Cameron Highlands Day Tour
The Cameron Highlands day tour from Kuala Lumpur is a great way to see the biggest hill station in Malaysia in one go without worries about accommodation. The hill station is well known for its lush green tea plantation and moderate weather increasingly popular among local and foreign tourists. One-day Cameron Highlands tour is also famous as a detour destination for tourist planning to visit Penang or Taman Negara.
Four Tips to Get The Best Tour Experience
One of the disadvantages of making day trips from Kuala Lumpur is tourists only have one shot at doing the tour. Each tourist attraction in Malaysia has a unique factor that can affect the tour experience. For example, Cameron Highlands is well known for its massive road congestion during a major public or school holiday. So it is essential to choose the correct tour itinerary and a local guide for your tour. There are four factors for tourists to look into before booking any tour packages.
Tour Itinerary
Most of the Cameron Highlands day tour packages offered by tour operators look very similar, but it actually slightly different. There are four tea plantations in Cameron Highlands. Both BOH Tea Plantation and Bharat group tea has two plantations. Tourists should ask which tea plantation and how many tea plantations they will bring on the tour day. Because the tea plantation is a Cameron Highlands main attraction where travelers should focus more.
Driver/Guide Experience
The hardest part is to pick the right tour guide or driver. The only way is by looking at the review and their personal blog. It is a bonus if tourists can hire an experienced driver who can explain the attractions’ background entertainingly.
Mode of Transportation
Without a doubt Taxi and private tour guide is the best way to do the Cameron Highlands tour from Kuala Lumpur because it is more efficient and productive. Sharing tour is good as long tourists have the patience to wait for another passenger in the group. Bus and E-hailing service is totally not recommended.
Best time to Do Cameron Highlands Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur
Your tour to Cameron Highlands is affected on weekends or public holidays. The best advice I can give, plan to visit Cameron Highlands on weekdays. If you do not have any other option, start your tour very early. Please refer to the table below, a list of public holidays and school holidays in Malaysia.
Best Time to Start The Tour
- Weekdays: 0730am
- Weekend/Public Holiday/School Holiday: 0445am
| Date Start | Date End | Events |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Jan 2023 | 2nd Jan 2023 | New Year |
| 22nd Jan 2023 | 24th Jan 2023 | Chinese New Year |
| 1st Feb 2023 | – | Federal Territory Day |
| 5th Feb 2023 | 6th Feb 2023 | Thaipusam |
| 13th Mar 2023 | 22nd Mar 2023 | School Holiday |
| 22nd Apr 2023 | 24th Apr 2023 | Eid Fitri Festival |
| 1st May 2023 | – | Labour Day |
Cameron Highlands Day Tour itinerary
The tour itinerary below is based on weekdays, on the weekend, the itinerary was slightly different, but we still visited the same attraction. Tea plantation is my main focus, other attractions such as Bee Farm, Rose Graden, and Kea market are not on the list because it is less important or does not have any value at all.
Tour To Cameron Highlands
The distance of Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur is about 209 km, calculated from the Pos office in KL to Pos Office in Tanah Rata. Therefore, if we continue driving without any stop, we should reach Cameron Highlands in three hours.
To ensure tourists get the best tour experience during the Cameron Highlands tour. We have created two sets of itineraries, one for weekdays and another one for weekends. On weekdays the travel time to the first destination, the Lata Iskandar waterfall, will be 2.5 hours. While on weekends, we will visit Sungai Palas BOH Tea plantation first. It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Kuala Lumpur.
For the first 150 km from Kuala Lumpur, we used PLUS Highways, last 69 km we used narrow and winding country roads crossing the secondary rainforests in Titiwangsa Mountain.
Lata Iskandar Waterfall
Our Cameron Highlands day tour from Kuala Lumpur activities start by visiting Lata Iskandar waterfall. Lata is an ancient Malay language meaning waterfall. Iskandar was named in conjunction with Sultan Iskandar Shah who ruled the state of Perak for 20 years from 1918 to 1938.
Besides stretching up legs, Lata Iskandar waterfalls is a great place for photos and a mini jungle walk. Tourists also can find a few fruits stall, souvenir shops, and a shop selling items made of rattan and wood. During fruit season, Lata Iskandar waterfalls are the best place to try Malaysian fruits such as Mangosteen, Durian, Rambutan, and Langsat.
