Muddy forests and tea valleys in the Cameron Highlands

It was cold, rainy and already getting dark when we first arrived at Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands. Luckily the next morning the sun started shining and we could catch a first glimpse of the green mountains. While I thought upon arrival I would be wearing socks for days it ended up being quite hot during the day.

What the town lacked in charm, the surrounding nature made up for. We did 2 hikes (on 2 days) both going uphill to catch a beautiful view of the many tea plantations.

Hike nr. 10 was a clean one and good to get into the walking drill. There was too much mist on top of the mountain to see anything, but I loved to zoom in on the many trees and plants along the way. The start was a short walk from our hotel.

Hike nr. 1 from Brinchang Town (you can easily get a bus to the start and back) was a bit more challenging as it involved some climbing at the end, but at the same time that was the part that made the trek really memorable. You start in the forest and end between tea plantations.

We did both treks completely on our own, without even a map. We just asked at our hotel where to find the start of the treks and off we went.

The first two pictures show the “path” of hike nr. 1. The other ones are shots I took on hike nr.10. And lastly you can see the road through the tea valley when coming back from hike nr.1, the stunning Cameron Bharat Tea Plantation (take a bus to get there) and, not to be forgotten, the delicious strawberries that are sold (try the jam!) in the farms you pass.

Cameron Highlands travel information

• Transport: In and out by bus
• Stay: I don’t know the name of the place anymore, it was new and located in this street. There are plenty others as well, so have a look around.
• Food: Good Indian food. Not a big fan of the steamboat: costs too much for what you get. Better to just have some noodle soup or other Chinese food.
• Things to do: There a numerous hikes to take, our guesthouse had a map we could borrow. Visit a strawberry farm (the strawberries are very tasty!). When you take hike nr. 1, you encounter one on your way down and you’ll also get a chance to visit the Boh Tea Estates. I found the Cameron Bharat Tea Plantation prettier though (2nd last picture).