Cameron Highlands Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)

Planning a Cameron Highlands itinerary in 2024? You’re in the right place! The Cameron Highlands is a beautifully unique area of mainland Malaysia and you can spend 2 to 3 days in the Cameron Highlands exploring the best things to do.

From visiting spectacular tea plantations to picking strawberries and hiking through the rainforest jungle. You’ll have a great time in the Malaysian highlands. Let’s find out what to do in Cameron Highlands and plan your itinerary!

The Cameron Highlands is one of the best spots to visit in Malaysia for many reasons. Its unique atmosphere makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a different country with a different climate. It’s one of the highest points in Malaysia with roads and Gunung Brinchang reaches an elevation of 2031m high above sea!

Some of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands are to take in the impressive tea plantations, taste the fresh highlands strawberries and appreciate the colder weather. Some locals come here to the Pahang District just for a break from the hot humidity of Malaysia.

Similar to other areas of Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands has a strong British history and one of the reasons is what makes the area so famous. Back in the colonial days, the British would use the Cameron Highlands as their resort town.

Houses, bungalows and retirement homes started to be built. In 1929, a man named John Archibald Russell started a tea plantation which is now the famous Boh Tea Plantation!

This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you.

Best Time to Visit Cameron Highlands

The best time to visit Cameron Highlands is in the dry season which is January to April and June to October. However, if you want to see the highlands fully green then November to December could also be a lovely time to visit.

It will definitely be colder in these months, but it’s an opportunity to gear up and get cosy! It’s also completely possible to plan your Cameron Highlands itinerary all year round.

The Weather in the Cameron Highlands

As Cameron Highlands is high above sea level, it can get pretty chilly! We recommend you bring a rain jacket and a warmer jacket whilst visiting here because even on sunny days it’s cold early morning and in the evenings.

Rain can come at any time which means you may be out on a hike with wet shoes and wet clothes. If you can, bring hiking shoes (although not completely essential)!

Bring along a lightweight tripod to get beautiful photos of yourself or your group when there’s no one around – We love our Joby GorillaPod and used it throughout our Cameron Highlands itinerary. There’s also a Joby Phone Tripod to get amazing videos too!

How to get to Cameron Highlands

Rent a car – You can rent a car for your Malaysia trip to enjoy the things to do in Cameron Highlands. We recommend Paradise Rent-A-Car as we’ve heard great things about this company! The journey takes around 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur. Here’s the link – Paradise Rent-A-Car Website. Alternatively, browse prices on Discover Cars!

Bus – Buses in Malaysia are amazing! You can buy bus tickets at the station or book online with 12Go, EasyBook or RedBus. You may have to get your ticket validated at a station if you book online, however, tickets may sell out if you purchase your ticket at the time of your bus. A bus ticket from Ipoh costs around 25RM and a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur is around 40RM per person.

How to get around the Cameron Highlands

• Car – If you have your own car or a rental car this will be the perfect way to get around for the day! Beware of the weekend traffic as it gets super busy from many Kuala Lumpur day trippers!
• Scooter – There are a few scooter rentals in the Cameron Highlands! If you’re staying in Tanah Rata, we recommend using Cameron Highlands Motorbike Rental (location here). The prices are 40RM for half-day and 70RM for 24 hours. Petrol was around 2RM to fill up again after exploring.
• Tours – If you don’t want to drive your own vehicle, you can hop on a day tour! They’re popular in Cameron Highlands as you can’t reach every spot by bike or private car. We recommend Discover Camerons as a great tour company for your Cameron Highlands itinerary!

Day 1 – Tea Plantations, Mossy Forest & Tanah Rata

Finally. we’ll show you what to do in Cameron Highlands! So day one of your Cameron Highlands itinerary will be a great introduction to the life up here in the highlands. You can visit these places by car, bike or tour, however, Mossy Forest is only by a tour in 2024.

BOH Tea Plantations & Cafe

Visiting BOH Tea Plantations is one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands! It’s the largest black tea manufacturer in Malaysia and spans over 465 hectares! Boh means precious in Mandarin and also ‘Best of Highlands’.