Visiting Senoi Indigenous People
Next stop, visit Malaysia Orang Asli village from the Senoi tribe. The Senoi tribe is the most prominent aboriginal tribe in Cameron Highlands. Orang Asli refers to the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia who are not Malay Muslims, Malaysia’s leading ethnic group. Orang Asli, meaning ‘natural people’ in Malay, replaced the term ‘aborigines’ used by the British colonial administration.
Orang Asli is the earliest population that has lived mountain since about 5,000 years ago. Most of them are believed to have come from China and Tibet and followed the migration routes through mainland Southeast Asia before getting a foothold in the Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesian archipelago.
Cameron Valley Tea Plantation
The first tea plantation we will visit during the Cameron Highlands tour is Cameron Tea Valley. Established in 1933 by Mr. Shuparshad, Bharat Group Tea has two Tea plantations in the hill station. Like many other entrepreneurs, Mr. Shuparshad had many other businesses, such as rubber plantation and food contractors, before being engaged in the Tea industries.
After successfully becoming the leading tea supplier in Malaysia, Bharat Group decided to expand its business in Food and Beverages. So, in 1996, they launched the Cameron Valley Tea as we know it today. Cameron Valley Tea estate in Habu is at an altitude of 1278 meters above sea level. The size of the plantation is about 286 hectares, and it has a breathtaking view.
Time Tunnel Museum
The main reason I include the time tunnel museum is that it is the best place to learn about Cameron Highlands’ history. Tourists will learn about the early explorers who first discovered Cameron Highlands, the British tea plantations that once thrived here, and how the hill station transformed into a top tourist destination in Malaysia. In addition, Time tunnel has a massive collection of classic vinyl, toys, old photos of Cameron Highlands, and teaching tools used in the 1970s.
Butterflies Garden
Cameron Highlands Butterfly Garden is one of the Cameron Highlands attractions we should include in the itineraries. The garden was established in 1985 to allow travelers to learn about insects and reptiles available in the Titiwangsa mountain rainforest. The park is home to more than 20 species of butterflies, including the Rajah Brook Birdwing, which has a wingspan of up to 15 – 17 cm. Visitors can learn about the different stages of a butterfly’s life cycle and enjoy the beauty of these delicate creatures fluttering around the garden. Cameron Highlands Butterfly Garden is a great place to relax and appreciate nature, making it an essential stop on any Cameron Highlands tour.
Sungai Palas BOH Tea Plantation
The last attraction we will visit during the Cameron Highlands day tour is Sungai Palas Boh Tea Estate. BOH tea was established in 1929 by Mr. J.A Russel. Mr. J.A Russel is a British citizen who arrived in Malaya with his father and four brothers when he was four.
The main advantage of BOH plantation because it allows tourists to visit their tea factory. Here, tourists can see the tools used to harvest the tea and the process of making tea. At the end of the tour, tourists will have ample time to enjoy the scenic view of the tea plantation and fresh tea.
Cameron Highlands Day Tour Frequent Asked Question
Is one day enough for Cameron Highlands?
More than one day is needed to explore Cameron Highlands. This hill station has plenty of exciting activities, including visiting Mossy Forest and hiking trails. However, if you’re limited on time, I recommend focusing on the Tea Plantation and others attractions as above itineraries.
How long do you need in Cameron Highlands?
A day or two should be plenty if you want to do some sightseeing. However, if you want to enjoy the cool climate and hike some trails, I recommend staying a week or more.
Which is the best month to visit Cameron Highlands?
Cameron Highlands is a great place to visit all year round, but the most popular time to go is from December to February, when the weather is coolest. However, if you’re looking for something a little warmer, March to May is also an excellent time to visit.
Are Cameron Highlands worth visiting?
Absolutely! Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations, and for a good reason. The cool climate, amazing scenery, and wide variety of activities available make it a great place to visit.
There are plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and camping to playing golf or visiting the tea plantations. The restaurants offer various cuisines, from local dishes to international favorites. And if you’re looking for some relaxation time, there are plenty of budget Hotels and resorts.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an exciting day trip from Kuala Lumpur, check out Cameron Highlands. The scenery is beautiful, and an excellent opportunity to experience the Malaysian countryside. Make sure to have an exprianced local guide to show you around.