30pm on weekends)
For actual meals, these places should suffice if you want to try some Cameron Highlands food:
- 1 Satay Cameron (4 minutes’ walk) – Tasty satay with incredible prices (<RM2/stick)
- Sinar Hijjaz Café (2 minutes’ walk) – Malay food; Scenic views; Steamboat available
- J&J Kitchen 高峰小厨 (by the Sheep Sanctuary ticket counter) – Chinese restaurant (non-halal)
Attractions At Kea Farm
1. Kea Strawberry Farms
For those who are interested, there is a strawberry farm at Kea Garden Guest House – which we cover in more detail further down this post!
Besides this one, there are at least 2 more that are not far away too:
- EQ Strawberry Farm
- Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm Café
Read more: 29 Must-See Cameron Highlands Attractions
2. The Sheep Sanctuary At Kea Farm
The Sheep Sanctuary at Kea Farm is a relatively new attraction (opened in 2019) by Goh Bing Tzuan. He takes his inspiration from the sheep farms in Taiwan.
- Opening Hours: 9am to 5:30pm
- Entrance Fees: RM8 (Adult), RM5 (Child)
Expect a lot of families to come here during school holidays!
There are 20 or so Merino sheep from Australia here. Visitors can feed the friendly sheep (RM4 per packet although you get one box free with your entrance ticket) and interact with them.
More about The Sheep Sanctuary.
Note: Currently, the sheep are kept in small pens but the owner has plans to grow more grass fields for the sheep to run free.
Other Interesting Places Close To Kea Farm
It may not take you too long to fully explore the Kea Farm Market.
So, what’s next?
Thankfully, there are quite a few attractions nearby!
1. Rose Center
Walk all the way inwards from the main road:
You should see Copthorne Hotel perched high on a distant hill to your left followed by some apartments and a school before you reach the Rose Center on the right.
Since it’s on a hill, you can get some pretty lovely views of the surrounding area at the top of the gardens! The colorful gardens themselves make for a pleasant stroll!
- Distance From Kea Farm: 11 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: RM5 (Adult), RM2 (Child)
- Opening Hours: 8:30am to 6:30pm
Read more: 4 Best Rose Gardens In Cameron Highlands That Flower Lovers Must Not Miss Out On!
2. Cactus Point, Brinchang, Pahang
See giant cacti among this nursery’s vast collection of cacti.
Other than cactus, they have succulents, pitcher plants, flowers, moss and other plants which you can buy to take back home.
There are over-the-counter instructions on how best to care for your new plants. And if you need to stock up, they do have gardening supplies and fertilizer for sale too!
See more photos of Cactus Point in Brinchang.
- Distance From Kea Farm: 8 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 9:30am to 5:30pm
- Remark: They have their own steamboat restaurant on the property!
3. Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm
Packed with tourists on weekends, this strawberry farm is free to visit.
Note: The road up to Raaju’s Hill is steep and not suitable for anyone with knee problems. Cars are able to drive up.
There is a free tour of how they grow and process their strawberries too.
The on-site gift shop sells their products. Pop into their café for a strawberry infused treat while you admire the views!
- Distance From Kea Farm: 5 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 8am to 6:30pm
Read more: 11 Best Strawberry Farm In Cameron Highlands
4. Butterfly Farm Cameron Highlands
One of Cameron Highlands’ longest-serving establishments, the butterfly farm showcases more than just butterflies!
But the addition of the mini zoo gives some cause for concern (regarding the animals’ welfare).
- Distance From Kea Farm: 8 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: RM7 (Adult), RM4 (Child)
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm; Saturday – Sunday: 8am – 7pm; Public Holiday: 8am – 7:30pm
5. Orchid And Rose Garden
Browse through the colorful well-kept garden and admire the different species of plants, including some very unusual flowers that they have on display.
There are nice valley views from this nursery too!
Read more about our experience at O&R Garden.
- Distance From Kea Farm: 13 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: RM6 (Adult), RM4 (Child)
- Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm
- Remark: The nursery is not visible from the main road as it is blocked by a building
Read more: Lavender Garden – Must-see Lavender Farm In Cameron Highlands
6. Cameron Square
Cameron Square is the only shopping mall in Cameron Highlands.
There are 3 floors of fast-food restaurants, retail outlets, and other shops including Mr DIY and a pharmacy (Watsons).
For entertainment, there is a small arcade as well as a karaoke centre and a 3D trick art gallery.
- Distance From Kea Farm: 13 minutes’ walk
- Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm
- Remark: An amusement park is next door (Holiday’s Park); No ATM in the mall
7. Ee Feng Gu Bee Farm
Many tourists making their way to the BOH Sungai Palas tea plantation often make a detour at Ee Feng Gu Bee Farm.
It’s free to walk in and walk around the garden. If you walk further down, you will see the actual bee farm. The workers can tell you more about bees if you are curious!
