Head to the hills of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia to enjoy the fresh alpine air amid stunning landscapes of tea plantations and mountains covered with luxuriant jungle. I quickly fell in love with this former British colonial outpost with its cute bungalows and magnificent heritage hotels with panoramic views.
There is plenty to see and do in this region. Visit the Brinchang Night Market, where you can find a wide variety of local produce under one roof. Be sure to visit the Kea Butterfly Garden and the famous Time Tunnel Museum, which showcases the cultural heritage of Malaysia during and after the Japanese occupation. In the evenings, get cosy by the fireside of your hotel or enjoy one of the steamboat restaurants of Brinchang and Tanah Rata – the Malaysian version of hot pot is a bit of an institution.
Cameron Highlands highlights
- Tour the extensive tea plantations that made Cameron Highlands’ name; the handpicked bushes cover the rolling hills.
- Discover the unique flora and fauna of this region on a short trek in the Mossy Forest on two kilometres of boardwalks.
- Visit a village of the Orang Asli, the original inhabitants of this area, to understand more of their culture and lifestyle.

Discover the tea plantations
Cameron Highlands is known for its cooler weather, enabling the production of Boh tea on vast estates, as well as farms growing crops such as strawberries. Walk through the manicured fields of historic tea plantations and learn more about the production process. Of course a delicious cup of Cameron Highland tea with scones and strawberry jam is essential.

Cameron Highlands trekking
Beyond the tea plantations the jungle begins and there are many trekking opportunities in the Cameron Highlands region. The most accessible experience is the boardwalk created through the Mossy Forest on the slopes of Gunung Brinchang. Here you can discover the beauty of this ecosystem with exquisite mosses, lichens, ferns and orchids growing at this misty, moisture-rich elevation.

Where to eat in Cameron Highlands
Enjoy the best cup of tea you’ve ever had, with freshly baked scones and strawberry jam, at the Smokehouse Hotel and Restaurant, set in a colonial-era bungalow in Tanah Rata.
If you are looking to enjoy a steamboat dinner (where you cook fresh meat and vegetables in a bubbling pot of broth at your table) there are a number of great options in Brinchang, including the Cameron Organic Produce Steamboat Restaurant.
Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands is only a three-hour drive so spend some time shopping amid the bright lights of the capital. Malaysia’s culinary hotspot, Penang, is also close at hand, as are the lovely beaches of Langkawi Island.