Malaysia
Cameron Highlands
Region
The Cameron Highlands are a mountain district in the northwest of the state of Pahang, about five hours by bus north of Kuala Lumpur.
by Felix Gillen
The Cameron Highlands are a mountain district in the northwest of the state of Pahang, about five hours by bus north of Kuala Lumpur. Coming from the tropical heat, visitors find a cool climate here between roughly 800 and 1,600 meters above sea level, along with tea plantations on steep slopes, vegetable fields, strawberry farms, and mountain forest.The towns line up along a winding mountain road: Ringlet in the south, then Tanah Rata with most accommodations, Brinchang, and the Kea Farm market. Plan at least two nights and bring a jacket; it gets cool at night.
The district covers a good 700 square kilometers, with settlements located between approximately 800 and 1,600 meters in altitude, and Gunung Brinchang peak reaching 2,031 meters. The average annual temperature is 18 degrees, rarely exceeding 25 degrees during the day, and rain is frequent. The administrative center and base for most travelers is Tanah Rata, with Brinchang, offering a night market and strawberry farms, and the market of Kea Farm lying a few kilometers further north. The most famous tea garden is Sungei Palas by BOH, located above Brinchang, with other tea gardens lining the road between Ringlet and Tanah Rata. On weekends and during Malaysian school holidays, roads and accommodations are busy, while weekdays are considerably quieter.
History and Culture
From Survey Area to Hill StationThe British surveyor William Cameron mapped the highlands in 1885 for the colonial administration. About 40 years later, Sir George Maxwell suggested establishing a Hill Station here: an agricultural experimental station was set up in 1925, and the road from Tapah opened in 1931. In 1929, J. A. Russell founded the BOH tea company; its gardens still define the landscape today.People and EconomyApproximately 40,000 people live in the district. The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of the highlands. Economically, almost everything revolves around tea, vegetables, fruit, flowers, and tourism.
Getting Here & Around
Bus from Kuala Lumpur: Buses depart from TBS Terminal to Tanah Rata; the journey takes about 4.5 to 5 hours.From Ipoh: Bus services are available from Amanjaya Terminal.By Car: The classic access road goes up from Tapah via Ringlet, and a second road has been available from Simpang Pulai near Ipoh since 2004. Both are winding; allow extra time.Locally: Between Tanah Rata, Brinchang, and Kea Farm, you can travel by Grab or taxi. Only registered jeep taxis are permitted to go to Gunung Brinchang. The boardwalk in Mossy Forest has been closed since October 2025 due to landslides; ask locally for the current status.
