The journey from the foot of the hill to the summit is an adventure in itself. You can take a leisurely drive up the old road from the town of Tapah in Perak or through the new road that winds up hugging the mountainsides from Ipoh's Simpang Pulai. The drive up Tapah way is quite a test for the novice but is rewarding. It will take you past waterfalls and Orang Asli (aborigines) settlements. The journey itself is an adventure as you manoeuvre the winding road that cuts through the thickly-jungled hillsides. The Kuala Woh Recreational Park with its hot springs, the Lata Iskandar and Chenderiang waterfalls are among the recommended stops.

Ringlet

At 1,135 metres above sea level, Ringlet is the first of the Cameron Highlands townships that you will encounter. If you are driving, you will probably want to stop here for petrol and to take in the down-to-earth ambiance of this hill-farming community. Saunter over to the market, the Hindu temple and the magnificent mock-Tudor style Lakehouse hotel further ahead. Several flower nurseries are among the other distractions.

Several kilometres after the town is Habu, where a short detour will take you to many vegetable farms, including the sprawling Boh Tea Estate. You can take a tour of the Boh tea factory and savour a fresh cup of Cameron Highlands tea right where it is processed. Feeling  more adventurous, you may want to to try the Dayang Endah Trail that leads to the Robinson Waterfalls. There are also other trails that criss-cross the hilly countryside. These range from those that make for a gentle stroll or an arduous half-day trek for the very fit.

Back on the main road to the main town of Tanah Rata, you will reach the Bharat Tea Plantation and the Tea Shop with a terrace that over-looks the vast expanse of rolling tea plantation. There is a souvenir and tea shop serving Bharat's own brand of Cameron Highlands tea and a selection of English-style fruit cake and scones with strawberry jam, no less. The old English ambiance has always been a part of the Cameron Highlands persona. It is a legacy of the old British colonial types who claim to have founded the area and turned it into a cool retreat to escape the sweltering lowland heat.

 Tanah Rata

At 1,300 metres above sea level, the main township of Tanah Rata is the seat of administration for the district of Cameron Highlands. The main street is lined with old  and new shop houses that have been turned into restaurants, banks, cheap lodgings and souvenir shops. Attractions in Tanah rata is a matter of preference. Some visitors find it a must to discover and explore the Nine Emperor God Chinese Temple or the Hindu temple.

However, the best attraction of the place would surely be hanging out on the sidewalk of the shops over freshly "pulled" teh tarik and watch this small township goes through its paces. Put some effort into digging out the colonial history of the place and you will find that there is more to Tanah Rata and its immediate environs than meets the eye.

There are ample accommodation here. You can chose from first-class hotels, motels and apartments to simple hostels. Taking advantage of the English colonial heritage, Bala's Holiday Chalet & Restaurant, the Smokehouse Hotel and the Cameron Highlands Resort offer a piece of nostalgia by emulating English country inn-like ambiance. The Smokehouse Hotel has managed to retain much of its English country house charm with latticed windows, wooden beams and a rose garden complete with wrought iron garden furniture. The interior is filled with antiques and replicas from a bygone era, English country drawings, four-poster beds and other embellishments.

Brinchang - The Market Town

Five kilometres from Tanah Rata is the town of Brinchang. This is the highest-lying township in Cameron Highlands. Besides the weekly market at the town centre, the Sam Poh Temple, and  handicrafts centre are among other attractions. Slightly out of town, the 18-hole Cameron Highlands Golf Club is the only course in Cameron Highlands.

The very out-of-place Cactus Valley, features thousands of cacti along with a large selection of plants including apple trees, passion fruit and whatever temperate fruits that take to the soil of the place. Several strawberry farms (with ambiance reeking of fertiliser and pesticides) are scattered throughout Brinchang. Fresh strawberry (with canned whip cream and sugar), haevily sugared jam and preserves can be had at almost all of these farms. The Multicrops Central Market and Kea Farm (further down the road) offer more (fresh) highland produce at a fraction of prices in the lowlands. This is, however, debatable as prices at hypermarkets in the cities can be even lower at times! Fancy driving up to Cameron Highlands all the way to buy veggies? Anyway, checkout the shiny purple brinjals, avocados, and leek among others.