Endless tea fields, beautiful hikes and the best scones you'll find
Cameron Highlands might not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a trip to Malaysia, but that's exactly what makes it so special. This cool highland region, sitting at around 1,500 meters above sea level, feels completely different from the rest of Malaysia. Green hills as far as the eye can see, sprawling tea plantations and temperatures that finally give you a break from the tropical heat. Whether you want to hike, visit tea plantations or simply enjoy a cup of tea with a view: Cameron Highlands has it all. Here's everything you need to know about this beautiful corner of Malaysia!
How Cameron Highlands Became What It Is Today
Hike to the Top via Trail 10
Visit the Tea Plantations
Pick Strawberries
Visit the Mossy Forest
Scones and Tea at The Lord Cafe
Time Tunnel Museum: a Great Option for a Rainy Day
Where to Stay and Eat in Cameron Highlands
How to Get to Cameron Highlands
Practical Tips for Cameron Highlands
What Is the Best Time to Visit Cameron Highlands?
Do You Need Your Own Transport in Cameron Highlands?
Is Cameron Highlands Worth It?
How Cameron Highlands Became What It Is Today
Cameron Highlands feels like a little piece of England tucked away in tropical Malaysia — and for good reason. In 1885, British expedition leader William Cameron discovered the area during a survey, giving the region its name. The British immediately saw its potential: the cool climate was a welcome escape for colonists who couldn't stand the tropical heat of the rest of Malaysia. They settled here in large numbers.
But they brought more than just their desire for cooler temperatures. The British introduced tea, strawberries, roses and golf courses, essentially trying to recreate a slice of England in the Malaysian hills. The first tea plantation, BOH, was established in 1929 and remains the largest in Malaysia to this day. The colonial influence is still visible everywhere: in the architectural style of the buildings, the names of hotels and restaurants, the high teas with scones and the strawberries sold on every corner.
Hike to the Top via Trail 10
Hiking and walking is one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands. Trail 10 is a fun and not too challenging route. You can walk the full trail or just head up to the viewpoint and back. To the top is roughly a forty to fifty minute hike.
Update 2026: Trail 10 was temporarily inaccessible via the main entrance due to a construction site, and the shortcut was blocked off with a fence. There's now most likely a normal gate in place. Check the situation on the ground when you arrive.
Whether you get a view is pure luck. The first time we did the hike we were standing at the top completely surrounded by clouds. But that's Cameron Highlands for you: we set off in the morning under beautiful skies and forty minutes later we couldn't see a thing. The clouds move incredibly fast here. After waiting a while they cleared enough for us to enjoy the view. Be patient if you're at the top — it can change in an instant.
Tip: Download Maps.me before going hiking in Cameron Highlands. This offline maps app is far more reliable than Google Maps for the local trails.
Visit the Tea Plantations
This is the highlight of Cameron Highlands. A visit without seeing the tea plantations would be missing the point entirely — and you can't really avoid them anyway. But not all plantations are the same. We visited several and the difference is real. Here are our honest experiences:
Bharat Tea Plantation — Teahouse 1 (our top pick)
This is by far our favourite and the one we recommend to everyone. Entry is cheap (3 MYR per person) and you get a lot in return: it's wonderfully quiet, you can walk freely through the fields and you actually see people working between the tea plants. That last part makes it feel genuinely different from most other plantations, which can quickly start to feel like tourist attractions. There's also a restaurant where you can drink fresh tea and buy some to take home. Want to hike as well? You can start or end a trail here, which makes the stop even more worthwhile.
NB: this plantation doesn't open until around 8:30–9:00, so don't arrive too early.
Bharat Tea Plantation — Teahouse 2
Just a stone's throw from Teahouse 1, but our experience was a lot less impressive. The section of field you can visit is smaller and it's busier. The teahouse does have a nice view, but beyond that we didn't think it was worth it. Our recommendation: go to Teahouse 1 and skip this one.
BOH Tea Centre
BOH is the most well-known tea plantation in Cameron Highlands and you notice it as soon as you arrive: it's busy. The teahouse has a stunning view over the valley and you can enjoy a cup of tea with pastries, but walking through the fields isn't possible unless you pay for a guided tour. That said, a visit isn't without its merits — the drive up is genuinely beautiful, winding through stretches of green fields. Entry itself is free.
BOH Estate (the factory)
A little further along is the BOH Estate by the factory, much quieter than the busy Centre. The teahouse is free to enter and normally you can also get a factory tour here, which makes it more interesting than the Centre where you only see the production process through a video. When we visited the factory itself was closed and looked rather run-down, so check in advance whether the tour is available.
The above are the best-known tea plantations, but there are many more in the region that see far fewer tourists. If you have some extra time and want to avoid the crowds, it's well worth exploring a few on your own.
Pick Strawberries
Strawberries growing in Cameron Highlands is actually another piece of colonial heritage: the British introduced them because they missed the fruit from home. And the cool climate turned out to be perfect for them. Today strawberries are inseparable from the region — you see them everywhere, from the farms to the souvenir shops.
