Travel Log: Mountains of Malaysia via Cameron Highlands and Cameron Holiday Tours and Adventure Review

January 31, 2012
Cameron Highlands isn’t necessarily one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia, but it is certainly a unique one.  It is about a 1.5 hour drive from Ipoh and 4.5 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur so it isn’t easily accessible.  Be careful though because the last hour is a windy one! Cameron Highlands is known mostly for its tea plantations, strawberry farms, and breezy mountain views.  We visited for about three days and enjoyed the cool (60s F in the winter) weather and beautiful vistas.  I couldn’t imagine staying here for more than a few days, but am glad I visited (this is a nice place for nature lovers).  The hotels and/or furnished apartments can be anywhere from $20+/person and our meals were usually $3/person so it is also an affordable destination.Warning: Taxis do not commonly run past 9-10 pm so if you venture out, bring along the phone number of a driver. We ended up asking a nice local to help us ring a driver and another one even gave us a ride himself!

Cameron Holiday Tours and Adventure Review

We participated in a tour for 40 Rs, listed originally at 60 Rs (about $13) from Cameron Holidays Tours and Adventure, who I would not recommend.  The fast-talking tour operator fit 9 people in a Land rover from 1962 (including elderly people) and didn’t deliver on the guide (ours only spoke when he led us through the Mossy Forest and did nothing besides drive the rest of the way).  The main tourist strip is in Tanah Rata and has a number of tour operators so do a little research there first.

Tip: When you are selecting a tour company, talk to a few first, compare, and get terms and locations down in writing.  Negotiate price and/or locations visited because they always set a higher price expecting it to come down.

Here is my review of the main attractions in the area (in order of preference):
Tea Plantation (Boh Tea Plantation in our case)
This is one of the oldest tea plantations in the area (since 1929) and its largest producer of black tea.  Some tea plantations may charge admission, but Boh Tea plantation does not because it can make quite a bit of money from tea sales anyway.  I liked seeing the tea making process clearly laid out and the views were definitely worth it.  Try to spend more time to relax here if you can!

Brinchang Point and Mossy Forest Walk
This was an interesting walk through one of the highest points in the area and supposedly an inspiration for the scenery in Avatar.  A guide will walk with you for about 20 minutes.  Wear comfortable shoes with traction and pants that can be easily washed because it is wet and muddy in there!  Brinchang Point is another nice hike.  I enjoyed any chance to leisurely stroll and enjoy the crisp mountain air.

Brinchang Night Market
This is very local and very fun. My mom and future sister-in-law had a ball selecting fresh rambutans (thorny fruit that taste a little like longans), devouring freshly roasted chicken, and pointing and picking through a wide selection of other noodles and roast/fried vegetables (corn or yams).  It isn’t very clean and there aren’t many tourists, but I really enjoyed seeing how locals ate and lived.

Taman Rama Rama Butterfly Farm
We visited the butterfly farm, which was really more of a mini zoo.  The front section had dozens of butterflies (the guide will help place them on you for photos though we are not sure if the one on my hand got dirt or something worse all over me), but there are also everything from snakes, indigenous flowers, rabbits, and pigeons.  I actually enjoyed this because of the great interaction with the insects.  My brave future sister-in-law even posed with a snake!

EQ Strawberry Farm and Honeybee farm
Strawberry and honey paraphernalia is everywhere in Cameron Highlands.  However, a visit to the EQ strawberry farm was severely disappointing.  There is no admission and though we were told that we could pick strawberries as part of the tour, the pick your own strawberries section was closed.  All we could do was view strawberry plants for 50-100 feet behind a wire fence.  Skip it, or at least this location.
The honeybee farm was small and was located in a small garden with a few honeybee combs nestled in wooden structures.  While the fresh honey products looked interesting, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to come here.

