Tanah Rata
First-timersThe main base, with hostels and agencies.
Cameron Highlands city guide
Things To Do In Cameron Highlands
Rolling tea plantations at 1,500 metres, a mossy cloud forest, jungle trails and strawberry farms, cool enough for a jumper after the heat of the lowlands.
12
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 4,687 reviews
~1,500 m
Altitude
1930s
The hill station
~23°C
A typical high
Tea in the clouds
The Cameron Highlands were developed by the British as a hill station in the 1930s, and they are still covered in tea plantations. At around 1,500 metres, the air is cool, with highs in the low twenties all year.
The main base is Tanah Rata, a small town with guesthouses and restaurants, with Brinchang just up the road.
It is a place for walking, tea and a break from the heat. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Tanah Rata is the main base, with most hostels, restaurants and tour agencies. Brinchang, a few kilometres north, is closer to the farms and the night market but busier with traffic.
Brinchang
FarmsCloser to the farms and night market.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands, a hill station at about 1,500 metres, were developed by the British in the 1930s as an escape from the lowland heat. Today the slopes are covered in tea plantations, vegetable farms and strawberry fields.
BOH's Sungei Palas tea estate is the most beautiful: walk among the green terraces and drink tea in the café overlooking them; entry is free. Cameron Bharat, another large estate, has a tea house by the road.
The Mossy Forest, near Gunung Brinchang, is a cloud forest where trees are draped in moss and ferns; visit on a guided tour, as access is controlled and the boardwalk has been closed for repairs at times.
Jungle trails, numbered from the towns, lead through the forest to viewpoints and waterfalls. Some are closed or poorly marked; hire a guide or check with the tourist information before you go.
Strawberry farms, butterfly gardens and the Brinchang night market are popular with Malaysian visitors at weekends.
Free things
Free things to do in Cameron Highlands
BOH's tea estate is free to walk, and so are the views along the main road over the plantations. The jungle trails that are open are free.
The Brinchang night market is free to wander.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands grow vegetables, so steamboat, a hot pot of broth in which you cook meat, seafood and vegetables at the table, is the local meal, perfect for the cool evenings.
Scones with strawberry jam and cream, and tea fresh from the estates, are the classic afternoon treat. Indian and Malay restaurants in Tanah Rata serve roti canai and nasi lemak.
A meal is €2 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands are quiet at night. The Brinchang night market, busiest at weekends, is the main evening activity; a few bars in Tanah Rata serve drinks.
A beer is €4 to €7.
Getting around
Getting around Cameron Highlands
Buses from Kuala Lumpur take about four hours, and from Ipoh about two; the road up is winding, so take motion sickness pills if needed.
Local buses link Tanah Rata and Brinchang. Taxis and tours reach the tea estates and the Mossy Forest; Grab works but is limited.
Costs
What Cameron Highlands costs
The Cameron Highlands are cheap. Dorms start around €7 and a careful day is €18 to €28.
A half-day tour covering the tea estates and Mossy Forest is about €10 to €20. Tea at BOH's café is a couple of euros.
Foreign visitors pay a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, added to accommodation bills.
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR or RM); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 5 ringgit to the euro. Cards and e-wallets work widely in cities; carry cash for hawker stalls and smaller towns.
Safety
Staying safe in Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands are safe. The jungle trails can be confusing, and hikers have got lost; check which trails are open, tell someone your plans, and consider a guide.
Nights are cool, around 15°C; bring a layer.
Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arriving.
Emergency number is 999.
Day trips from Cameron Highlands
Tea terraces, a cloud forest and the food town below.
BOH tea plantation
Green terraces and a café with the view.
Ipoh
White coffee and cave temples.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Weekends and school holidays bring crowds from the lowlands.
Staff pick
5 November
Diwali: Festival of Lights
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a cherished celebration in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, where the Hindu community gathers to honor the…
13 May – 8 Nov
Cameron Highlands Tour
This Cameron Highlands day tour takes visitors through some of the region's most famous attractions, including tea plantations, flower gardens, local markets, farms, and…
Hostels
Where to stay in Cameron Highlands
The top-rated places to stay in Cameron Highlands right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
Cool all year; mornings are clearest.
Jan
Cool
Feb
Dry
Mar
Good
Apr
Rainy
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Good
Aug
Good
Sep
Good
Oct
Rainy
Nov
Rainy
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Cool all year.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in ringgit locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Cameron Highlands travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I hike alone?
On open, well-used trails, yes, but some are poorly marked and people have got lost. Check locally and consider a guide.
Is the BOH estate free?
Yes, to walk and visit; you pay for tea in the café.
How cold is it?
Days are around 20°C to 25°C, and nights around 15°C.
How do I get there?
By bus from Kuala Lumpur, about four hours, or Ipoh, about two.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
Year-round; weekdays are quieter.
What should I eat?
Steamboat in the evening, and scones with tea in the afternoon.
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