Visit Cameron Highlands From Ipoh: The Perfect Family Day Trip

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If you’re craving a break from Malaysia’s tropical heat, a quick visit to Cameron Highlands might be exactly what your family needs. Picture this: rolling green hills, misty mountain air, tea plantations stretching for miles, and strawberry farms waiting for tiny hands to pick from. It’s a slower, cooler corner of Malaysia that feels worlds away from the bustle of Ipoh, even though it’s just about an hour and a half up the road.

This day trip turned out to be one of those unexpected highlights for us,  equal parts peaceful, scenic, and a little chaotic (because, well… we have kids). If you’re wondering what it’s really like to explore the Cameron Highlands with little ones, here’s our honest look at the experience, the good, the surprising, and everything in between.

Tea Time

Why Families Should Visit Cameron Highlands

Families often feel a pull to visit Cameron Highlands because it doesn’t feel like the rest of Malaysia. Up in the mountains, the air cools down, the terrain shifts into layered hills and farmland, and there’s a slower pace that makes you breathe easier.

We first heard about it when mapping our route from Penang to Ipoh. It kept coming up: “don’t miss the tea plantations,” “you have to try picking strawberries,” “the mountain views are so different.” It became a must-see detour before we even finalized our plan.

For us, the appeal was simple: fresh air, cool weather, and some time away from the city noise. The idea of sipping tea with a sweeping view while the kids ran through strawberry fields sounded like a day that would stick with us.

Getting From Ipoh to Cameron Highlands

It takes about an hour and a half to drive from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands, though it’s smart to plan for closer to two hours if you think you’ll make a few stops or hit traffic. The drive is beautiful but winding, and once the tour buses start heading up later in the morning, it slows down a lot.

We decided to hire a private driver for the day, and honestly, it made the whole trip easier. The roads are narrow in places and can get backed up quickly, especially on weekends or school holidays. Having someone who knew the area meant we didn’t have to worry about parking or figuring out the route ourselves.

If you’re planning to drive your own car, I’d leave as early as possible, before sunrise if you can. By mid-morning, you’ll be stuck behind lines of cars crawling up the hills. It’s not unsafe, just slow and tiring if you’re doing it on your own with kids in the back seat.

How We Did It

We left Ipoh just after sunrise and made it up in about an hour and a half. Our driver handled everything, from navigating the mountain curves to knowing exactly where to drop us off for each stop. It took all the stress out of the day.

The drive itself was pretty easy, with lots of green views and small towns along the way. My youngest tends to get carsick, but she was fine this time. The road up through Simpang Pulai is smoother and less twisty than the older route through Tapah, which helps a lot if you’re traveling with little kids.

We stopped once for a bathroom break and to grab a few snacks, which helped break up the trip. On the way back down in the afternoon, traffic was heavier but still manageable. I wouldn’t recommend driving this route after dark, the roads aren’t well lit, and visibility can drop quickly once the fog rolls in.

What to Know Before You Go

  • Leave early. The earlier you go, the smoother your day will be.
  • Avoid weekends if you can. Crowds from Kuala Lumpur and Penang drive up on Saturdays and Sundays, and it shows.
  • Plan for cooler weather. The temperature drops fast as you climb, so pack layers or a light jacket.
  • If you’re driving yourself, take the Simpang Pulai route. It’s wider, better maintained, and safer than the Tapah road.
  • Expect traffic in the afternoon. Especially near Brinchang and Kea Farm, where most of the main attractions are.

If I were to do it again, I’d probably still hire a driver or stay overnight. The drive is scenic, but it’s a lot of in-and-out of the car for a single day, especially with young kids. Having someone else handle the logistics let us actually enjoy the views instead of worrying about the next turn.

Zoomania Stop

First Impressions of Cameron Highlands

When we first arrived in Cameron Highlands, it honestly felt like we’d left Malaysia entirely. The air hit me first, cool, clean, and almost earthy. After days of humid city weather, it was a relief. I remember stepping out of the car and immediately realizing we hadn’t packed enough warm clothes. The temperature drops fast here, especially in the morning, sitting somewhere between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit most of the year. It’s the kind of weather where you start in a jacket and end up peeling it off by lunch.

Everywhere you look, the landscape feels alive. The hills are lined with vegetable farms, tea estates, and long rows of greenhouses covered in white netting that almost glow against the fog. The drive ends right into Tanah Rata and Brinchang, which are the two main towns. Both have markets, cafés, and small restaurants, but traffic starts to build quickly as the morning goes on.

It’s meant to be this quiet mountain escape, but it doesn’t stay quiet for long. By late morning, families, tour buses, and local visitors start filling the roads, all coming up for the same reason, to escape the heat of the lowlands. Even with the crowds, the energy feels good. It’s busy, but not chaotic.

What Surprised Me Most

I didn’t expect Cameron Highlands to feel so developed. There are still quiet moments and scenic views, but you’ll also see modern hotels, cafés, and big markets tucked between farms. It’s more of a blend of countryside and small-town life than the untouched mountain village I had pictured.

For us, the best part of those first moments was realizing we’d found a completely different rhythm here. It’s still Malaysia, but it has its own feel, slower, cooler, and a little calmer, even with the traffic. It set the tone for the rest of the day.

BOH Tea Plantation Overlook

Visiting the BOH Tea Plantation

Our first big stop was the BOH Tea Plantation, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the top attractions when you visit Cameron Highlands. The drive up is steep and narrow, but our driver dropped us right at the entrance and even walked us partway to the café.

If you’re bringing small kids, know this: it’s not stroller-friendly. There are stairs and uneven paths, so a carrier is your best friend here.

