The mossy forest of Cameron Highlands spreads out over an area of around 900 hectares close to the summit of Gunung Brinchang! There are all sorts of lichen and moss covering the roots and hanging from the trees here – it looks like something out of a fairy-tale or even Lord of the Rings!
Undertaking a hike to get there is not necessary. So almost anyone can come and see this natural wonder as there is a boardwalk that is easier on the knees and the fragile ecosystem!
See our tips and more below on visiting this magical place!
In this post we will talk about:
How To Get Here
There are limited to get up to the mossy forest. The first step of course, is to be in Cameron Highlands. After that, you have the following options:
- Through a local tour with a 4WD
- Driving up there yourself (no longer an option but used to be)
- Jungle walk number 1 – A challenging 2-3 hours of walking and climbing uphill through the jungle. Starts from the army quarters. More details on trail 1.
Notes: If you do plan to hike, don’t go alone and when it’s pitch dark!
Also, some of the trails are closed during and after the monsoon season (around November to Mid-February).
The boardwalk is closed occasionally for maintenance too. Do check the latest reviews to see the current status before you go.
Driving Up
Note: The road up may be blocked. Local tour companies are now the only ones who can take visitors to the mossy forest. Unless you have the necessary permit from the Forestry Department.
This is what we went with since we have our own car (Honda City). The route involves the same one-way road (Jalan Gunung Brinchang) that leads to the BOH tea plantation. This road is usually crammed with cars and tourists – especially from 10am onwards!
So, we woke up early to beat the crowds and traffic. We wanted to avoid the stress of navigating through a one-way road that has cars in both directions!
Note: There are already tour groups arriving at the forest around 8:30am so come earlier if you want to bypass them.
It was dark when we started our journey but we have used this road before to go to Sungai Palas BOH tea plantation and were quite familiar with it.
Eventually, after passing through the tea plantations, you will come to a fork in the road. Choose left to Gunung Brinchang (look for the Big Red Strawberry Farm sign).
Note: Right takes you to the tourist center (or tea house/cafe) at the BOH tea plantation.
We went for the left path, and it inclines upwards shortly after you pass the houses where the plantation workers live. Rolling hills of low tea leaf shrubs gave way to coniferous trees with a steep drop on the right side.
Following another ramp up, we went past the entrance of the strawberry farm and a vegetable farm. And soon found ourselves at the entrance and car park.
It can get very muddy on this road. The potholes may be hidden in puddles too, so we would not suggest coming up here with a brand new car!
Note: Did you know? This is the highest tarmac road in all of Malaysia!
GPS of the T-junction to Jalan Gunung Brinchang: 4.508846, 101.408109
Mossy Forest Location: http://bit.ly/MossyForest
Tips: These groups arrive at the forest around 8:30am so come earlier if you want to bypass them.
Step 1: Head For The Sungai Palas BOH Tea Plantation
This road is usually crammed with cars and tourists:
So go early to avoid the stress of navigating through a one-way road that has cars in both directions!
Eventually, you will come to a fork in the road:
Step 2: Take The Path To The Strawberry Farm
Choose left to Gunung Brinchang (look for the Big Red Strawberry Farm sign).
Note: Right takes you to the tourist center (or tea house/cafe) at the BOH tea plantation.
If you take the left path, you will find that it inclines upwards after you pass the houses where the plantation workers live.
Rolling hills of low tea leaf shrubs will give way to coniferous trees with a steep drop on the right side.
Step 3: Continue Up
Following another ramp up:
Go past the entrance of the strawberry farm and a vegetable farm.
Note: Did you know? This is the highest tarmac road in all of Malaysia!
And you will soon find yourself at the entrance and car park of the Mossy Forest!
Tips For Driving Up
- Come earlier to bypass tour groups (their trip usually starts at 8am). So that you will have a stress-free drive uphill.
- Download an offline map – like maps.me.
- Remember if you choose to come to the mossy forest early in the morning, drive carefully and use headlights if the surroundings are foggy.
- Drive slowly to avoid falling into the potholes and uncovered drains. Someone actually got stuck in one of these holes. They managed to get out after all the passengers got out of the car. Although not impossible, it is probably easier if you take a car that is rated for more than 1.5 liters.
Entrance Fee
From March 2019 onwards, there are entrance fees imposed for visiting the 150-meter-long boardwalk that traverses the undulating terrains of the forest.
For locals, it’s RM10 (Adult) and RM5 (Child under 12 or senior citizens 60 and above). And unfortunately for foreign visitors, the entrance fees are higher at RM30 (Adult and Senior Citizens) and RM15 (Child).
Note: OKU visitors can enter for free regardless of if they are a foreigner or a local.
