Cameron Highland

Information get from:
http://www.cameronhighlands.com/
http://www.cameron-highland-destination.com
http://health.cameronhighlands.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=26

There are a lot of Mountain at Cameron Highland. Gunung = mountain. :)





Tanah Rata Accomodation
1 Heritage Hotel
2 Father's Guest House
3 Cameronian Inn
4 Hill View Inn
5 Jurina Lodge
6 Twin Pines
7 BB Inn
8 The Highlanders
9 Daniels Lodge
10 Kavy Hotel
11 Roselane Hotel
12 Downtown Hotel
13 Cool Point Hotel
14 Century Pines Resort
15 Bala's Chalet
16 Desa Anthuruim Apartments
17 Puncak Arabella Apartments
18 Prima Villa Apartments
19 Carnation Park Apartments
20 Royal Lily Apartments


Brinchang Accomodation
1 Star Regency
2 Green Garden
3 Hill Garden Lodge
4 Chua Gin
5 Country Lodge
6 Rainbow Hotel
7 Sentosa Hotel
8 Jasmine Hotel
9 Kowloon Hotel
10 Brinchang Hotel
11 Parkland Hotel
12 Rosa Passadena
13 Pines & Roses Hotel
14 Iris House Hotel
15 Sri Juliana


Attraction at Cameron Highland

The activities you can never miss out is - jungle trekking. Below are the trails available.



Trail 6
- This trails starts from the factory at Cameron Bharat Tea Plantation. The trail leads up to Mount Jasar at 1,670 meters. It joins up with trail 10.

Trail 10, 11 & 12 (Jasar Trail)
- Trail 10 starts from behind the Oly Apartments in Tanah Rata, with quite a tough trek to Mount Jasar (1,670 meters). There is a split to trail 11 which bypass the summit climb. Both Trail 10 & 11 leads to Mount Perdah (1,551 meters), which somehow links to trail 12 to the point halfway along the road to the weather meteorological station.

Trail 13
- This trail starts from behind the Cameronian Holiday Inn. It merges with trail 14.

Trail 14
- A moderate trail leading up to Mount Mentigi (1,535 meters). Said to have great views. Start at from the Vetinarian Department in Tanah Rata, proceeding south to Mount Mentigi, eventually emerging on the at the 8km Tanah Rata road.


Trail 1
- This is a rarely used trail starting from the army living quarters at the northern top end of Brinchang. It leads up to Mt. Brinchang, Cameron Highlands highest peak at 2,032 meters. This trail is difficult, and being rarely used, meaning the trail is not so well define with less trampling of the path. Precaution is needed here as trekkers have gotten themselves lost in this trail.

Trail 2
- This trails starts from behind Cameron Highlands' Sam Poh Buddhist temple. The route is difficult with undulating path. It joins up with Trail 3.

Trail 3
- This trails starts at the Arcadia Cottage where the road stops from the golf course. The trail is easy. However, upon meeting up with trail 2, the continuation of trail 3 will become steeper on the way up to Mt. Beremban at 1,812 meters. Along the way, you can choose to branch off to trail 5 avoiding the steep path to Mt. Beremban. Continuing with trail 3 will join up with trail 7 and trail 8. Estimate to require about 4 hours going up and down the trail. It has a good view of Tanah Rata from the top.

Trail 4 (Parit Waterfall Trail)
- This is one of the more frequently used trail as it is easy and it leads to the Parit Waterfall. It takes approximately 30 minutes, and has a good picnic spot. Start the trail either from the forestry department or behind the Garden Inn Hotel. You can have a look at some of the photos of Parit jungle walk at the picture photos page.

Trail 5
- Starts from MARDI (Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute). It is an easy trail through the woodlands. It joins up to trail 3.

Trail 7
- This trail also starts from MARDI (Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute). It heads straight to Mt Beremban. Very difficult and challenging trek!

Trail 8
- This trail leads off from trail 9, which is the trail from the Robinson Waterfall. This is another trail to climb up Mt Beremban.