Mossy Forest & Mount Brinchang

The Mossy Forest is sometimes described as the Lord of the Rings of Malaysia. It’s home to ancient trees, beautiful viewpoints and of course lots of moss! The forest is said to be around 200 million years old, which is unbelievable. Private vehicles are no longer allowed to drive to Mossy Forest, so you have to book a tour with a 4×4.

Cameron Highlands Half-Day Tour

• BOH Sungai Palas Tea Centre (free entry)
• BOH Cafe (tea from 4RM)
• Mossy Forest (entry fee: 30RM for internationals / 10RM for locals)
• Mount Brinchang Viewpoint (included in the Mossy Forest ticket)

Cameron Highlands Half-Day Tour Experience

The half-day tour was amazing! We booked the tour through our hostel Bricks Cameron Hostel and they booked us on a tour with Discover Camerons. We couldn’t recommend our guide and driver enough, he was so thoughtful about everything and pointed out so many plants for us!

The day started at 8 am when we were picked up by our driver and taken to BOH Tea Plantations (BOH Sungai Palas Tea Centre). There were 8 of us in total and everyone was super friendly! Our guide told us information about the tea plantations and showed us a path to walk for amazing views. We then reached the cafe around 9 am as it started to get busy – the queues for this cafe can be so long in the afternoon!

Tea prices range from 4RM to 6RM with various cake options (no vegan options for food) There’s also a shop to buy tea and a short movie to watch with more info about the tea factory. Drinking tea overlooking the tea plantations is one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands!

After the tea plantations, we headed to Mossy Forest! It was around 10:45 am at this point and we were given an hour to climb through the rainforest which is actually more than enough time! Our guide pointed out different types of plants and offered to take more photos of us. He also helped us out with paying a local price for the entrance fee of Mossy Forest (although we can’t guarantee it will happen in the future!).

Mossy Forest was so interesting! There are a few viewpoints where you can admire the mountains and feel the highland wind. The walk up and down was all by steps and wooden bridges, it took us around 40 minutes.

On the way back our guide stopped at the tea fields to show us a beautiful view and we took some more photos of course! You pass through the tea plantations on the way back to town. He also stopped off at a market so we had the option to buy some fresh produce or snacks!

At this point, it was almost 2 pm and he dropped us back off in Tanah Rata where our accommodation is. We thought the tours finished at 12 pm so maybe we were given extra time!

Cameron Highlands Half-Day Tour Review

Overall, it was definitely worth it on our Cameron Highlands itinerary! We usually love exploring places by ourselves but as Mossy Forest isn’t possible to drive to, we had to book a 4×4 tour anyway. For the price of the half-day tour, it just made so much sense to go with this option!

We were lucky the weather was on our side all day unlike the day before. We 100% recommend booking with Discover Camerons or at least at Bricks Cameron Hostel.

Find their details here – Discover Camerons Facebook & Bricks Cameron Hostel

Want to be more sustainable before visiting Malaysia? Check out our 18 Great Eco Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap in guide!

Browsing around Tanah Rata

After a busy first day of your Cameron Highlands 2 day itinerary come back to relax in your accommodation or town. Tanah Rata means flat ground in Malay, which is exactly where the town is located. There are many Indian & Malay restaurants to grab some food and you can even find lovely cafe’s here too.

The Lord’s Cafe is a cafe highly recommended by other travellers (unsure of vegan options!) (location)! They have some of the cheapest scones in the Cameron Highlands and many other cakes and drinks. It’s a perfect spot if you need a rest or if it’s raining outside.

Spend your evening browsing around the markets and shops in the area before grabbing some dinner at Singh Chapati (location!)

Day 2 – Hiking, Tea Plantations & Strawberries

So Day 2 of your Cameron Highlands itinerary will take you strawberry picking, to a different tea plantation and on a hike of your choice!

