Cameron Highlands - Things to Do in Tanah Rata

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The Cameron Highlands are located on a mountain range about 200 kilometers from the capital Kuala Lumpur and are basically the highlands of Malaysia.

Often, the Cameron Highlands are a stopover from Kuala Lumpur on the way to Penang. They are especially famous for their lush, green tea plantations, which is also why we made a stop in the Cameron Highlands.

Cameron Highlands – Bright-Green Tea Plantations

In the Cameron Highlands, which lie at an altitude of 1500 to 2000 meters, there is pleasant weather all year round for growing tea, strawberries, and much more. It is usually a bit cloudy, and temperatures here rarely rise above 20 degrees.

Most people stay for one or two days on site, which is enough in our opinion. If you like it cooler, then the Cameron Highlands might also be something for a longer stay.

How to Get To the Cameron Highlands

In order to travel from Germany (or Europe) or even other parts of the world to the Cameron Highlands, you should ideally fly to Kuala Lumpur. The city is very well-connected with two airports, from which you can get directly to the Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal TBS. You can compare and book flights and tickets best on Skyscanner.

From Kuala Lumpur’s Bus Terminal TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), there are several bus companies that will take you to the Cameron Highlands in about 3-4 hours. The most well-known are Unititi Express and CS Express. You can either book a ticket beforehand online or buy it directly at the bus terminal counter – the price is about 35 Ringgit per person.

When we traveled, the bus left Kuala Lumpur on time, was very clean inside, and the entire ride was very pleasant. However, the winding last 1.5 hours were not enjoyable for all guests, causing some to throw up. If you tend to get sick on such rides, I would recommend taking a motion sickness pill beforehand.

Info: Getting to the TBS Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur is also very easy. You can take the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral to Bandar Tasik Selatan. That’s 4 stops, and the ride costs 2 RM per person. From there, you just need to follow the signs to TBS. Allow about half an hour of travel time from KL Sentral to the bus terminal. It’s better to plan a little more time so that you don’t get stressed later if you booked your bus ticket in advance. The buses also leave very punctually.

Accommodation in the Cameron Highlands – Our Hotel Tip

Only 200 meters from the bus station in Tanah Rata is ZEN Rooms Hotel Rose Crest Hill. It’s a good starting point and, despite the main street, offers quiet rooms. The friendly staff will be happy to help if you have any questions. The rooms include a TV, a kettle, and a private bathroom. There are also many restaurants nearby.

More accommodations in the Cameron Highlands, also outside the main town of Tanah Rata, can be found in this overview.

Arrival in Tanah Rata

There are 3 larger towns in the Cameron Highlands: Ringet, Tanah Rata, and Brinchang. Most travelers stay either in Tanah Rata or Brinchang.

We chose Tanah Rata because the selection of hotels here is the largest. Many are near the bus terminal, and you don’t need to pay attention to air conditioning or a fan due to the temperatures in the Cameron Highlands.

Tanah Rata itself is very tourist-oriented, and so you’ll find plenty of small convenience stores, restaurants, and souvenir shops. This actually surprised us a bit, as we didn’t expect the Cameron Highlands to be so touristy.

Which Tours Are Available in the Cameron Highlands?

In every hotel, directly at the bus terminal, or even in many restaurants and small travel agencies, you’ll find flyers for tours in the Cameron Highlands. You can choose between a full-day or half-day tour.

Note: You do not have to book an organized tour – you can also visit everything on your own with a rental car or scooter. Taking a taxi is also an option, which you can, for example, rent at the bus terminal. The price is 25 RM per hour, and you have to book the taxi for at least 4 hours.

The tours are all very similar. Almost always, one of the tea plantations is on the program, and for the rest, you can choose between a Countryside Tour or a Highlands or hiking tour. The program points naturally vary. Prices start at 25 RM and can go up to 90 RM per person.

A highlight is definitely also a tour to Gunung Brinchang, at over 2000 meters one of the highest mountains in the Highlands. Full-day tours are usually offered here, as well as a Sunrise Tour.

If hiking and trekking is your thing, there are many beautiful hiking trails in the Cameron Highlands that you can explore on your own. But you can also join a tour. We opted – also due to time constraints – for the relaxed half-day Countryside Tour from C&S Travel.