Trail 9/9a (Robinson Waterfall Trail)
- This is the Robinson Waterfall trail. It is frequently walked path by visitors and takes approximately one hour. Starts from Robinson Power Station and ends up in Tanah Rata. The route 9a that branches off to the road to Boh estate is less steep than the route to Tanah Rata. You will hear the gushing sound of rushing water before you reach the waterfalls.

Some tips collected
Camping
Camping is more popular with the youth groups or university students who would hike up and spend the night on the lesser known mountains along the main range. These trips are not for the weak.

If you find that too difficult, why not just pitch a tent at the Sg Pauh campsite which is located near the Forestry Department. The campsite has got all the basic amenities like washrooms and running water. It is located near Taman Sedia and just a 5 minute drive to Tanah Rata or Brinchang.

For more information about the campsite and facilities available, please contact the Forestry Department at 05-4911384.

You will have to get the approval from the forestry department and you will also need a guide who is familiar with the area if you are planning to camping out in the forest.

Jungle Treking
Generally most jungle treks in Cameron Highlands are pretty safe. Although most are not clearly marked, the trails are wide and clear enough for you to get through easily. During the rainy season, the trails can get very muddy and slippery.
Get a map from your hotel or from the shops in town if you are planning to trek on your own. Get a guide if you want to explore the trails which are not in the map.

Jungle trekking is a popular activity among the foreign tourists. Short tracks are of around 2 hours and liked by most but tracks of around 4 hours are loved by the more adventurous.

Jungle trekking by itself is of no danger. Notable incidents are bee stings and scratches. However, a more frequent mishap is getting lost along the tracks. This happens especially when the traveller starts his expedition in the afternoon and found the weather changing abruptly. Once the rain and mist descends, not helped by the setting sun, the trails look vague and misleading.

It is thus advisable to start in the morning on trails longer than 4 hours. If possible, inform a friend or the hotel of the route you are going to take.

What are the things to do in Cameron Highlands? Let's go jungle walking!

Here are a few basic tips to follow before you head into the rainforest.
• When choosing a trail, be sure that you have enough time to complete the entire route before darkness falls. Check with your hotel on the estimated time and difficulty level.
• Always inform your hotel on your destination and plans especially your estimated return time.
• Take plenty of water and pack a few easy to eat snacks to keep energy level up.
• Do not eat fruits you find in the jungle or drink water from the streams unless you are with a guide who says its ok.
• The weather here can unpredictable here so be prepared for sudden rain showers. You can buy the disposable raincoats for about RM5 at any mini market in town.
• Wear suitable and comfortable clothing. A good pair of shoes is mandatory as the treks can get muddy and slippery. Shorts are ok but long pants are recommended to provide protection from thorny plants.
• Lastly, use good judgment and common sense.

Precaution For Jungle Trekking
Before embarking on your trail blazing jungle trekking expedition in Cameron Highlands, here’s a checklist of things to do and prepare:

Water – bring plenty of it as you possibly could, without burdening yourself. Water is heavy to trudge around in the jungle, but very necessary to bring sufficient amount to quench your thirst.
Food or snacks – a little extra food is good for picnics and well, do keep some for emergencies too.
Matches or Lighters – to make fire at night to keep warm, though it may be difficult to start a fire if the twigs of wood is damp. Good for making smoke signals too!
Warm clothing – nights can get real cold! Brrr...!
Torches – maybe a small one to keep your gear light.
Mobile Hand phone – make sure it is fully charge. You may get lucky to catch some signal to call out for help. Don’t forget to bring along the hotel phone number or the local emergency numbers.
Pieces of paper with pen/pencil – good for marking trails and helps to start a fire easily.
Medication - would be helpful, like antiseptics, bandages, paracetamol (pain killers), anagelsics, etc.
Knife – an invaluable asset in a survival situation.
Before embarking on a trekking expedition, it would be wise to inform friends or hotel staff about your activity, and approximately when you will be expected to return from the Cameron Highlands’ trail.

Above all, be positive! An optimistic outlook keeps a person going till rescued, even in difficult situations. One of my favorite reference book is the John Wiseman’s SAS Survival Guide. Buy a pocket version to bring along!

It may prove to be invaluable!

