Relaxing in the Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands is a highland resort in the State of Pahang, Malaysia, about 300 km north of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. At an elevation of 1,300 to 1,700 metres above sea level, the weather there is cool and provides a wonderful retreat from the hot and humid weather in the lowlands.

Named after William Cameron, a British surveyor who came across the plateau during a mapping expedition in 1885, Cameron Highlands was only developed into a hill station by Sir George Maxwell in 1925, when he visited the highlands. The winding road up the Cameron Highlands was constructed entirely by manual labour. One can just imagine what an enormous engineering task it was!

Lured by the cool weather, wealthy residents and British government officials started building retreats in Cameron Highlands once the road was constructed. Some even settled in Cameron Highland permanently and a community developed.

The famous Boh Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands was also started around this period.

Getting There

One can only reach the Cameron Highlands by road.

Self-driving would be the best option, allowing one to move around the Cameron Highlands with ease.

However, if you were not used to the winding mountain road, then the next alternative would be to take a bus or coach.

There are many bus and coach services from Kuala from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and even as far away as Singapore, which would take you directly to the Tanah Rata bus station. Tanah Rata is the biggest of the three main towns in the Cameron Highlands. The others being Ringlet and Brinchang.

Getting Around

It would definitely be more convenient if you self-drive, as there are no car rental services in the Cameron Highlands. One can still get around the Cameron Highlands by local buses and taxis, although this would not be as flexible as driving your own vehicle.

Alternatively, you can join one of the many tours on offer, which will take you to the many places of attractions.

Things to Do and See in Cameron Highlands

There is lot to do and see in the Cameron Highlands, so unless you have plenty of time, you will have to choose from the many activities available.

Unless you self-drive, the best alternative to seeing the Cameron Highlands is to join one of the day tours.

There are many choices, from the shopping tours, which take one from one town to another to the nature tours, which bring one up close to the flora and fauna of the Cameron Highlands. One of the nicest nature tours is the mossy forest tour. The part of the forest the tour takes you is on the road up to Gunung Brinchang. At 2,032 metres, Gunung Brinchang is the highest peak that is accessible by road in Malaysia and also the highest peak around the Cameron Highlands area. You can get to see many exotic fauna, flora and fuzzy moss along the path leading finally to a beautiful grand view of Cameron Highlands surrounding.

If you have children in tow, then you may want to consider taking one of the education tours, which will bring you to the farms, rose gardens, cactus valley, bee farms etc.

One of the many attractions that you should not miss would be the tea plantations, the most well known of which is the Boh Tea Plantation, found in 1929 by J A Russell. At the plantation, there is guided factory tour where you are shown how tea were harvested, processed, graded and packed. It is an education by itself. You will see your cup of tea differently after this!

Where to Stay

There is a wide range of accommodation in the Cameron Highlands to suit every budget, from the expensive quaint Tudor country houses to the dormitory style accommodation for the budget conscious backpacker.

If you can afford it, the Lakehouse Cameron Highlands Hotel would be a good choice. It is located some distance up from Ringlet with the old English country home design and décor. The interior is furnished with antiques and wooden furnishing, giving it an old English country feel to it.

For the family mindful of their budget, the Equatorial Hotel Cameron Highlands would be an ideal choice.

The Equatorial Hotel Cameron Highlands (http://www.equatorial.com/)  is situated at the top of a hill, overlooking the farming valley. This is probably the highest hotel in the Cameron Highlands, sitting at the peak of the main Cameron Highlands road at 1,628 metres! You can even find a sign at the main entrance of Equatorial hotel proclaiming proudly its height!

Unfortunately, it is situated a distance from the nearest town of Brinchang. So, unless you self-drive, you will need to summon a taxi to get around.

There is of course other less expensive accommodation in the towns themselves. Transport would be more easily available in the towns.

So, if you are traveling to Asia and would be stopping by in Malaysia or Singapore, you may just want to hop over to the Cameron Highlands for a day or two. After Cameron Highlands, you may want to go south and plan day trip to Desaru before going over to Singapore and visit the Singapore Botanical Gardens!