The reward for the climb is worth it, though: sweeping green views and a modern glass café perched right over the plantation. We grabbed tea and fresh donuts while soaking up the view. I went for a matcha-infused tea that was smooth and earthy (and exactly what I needed after the drive).

Checking out the View

There’s a free factory tour, but we skipped it since it was getting late and the café service took a while. Also, no photos or videos are allowed inside the processing area, something to keep in mind if you were hoping for content shots.

By the time we left, the crowds had doubled, and cars were backed up for miles. Moral of the story: go early, or go the day before and be there when the gates open.

Zoomania Butterfly Farm

Exploring Zoomania Butterfly Farm

Our next stop was Zoomania Butterfly Farm, and this one was an easy win with the kids. It’s in Brinchang, right along the main road near many of the other popular stops, so it’s convenient to fit into a one-day route. The farm isn’t big, but it’s the perfect in-between activity for families, enough to keep little ones engaged without taking too much time or energy.

Inside, the space is enclosed and filled with colorful butterflies flying freely around tropical plants. It’s not a huge zoo setup, more like a walk-through garden with butterflies fluttering near your shoulders and landing on flowers just a few feet away. My girls loved getting close to them and watching them up close.

There are also a few small enclosures with other animals, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, beetles, and even some reptiles. You can buy small packs of food at the entrance to feed the rabbits, which was a big hit for our kids. Everything is on a smaller scale, which makes it easy to manage if you have young children who can’t handle a long, structured stop.

This was one of those stops that didn’t take much planning but gave the kids something fun to do. After visiting larger places that required more walking and waiting, this felt like a good reset for everyone. It’s a small, simple stop, but it’s worth adding if you’re traveling with young kids who need a balance of activity and calm.

Lunch at Restauran Yao Yat

By lunchtime, we were ready to sit down, and our driver brought us to Restauran Yao Yat, a local spot serving classic Malaysian dishes. It wasn’t fancy, but it was clean, quick, and affordable.

They had several kid-friendly options, including fried rice topped with an egg. The portions were generous and not overly spicy, which is always a win when traveling with little ones. We ordered a few dishes to share, and everything came out fast.

If you’re wondering about price, it was cheaper than most meals we’d had in Ipoh, and honestly, it was one of the better meals we had that week.

Pick Your Own Strawberries

Picking Strawberries at Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm

You really can’t visit Cameron Highlands without stopping at a strawberry farm. It’s one of those things everyone looks forward to, especially the kids. We visited Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm, and it ended up being one of our favorite stops of the entire day.

When you arrive, you’re handed a small basket and a pair of scissors. The staff explains how to clip the berries from the stem and where to stop filling — there’s a line on the basket to mark the limit. It’s a small detail, but it keeps things fair since you pay by weight. My kids loved every minute of it. They were running from row to row pointing out which strawberries were “the biggest” and “the reddest,” completely in their element.

Strawberry Farm

Once you’re done picking, the staff weighs and packs the strawberries neatly into containers to take home. They’re firm, juicy, and fresh off the plant, but make sure to rinse them before eating since they come straight from the soil.

Right next to the picking area, there’s a small café that serves strawberry-themed treats and drinks. You can get strawberry coffee, fresh juice, milkshakes, or even strawberry waffles if you want a snack. We tried the strawberry coffee, and it was surprisingly good, a little sweet, but perfect after walking in the sun.

The café area has shaded outdoor seating with views of the farm, which makes it an ideal break before continuing your day. It’s quiet, with a nice breeze and plenty of space for kids to sit or wander safely nearby.

If you’re traveling with young kids, Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm is the kind of place that makes the whole day feel special. It’s simple, affordable, and gives them something they can do completely on their own. For us, it was the calmest and happiest part of the trip, a hands-on, low-stress stop that broke up the busier sightseeing perfectly.

Rose Valley

Strolling Through Rose Valley

Our last stop of the day was Rose Valley, a peaceful, flower-filled garden that felt like the perfect way to end the trip. After the crowds and the noise at the bigger attractions, this place was calm and quiet. Hardly anyone was there when we arrived, which made it even nicer. It’s one of those spots where you can finally slow down, walk at your own pace, and just enjoy being surrounded by color.

The garden is tucked between Brinchang and Tringkap, about ten minutes from the main stretch of town. It’s not very big, but it’s full of roses, orchids, and a variety of other tropical flowers that grow surprisingly well in the cooler Cameron Highlands climate.

Tons of Flowers

It’s not stroller-friendly since there are steps and uneven paths throughout, but it’s easy enough to do with small kids if you take your time. The kids liked pointing out all the different colors of roses and following the pathways, and I liked that it gave us a quiet moment after a long day.

For us, Rose Valley wasn’t about checking something off a list. It was more about catching our breath before heading back down the mountain. After a full day of sightseeing and driving, this stop gave us a few quiet minutes to slow down, let the kids explore, and just take in the view before the long ride back. It’s not an essential stop, but if you have a little extra time or need something mellow to balance the day, it’s a nice way to wrap up your trip.

Final Thoughts: Was Visiting Cameron Highlands Worth It?

For us, absolutely. Visiting the Cameron Highlands felt like hitting pause on the chaos of travel, breathing in cooler air, tasting fresh tea, and watching our kids run through rows of strawberries.

Yes, it gets crowded. Yes, it’s a long day. But there’s something special about seeing this side of Malaysia, where the pace slows down and the scenery takes center stage.

If you’re nearby in Ipoh and craving a day of nature, color, and calm, visit Cameron Highlands. Just go early, bring a jacket, and don’t forget the snacks, always, always the snacks.

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