Tip: If you want to visit the Cameron Highlands with a clear blue sky, then according to our tour guide, you should do so in the morning or at the latest before noon. In the afternoon, clouds almost always roll in. The sun and blue sky appear either in the morning/forenoon or not at all.

By the way, you don’t necessarily have to stay in the Cameron Highlands for a tour. There are plenty of offers for private tours from Kuala Lumpur or even group tours. Since the journey from Kuala Lumpur doesn’t take too long, this could also be an option for a day trip to the Cameron Highlands.

1. Boh Tea – Tea Plantation

The first stop of our half-day tour was Boh Tea, the most famous tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands and the actual reason why we visited Malaysia’s highlands.

Boh Tea is the largest producer of black tea in Malaysia, and accordingly, the plantation is enormous. Founded in 1929 by a Scottish family, 4200 hectares of land here are planted with tea.

You’ll see many workers here who are paid based on how much tea they pick. Every 3 weeks, the plants are ready for harvest again, so there is never a shortage of tea to pick.

First, there was a brief tour of the factory where the tea is processed from the leaves, and afterwards you can sample it in the café, which also doubles as a great viewpoint.

We then had about 30 minutes of spare time. It’s an absolutely stunning view and definitely our highlight in the Cameron Highlands.

2. Rose Valley

The second stop was the Rose Valley. Here, you have to pay an additional 4 Ringgit for entry to see the rose garden. Malaysians are very proud of their roses, but for us, it was nothing special. It might be different for Asian tourists.

After a short walk through the garden, the visit was over for us. In our opinion, the entrance fee isn’t really worth it for the Rose Valley. For us Europeans, these flowers simply aren’t as special as they are for Malaysians or Asians in general.

3. Bee Farm

The next point of the tour was one of the bee farms in the Cameron Highlands. Unfortunately, the farm is set up more like a large shop, so there are numerous souvenirs and plenty of junk. However, the honey sample before the visit was very tasty.

There are two types of bees on the farm, producing different types of honey that are supposed to help against certain illnesses. You can buy some honey for a few Ringgits if you’d like. It tastes good and is healthy.

Interestingly, one type of bee cannot sting, but the other is also harmless when you walk through the garden. It’s fine for a short stop, but nothing more.

4. Strawberry Farm

A strawberry farm is also on the Countryside Tour itinerary. Unfortunately, this was nothing special for us either, as they also grow in Germany. However, due to the climate, they are rare in Southeast Asia, and in the Cameron Highlands, they grow all year round.

The strawberries themselves don’t taste much different than in Germany. If you feel like it, you can pick some here and pay by weight. We preferred a fresh strawberry juice. Very tasty, but not something I’d travel to the Cameron Highlands for specifically.

5. Sam Poh Temple

After another stop at a Butterfly Garden – which we both skipped – and a brief stop at the market, we headed to the last station, the Sam Poh Temple in Brinchang. It stands on a hill, from which you have a view of the surrounding village of Brinchang and its many tall buildings.

Sam Poh is a Chinese temple (Mahayana Buddhism) and the largest religious site in the Cameron Highlands. At the same time, it’s even the fourth-largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.

Built in 1972, the temple houses several Buddha statues inside, as well as various statues of Chinese Bodhisattvas/saints. The temple is very quiet and well-maintained. When visiting, you must remove your shoes before entering and can then take your time looking around the grounds.

Conclusion About the Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands were completely different from what we had imagined. We especially did not expect them to be so touristy. There are kitschy, decorated strawberry farms, rose, lavender, cactus, and butterfly gardens, and other attractions at every turn that are all aimed at tourists. Moreover, there are often even entire busloads of mostly Chinese tourists.

We also didn’t expect so many tall buildings and high-rises, as well as huge hotel complexes. It’s a bit of a shame because the originality of the Cameron Highlands has been somewhat lost. In the coming years, this will likely only increase, as you can still see countless construction sites on the way through the Highlands.

In our opinion, a stay of 1-2 days is more than enough to see the tea plantations. Unless you enjoy hiking, in which case you can still find a big piece of nature to explore by yourself and hike a bit off the tourist path. The tea plantations and the green landscape were definitely our highlights. The rest, unfortunately, was not as worthwhile.

Cameron Highlands: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know the Cameron Highlands in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for the Cameron Highlands.

Have you ever been to the Cameron Highlands? How was your stay there? We look forward to your feedback below the article!