Exploring The Forest
This is the entrance to the forest at dawn. And at 2000 meters above sea level, it was very cool in the morning. There was light rain too. Together with the wind, it felt close to 10 degrees Celsius!
Because of this, we suggest wearing long sleeves and long pants if you want to be here in the early morning. Don’t wear shorts like we did. And don’t even think about flip flops, your toes will feel cold!
On the other hand, the boardwalk and the stairs made the climb through the forest much easier than if you were to hike. Just be mindful not to slip on the steps! They were very slippery with the rain.
The stair rails are rusty (unavoidable in those wet conditions!) so try not to hug the rails with your sleeves unless you want to have rust stains on them. Which is what happened to us!
There is a lookout post somewhere in the middle of the boardwalk. It has a fantastic view of the surroundings on a clear day. And if there’s not much mist, you can even see the states of Perak and Pahang!
If you want to see the winds in action, check out our video – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia | Top things to do | Mossy Forest, Gunung Brinchang.
During our visit, it was quite eerie with all the wind and the fog but strangely beautiful. The twisted branches and roots of the trees were covered in dark green moss.
It didn’t take us long to reach the end of the boardwalk. We chose not to continue since we were uncomfortably numb with chill. But you can continue to press on although it is at your own risk if you didn’t hire a guide because there will be no more boardwalks or stairs to help guide you! Do expect some mud too!
If you do take a guided tour, your guide will point out interesting flora and fauna along the way! We didn’t have a guide with us so we just observed what we could.
Back then, it was not compulsory to have a guide, but now it is mandatory to have a registered guide with you to enter the forest!
Tips
- Check the weather before you go!
- Dress warmer than you expect – especially if the forecast foretells rain or if you’re going early in the morning.
- A raincoat or poncho may come in handy.
- Take your trash out with you!
- It tends to rain less in the morning so that’s the best time to visit! Morning is also a great time to spot birds!
- Be on the lookout for animals and strange plants!
- Morning is the best time to spot birds!
- Have a dry bag for your things (I.e. electronics) in case it rains!
- Bring snacks and water
- Be wary of slippery roots and steps!
Hotels Nearby
Staying close to the mossy forest will give you more time to beat the impending crowds from Tanah Rata! And the morning mist gives the place a magical feel!
A couple of the hotels in Cameron Highlands are actually quite close to the mossy forest.
For those who intend to self-drive or take a tour to mossy forest, these are the ones we recommend:
- Nova Highlands Hotel And Resort – next to a small mall. It’s close to some eateries as well as the Kea Farm and Sungai Palas tea plantation too. The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartment suites are spacious with views of the hills. Check Price On: Booking.com | Agoda
- Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands – Walking distance to Kea Farm and a strawberry farm, its location is its best asset. This aging hotel has seen better days when it was known as Equatorial Hotel. However, it’s still a comfortable place to stay with many facilities. Check Price On: Booking.com | Agoda
- Flora Plus Boutique Hotel – Neat place to stay at Brinchang Square if you’re trying to save cost on accommodation! Families will find the rooms a bit small though. Convenient if you would like to take Trail 1 up to the mossy forest. Check Price On: Booking.com | Agoda
Nearby Attractions
1. Sungai Palas BOH Tea Plantation
After the mossy forest, most people head for the Sungai Palas BOH tea plantation to get a nice hot beverage and go crazy on the selfies.
2. Mountain Strawberry Farm
Or you can check out this strawberry farm which is somewhere between the Sungai Palas BOH tea plantation and the entrance to the mossy forest.
Private Tour And Transport From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands
No worries! You can book a Ipoh to Cameron Highlands tour with RayTheTour.
Note: We can’t take you directly to the mossy forest as we don’t have 4×4 vehicles.
Pros of the service:
- Comfortable transport
- Safe as can be since the drivers are familiar with the route
- Without the conveniences of public transport (e.g. waiting time, queues, lack of rest stops, etc)
- Direct transfer from your pick-up point in Ipoh at the time you want to your hotel in Cameron Highlands!
If you want to book or inquire more, send us a message on WhatsApp.
Conclusion
The mossy forest of Cameron Highlands is a must-see among Malaysians. Even if it’s no longer free to visit, it is a doable visit for different ages!
But the only way to get there now is to book a local tour as visitors can no longer drive up directly.
Things To Do In Cameron Highlands
The Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang is a must-see attraction in Cameron Highlands especially if you love being in the outdoors!
Cameron Highlands Itinerary
There are other places to go besides the mossy forest if you’re looking to fill up your Cameron Highlands itinerary! See our suggestions for different itineraries here.