Go Hiking

Are you still wondering what to do in Cameron Highlands? Did you think hiking would be on your list?! The highlands are full of wonderful hikes from beginner to advanced! Remember that the weather in Cameron Highlands is unpredictable so be extra prepared for sun or rain. Here are a few hikes for you to choose from:

Trail 10 into Trail 6 – Tanah Rata to Gunung Jasar to Cameron Valley

This hike is one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands and is very recommended by many travellers! As we mentioned, you have to be prepared for the weather and unfortunately, if it’s raining a lot the path may get too slippery.

This hike is listed as moderate to hard, if you’re worried about the hard part, you may want to stick with just Trail 10 and return to Tanah Rata. You also don’t need a guide to do these trails. There’s an accurate map of the trail on Maps.Me.

How long does it take? From Tanah Rata to Cameron Valley will take you around 3 hours one way. Trail 6 is the steeper part of the trail, so be extra careful!

If you decide to go complete trail 6 you will end the trail in a lovely tea plantation – Bharat Tea Plantations (location here) and then you’ll need a ride/taxi back up to Tanah Rata.

Also look at our 3 Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary and take a trip to the capital of Malaysia!

Jungle Trekking

At certain times of the year, you can go on jungle hikes searching for the biggest flower in the world – The Giant Rafflesia! The blooming of this flower is very unpredictable, which means you’ll have to ask around if it’s possible to see one at the moment.

The Giant Rafflesia can take up to one year to grow and only blooms for 3-5 days. As it’s pretty rare it’ll be hard to plan to see this flower on your Cameron Highlands itinerary.

You can still hike in the jungle, even if these flowers aren’t in bloom! The jungle in Cameron Highlands is full of many plants and amazing species. Hiking boots would be perfect for these hikes as they can be pretty muddy, however, trainers may be okay!

Visit Bharat Tea Plantations

Just south of Tana Rata is one of Cameron Highlands tea plantations. It’s slightly less busy than BOH Tea Plantations and you can still get amazing views of the hills with tea plants. Definitely worth adding to your 2 day Cameron Highlands itinerary.

It costs 3RM to walk around the tea plantations and 10RM to do some tea tasting. There is also a cafe selling desserts and tea!

Pick Your Own Strawberries at Big Red Strawberry Farm

Another one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands is to go strawberry picking! How to get to the strawberry farms?

If you don’t have a rental car, the only way to reach strawberry farms is to ask your accommodation for a taxi, book yourself onto a Full-Day-Tour or rent a scooter (details above on renting a scooter on your Cameron Highlands itinerary)!

If you pick your own strawberries at Big Red Strawberry farm – the prices are 25RM for 500 grams and 50RM for 1KG. You have to spend a minimum of 25RM and your basket will be able to fit 1KG, so be careful if you don’t want to spend 50RM on strawberries!

Other ways to find strawberries in Cameron Highlands:

More Strawberry Farms:

• Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm (location)
• 200 Seeds Cafe & Farm (location)
• Kasimanis Strawberry Farm (location)
• Healthy Strawberry Farm (location)

Strawberry prices at markets: The best price we found was 10RM for a small box of strawberries (pictured below) and the more you buy the higher the price. There were big boxes for 40RM.

Other Things to do in Cameron Highlands

Time Tunnel Museum – A museum with a lot of collectables & nostalgic items from Malaysia’s past. (8RM per person) Find the location here!

Lavender Gardens – A small garden with rows of lavender! Very unique in Malaysia. (15RM per person) Find the location here!

Sam Poh Temple: A large Buddhist Temple with a peaceful environment. Find the location here!

Golden Hills Weekend Night Market: Only on Fridays and Saturdays! The place to find clothes & snacks! Find the location here!

We are not recommending the butterfly, sheep or bee farms here in Cameron Highlands as we don’t believe they’re very ethical. There are many other things to do on your Cameron Highlands 2 day itinerary to keep you busy!

What to do in Cameron Highlands at night?

At night, the Cameron Highlands is on the quieter side. But you can still find a few things to do! If you pick a good accommodation you hang out in the common area and play games with other travellers.

Check out any of the markets in Tanah Rata or spend your evening at a restaurant with food and drinks.

