The Cameron Highlands in Malaysia has a wonderfully cool climate. It averages between 20 and 25 degrees here during the day. Therefore, it is very suitable for hiking in the Cameron Highlands. It is very nice to escape the heat of Asia and a perfect temperature for hiking to explore the beautiful surroundings and tea fields of the Cameron Highlands. There are many different activities in the Cameron Highlands. There are fourteen hiking trails around Tanah Rata, so there is a route for every hiker: from easy to moderate to strenuous. All fourteen routes for hiking in the Cameron Highlands are described below.
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Tip: download maps.me and check out all the jungle trails on it. They are listed by number and you can continue to follow the directory offline. Ideal during your hike in the jungle without coverage.
Hike Jungle Trail 1: Brinchang Town to Gunung Brinchang
Duration: 3-4 hours one way
Difficulty: difficult
Guide needed: yes
Starting point: view at Google Maps
The hike starts in the village of Brinchang and takes you in 3 – 4 hours to the top of Gunung Brinchang at an altitude of over 2 kilometers. It is also possible to take a cab to the top of Brinchang and walk down alone from here. Since the trail is not very well marked, it is recommended to do this with a guide.
Hike Jungle Trail 2: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple
Duration: 1.5 hours one way
Difficulty: difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
As the name suggests, this hike starts at Sam Poh Buddhist Temple in Brinchang. During this hike, you will hike over rough, unmarked terrain until it meets trail 3.
Hike Jungle Trail 3: Arcadia to Gunung Berembun
Duration: 2.5 hours one way
Difficulty: medium to difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
Trail 3 is a popular choice for a half-day hike combined with trail 7 or 8. The trail starts at Arcadia Cottage, near the Sultan Ahmad Shah golf course and climbs up to Gunung Berembun at an altitude of 1.8 kilometers. It is a very steep 2.5-hour climb.
Hike Jungle Trail 4: Forestry Department to Parit Waterfall
Duration: 30 minutes one way
Difficulty: easy
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps (it starts on the right side of this resort)
This is an easy hike to the Parit waterfall. It is most convenient not to start this hike at the Forestry Department, but rather near the waterfall. In fact, the waterfall is located near Tanah Rata. You can walk straight from your accommodation to the starting point, you will see the waterfall after 10 minutes.
After this, walk on until you reach the Forestry Department and then walk back the same way. A nice and easy hike that you can do right after arriving in the Cameron Highlands or if you have muscle pain from one of the other hikes you can also do this.
Hike Jungle Trail 5: Mardi to trail 3
Duration: 1 hour one way
Difficulty: easy
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This is an easy hike that starts at Mardi’s and eventually converges at trail 3. From the point of confluence, you can choose to continue to the Arcadia Cottage or to the Gunung Brinchang summit.
Hike Jungle Trail 6: Cameron Valley to Gunung Jasar
Duration: 2.5 hours one way
Difficulty: medium to difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This trail starts at the Cameron Valley Tea House 1 and goes all the way up to Gunung Jasar at over 1600 meters. Here the trail meets Trail 10. The trail is unmarked and especially difficult to navigate once you go up Gunung Jasar. It is really recommended to do this hike from the other side (start at Trail 10 and then take Trail 6 to go down, more on this below). We did this ourselves and it is truly a wonderful hike.
Hike Jungle Trail 7: Mardi to Gunung Beremban
Duration: 2 hours one way
Difficulty: very difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This is another popular trail if you want to climb Gunung Beremban. The trail starts at Mardi’s and goes straight up to the summit in 2 hours one way. The trail meets Trail 3 and Trail 8. It is recommended to take Trail 3 down after this, as it is prettier and easier to navigate.
Hike Jungle Trail 8: Robinson waterfall to Gunung Beremban
Duration: 3 hours one way
Difficulty: very difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
Trail 8 is a difficult 3-hour climb from Robinson Waterfall to Gunung Beremban. The trail meets Trail 3 and Trail 7 at the end.
Hike Jungle Trail 9: Tanah Rata to Robinson Falls Weather Station through Robinson Waterfall
Duration: 1 hour one way
Difficulty: medium
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This trail begins in Tanah Rata and descends to Robinson Falls. Here you will descend steeply which requires carefulness. Eventually you will arrive at the Robinson Falls Weather Station, from here you can take a local bus back to Tanah Rata, hitchhike or take a cab.
Hike Jungle Trail 10: Tanah Rata to Gunung Jasar
Duration: 1 hour one way
Difficulty: medium to difficult
Guide needed: no
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This is a great trail to do in combination with Trail 6 to make a super cool half-day hike. The trail starts in Tanah Rata (exact location is listed above) and ascends to the top of Gunung Jasar in an hour. Here you will be rewarded with stunning views of Tanah Rata and Cameron Highlands.
After this you descend for 5 minutes until you reach the junction. Here go straight ahead (instead of turning left back to Trail 10). From here it’s only downhill on Trail 6. When it has rained, this is one big mud puddle. You have to be careful here not to slip.
Eventually you come to a better path, this one you still follow. After about an hour, you emerge at the top of the plantations. Take the right turn here. You now walk along the road for a bit. Eventually you will see the tea plantations on the left and also the sign below.
Here you get to walk through the tea plantation (which is the best part of the whole walk). When you arrive at the top you have to pay 3RM (0.75 cents) to continue because then you are at BOH tea plantation. Enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea and some goodies here. From here you can walk 4 kilometers back to Tanah Rata, hitchhike or take a cab for about 5 to 10 RM per person (1 to 2 euros).
Hike Jungle Trail 11 and 12 are closed
Hike Jungle Trail 13: Cameronian Holiday Inn to Trail 14
Duration: 1.5 hours one way
Difficulty: medium
Guide required: yes
Starting point: view on Google Maps
This is a trail that starts at Cameronian Holiday Inn and leads to Trail 14. However, not much information is known about this trail, so I wouldn’t really recommend doing it unless you plan to do Trail 14 with a guide. Then you can combine them.
Hike Jungle Trail 14: Trail 13 to Gunung Mentigi to Tanah Rata
Duration: 4 hours one way
Difficulty: medium
Guide required: yes
Starting point: view on Google Maps
Trail 14 is a cool trail that begins at Trail 13 where it continues uphill to Gunung Mentigi at an altitude of over 1,500 meters. You walk through mossy forest until the end of the trail at Tanah Rata Road, far south of Tanah Rata where you can hitchhike back, take cab or local bus to Tanah Rata. The hike takes about 4 hours and it is very wise to take a guide.
These are all the hikes of the Cameron Highlands. It is a beautiful area to spend several days and there is plenty to do. After this, continue your journey to Penang, Taman Negara or Kuala Lumpur.
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