Ideas For A Fun Cameron Highlands Itinerary
Going with the family or with friends? Check out these different itineraries to see which best suits your group and interests.
We’ve included the classic itinerary as well as an alternative itinerary that we think is more interesting and has greater money-for-value.
Ready to get started?
Classic Itinerary
Morning
Get up early and beat the crowds to BOH Sungai Palas tea plantation. We recommend having breakfast over at the new Terrance Terrace (the tea and nasi lemak are both good, but don’t bother with the scone set).
Note: BOH Sungai Palas tea plantation is closed on Mondays
After spending an hour or two at the tea plantation, make your way to Kea Farm Market for a look-see at the local goods and souvenirs. Try PUKU strawberry ice cream.
If you have kids, they will probably enjoy a visit to the Sheep Sanctuary. But we recommend giving this place a miss if you are truly passionate about animal welfare as this place doesn’t qualify as a sanctuary for sheep.
Another popular stop in this area is Raju Hill Strawberry Farm. It is an uphill walk to reach the farm but they usually have a lot of strawberries to self-pick. And there is an on-site café too if you’re starting to feel peckish.
Afternoon
For scones with a British-like ambiance, we recommend either The Smokehouse which has a lovely garden you can sit in. Or the Jim Thompson Tearoom at Cameron Highlands Resort. They have a decadent high-tea set in a beautiful lounge with a grand piano.
Entrance fees are at RM20 per adult at Lavender Garden, this is one of the oldest attractions in Cameron Highlands. They’ve expanded over the years and even have a sizeable strawberry section above the garden. Our personal opinion is that this place loses out to competitors with better maintenance and lower entrance fees (you can see our other itineraries below for alternatives).
Cactus Valley is another established attraction in Cameron Highlands. It is not huge as the name suggests but they do have some very old specimens of cacti that are a marvel to look at. But there are entrance fees of RM8 per adult.
Evening
End your day with a lovely steamboat dinner. There are many restaurants to choose from in Brinchang and Tanah Rata but our favorite is Cactus View Restaurant (not halal).
If you have time for an evening stroll, Cameron Centrum is a new unique outdoor mall in Brinchang. There are coffee shops here and a basement supermarket too.
Alternative Itinerary
Morning
Green View Garden is one of the first stops on the way to Cameron Highlands from Ipoh. It’s a neat garden attached to a visitor center and chocolate shop. The garden is free to visit. There are some animal pens and paddle boats to keep the little ones occupied. We will add that the on-site Japanese-themed café has a delicious scone set while the bento sets are just average.
The other new attraction that we think is worth seeing is Agro Market. It’s big and entrance fees are RM25 per adult. The gardens are beautiful and there is even a large and impressive aviary to explore here. Other highlights include a well-landscaped cacti section. And the mini Santorini section and animal section (cats and rabbits mostly, and they are only for viewing, no petting) higher up the park.
PS: It’s hard to avoid attractions with mini zoo sections – we ourselves feel very uncomfortable with how animals are mistreated for the sake of attracting families with kids.
We’ve haven’t found a great lunch spot in Cameron Highlands yet. The best so far is Miso Kimchi in Tanah Rata – they have pizza and a very wide menu that will appeal to big groups.
Afternoon
While unassuming on the outside, we think the Time Tunnel Museum is worth a look. There are many sections inside and the gallery is bigger than it looks. The photos are mostly labeled and grouped in a logical manner and there are many antiques to admire too. Entrance fees are RM8 per adult.
If you don’t mind a bit of unease (e.g., litter outside the trail entrance and a lack of signs and trail markers) and taking risk, the Coral Hill hike (free entry) behind the Time Tunnel Museum is a short hike and climb that will take you through a stretch of mossy forest and to the top of the hill. Those of average fitness can make it up and back within an hour but we don’t recommend going all the way to the top if you have a fear of heights. Avoid stepping on the very old and fragile moss.
BOH Habu Tea Plantation is free to visit and off the tourist radar. To us, this is its greatest appeal. There’s a simple on-site café and a hill behind that you can climb up for a good view of the tea plantation. Feel free to take as many photos with the tea bushes as you like since there are no crowds here.
Our favorite spot for scones in Cameron Highlands is at Cado Café in Brinchang. They have a small but charming garden, artisan cakes and a wide beverage menu too. For a cheaper alternative, try The Lord’s Café.
Evening
A meal at Hot Pot Times Restaurant (not halal) in Brinchang is not going to be cheap, but we really love their pork bone soup base. Go early before the dinner crowds pour in.
Conclusion
And there you have it, two very different itineraries for Cameron Highlands that you can tweak to your liking.
We really encourage you to step off the well-beaten path and go with the second itinerary in this post. After visiting so many places in Cameron Highlands, these are the places that we think are worth their price.
If you want even more alternatives, you can book our Ipoh to Cameron Highlands day trip. These private tours will allow you to further customize your itinerary with the insight of a local experienced guide to advise you.
