Ultimate Cameron Highlands Travel Guide 2024

Due to its high altitude, the cool climate throughout the year makes the Cameron Highlands a splendid summer vacation resort. With ancient mossy forests, verdant tea plantations, sweet strawberry patches, quaint trekking trails, as well as night markets filled with local cuisines, the Cameron Highlands attracts millions of visitors every year. Read this complete travel guide with all the information you need to know about the Cameron Highlands and plan your Malaysia tour with Odynovo.

Why Is Cameron Highlands Worth Visiting?

Located at an altitude of 1524 meters, the Cameron Highlands is far from the hustle of the city, a paradise for complete relaxation. Wake up in the moist air with a few birdsongs; stroll to the lush green tea hills and sip a cup of fresh tea; follow the farmer's steps and look for some organic flavors; find your inner peace in the pure land. It is a must-see paradise for nature lovers.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Cameron Highlands?

The Cameron Highlands boasts a pleasant climate for visiting throughout the year. During the dry season from March to September, there's less rain and warm sunshine; you can easily venture outdoors and enjoy hiking. If you want to enjoy the strawberry-picking experience, plan your visit around July and August when you're more likely to find ripe strawberries.

October through February bring more rain and cooler weather. You can still get leisure in the forests, night markets and tea plantations with indoor sightseeing. If you're arranging a trek, you'll need to avoid heavy downpours.

What to Do in the Cameron Highlands?

Visit the Boh Tea Plantation

The abundant and vast land makes Cameron the best place for tea trees to grow. There is a tea center at the top of the BOH Tea Garden, one of the most famous ones in the Cameron Highlands. Here you can sip tea and enjoy a rolling forest of emerald green. The fresh aroma of tea wafts through the air. Order a cup of BOH's finest garden tea, which has a unique blend of fruity and spicy flavors. Pair it with some delicious Malaysian pastries, such as scones and cakes. There is also a small museum and a supermarket next to the tea center, where you can buy some authentic BOH tea as a souvenir.

Tea Plantation in the Cameron Highlands

Trek in the Mossy Forest

Mossy Forest is an ancient forest located over 2000 meters. The humid climate makes the forest a wonderland of milky mist, and there are well-built trails that make hiking more comfortable. Have a close interaction with this tranquil forest! Stretch your body and relax your mind; feel the fresh air and the lilting insects. As far as the eye can see, mosses, hogweed, and orchids grow in abundance.

Gunang Jasar Hiking

Standing at 1696 meters high, Gunung Jasar is located in the town of Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands. Hike Trail No. 10 is a popular trail that offers refreshing and cool hiking, perfect for hiking enthusiasts.

The hiking distance is about 1.8 kilometers, and it takes about an hour to reach the top. As you begin the hike, you will be immersed in the dense forest. It is adorned with rich mosses, ferns, and lichens as if you are in a mysterious primitive world. Deeper into the forest, you can see fascinating plants and cute bugs. One of the highlights is spotting strawberry-shaped mushrooms scattered on the soil. When you reach the top, you can enjoy 180-degree views of lush tea plantations, clear skies, and warm sunshine.

Pick Some Strawberries in the Big Red Strawberry Farm

The cool climate and fertile soil make Cameron Highlands the best place to grow strawberries. It's recommended to plan your visit around July and August when you're more likely to find ripe strawberries waiting to be picked. Walk into the Big Red Strawberry Farm, and you will see endless fields of strawberries. Grab a basket, go in search of big and red strawberries, and enjoy their juicy flavor. In addition to the large strawberry fields, there are also vegetables and flowers, bringing you pure idyllic joy. Also, there are exquisite cafes that serve delicious strawberry products, such as strawberry juice, milkshakes, and cakes.

