HOME    TRAVEL   MAP   TIPS   KL    

 HOROSCOPE  LAKEHOUSE   HOTEL

 SHOPPING  CAMERON    DIARY

Cameron Highlands   

The Cameron Highlands provides a great relief from the heat and bustle of the large cities. Its cool climate is rare in Asia and makes the highlands a great place to recharge for a few days. There are some good walks around the area which is best known for its tea plantations.

There a four hill resorts in Peninsular Malaysia, popular with businessmen enjoying the cooler climate and playing golf for the weekend. The Cameron Highlands is the best choice for budget travellers with some good walks and cheap backpacker accommodation. There are three small towns in the highlands but most people stay in Tanah Rata where most of the lodgings, restaurants and amenities are located.

Attractions  

Walking - maps of local trails are available at guesthouses. Hike through jungle to waterfalls and up the green surrounding hills.

Tea Plantations - tours are available to see the production processes from picking to the finished tea leaves.

Golf - Although expensive, the Cameron Golf Course has a good reputation and gives a great break from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Attractions inside the city:  The Petronas Towers TOP

Kuala Lumpur is the home of the World's tallest building. The Petronas or Twin Towers are an incredible sight, they dominate the skyline and are visible for miles. Other projects around the globe aim to soon beat the record but record or not they are still an amazing spectacle.

The Twin Towers - the World's tallest building. For now.
Architecture - KL is populated with many interesting buildings showing many different influences such as the City Hall, Railway Station and the Jame Mosque.

National Museum - a well maintained, informative museum giving an excellent background of Malaysia's history and culture.

Shopping - from the modern, designer shops of Central Market to the nightmarket in Chinatown, KL offers a seemingly endless array of goods to buy.

Accommodation  TOP

Malaysia has generally good backpacker accommodation but it can be much more expensive than most Asian countries, the cheapest beds will cost you around 6-8 ringgits (or M$) which is about £3-4.

Cameron Highlands

The highlands have very good guesthouses which are clean, friendly and have good facilities. It is nice to snuggle up under a blanket in the cool climate after the heat of most of Asia. Most accommodations are situated close to the small town of Tanah Rata and run tours to the local sights

Kuala Lumpur

This modern metropolis can seem a little daunting on arrival but much of the city can be reached by foot if you find a good base. Probably the best and most conveniently located budget guesthouses are located in the Central Market or Chinatown area. It is easy walking distance from the main bus terminal and close to most attractions. Book ahead to ensure you get a bed in the accommodation of your choice.

Map of Peninsular Malaysia TOP

Peninsular Malaysia is often passed through as quickly as possible en route to Singapore or Thailand but you really should spend at least a couple of weeks discovering its history, varied cultures and natural beauty.

Recommended Route

Malaysia is divided into three main areas Peninsular Malaysia, and the states of Sabah and Sarawak both located on the island known to most as Borneo. These two states are not on the usual backpacker trail so this guide focuses on Peninsular Malaysia only.

The Peninsular lends itself two natural paths, the east coast or west coast. The east coast is by far the least developed, small fishing villages and deserted beaches. Although very relaxing there are few sights to attract travellers to the east coast, people tend to go for the atmosphere and better beaches.

The west coast is where you will find the large cities and most of the historical sights, the following guide starts from north to south.

Getting Around Malaysia

Both national and local transport services are very good in Malaysia. The marked western influences certainly make both long or short journeys much less tiresome or stressful than many other countries, however you do tend to miss the special character of the east. For many people travelling quickly through the country is just what is wanted, enjoy the easy life while you can.

Buses

Malaysia, unlike Thailand and Indonesia has a superb road system with well maintained highways. This makes longer journeys much quicker, safer and more comfortable than elsewhere in Asia. Local buses are also very good, with clean, modern vehicles which do not suffer too much with overcrowding.

Trains

As with the bus services the trains are also well run and maintained. A little expensive but very fast and comfortable with some great views of Malaysia. An Orient Express service runs through the country which attracts many customers.

Taxis

Taxis are available in Malaysia, however, good local transport systems often remove the need for them. They are metered and usually trustworthy, mainly used for airport runs or comfortable air-conditioned trips to local attractions.

Trishaws

Still fairly common in some towns and cities are trishaws, three wheeled bicycles usually driven by old men who have great knowledge of the streets. Penang and Malacca are well served, it is a great way to see the local area in a traditional way.

Monorail

Kuala Lumpur being such a modern city is blessed with a monorail or skyrail system. It is convenient for trips around the city but is mostly used by city workers in the rush hour. Try to ride it at least once for good views of the city. Good for crossing from one side of KL to the other.

Walking

A great way to explore any town or city is to go by foot. City centres or local neighbourhoods reveal many interesting sights not seen by many tourists travelling by taxi or bus. If you want to go to a particular part of town try walking instead of taking transport, getting there can often be more interesting than the destination itself.

Leaving Malaysia TOP

Both domestic and international travel is easy in Malaysia, tickets are available from bus terminals, ports, airports or from one of many travel agents readily available throughout the country.

Share Taxis

Sharing a cab with others is a cheap way of crossing borders both in the north or south. It is a good idea to get a group of backpackers together for a crossing but if you are alone you can still share with locals.

Buses

Buses can be taken across the land borders to Thailand or Singapore. Direct buses are the easiest as they drop you off to go through immigration and pick you up on the other side to continue your journey. Non-direct buses can be problematic, you may find yourself stranded miles from anywhere, especially on the Thai/Malaysia border.