Hiking
The most popular mountains are Gunung Beremban, Gunung Brinchang and Gunung Jasar. For the more adventurous there are other less well-known mountains but a guide is recommended on these journeys.

Maps are available for the more common routes and you can find these at local shops or tour operators.

Gunung Beremban
Located in Tanah Rata, it can be reached via the Mardi Station, Brinchang (behind the Sam Poh Buddhist temple) or the golf course, past the Arcadia bungalow where the road stops (this is the easiest trail). It takes about 11/2 to 2 hours to reach the summit. It is also possible to climb Gunung Beremban from Robinson Falls.

Gunung Jasar
Also located in Tanah Rata, Gunung Jasar is a good track for beginners. The trail which starts next to the road to the weather station will take you 11/2 hours to reach the peak. Another trail which leads to the peak is located near the Oly Apartments in Tanah Rata.

Gunung Brinchang
Gunung Brinchang, is the highest peak in Malaysia accessible by road. The trail which starts from Sungai Palas will take about 11/2 hours to reach the summit. The view from the summit offers a great panorama of the plateau, although it spends most of its life shrouded in cloud. The road up the mountain starts near the Sungai Palas tea estate.

Steamboat Dinner
Having steamboat for dinner on a cold highlands night is something you should never miss. There are a lot of restaurants in Tanah Rata and Brinchang which offers this treat. Price starts from RM12-RM22 per person.

A few recommended steamboat restaurants in Cameron Highlands

Mayflower Restaurant _ Tanah Rata
Kowloon Restaurant - Brinchang
Hong Kong Restaurant - Tanah Rata
Rosa Pasadena - Brinchang
Ho's Organic Restaurant - Brinchang
Restaurant Golden Ship - Ringlet

Restaurant
T-Cafe
Hidden in a quiet corner of Tanah Rata, this restaurant is getting good reviews not only from us but also from other local and regional publications.
T-Cafe serves various local and western dishes including mouthwatering desserts like the homemade apple pie and chocolate cake. They are also famous for their Tea and Scones which is a must try on your next trip to Cameron Highlands.

Location : Situated above the Merrybrown Restaurant in Tanah Rata.

Website - www.t-cafe.biz

Restoran Bunga Suria
Serving delicious Indian food, this place got thumbs up for it's good food and cleanliness. This is also one of the few places in town that serves good Indian vegetarian dishes.
A favorite hang out spot for the locals, this is the only restaurant in Tanah Rata that stays open till the wee hours of the morning. If you're a night own and looking for a place to enjoy a hot cup of tea, this is the place for you.

Location : Situated in the same block as Bank Pertanian in Tanah Rata town. It is visible from the main road.

British India Restaurant
Located in Bala's Chalet, this restaurant usually serves their in-house guest but it's also open to walk in customers.
Recently we have got some good feedbacks from visitors about this restaurant especially its rustic setting and good north Indian food.

Location : Bala's Chalet is located along the main road between Tanah Rata and Brinchang. Less than two minutes drive from Tanah Rata.

Highland Restaurant (NON HALAL)
This place has been getting good reviews for the past 2 years. They closed down for a few months early this year as the lease on the restaurant expired. They reopened at a new location in Brinchang which is more spacious, clean and provides a more comfortable dining experience.

Famous for their charcoal steamboat, Highland Restaurant also serves very good Chinese dishes.

Location : Situated in the Brinchang new town area.

Tea And Scones
This English tradition is still alive and popular here in Cameron Highlands. Locally grown tea and freshly baked scones is a must try on your trip to Cameron Highlands. Although it is available in a lot of places around Cameron Highlands, only a few places serve realy good scones.

T-Cafe (Tanah Rata)
- This is one good restaurants in Cameron Highlands that serves good scones. Hidden away in a quiet corner of Tanah Rata town, T-cafe also offers other local and western food on their menu.

Website - www.t-cafe.biz

Travel Tips
When to visit Cameron Highlands
The best time to visit Cameron Highlands is during the off peak season or during the weekdays. It can get really crowded here with during the school holiday weekends and festive holidays and traffic can get really bad especially around the towns and tourist spots. Driving up here from Tapah can also take twice as long during these time.