At a strawberry farm you can pick your own strawberries and then have a fresh strawberry milkshake made from your own harvest. Great fun, especially if you want a break from tea plantations and hiking. There are several farms in the area; larger ones like The Big Red Strawberry Farm tend to be busier, while smaller farms are quieter and more relaxed.
Visit the Mossy Forest
The Mossy Forest at the top of Mount Brinchang is one of the better-known attractions in Cameron Highlands. At around 2,000 meters above sea level, the constant mist and humidity create thick layers of moss on every tree, giving the whole place an almost fairytale atmosphere. You walk through the forest on wooden boardwalks in about twenty minutes.
We can't say much about it from personal experience: when we visited the forest was closed due to weather conditions. Make sure to check whether it's open before you go.
Scones and Tea at The Lord Cafe
When you're in a region full of tea fields, a proper tea stop is non-negotiable. The Lord Cafe is known for having the best scones in the region: homemade, for less than a euro each, served with English tea. A perfect stop after a morning in the tea plantations.
Time Tunnel Museum: a Great Option for a Rainy Day
Cameron Highlands gets its fair share of rain. On a rainy day, the Time Tunnel Museum is a great way to pass the time. The museum covers the history of Cameron Highlands and Malaysia, including the Second World War. It was set up by a local man who has collected around 4,000 objects. Not the most spectacular museum you'll ever visit, but it puts everything you see outside into context.
Price: entry is 8–10 MYR per person.
Update 2026: the museum has recently moved to Hotel Titiwangsa.
Where to Stay and Eat in Cameron Highlands
Tanah Rata is the best base. It's the largest town in the region, centrally located, with plenty of restaurants and a bar or two for the evening. These are our favourite spots to eat in Tanah Rata:
- Kumar: great Indian food, a reliable choice
- Man Cameron Roti Canai: for a quick and cheap roti, a must-try
- Delights: good for a Western or local meal
- Nightmarket: perfect for local snacks and street food, definitely worth a visit
How to Get to Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is easy to reach from several places in Malaysia and sits perfectly on the route between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, or the other way around. Bus tickets between cities are very affordable — often just a few euros for a few hours on the road.
Tip: Book your bus ticket easily in advance via 12go.
From Ipoh: from the Amanjaya bus terminal you can take a direct bus to Cameron Highlands. The journey takes about 2.5 hours and costs just a few euros.
From Penang (Georgetown): Book a direct bus from Penang Sentral to Tanah Rata. Allow around 4.5 hours for the journey.
From Kuala Lumpur: you can also take a direct bus to Cameron Highlands from KL. The journey is about the same length as from Penang and slightly more expensive.
Have Taman Negara on your itinerary? From Cameron Highlands you can easily book a direct shuttle to Kuala Tahan, the entrance to the park. Curious what you can do there? Read our tips for Taman Negara..
Practical Tips for Cameron Highlands
- Avoid the weekend. Many local Malaysians head to Cameron Highlands on weekends, making it very busy with traffic jams on the roads. Go during the week if you can.
- Bring warm clothes. It's cooler than you'd expect in Malaysia. Especially in the mornings and evenings you'll want a jumper or light jacket.
- Plan activities in the morning. The chance of rain is higher in the afternoon and it gets busier too. Tea plantations, hikes and museums are best done before lunch.
- How many days do you need in Cameron Highlands? Two to three nights is ideal. More than enough to see everything, but you'll find the days fill up on their own.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Cameron Highlands?
Cameron Highlands has a pleasantly cool climate year-round, but rain is always a possibility. During the day it averages around 20 to 25 degrees — a real relief compared to the rest of Malaysia. It can get quite cool in the evenings, so bring a layer. The weather in Cameron Highlands is most stable from January through March and from June through August. Plan your activities in the morning regardless — cloud cover tends to build in the afternoon and it can rain heavily. Visiting in the rainy season? There's still plenty to do indoors, like a visit to the Time Tunnel Museum or a tea session at The Lord Cafe.
Do You Need Your Own Transport in Cameron Highlands?
Renting a scooter is by far the easiest way to explore Cameron Highlands. You can hire one at most hotels and guesthouses in Tanah Rata. Public transport is limited and many tea plantations and trails are outside the centre, meaning without your own transport you're dependent on taxis or tuk-tuks. With a scooter you're flexible, you can stop anywhere for a photo and you'll get so much more out of your visit than if you're tied to bus schedules.
Is Cameron Highlands Worth It?
Absolutely. Cameron Highlands is one of the most surprising places we visited in Malaysia. The cool climate, the endless green tea fields and the relaxed atmosphere make it a welcome change from busier cities or tropical islands. Whether you're into hiking, good food, nature or history: you'll find it all here. Definitely worth putting a few days aside for.
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Hi, we are Marlo and Tessa and have developed an enormous passion for traveling through our world trip in 2022. We like to share this with you through our adventures and tips, so that you too can make such an incredible trip.
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About us
Hi, we are Marlo and Tessa and have developed an enormous passion for traveling through our world trip in 2022. We like to share this with you through our adventures and tips, so that you too can make such an incredible trip.
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