Where to stay in the Cameron Highlands

There are 3 main towns to stay in Cameron Highlands – Tanah Rata, Brinchang and Ringlet. They all have a range of accommodations for you to choose from and if you have your own vehicle it’ll be easy wherever you stay.

We recommend staying in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata has great restaurants and you can get budget accommodation here. It’s a great spot for travellers and you can book tours and rent motorbikes in the town or simply browse the area. Here are a few places we can recommend that are close to the things to do in Cameron Highlands:

Cameron Highlands Hotel, Hostels & Guesthouses

Bricks Cameron Hostel: $ (Tanah Rata) – We highly recommend this hostel, they have various different rooms to suit any traveller! Dorms, double rooms or triple rooms! A great location and a very great price! – Find here on Booking.com!

EagleNest at Iris House Resort $$-$$$ (Tanah Rata) – A whole apartment in between Tanah Rata and Brinchang! Feel a bit of luxury by having the whole place to yourself – Find here on Booking.com!

Check out our 2 Week Malaysia Itinerary: Best Things To Do!

Best places to eat in Cameron Highlands

• Singh Chapati – (Location) – Indian Restaurant
• The Lords Cafe – (Location) – Tea & Scones (no vegan cakes)
• Restoran Sri Brinchang – (Location) – South Indian Restaurant
• Restoran Bunga Suria – (Location) – Indian Restaurant

As you can see, we’ve recommended a lot of restaurants serving Indian cuisine! We eat plant-based, so we have to find the best spots for us! There are a few western restaurants in Cameron Highlands, serving pizza or sandwiches and there are even a few fast-food joints.

You can also find Malay food all over Cameron Highlands serving rice or noodle dishes! You won’t be too stuck for choice here. Although we do highly recommend Singh Chapati on your Cameron Highlands itinerary!

Is Cameron Highlands worth visiting?

Yes!! The Cameron Highlands is so unique compared to other areas of Malaysia. It’s close and easy to get to from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh or Penang and there are many things to do in Cameron Highlands. We hope this Cameron Highlands itinerary has been exciting to read! We definitely recommend visiting here if you have 1 or more weeks in Malaysia!

How many days should I spend in Cameron Highlands?

We think 2-3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Cameron Highlands. If you want to go on more hikes, add an extra day or two just in case the weather is bad. So we do recommend at least 2 days in the Cameron Highlands.

If you only have one day, it’s possible to still see the main attractions here! Now you know what to do in Cameron Highlands, you can visit without having to worry!

What to do in Cameron Highlands in one day?

The most popular activity in Cameron Highlands is to see BOH Tea Plantations, this is where you’ll see the postcard pictures of Cameron Highlands and you can try the tea for yourself.

You can book yourself on a half or full-day tour to visit all the popular sights such as tea plantations, strawberry farms and Mossy Forest!

Travel essentials for a Cameron Highlands Itinerary

Wondering what to pack for Southeast Asia? Find everything you need to pack in our Southeast Asia packing guide.

• Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are a must when travelling with a backpack or suitcase!
• The Little Bodhi Microfibre Towel – A lightweight towel that dries fast after it rains in the Highlands!
• Rain Mac in a Bag and a Backpack Cover are two more essentials we need in rainy weather!
• Anker Power Bank – A portable charger is always useful for those long journeys around Malaysia. Make sure to bring one on your Cameron Highlands itinerary!
• Stainless Steel Water Bottle – A bottle that’s better than plastic, we love our metal water bottles.
• Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – GorillaPods are a great little tripod to carry on a Cameron Highlands itinerary, they’re lightweight and they capture some of the best photos when there’s no one around. We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600. There’s also a phone version for those TikTok’s or Instagram Reels – Joby Phone Tripod.

More Malaysia Posts:

• 4 Day Penang Itinerary
• The Best Ipoh Itinerary: 2 Days in Ipoh
• 3 Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: Best Things To Do
• The Best 2 Day Melaka Itinerary (Malacca)
• 2 Week Malaysia Itinerary (Mainland)
• The Best 3 Month Southeast Asia Itinerary

That’s the end of our Cameron Highlands Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)! Have the best time in the Cameron Highlands and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!