Road Travel
Be careful when driving to Cameron Highlands especially if you are a first timer. There are a lot of trucks and buses on the roads here most of the time. Overtaking can be a challenge especially on the Tapah-CH road. If you are not confident, just follow the vehicle in front you at a slow speed. Usually the local trucks and buses will signal for you to overtake when it is safe. During the rainy season, you can expect small rocks and tree branches on the roads.

If you are an inexperienced driver, avoid travelling at night if possible. Although it is safe, take note that there are no street light all along the way and it can feel like a very long drive.

For more information on getting to Cameron Highlands, click here

Petrol Stations
Make sure you have at least half tank of fuel before you start your journey from the expressway exit. There is a Shell station 5 minutes towards Tapah town from the toll booth.

Stations located in Cameron Highlands:

In Ringlet - Shell & Petronas

In Brinchang - Shell & Petronas

The towns
Tanah Rata - This is where most of the chalets, lodges and backpacker's accommodations are located. Tanah Rata is generally more quiet and less crowded even during the peak season. If you want to enjoy some peace and quiet, this is the place to stay.

Brinchang - Weekend night market is located here and its only 5-10 minutes drive to the Kea Farm area. Traffic and parking can be a big problem during the peak season. This is the place to stay if you dont mind the crowd.

What to Wear
These days, you can make do with shorts and t-shirt during the day. The temperature can drop in the late evenings or when it rains and a light jacket would come in handy during times like this. Generally it can get very cold at night especially during the rainy season.

If you are planing to spend most of your day in the outdoors, its better to get one of those disposable plastic raincoat as it rains a lot here.

Credit Card
Credit cards are accepted in most bigger hotels. You may not be able use credit cards at smaller hotels and most of the restaurants here. You may want to check whether your credit card is accepted or not by looking at credit card signs at the door. Visa and Master are most common ones you can find.

Price of goods
Prices for general goods and foods in Cameron Highlands are almost the same as anywhere else in West Malaysia. Some restaurants tend to overcharge especially during peak season. This is more common in Brinchang where most of the restaurants which caters to tourist are located.

Mobile Phone Coverage & Internet Cafe
Coverage for mobile carrier are only available in and around major towns. All the way from Ringlet to Kampung Raja you will have no problems using your phone. Available coverage are Maxis (012,017), Celcom (013,019) & Digi (016)

There are a number of internet cafe's available and most of them are in Tanah Rata. Most guest houses and hotels also provide internet services.

Banks & Money Changers
The following banks can be found in Cameron Highlands:
Tanah Rata
- Maybank (This bank also operates a money changer which is open 7 days a week)
- HSBC
- Bank Simpanan
- Hong Leong Bank

Brinchang
- Public Bank

Ringlet
- Southern Bank

Banks are only open Mondays through Fridays and generally only between the hours of 9.00am to 4.30pm. All banks above have automatic teller machines to cater for after-hours transactions.

Local Bus Schedule
Local Bus Schedule
The information below is accurate as of the time of publishing and is subject to change at any
time. Please contact the taxi companies directly for the updated information.

Local Buses from Tanah Rata & Tapah
(Regal Bus Co. Ltd. Sdn Bhd)

Tanah Rata to Kampung Raja
Bus stops in :
Brinchang
Kea Farm
Butterfly Farm
Junction to Sg Palas
Tringkap
Kuala Terla
Kampung Raja

6:30am
8:30am
10:30am
11:30am
12:30pm
1:30pm
2:30pm
3:30pm
4:30pm
5:30pm
6:30pm

Tanah Rata to Tapah
Bus stops in :
Habu
Lake House
Ringlet

8:00am
9:00am
10:30am
11:30am
1:15pm
3:15pm
4:15pm
5:30pm

Tapah to Tanah Rata
Bus stops in :
Ringlet
Lake House
Habu

8:00am
9:00am
10:30am
11:30am
1:15pm
3:00pm
4:30pm
5:30pm

Taxi Rates
The information below is accurate as of the time of publishing and is subject to change at any time. Please contact the taxi companies directly for the updated information.