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  • Charlotte's House January 31, 2012 at 07:50

    Interesting and beautiful post!!!
    Wonderful photography!!!!
    http://charlottehouse22.blogspot.com/

  • Girlie Blogger January 31, 2012 at 08:07

    Love seeing local and rural stuff from other countries. WOw! Those fried noodles are making me hungry. Gorgeous mountains.

    The Girlie Blog

  • Jackie January 31, 2012 at 08:34

    These photos are absolutely beautiful! I envy your travels! 🙂

  • Lyosha January 31, 2012 at 09:37

    love the travel post! looks like a great place to visit! I want to visit Malasia for a long time already but still didn’t have a chance for it, I hope I’ll be as lucky as you are

    Lyosha
    Inside and Outside Blog

  • Kristin H January 31, 2012 at 11:14

    What an adventure girl! I am in awe!!!

  • Tanvi January 31, 2012 at 12:24

    There are so many countries to visit in Asia! And now you’ve got another on on my list 🙂

  • Beauty Follower January 31, 2012 at 12:47

    Great photos
    lovely scenery
    have fun!

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE January 31, 2012 at 13:00

    Looks incredible! I’d love to go to a Butterfly farm 🙂 xoxo

  • rolala January 31, 2012 at 14:46

    Thanks for the intro to Cameron Highlands. The Tea Plantation looks incredible!

  • Kim January 31, 2012 at 14:51

    How fun! The tea plantations and strawberry farm photos are gorgeous! It’s also nice that you were able to enjoy some cool weather during your trip 🙂

  • amy b.s. January 31, 2012 at 15:45

    these photos are beautiful!

  • {The Perfect Palette} January 31, 2012 at 15:57

    such beautiful imagery.

  • Sam January 31, 2012 at 16:04

    Aw wow, such dreamy photos, I’ve only been to the Genting Highlands in Malaysia, would love to visit this region. The tea plantation is of great interest to me, it looks so beautiful

  • Punctuation Mark January 31, 2012 at 17:05

    how beautiful everything is! i love rambutans… they are delicious!

  • Mary Jo at TrustYourStyle January 31, 2012 at 17:52

    Wow, a butterfly farm, how amazing! Would love to visit this!

    xo Mary Jo

  • StreetChic January 31, 2012 at 17:52

    amazing post!! love your pic’s style

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  • Heather January 31, 2012 at 18:13

    Wow, what a gorgeous place! I adore butterfly farms!

  • MosaMuse January 31, 2012 at 20:00

    awesome photos!! im loving the mountains! wow
    xo
    MosaMuse

  • Kim (A Very Sweet Blog) January 31, 2012 at 22:14

    It is gorgeous! What a fabulous butterfly farm 🙂 Your picture is breathtaking. Your sister in law is definitely brave! HAHAHA Indeed!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

  • The Blonde Duck January 31, 2012 at 23:59

    I would love to go to the butterfly garden!

  • Alena: Oh, Its Just Perfect! February 1, 2012 at 01:58

    These pictures are stunning. I would love, love, love to see a tea plantation! It must have been an amazing experience.

  • Samantha Elisabeth February 1, 2012 at 02:12

    Oh my this place is beautiful, though it stinks your tour was sucky!

  • Karina February 1, 2012 at 05:10

    Such beautiful pictures! You’ve been to so many spectacular places!I especially LOVE the butterfly farm!

    xoxo

  • Mary Ann February 1, 2012 at 06:20

    What beautiful pictures – I would love to travel to Asia!

  • Chanel Tonè February 1, 2012 at 06:36

    ARE YOU SERIOUS! These photos are phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Jennifer Fabulous February 1, 2012 at 06:54

    Oh, how stunning. I doubt I will ever get the chance to visit such a breathtaking part of the world. So I live vicariously through you. 😉

  • honey my heart February 1, 2012 at 09:11

    this looks like such a great place to experience. the views and the food are pulling at my wanderlust heart strings.

  • Johanna February 1, 2012 at 18:13

    Oh my gosh…these pictures are so amazing. So lush. I love it…keep ’em coming!

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