The Cameron Highlands is a very special area of Malaysia: it’s a flatland located at a high altitude (the maximum is around 1,600 meters) formed by eight mountains.
It was named ‘Cameron’ after William Cameron, a Scottish mineralogist, geographer, and explorer who surveyed this area in the 19th century.
Thanks to the altitude, the climate here is much colder than in other parts of Malaysia. For instance, during our visit, it was 25 degrees at night and 33 degrees during the daytime in Kuala Lumpur, while it was 17 and 25 degrees, respectively, in the Cameron Highlands. That’s why there are many resorts, vegetable farms, and even a world-famous tea plantation!
You can get there in a 3.5 to 5-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur (one way, depending on traffic). Here’s my selection of activities you can do in 1-2 days.
1. Cameron Valley
The Cameron Highlands are famous for their tea plantations — visit Cameron Valley, the origin of the tea company of the same name!
Shivarshad Bansal, the great-grandfather of the current company owners, was born in Agra, India, in the late 19th century. He acquired different pieces of land for tea cultivation in today’s Malaysia in the 20th century from the British government. Eventually, he established the Bharat Group of Companies.
His sons acquired and developed more land, including these hill slopes. The brand ‘Cameron Valley’ was born in 1996 and is now run by the fourth generation of the same family that owns the Bharat Group.
This is one of the most lush and picturesque places I’ve ever seen in my life.
Come here to enjoy a buggy ride through the tea plantations and to try various teas and tea ice creams!
2. Lata Iskandar Waterfalls
On your way, visit the Lata Iskandar Waterfalls, a breathtaking natural sight close to the foothills of the Cameron Highlands. You can stop there and admire its 25-metre tall cascade and a pool — some even have picnics right there!
This mesmerising sight is surrounded by jungles — come in the early morning to see it without crowds!
Along the road near the waterfalls, there are many tiny shops selling local arts and crafts, fresh fruits, and souvenirs.
3. Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm
Can you imagine that there is a whole region in Malaysia famous for its strawberries? Yes, there are plenty of strawberry farms around the Cameron Highlands—some are closed to the public, while others sell berries, berry juice, and desserts, and still others welcome visitors to pick strawberries!
We visited Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm to pick some berries, which was such a fun activity for adults and kids alike.
You’re given a basket and scissors, and 0.5 kg of strawberries are included in your entrance ticket (you pay extra for any additional strawberries picked). We picked over 1 kg, and these strawberries were simply delicious and definitely fresh!
For more local produce, check out the nearby KEA Vegetable Market, where farmers sell vegetables, fruits, and flowers!
4. Rose Valley Tringkap
The Rose Valley is a rose garden, one of the few in the Cameron Highlands, located in a huge greenhouse.
The selection of rose varieties is amazing, with delicate petals filling the air with floral fragrance.
A floral paradise indeed—come here for some stunning photos and spend half an hour to an hour admiring the flowers.
5. Zoomania Butterfly Garden
We spent about 45 minutes at the Zoomania Butterfly Garden.
There is a huge enclosure with dozens of butterflies (not many species, but many insects) gracefully flying around or resting on the colorful flowers.
However, there is much more than just butterflies: you can also see many bugs, snakes, birds, guinea pigs, a squirrel, hedgehogs, fish, rabbits, and even sheep and a raccoon! You can feed the sheep and rabbits here too — the food is sold at a kiosk.
Although not everyone enjoys such venues, I must note that the animals have plenty of space, and the enclosures are tidy and clean.
6. Golfer’s Café
Thinking about a break? Stop for lunch at the Golfer’s Café! It’s a popular spot for tourists, and we decided to give it a try too. You can order a set of traditional food (as pictured) or choose from the à la carte menu. Fresh strawberry juice, strawberry lassi, and strawberries with ice cream are a must-try!
Just wait until you see the view… Yes, it overlooks a golf course! There are actually many golf enthusiasts who come to the Cameron Highlands, and plenty of golf resorts are located here.
7. Orang Asli Villages
When visiting the Cameron Highlands, you also have a unique opportunity to see the Orang Asli, which means ‘first people’ in Malay. They are the indigenous people of this region and live in familial groups in their villages.
The Orang Asli make up less than 1% of the country’s population, but they are the oldest inhabitants of the peninsula and contribute significantly to the cultural diversity and heritage of the country.
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
Cameron highlands can be visited in one-day trip from Kuala Lumpur, and that’s what we did. This time, we stayed in the executive apartments at MO, just a few steps away from the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the main symbols of the country.
George received the most amazing welcoming gift: a panda soft toy, along with flowers, cakes, and fruits for our wedding anniversary.
The room is spacious and stylish; however, compared to the other areas of the hotel, it felt a bit old and shaky. Nevertheless, the staff and our overall experience were excellent.
Breakfast was served on the ground floor in a space overlooking the KLCC Park with fountains, and there was a decent selection of food, including Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Western cuisines.
The pool area was fantastic, featuring both an adult pool and a shallow children’s pool, frangipani trees, and a bar and Aqua restaurant to the side. The ladies in the kids’ club were friendly and accommodating, offering lots of fun activities.
We were a bit perplexed as to why the hotels were so full during our stay, but it became clear soon: the ASEAN summit was taking place in Kuala Lumpur at the same time, and delegations of diplomats from all over Asia were spending time in the area, with many of them likely residing in our hotel. We experienced some road closures and extra security, but otherwise, there were no major disruptions to our holiday.
You might also like my other blogs about Asia.
Hope you loved my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