Trains

Although a little more expensive than travelling by bus, trains provide a painless way of crossing borders. Often immigration is handled on board and with direct connections between towns this is a highly recommended method of travel.

Planes TOP

Most people travel to either Thailand or Singapore by land but if you want to go to a destination further away air travel is possible. You may get a cheaper flight in Singapore or Bangkok for long haul journeys. Penang to Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia, is a popular route.

Boats

For those travelling south to Indonesia, sea travel is an option but is easier from Singapore. Penang to Medan is probably the only boat journey you would make from Malaysia, ferries are very cheap, fast and easy to book. This is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and has been the site of a number of sunk vessels but at least there is always another close by to pick you up. Immigration is handled on board as you leave the boat.

Strawberry Park
Visit the strawberry park here will entail visitors not only to the opportunity to see how strawberries are cultivated but also offer the  opportunity to purchase freshly picked strawberries with thick  delicious fresh cream at affordable prices.
               

Butterfly Farm
The Butterfly Farm located 5 km north of Brinchang, which open daily from 8am - 6pm, scores of butterflies fly free among the flowers, with the sound of running water from an artificial pond in the background.

Robertson Rose Garden    
2km to the northwest, on the way to the Palas Tea Estate, you'll find the Robertson Rose Garden which open daily from 10am - 6pm. Have the free visit here which is rewarded by superb views of the sculpted sweep of the surrounding hills. Rose bushes aside, the shop here sells honey and cordials, as well as attractive dried flowers and arrangements.
Ee Feng Gu Bee Farm  -  The Ee Feng Gu Farm is beautifully landscaped with flowering plants and various fruit trees. About 5km from Brinchang Town, The Ee Feng Gu Farm covers an area 3.5 hectares. Bees are found in their natural habitat here.   Check out their homepage  here!  

75, Batu 43, Green Cow, 39100 Kea Farm, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, West Malaysia. Tel No: 05-496 1951  Fax No: 05-496 2951  H/P No: 011-547869 E-mail address: [email protected]
About Cameron Highlands
About Cameron Highlands Nestling amid the lofty peaks of Banjaran Titiwangsa, the various outposts of the CAMERON HIGHLANDS (1524m) from Malaysia's most extensive hill station. It took its name from William Cameron, a government surveyor who stumbled across the plateau in 1885 during a mapping expedition but he failed to mark his find on a map.  In 1920s, the location of the plateau was finally confirmed by a consensus of reports from subsequent expeditions.  In 1925, Sir George Maxwell, a senior civil servant, saw the same potential here and conceived the idea of developing a hill station. The Early tea planter were soon followed by Chinese vegetable farmers and wealthy landowners in search of a weekend retreat.  Families of those Britishers stationed in Malaya at the time also took  to hills in a respite from the hot, humid tin mines and rubber plantations.
As the fame of Cameron Highlands grew during the colonial era, much of the character of the Cameron  Highlands has remained unchanged since colonial times,  and in many ways it is at  hill stations like the Cameron Highlands that  British residents most determinedly recreated  an idyllic English environment. Some of the Tudor-style hotels and retreats with rose garden s are still maintained at Cameron Highlands, that's why it is also named as 'Little Corner Of England in Asia'.   Cameron Highlands today becomes the largest and most  genteel of the hill resorts in Malaysia. It is also the premier hill top holiday spot at Pahang. Weekenders flock here in their thousands lured by the cool climate. The vast plateau and surrounding hills and forests are ideal for walking and even the most slothful are cajoled by the cooler climate into indulging in some moderately rigorous hiking.
Region
Region of Cameron Highlands  Despite seventy years of tourism, the Cameron Highlands today can still be recognized in William Cameron's early, glowing descriptions which talked of the plateau's gentle slopes surrounded by dramatic peaks. The cool, frost free climate on the highlands offers an attractive retreat for city dwellers who want to retreat temporarily from the noise and pollution in the city.
The Cameron Highlands encompasses three small towns lying just within the western corner of the state of Pahang, 219km from Kuala Lumpur. As you make your way up the winding mountain road from Tapah, you first encounter RINGLET, 45km to the north, a rich agricultural area and site of the famous tea plantations. Another 300m up, and 13km away is TANAH RATA, the principal settlement, where the drop in temperature heralds a change in scenery to streams, waterfalls and mountains, making it an ideal walking base. About 3km further north, BRINCHANG is a newer town, also  renowned for its farms, most of which are located to the north towards the kampungs of Tringkap and Raja.	Location Of Cameron Highland

RINGLET   TOP

Ringlet is the first settlement in the Cameron Highlands, the area to the north of town dominated by the immense Sultan Abu Bakar Dam, a huge expanse of glittering blue water contrasting with the deep green of its forest cloak. There's a deluxe hotel here and a best known tea plantation - BOH Tea Estate.

TANAH RATA

Since Tanah Rata is the highlands' main development, it comprises little more than one street, which is where you'll find most of the hotels, banks and other services as well as some of the best restaurants in the Cameron Highlands, all lined up in a half-kilometre stretch. It's a genteel, neat looking place festooned with flowers, parks and building with white balustrades.

BRINCHANG

Located 3km further north after Tanah Rata. You will find lots of greenhouse or small sheds by the roadside, selling cabbages, leeks etc. Visit those famous places like butterfly farm, Fruit & vegetable farm, Rose Garden etc, Sam Poh Temple and the Palas Tea Estate.Or, a more challenging option - hike to the summit of Gunung Brinchang (2032m), the highest peak in Malaysia accessible by road.