Local Destinations - From Tanah Rata Taxi Stand to

Brinchang
RM 4.00 – RM 6.00

Kea Farm / Butterfly Farm / EQ
RM 12.00 – RM 15.00

Sungai Palas Tea Plantation
RM 20.00 – RM 25.00

Kuala Terla
RM 16.00 – RM 18.00

Kampung Raja
RM 25.00 – RM 28.00

Cameron Valley / Bharat Tea
RM 10.00 – RM 12.00

Boh Tea Plantation
RM 25.00 – RM 28.00

Outstation Destinations - From Tanah Rata Taxi Stand to

Tapah
RM 60.00

Ipoh
RM 80.00

Lumut
RM 170.00

Penang
RM 250.00

Gua Musang
RM 160.00

Kuala Lumpur
RM 200.00

KL International Airport (KLIA)
RM 250.00

For more information, please contact :

Tanah Rata Taxi Stand - 05-4911234 or 05-4912355

Distance between towns
Distance between towns

Ringlet to Tanah Rata - 13km
Tanah Rata to Brinchang - 6km
Brinchang to Tringkep - 8km
Tringkap - Kuala Terla - 5km
Kuala Terla - Kg.Raja - 3km

Travelling Health
Cameron Highlands is probably the safest and healthiest district for local and foreign travellers alike. Crime and accident rates are low and confined to less serious types. This is attributed to the small, isolated population of around 26,000. The windy and narrow roads deters speeding. And with only one access road, which is from Tapah, criminals find it hard to escape the long arms of the law.

Food and water borne infections are few and far in between. Typhoid cases occur about once a year, while there are no cases of Cholera for the past 5 years. Diarrheal cases are around 400 cases annually, which averages out to about one case a day.

The district is basically agriculture and tourism based and consequently spared of polluting factories and toxin spewing plants. In fact, the only flaw in an otherwise perfect example of harmony between man and nature, is the use of pesticides in farming. This is, however, closely monitored and much improvement is made over the last few years.

Visiting the Aborigine's Village
Another popular activity favoured by both the local and foreign tourists is a visit to the Aborigine's village. Tourists get a first hand look at the traditions of the Aborigines or "Orang Asli" as they are known in Malay.

The danger here is that, with the exception of Sg. Ruil, all the other Aborigines' villages are endemic for Malaria. Travellers are advised to avoid the villages that are situated in the jungle. If there is a burning and unquencable desire to visit these places, then they are advised to take Malaria Chemoprophylaxis one week before entering the Malaria endemic areas. The drugs can be obtained from the Hospital in Tanah Rata.

Other preacutions that can be taken for the traveller visiting Malaria endemic areas are

Make it a day trip and leave before sunset. The Anopheles mosquitoes are active after sunset, with a peak biting hour at 2200hrs.
Use mosquitoe repellent while walking in the jungle or in the village. This will also repel other biting insects, and occasionally a leech.
Stay indoors after sunset, sit around a fire where the smoke can repel the mosquitoe.
Bring along a mosquito net and sleep under it through out the night.
If you are unlucky enough to come down with fever 2 weeks after a visit to a Malaria endemic area, please let your doctor know that there is a possibility that you may have contracted Malaria. Certain forms of Malaria, if left untreated, will result in death.

Eating in Cameron Highlands
The all time favorite activity of Malaysians the world over! Foreign visitors to Cameron Highlands have a choice of Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine, be it in a restaurant or a stall. All the food are tasty and welcoming. There is no guide for the gourmet among the travellers and it is left to the traveller to choose the place to eat.

However, all the food premises in Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang are rated for cleanliness. They are given a grade of A, B or C. A for "very clean", B for "average" and C for "not clean"

All the food premises should be A or B. Premises rated C are given 2 weeks to clean up, failing which they will be shut down until remedial works are done.

Medical Facilities
Medical services are provided by both the private clinics and the government hospital. The goverment hospital is located in Tanah Rata, while private medical clinics can be found in Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang and Kg. Raja. There is also one private dental clinic in Brinchang.

There is also a Health Department in Tanah Rata located just besides the Hospital. Enquiries into all aspect of health can be made here.

Other useful link:
http://www.ewarns.com.my/index.php?im=about