Cameron Highlands Things to Do Tips by Mozumbus

Packaged Tours: Pros and Cons

We wanted to explore major attractions of Cameron Highlands at our own, during our Oriental Outings 2011, using the public transport, but the uncertainty of schedule and the language barrier forced us to book a packaged tour.

We found four tour operators around Tanah Rata: Kang's Travels, TJ Travels, CS Travels, and Titiwangsa. After window shopping, we booked half day tour with CS Travels which listed the following including pick-n-drop from the hotel for RM 25 pp:

Sam Poh Temple
Rose Center
BOH Tea Estate (Sungai Palas)
Honey Ranch
Butterfly and Insect Farm
Strawberry Farm

Other full day tours included visits to Rafflesia, Orang Asli villages, etc. Rates are comparable and we did not see any reason to prefer one operator over another.

Although our experience of the packaged tour was not bad, mainly because of the certainty, however, we felt a bit rushed especially at places where we would have wanted to spend more time. Packaged tour also deprives the freedom to choose places as per one's preferences.

Therefore, it would not be unwise to DIY if one has time and the capacity to take (mild) risk. By doing at one's own, one may also get the liberty to visit multiple farms of the same kind, as per their preferences. For instance, there are more that one Tea Estates so a tea connoisseur may choose to visit tea farms only in the given day.

Please click here to know what we explore during the day tour

Address: Around the main market

Directions: Booking offices of tour operators are spread around the main market of Tanah Rate and may easily be located while walking around. Ask locals/shop-keeprs around for more specific directions.

The Tea Factory

Malaysians are proud lovers of the Cameronian Tea, and why not, the unending tea farms produce country's finest tea. There are many tea factories around the hill station out of which we visited BOH Tea Estate as part of the tour package during our Oriental Outings 2011.

BOH stands for "Best of the Highlands" and the BOH Tea Company, owned by a Scottish family, is one of the producers of Cameronian tea.

This factory is located at Sungai Palas where they also offer a free guided visit of the tea making process. Book the morning tour, or plan it early in the day in case you want to do it on your own, should you want to see the operations. Visit of the factory is also possible in the second half of the day, before 1600 hrs, but then you may only see those idle machines.

For us, it was interesting and informative to know how the tea is processed and how much money those rich Scottish are making expoliting our love for tea!

Btw, it would not harm to have a cup of tea in the adjacent tea shop which faces the stunning green valley!

Please click here to read why we chose for the packaged tour instead of doing it ourselves

Address: BOH Tea Estate, Sungai Palas

Directions: If you are using public transport, then get off at Sungai Palas junction while going in the direction of Kampung Raja from Brinchang. The factory is ~3 km from the junction. Do seek local support for directions.

Sedated Butterflies and Weird Insects

The brochure of the day tour we booked with CS Travels during our Oriental Outings 2011, listed a visit to Butterfly Farm among other things. I was rather interested in watching colourful butterflies roaming around green meadows freely rather than those sedated species!

However, the adjacent insect farm showcasing some shocking varieties made up for the time waste.

The one which looked like a dried leaf was simply unbelievable! A showcase even looked without an insect as it resembled thin wooden stick!! Keeping in view our experience, it would be highly advisable to do jungle trekking before visiting the insect farm to avoid the cynicism!

Please click here to find out what else we explored during the day

Address: 43rd Miles, Kea Farm, 39100 Brinchang

Directions: It is located near Kea Farm, on the main road, outside Brinchang in the direction of Kampung Raja. Easily doable with the public transport; ask for Kea Farms.

Carpeted Hills

Spread on hundreds of hactres, green carpet like plantation of tee trees is the trademark of Cameron Highlands. Tea trees are not allowed to grow beyond a stipulated limit, usually 3 feet, hence creating a unique landscape around the hill station.

Please click here to read why tea workers did not like it to be photographed

Address: Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Directions: In all directions!

Sam Poh

Located above the picturesque Brinchang velley, Sam Poh temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples around Malaysia. We visited the temple as part of the sight-seeing tour during our Oriental Outings 2011 and found that neat and impressive.

Entrance of the temple is built ornately with traditional Chinese style architecture. Inside there are two big halls, first is mounted with various upsize golden statues while the second and the main one is installed with a giant golden Buddha. There are church like seating arrangements also for worshippers.

It is required to remove the shoes before entering into the second hall.

Please click here to read details of our day trip that included a visit to Tea Farms

Address: 4l Miles, Brinchang

Directions: The temple is locate up the hill, a little off the main road, so do ask locals for directions if you are at your own.

The Rose Center

We visited the Rose Center as part of the sight-seeing tour during our Oriental Outings 2011

Contrary to the first impression, it came out to be a whole valley of flowers spread from the foot of the hill to all the way to the top.

Apart from othe conventional and unconventional species, there were around hundred varieties of roses including the black one. A wide range of cacti is also there for cactus lovers.

Flowers are arranged in around ten inclining patios with some stunning views of the surrounding landscape from the upper ones.

For flroal connoisseurs, even a full day is not enough to appreciate the combination of natural beauty and the human hardwork.

The in-house souvenir shop was however a big disappointment; ordinary and over-priced.

Entrance Fee: RM 5
Timing: 0800 t0 1800

Please click here to read details of our day trip that included a visit to Tea Farms

Address: Near Kea Farm, P.O. Box 3, Post Office Brinchang

Directions: Rose Center is located outside the Brinchang town towards Kampung Raja. Since it is located a bit off the main road, therefore, it woud be a good idea to ask local for directions, especially if one is at their own.