Travel: Things to Do In Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Centrally located in Pahang, a mere 3 hours from the capital city and 2 hours from Ipoh, Cameron Highlands makes a great local destination for anyone who wants to escape to the hills to get away from it all. The highest point in Malaysia accessible by car, this hilltop retreat affords its visitors panoramic vistas and cool mountain air. It’s easy to gear down and take a load off here, nevertheless if you’re looking for happy distractions, there are plenty of attractions and activities to keep active minds and bodies occupied.

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When the British came to Malaya they brought with them their love of tea. Having had experience with tea cultivation in their colonies in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) they quickly realised that the rich soil and temperate climate would also make Cameron Highlands an ideal location for planting tea and indeed much of the Highlands are blanketed in it, the shrubs neatly arranged and perfectly clipped.
Boh Tea runs plantations at Habu, Fairlie and Sungai Palas, and of the three, the latter is the most accessible and visitor friendly. Apart from Monday when it is closed, free guided tours are conducted through the working factory every 30 minutes until 4pm, and tea can be purchased from the gift shop or enjoyed along with cake and other local delicacies in the cafe which affords stunning views of the plantations beyond. For true tea connoisseurs, make a reservation for a tea appreciation class.
You can also visit the Cameron Bharat Plantation located between Tanah Rata and Ringlet which produces Cameron Valley Tea and has a cafe and gift shop also.

Both the location, terrain and elevation of Cameron Highlands has a given rise to a unique ecosystem and the surrounding forests here are home to many species of flora, fauna and fungi. For those you like their kicks on the wild side, this natural attraction can be navigated through a number of tracks which have been marked out for walkers and climbers and start either at Tanah Rata or Brinchang.
Each track has a different degree of difficulty and may take anywhere from half an hour to five hours long but for your trouble you may be rewarded with sightings of colourful birds like the Bulbul and Sunbird, curious pitcher and lipstick plants, refreshing rivers and waterfalls, and orang asli villages. If in doubt do contact a guide either through your hotel or in town, and do wear the right shoes, warm clothes and bring a torch and whistle in case the weather takes a turn or you lose your way. Maps of the area can be obtained locally from the petrol station.