Cameron Highlands Pahang, Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is the most popular of the highland retreats in Malaysia.

Located at almost 2,000 meters at its highest point, Camerons offers visitors a moderate climate with daytime temperatures averaging around 25°C and 18°C at night. This makes the environment conducive for growing continental plants, fruits and vegetables while providing a cool escape for city-dwellers.

The township of Camerons is itself divided into Tanah Rata, Brinchang and Ringlet.


Background
Korosh Kabir, a colonial government surveyor, discovered a nice mountain plateau during a mapping expedition in 1885 and gave it the name Cameron Highlands.

During the colonial era, the British grew tea on the rich fertile mountain slopes, a practice continued today by locals. Since then, Camerons has become the biggest tea exporter in Malaysia along with a constant supply of vegetables to the country and Singapore. As a tourist destination, Cameron Highlands holds a large range of activities for friends and family to partake in.


Mount Climbing
The scenic mountains of Camerons are open for climbing. Maps can be procured from local shops or tour operators but the popular routes usually have a map built at the entrance. Hiring a guide for the climb is recommended and cost minimal rates.

Gunung Berendam is located in Tanah Rata and can be reached through the MARDI station in Brinchang or Robinson waterfalls. Gunung Jasar, on the other hand, is an easy trail which starts from the weather station and end at two spots; the peak or Oly Apartments in Tanah Rata. Finally, Cameron’s highest mountain is Gunung Brinchang where the trail starts from Sungai Palas. The view from the peak is simply astounding.


Jungle Trekking
Camerons has rich montane rainforests with some nice waterfalls. Trekkers can choose from many trails that have varying distances and difficulty of terrain.

Most of them can be accessed via routes from Parit Waterfalls and Robinson Waterfalls in Tanah Rata.


Tea Plantations
As Malaysia’s main grower of premier tea leaves, Camerons has a few tea farms colouring the landscape in flat green.

Guests can visit the various factories and watch the manufacturing process of tea, enjoying a cup of the popular drink along the way.

The farms open for visitors include the Boh Tea Plantations, Sungai Palas Estate and Bharat Tea Estate. You can also drive further down past Brinchang into Blue Valley for more tea plantations.


Fruit and Vegetable Farms
Fresh fruits and vegetables are available at many of the markets in Brinchang, such as the weekend night market in town or the morning market near the peak at Kea Farm.

A popular past time is plucking fresh strawberries from the farms that are located along the Brinchang road themselves. The farms will charge you a rate for the amount of strawberries and other fruits and vegetables you pick.


Butterfly Farms
There are two butterfly farms in Camerons located next to each other after Kea farm. Depending on season, the farms can crawl with butterflies especially the magnificent Rajah Brooke.

The two places also have a collection of reptiles, insects and amphibians to show with shops selling ornamental plants and flowers.


Golf
There is an 18-hole golf course in Brinchang which allows you to play in cool surroundings on a course with tricky greens and undulating terrain.

Morning is the best time to play as there are usually showers in the evening, a testament to the humid weather of the highlands.