Tucked away serenely amidst the clouds 1,829 metres above sea level is Cameron Highlands, Pahang state's premier hilltop holiday spot. The cool, fresh air in the highlands offers makes for an attractive retreat for city dwellers who want to get away temporarily from the noise and pollution in the city.
The cool climate is also an ideal condition for the cultivation of tea. Tea cultivated on Cameron Highlands is among the best tea found in the country. Verdant green hillsides planted with young tea plant covers your vision as you drive slowly up the meandering road to the three townships of Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang.
First discovered in 1885 by a British surveyor William Cameron, the fame of Cameron Highlands grew during the colonial era when British Planters realised the potential of its fertile mountain slopes for growing tea, then a prized commodity among the colonies.
Families of these Britishers stationed in Malaya at the time also took to the hills in seeking respite from the hot, humid tin mines and rubber plantations. Some of the bungalows left behind are still preserved for viewing by tourist, with a few facilities added for the conveniences of visitors.
Getting There
Getting To Cameron Highlands
The only way to get to Cameron Highlands is by road. Until a few years back,
you could only get to Cameron Highlands from the south via Tapah but since the
opening of the new Simpang Pulai road, traveling to the highlands has become
much more easier from the north. You can also get here from the east coast via
Gua Musang in Kelantan but take note that this road has yet to be gazette by the
authorities.
By car
From the South via Tapah
Cameron Highlands is about 300kms from Kuala Lumpur and it takes less
than 3.5 hours to get here via the North-South Expressway (NSE). If you are
driving from Kuala Lumpur, get find your way to the NSE by following the sign to
Ipoh. Once you're on the expressway, keep on driving north until you reach Tapah
which will take about 1.5 hours. Watch out for the sign that indicates the Tapah
and Cameron Highlands exit (Exit 132). Once you have passed the toll booth, turn
left at the traffic lights. From here onwards you will be on the long winding
road to Cameron Highlands which is about 60 km's away. If you're driving from
the north just take Exit 132 at Tapah and follow the same direction. It takes an
average of 1.5 hours to reach Tanah Rata from Tapah.
From the north via Simpang Pulai / Ipoh
Now that the new road from Simpang Pulai is open, more people are
traveling to the highlands via this route. The road condition is much better
here than the Tapah route and it only takes about 45 minutes to get to Kampung
Raja from Simpang Pulai.
Take Exit 137 (Simpang Pulai) and turn right at the traffic light right after
the toll booth. Turn right again at the next traffic light about 200 metres
away. You are now on the way to Cameron Highlands. Eventually you will see signs
to Kampung Raja or Cameron Highlands along the way. After about 1 hour, you
will reach the Kampung Raja junction where you will have to turn right from the
new road into Kampung Raja town. You're now in Cameron Highlands and you can
just follow the main road to your destination. Brinchang & Tanah Rata is about
25-30kms from here.
Train
There is no train service to Cameron Highlands. The nearest stop is the Tapah
Road station in Tapah. You can take a bus or taxi to Cameron Highlands from
here.
Train schedules can be obtained from
www.ktmb.com.my.
Bus
Buses to Cameron Highlands operate daily from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang.
Buses from Kuala Lumpur depart from the Pudu Raya Station and KL Central. Buses
from Penang depart from Prangin Mall / Komtar.
Express bus service from Singapore is now available. Unititi Express leaves
Beach Road Singapore at 10.00pm daily and arrives in Cameron at 7am the
following morning.
Please call the following bus companies for the latest bus schedules and fares.
Kurnia Bistari - (KL) 03-207-24285 / (CH) 05-491-1485
Kinta Omnibus - (IPOH) 05-254-0124 / (CH) 05-491-1200
Unititi Express - (KL) 012-2150044 or 016-5058776 / (CH) 05-491-4181 or
05-491-1452 .
Activity
Camping - ImageCamping is
becoming a popular activity especially among the adventurous types. Leaving your
city lifestyle and spending your nights in the rainforest can be an
unforgettable experience.
Golf - ImageWhat more can we say? Bring your clubs and enjoy the pleasure
of a game 1467m above sea level.
Mountain Hiking - ImageIf you're fit and love nature, a trip to the
mountains should be on the agenda. The peaks offer magnificent views of the
highlands. Maps are available for the more common routes and you can find these
at local shops or tour operators.
Jungle Treking - ImageThere are plenty of jungle treks of varying
difficulty and duration to satisfy nature lovers. Most of the trails are located
around Tanah Rata. All these trails leads to the waterfalls and the mountains.Pahang
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