- Distance From Kea Farm: 10 minutes’ walk
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 8am to 7pm
Read more: 3 Best Honey Bee Farm In Cameron Highlands
Hotels Near Kea Farm
Staying at a hotel at close quarters to the market means you don’t have to worry about parking.
And you can be one of the first visitors to the market in the morning!
1. Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands
4-star Copthorne Hotel in Cameron Highlands is the largest resort here. You can easily spot the resort as it is high up on a hill that looks out to Brinchang Valley.
What you’ll like:
- Many facilities (e.g. gym, sauna, spa, indoor heated swimming pool, children’s playground, etc)
- Free WiFi
- Carpark for guests
- Comfortable rooms with coffee-making facilities
Good to know:
- Rooms on the highest floors have the best views
- On-site steamboat restaurant (Millennium Garden)
- Bar (Cricket Lounge)
- 18° Celsius Café
- Apartment options are available for booking
- Bicycle rental and laundry services
- Distance From Kea Farm: 3 minutes’ drive
- Address: Kea Farm, Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang, Pahang
- Contact: +605-496 1777
- Price Range: ~RM170 to RM200
2. Nova Highlands Hotel And Resort
These are modern suites right next to Cameron Square shopping mall.
Each suite comes with a private balcony, an ensuite bathroom, a kitchenette and some even have a dining room!
What you’ll like:
- Multi-story car park for guests
- Spacious rooms
- Kitchenette comes with utensils
- Flat screen TV and seating area in the suite
- Daily buffet breakfast (Nova Highlands Café)
- Free WiFi
- 24/7 reception
Good to know:
- Bicycle rental available
- 2 minutes’ walk to Cameron Square
- Laundry services are available (additional charges apply)
- When making a booking, just note that if you choose an apartment instead of hotel, you may have to share the apartment with other guests. Unless you book the whole apartment!
- Distance From Kea Farm: 3 minutes’ drive or 13 minutes’ walk
- Address: The Square, Jalan Aranda Nova, Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang, Pahang
- Contact: +605-496 8805
- Price Range: ~RM100 to RM140
Read more: Mossy Forest of Cameron Highlands – Don’t Miss This Scenic Hiking Spot in Malaysia!
Homestays Near Kea Farm
There is one very photogenic homestay that is less than a minutes’ walk from Kea Farm Market!
1. Kea Garden Guest House
Many visitors like to stay here because of the beautiful garden and its close location to the market!
What you’ll like:
- On-site café
- Own strawberry garden
- Chalets are available for booking too
Good to know:
- Pick rooms on the higher floors so you won’t hear noise from the ground floor
- Rooms are not suitable for tall people (more than 180cm)
- Distance From Kea Farm: 1-minute walk
- Address: Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang
- Contact: +605-496 1472
- Price Range: ~ RM100 to 200
2. Kea Garden Mini Chalet
When they say mini, they mean a capsule concept! These rooms just manage to fit a fan, small shelf, double bed, and TV.
Guests are allocated lockers and share communal toilets and showers.
What you’ll like:
- Free WiFi throughout the premises
- Clean facilities and rooms
- Good views
- Comfortable beds
Good to know:
- Under Kea Garden Guest House management
- Prayer rooms are available
- Hair dryers and some toiletries are provided
- Distance From Kea Farm: 1-minute walk
- Address: Kea Garden Guesthouse, Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang
- Price Range: ~RM60 to RM100
Read more:
- 17 Best Hotels In Cameron Highlands
- 11 Best Homestays In Cameron Highlands
- 7 Best Budget Hotels In Cameron Highlands
Getting To Kea Farm Market From Ipoh
Kea Farm Market is 3km north of Brinchang town and 3km before Tringkap. It normally takes ~8 minutes to drive to the market from Brinchang. And 15 minutes from Tanah Rata.
But this can take a lot longer as the traffic from Brinchang to Kea Farm Market is heavy during weekends and public holidays.
If you don’t want to drive, you can get a taxi from Brinchang or Tanah Rata.
Alternatively, you could opt for a private tour service like RayTheTour to bring you up from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands.
And include Kea Farm Market as part of your personalized Cameron Highlands trip itinerary! With a local guide to escort you too!
Curious to know more? Message them on WhatsApp or Facebook!
Further reading:
- How To Go To Cameron Highlands From Kuala Lumpur
- How To Go To Cameron Highlands From Singapore
- Best Time To Visit Cameron Highlands: Best Month & When Not To Go
Conclusion
This popular local market in Cameron Highlands is a must-see for first timers to Cameron Highlands.
At Kea Farm Market, you can see firsthand what the local farmers like to grow! Try local snacks, savor the cool air, and maybe bring a souvenir or two home!
It doesn’t hurt that there are other attractions around the market too!
Other posts you might like:
- Time Tunnel Museum In Cameron Highlands: Notalgic Place To Check Out
- Agro Technology Park MARDI Cameron Highlands: Review + What To Expect?
- Kellie’s Castle – Must-see Architectural & Historical Perak Attraction
