A hilltop retreat that comprises a series of towns and villages set at altitudes of 1500m to 1800m ASL, the Cameron Highlands are located in the centre of peninsular Malaysia in the state of Pahang.

Pahang is in itself one of Malaysia’s most charming destinations with a landscape that metamorphoses from a sun drenched coastline edged by the South China Sea to lofty mountain peaks, gentle rolling hills to dense stands of rainforests.

In the glory days of the British Empire, a surveyor by name of William Cameron came upon a plateau surrounded by high mountains in 1885. It reminded him of home and seemed to be a perfect retreat from the heat and humidity of the Malay Peninsula. It wasn’t just the British who came here, other Europeans and Malays were equally drawn to its cooler, invigorating temperate climes so different from the rest of steamy, enervating tropical Malaysia. Global warming and other side effects of the 20th century notwithstanding, the average temperatures in the Camerons stay between pleasantly cool 10^° to 15°C.

The homesick British took to it in a big way - Cameron Highlands took on a distinctively "English" character and an overall ambience that drew heavily on nostalgia for the home country. So the Cameron Highlands became ‘Little England" of Tudor style inns, tearooms, gracious country homes, fruit orchards and rose gardens.

The region’s fertile soil, sloping hillside and temperate climate made it commercially viable for farming and the British established the very first tea plantation in 1929. From that beginning, it has developed into the "Green Bowl" of Malaysia, supplying not just tea but also fruits, vegetables and flowers to the rest of Malaysia. Its terraced fields have become the centre for the cultivation of produce that that need low temperatures all year round like strawberries, sweet peppers, lettuce and tomatoes.

The Cameron Highlands have become the centre of Malaysia's tea industry and every one’s favourite getaway to escape the heat of the plains. Its attractions now number such myriad delights as jungle walks, waterfalls, 18 hole golf course, tours of tea plantations, rose and cactus gardens, strawberry and vegetable farms, bee and butterfly farms and the villages of the indigenous Orang Asli tribe.

The main towns of the Cameron Highlands are Brinchang,Tanah Rata and Ringlet. Brinchang is the most visited with its bustling market square, hand crafted souvenir outlets and the Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, the only Buddhist temple in the region. Most people prefer to use Brinchang as the base camp for excursions to the nearby scenic areas, tea plantations, bee and butterfly farms and to the towns of Ringlet and Tanah Rata.

Accommodation: Budget travellers will find the most reasonably priced accommodation in Tanah Rata. Top of the line resort style accommodation and international standard hotels are mostly in Brinchang, some like Ye Olde Smokehouse are historical sights in themselves.

Getting There: The journey up to the Cameron Highlands is a delight in itself - the sole way to scale the heights is to drive up either by car, cab or coach. Daily coach services operate between the Camerons and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Kuala Lumpur is 295km from Cameron Highlands on the North-South Expressway till the town of Tapah, the gateway into the highlands. Tapah is also the nearest railhead connected by train to Kuala Lumpur. The intervening 60km distance is covered on the scenic Route 59, with the option to stop at any one of the many interesting enroute detours like the Kuala Woh Forest Recreation Park with its picnic areas and hot springs and the impressive Lata Iskandar waterfall. Refreshments available at the waterfall make it another good reason to stop over, if stretching cramped limbs and the natural beauty of the cascade don’t suffice.

The Camerons are perfect for those who have had it up to there with the sun, sea and sand - it is the ideal place for a dose of colonial retrospection, a game of golf or tennis or just to walk away those city blues in the midst of a tranquil environment that soothes the senses and rejuvenates the body and soul. The idyllic setting and cool climate entices visitor to sit at a table in a pretty garden, sip the Highland’s fine tea and savour fresh strawberries with sweet scented honey. The Camerons are indeed consummate perfection - a Garden of Eden on a tropical stage.

 For detailed country and visitor information, see Malaysia.