As the Cameron Highlands straddles 3 states, I think I should devote a whole section to this wonderful area.
The three states being Kelantan in the north, Perak to the west and largest state Pahang on the east. After Guar Musang the road winds its way south west towards Simpang Pulai after about seventy km take the left junction on the route 59/C7 which is well signposted for ‘Cameron Highlands’.
Our three nights were to be spent at The Hillview Inn, Tanah Rata, A pleasant ‘older style’ Inn/hotel. Some of the reviews complained it was hard to find. But we found with no problem. There is limited car parking, when full the road at the front of the hotel has no parking restrictions… Other reviews commented on the grumpy reception. On first encounter maybe so, but this tended to mellow after a short while.
We were showed to our 1st floor room, Sadly no Hill view, as a new development is taking place in front of the ‘hill view’. But the room was clean, so were the beds and the washroom, with ample supply of hot shower water.
It was basic, no tv, or coffee making facility, although there was a large ‘common room’ with sofa’s, large tv, and a refrigerator.
Downstairs was a small dining area, where snacks, tea and coffee were available, at a very reasonable price. Also, a very limited dinner menu, and a more comprehensive breakfast menu was available.
After a nice shower and review of the days pictures we set off into Tanah Rata in search of our dinner.
Only a short walk away from Hill View Inn was a local Curry House. Being open and airy was very inviting, and the aroma of the cooking seemed to draw us inside !!!
As the night wore on, the temperature dropped until it appeared quite chilly. At 11pm we walked back to our well-lit home for the next three nights. Having a large fridge in the common room was useful for keeping our water and freezer packs for the ice box in the car.
After trying to upload some pictures to a website, which didn’t happen as the internet was not really working so well, sleep was the next best option — and it seemed to come quite easily.
Drive South in Search of Lata Iskandar Waterfall
Saturday morning brought a lovely sunrise over the hills of the Cameron Highlands. After breakfast we packed up, collected our chilled water and refrozen freezer packs, and set off south on Route 59 towards Ringlet.
The road wound through lush cultivated hillsides, with vegetable farms, flowers and fruit growing right up to the roadside. Small tracks led off to farms and houses scattered among the hills. After stopping several times to photograph the colourful crops and scenery, we continued towards Lata Iskandar Waterfall.
Lunch at a Roadside Café
Lunch was a simple but colourful Nasi Kerabu Ayam from a roadside café — a welcome stop before our short detour to the BOH Tea Plantation.
BOH Tea Plantation
Only a short distance from lunch, we spotted the turning for the BOH Tea Plantation and decided on an unplanned detour.
The winding road climbed through the hills to the historic tea factory, established in 1929. A short, well-marked walkway gave us a glimpse of the original tea-processing machinery and the different grades of tea produced here.
I hadn’t realised there was quite so much involved in making a good cuppa!
After exploring the factory, we stopped at the BOH café for a cup of tea before taking the short climb to the hilltop lookout. From here, the view across the surrounding tea-covered hills was spectacular — a fitting end to our visit.
Lata Iskandar Falls
After descending from the BOH Tea Plantation, we continued south towards Lata Iskandar Falls. The winding Route 59 passed through the hills before reaching the falls, where the rocks were alive with flowing water and local families enjoying the pools.
After a short stop, we turned back north towards Tanah Rata for the evening.
Dinner and Tea in Tanah Rata
Dinner was in Tanah Rata, followed by a visit to one of the town’s many coffee and cake shops. We sampled Earl Grey and Chinese Flower Tea, along with a couple of rather tempting pieces of cake.
Then it was back to the Hillview Inn. A warm shower, a final attempt to upload the day’s photographs — and, eventually, time to call it a day.
A Strawberry Farm Detour
After breakfast we headed north towards Brinchang, but Route 59 soon became slow going. After covering barely 4km in an hour, we spotted a sign for the Healthy Strawberry Farm and decided on an impromptu detour.
The farm was busy with visitors picking strawberries, browsing the flowers and enjoying the café. After wandering among the plants, we finished with a strawberry waffle, ice cream and a strawberry fruit drink — a rather delightful, and supposedly healthy, excursion!
Towards Gunung Brinchang
After the strawberry farm we rejoined the congested Route 59 and slowly made our way through Brinchang. With parking impossible around the busy market, we continued towards Tringkap and the Cameron Highlands Tea Plantation.
By now it was well past lunchtime, so we stopped for a late lunch and an early afternoon tea in the airy café. Homemade curry pie, a chicken and cheese sandwich and a generous slice of cheesecake were washed down with Cameron Highlands tea. We also called into the plantation shop and bought a selection of fruit teas to take home.
Refreshed, we turned back towards Gunung Brinchang. The road soon became narrower and steeper, winding through lush vegetable farms and polytunnels before climbing towards the Mossy Forest and the summit.
Mossy Forest and the Summit
Higher up, the atmosphere changed completely. Cool mist drifted through the forest, covering the trees with moss and lichen and making the walk along the wooden trail feel almost magical.
The road continued to the summit of Gunung Brinchang, where a viewing platform offered spectacular views across the Cameron Highlands. Wild flowers and colourful orchids added a final splash of colour before we began the journey back down.
After descending the narrow road, we soon arrived back at the hotel for a well-earned shower and rest before dinner.
The drive to Gunung Brinchang had been well worth the effort, with wonderful vegetation and spectacular views. Looking back, I would have liked to spend more time exploring the Mossy Forest trail.
Dinner was in the main street, followed by dessert and a final cup of local tea.
Leaving the Cameron Highlands
Our final morning in the Cameron Highlands started early, with one last breakfast at the HillView Inn. As before, it was simple, tasty and very welcome — especially the homemade jam and, of course, a good cup of local Cameron Highlands tea.
Outside, the sun was still low in the sky and the cool morning air carried the fresh scent of the many flowers surrounding the hotel. It was a lovely way to begin our final morning.
After checking out and saying our farewells to the hotel staff, we headed into Tanah Rata for one last look around the shops. There were a few souvenirs to collect, along with an assortment of local teas. And, keeping up a tradition from the other states we’d visited, I still had one important mission — to find a local T-shirt!
With the shopping done, it was time to leave the Highlands and begin the journey north, eventually joining the old east–west road.
Before leaving Brinchang, however, we made one final detour to visit Sam Poh Temple, situated on the hillside overlooking the town.
Built in 1972, the temple complex is a peaceful and fascinating place to visit. Inside are numerous Buddhist and Chinese statues, with the ever-present fragrance of burning incense adding to the calm atmosphere.
The temple is associated with Admiral Zheng He, also known as Cheng Ho or Sam Poh, whose voyages brought him to the Malay Peninsula during the early 15th century. There are several temples associated with him around Malaysia, and this one proved to be a particularly worthwhile final stop in the Highlands.
After this quiet sojourn, we resumed our journey home, heading down towards Ipoh before joining the old North–South road towards Penang.
And with that, our time in the Cameron Highlands — and another chapter of the journey — came to an end.