Beating the summer heat can be a challenge in Southeast Asia, where it’s seemingly summer year-round, but for those seeking a respite from the balmy days in Kuala Lumpur, the verdant hills of Cameron Highlands are never more than a few hours by road.
Cameron isn’t merely a cool getaway that draws thousands of travelers each year; it’s also home to the tropical country’s best options for hiking trails, temple-hopping, and overnight camping—not to mention a thriving organic agro-tourism business and some of the top treks.
1. Visit a British-Colonial Era Tea Plantation
The lush, verdant greenery of the highlands overflow with British-colonial era tea plantations (pictured above), including the Sungai Palas Plantation and the Boh Tea Centre, home to the country’s largest tea company. Boh Tea, Malaysia’s famed black tea producer, has been around since the 1920s, and the imprint it has left on the topography of peninsular Malaysia is astounding—watch the wild jungle transform into knolls of emerald steppe, and take out a camera to document the journey. This British outpost, discovered by the Briton Sir William Cameron, abounds with undulating hill slopes, ultimately forming one of the most idyllic and pristine postcard captures in the entire country. It’s difficult to find a wrong angle here; even the journey itself to the Sungai Palas tea plantation will inevitably involve catching a breathtaking panorama of the seemingly infinite rolling tea fields. For information on tours, contact Columbia Leisure.
2. Sleep in the Jungle
The Wild Junction in Blue Valley is an ethereal spot in the jungle offering a canopy of stars to sleep underneath on an overnight camping expedition. Rev up a four-wheel drive, then spend the daytime wandering through the Mossy Rainforest, a misty and dreamlike tropical rainforest carpeted in exotic flora. From pitcher plants to primitive ferns and orchids to medicinal plants, the area is one of Malaysia’s lushest and most beguiling. While wandering around the cloud forest, see if you can find the Rafflesia flower, reportedly the globe’s largest flower. For tours, contact CS Travel and Tour.
3. Become One With Malaysia’s Nature
Photo by Sabrina Toppa
Malaysia is emerging as one of the top ecotourism destinations in the world. On a rainy day—or after some time sprinting uphill on a treacherous trail—opt for a relaxing outing picking succulent strawberries at the Big Red Strawberry Farm, located only a stone’s throw away from Brinchang township. From 8 in the morning to around 6:30 p.m., 12 acres of sheltered farmland are open to the public, allowing visitors to glimpse hydroponically grown lettuce, strawberries, and more on one of the region’s premier agro-tourism farms. And if you’re looking for something slightly more exciting than nibbling on a plump red strawberry, snack on the myriad concoctions drawn up from the simple fruit—strawberry Popsicles, strawberry cakes, and strawberry shakes are just the beginning. Young children might find this venue of particular interest, as it’s located in a family setting with plenty of young tykes merrily frolicking around the expansive gardens. Once done with the strawberries, check out the nearby government-run MARDI Agrotechnology Park, which is also open to visitors interested in plants, crops, and flowers. While in Brinchang, don’t skip visiting Pekan Lama’s Cactus Valley, a depository for some of Malaysia’s finest and most historical species of cactuses, or the EeFengGu Apiary Farm, a free farm where viscous honey overflows from beautiful gift jars to bring home to family and friends. The Robinson Rose Garden and Valley, which teems with fresh roses, is one of the area’s oldest-established rose gardens. The garden itself is free to the public, and offers souvenirs of rose and rose berry jam.
4. Trek the Highest Mountain of Cameron Highlands
The two or three-hour ascent up Gunung Irau (“Mount Irau”) brings you more than 6,500 feet above sea-level, with incredible views of the Mossy Forest. The climb offers plenty to behold along the route to the area’s highest mountain. The path to the summit’s peak, named “Jungle Walk Number 14,” also snakes off into a sinuous trail leading to further mountaineering expeditions. Don’t be afraid to camp at the rocky clearing atop the mountain, either; it opens up to sweeping vistas of emerald valleys. Just beware: This adrenaline-pumping route isn’t for first-time climbers.
5. Say a Prayer
If you’re seeking something slightly spiritual on a hilltop, try a temple devoted to the imperial Chinese eunuch Zheng Ho. This unusual temple, known as Sam Poh temple, is the largest religious structure in Cameron Highlands, and houses Malaysia’s fourth-largest Buddha, according to some reports. It’s a serene complex with gold-plated statues. Just don’t disturb the Chinese Buddhists praying at the site or the monks huddled inside the temple’s meditation center.
6. Cool Off at the Robinson Waterfall
Photo by Sabrina Toppa
In Malay, the word for water is “air,” and walking to water is very much akin to searching for oxygen in Malaysia’s scorching summer months. Take Path 9 to reach Robinson Waterfall, which sits in close proximity to the town of Tanah Rata within Cameron Highlands. The well-maintained footpath makes seeking out the vertical falls and cascades of water a no-brainer in the heat. Just a fair warning: the footpath gets steeper and more treacherous upon descent. Still, it’s not a bad idea to tote along some food supplies and arrange a picnic along the route when the journey strikes you as arduous.
7. Take a Tribal Tour
The Semai tribe lives in a cluster of villages along Cameron Highlands’ eastern valleys. The area abounds with traditional bamboo huts constructed with palm leaves, wood, and, obviously, bamboo, but the joy of venturing to this area is simply meeting the people and learning more about their cultivation practices—the residents are quite eager to share knowledge about how they till the land, not to mention construct their farming implements, musical instruments, and even blowpipes.
Sabrina Toppa is a New York-born writer covering travel, food, and politics. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, TIME, NBC News, VICE, and other outlets.