Explore the Local Cuisine at Golden Hill Night Market

After the natural delights of the day, come and explore the local cuisine at Golden Hill Night Market! Whether you're a culinary adventurer, a souvenir hunter, or just someone looking for a lively night out, the night markets here have something for you. The Night Market is held on Friday and Saturday nights from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are rows of stalls selling authentic Malaysian snacks: fried mushrooms, strawberries dipped in chocolate, pancakes, roasted corn, lamb chops, and more. Each stall is filled with a wide array of cuisines, giving off a tantalizing smell. If you want to pick up some souvenirs, there are exquisite tea products, strawberry sauce, refrigerator magnets, strawberry-shaped key chains, specialty T-shirts, and more. Don't be shy about bargaining. It will be great fun on the shopping trip!

How Many Days to Spend in Cameron Highlands?

We recommend that you spend 3 days exploring the Cameron Highlands, which will be enough time to enjoy all the top attractions. Here is our recommended 3-day itinerary:

Day 1

On the first day, you can visit the Boh Tea Plantation and enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the tea center. Later, you can head back to the hotel and wander around as you wish.

Day 2

After enjoying the breakfast, let's start with the exciting hiking in Gunang Jasar. Then you can have a good rest. In the afternoon, you can visit the Big Red Strawberry Farm.

Day 3

After breakfast, first, you can explore the Mossy Forest and enjoy trekking. Then in the afternoon, you can head for the Golden Hill Night Market.

How to Get to Cameron Highlands?

Since the transportation to Cameron Highlands is relatively easy, you can get to Kuala Lumpur first, with a 3.5-hour drive that will take you there. There are also frequent buses from Kuala Lumpur TBS every hour, it takes less than four hours from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands and costs RM10 ($2) per person.

How to Get Around the Cameron Highlands?

A car will be the perfect way to get around for the day! This will give you more freedom to plan your trip. Let your private driver take you directly to your next destination without walking an extra long distance. If you would like to take a walk around the highlands, there are also some buses to take to reach some tourist attractions on the main road.

Where to Stay in the Cameron Highlands?

Our first recommendation for lodging is Tanah Rata. This is one of the liveliest communities in the Cameron Highlands, with lots of great accommodations and lively restaurants. What's more, it's a transportation hub, so you can easily get to all the fun places in the Cameron Highlands.

If you want to stay in a peaceful, natural environment, we recommend Ringlet. With plenty of lush greenery and a relaxing atmosphere, it's away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Ringlet is the starting point for Mossy Forest, which will be convenient if you're planning a hike to Mossy Forest.

If you're looking for colorful nightlife, we recommend staying in Brinhang. This is where Golden Hill Night Market is located. After nightfall, you can take a few steps to explore the night market.

What to Eat in Cameron Highlands?

Hotpot: The steaming buffet hotpot is one of the most popular at Cameron Highlands. Their ingredients are sourced fresh from local farms.

Nasi Lemak: Nasi Lemak is a type of rice cooked in coconut milk with a few vanilla leaves, which has an intoxicating aroma.

Laksa: It is a specialty soup made with a variety of ingredients after boiling, such as shrimp, chili, coconut milk, and lemongrass. Laksa is spicy and a little sweet and is usually served with noodles and vermicelli.

Bak Kut: It is a gourmet stew of stewed meat and bones with herbs. Combining the meat and herbs, it has a unique flavor.

Corn: Corn is one of the specialties of the Cameron Highlands. They taste sweet and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Apam Balik: It is a crispy pancake filled with shredded coconut, corn, and peanuts.

Cameron Highlands Travel Tips

Due to the high altitude of the Cameron Highlands, there could be a large temperature difference between day and night. Although it is usually not cold, you still need a sweater or light jacket, especially at night.

On weekends and public holidays, it can get very busy with local tourists. If you want a more tranquil environment and a better condition for taking photos, travel here on a weekday.

If you want to go hiking, please bring long pants, a waterproof jacket, hiking boots, and mosquito-repellent products. When hiking, stay on marked trails for safety, and please don't touch or pick plants.

Travel to Cameron Highlands with Odynovo

Change your lifestyle in the Cameron Highlands, slow down your pace, and breathe in the gentle natural atmosphere. Plan your tour with Odynovo, it will become your precious memory!