Cameron Highlands — the highlands of Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is a popular tourist spot in the mountains of Malaysia. Here, at an altitude of about 2000 m, there are numerous tea and strawberry plantations and a scenic mossy forest (Mossy Forest).

How to get to Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur

The distance from Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, to the Cameron Highlands is 200 km. By road the trip takes about 4 hours because of the narrow mountain switchbacks. As part of our trip by scooter through Southeast Asia, we got to Cameron Highlands from Penang in 5 hours (the distance from Penang to Cameron Highlands is ~ 250 km).

What to see in Cameron Highlands

As in many highland areas, something is grown in the Cameron Highlands.

Tea plantations of Cameron Highlands

Among the sights of Cameron Highlands, the first to mention are the scenic tea plantations of these highlands. This is where one of the most popular tea companies in Malaysia, BOH, has its production.

Panorama of tea-covered hills and a road between plantations, Cameron Highlands — A panorama of the Cameron Highlands tea plantations

Terraced tea plantations in the mist, Cameron Highlands — Tea plantations of Cameron Highlands

The Mossy Forest of Cameron Highlands

Much of the Cameron Highlands is also covered with moss-grown forest. At times it looks like scenes from “The Hobbit.” The Cameron Highlands have a dozen tourist nature trails running through the forests, where you can take very pleasant walks. As a rule, the higher you climb, the more scenic the landscape becomes and the more moss there is on the trees. The highest point of Cameron Highlands is Gunung Brinchang, at 2032 m. Next to it is the entrance to the main tourist Mossy Forest, although there is plenty of mossy forest around here anyway.

View from a hilltop over mountains under storm clouds, Cameron Highlands — View from the top of one of the hills

Signpost at the top of Gunung Berembun, 1840 m, Cameron Highlands — View from the top of one of the hills, 1840 m

Intertwined branches and moss in the Mossy Forest, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Concrete road with a drainage channel in the forest near the Mossy Forest, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Narrow road cut between a mossy wall and ferns, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Cabbage beds on a slope above misty forested hills, Cameron Highlands — Cabbage plantations in the Cameron Highlands

Asphalt road in the fog through the mossy forest, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Tree trunks in the mist of the Mossy Forest, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Mossy Forest entrance sign with pitcher plant sculptures, Cameron Highlands — The entrance to the main tourist Mossy Forest was closed

Trees in thick fog in the Mossy Forest, Cameron Highlands — Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands

Fence with a non-ionising radiation warning sign at the summit, Cameron Highlands — The highest point of Cameron Highlands emits non-ionizing radiation

Where to stay in Cameron Highlands

Probably in guesthouses, homestays, or hotels, after checking Booking and Agoda first. But if you have a tent and your own transportation, you can use the Sungai Pauh Camp campground (Sg Pauh), which is located right here:

During our stay in Cameron Highlands the campground was under renovation, so staying there cost us nothing. The usual price is about 5 ringgit per person. There is lighting, power outlets, barbecue grills, a stream with drinking water, and numerous forest trails that start from here (we use maps.me).