The Best Places to Stay in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Drink in the cool climate and undulating hills and tea plantations of the Cameron highlands in Malaysia
Drink in the cool climate and undulating hills and tea plantations of the Cameron highlands in Malaysia | © Ana Flašker / Alamy
Lu Yin Wai

With its cool climate, verdant tea plantations, jungle trails and top-notch accommodation options, it’s no wonder the Cameron Highlands in central Malaysia is a popular holiday destination. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay, bookable with Culture Trip.

While the Cameron Highlands shot to international renown after serving as the setting for HBO’s 2019 film adaptation of Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng’s novel The Garden of Evening Mists, this area has long been a playground for locals seeking respite in nature. There are plenty of relaxing activities available, from rambling along undulating hills to picking fruit at the numerous farms dotting the highlands or simply unwinding in the comfort of a home-style resort.

1. Gerard’s Place

Resort

A double bedroom with impressive forest views at Gerard’s Place in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Gerard’s Place / Expedia

If you’re looking for a cosy getaway with your partner, you’ll love this adults-only resort that offers a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy each other’s company. The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, and offer lovely views of lush greenery. While breakfast is not included in the room packages, there are on-site kitchen facilities should you feel like whipping up a meal. If not, there are plenty of dining establishments just a short drive away – from steamboat restaurants to eateries specialising in fresh seafood.

2. Century Pines Resort

Spa Hotel

Cosy double bedroom with a private balcony at Century Pines Resort in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Century Pines Resort / Expedia

With interiors that are best described as mid-century modern, this family-friendly resort features plenty of warm lighting, plush carpets and heavy drapes. All the rooms offer either tranquil mountain views or overlook the garden, so you can wake to the soothing sights and sounds of nature. For those in need of some pampering, there’s an on-site spa that offers a wide selection of therapeutic treatments, but those planning to work up a sweat can pop by the hotel gym or sign up for the many hiking or cycling tours available.

4. Father's Guesthouse

Bed and Breakfast, Hostel

Double room at Fathers Guesthouse in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Father's Guesthouse / Expedia

This cosy bed and breakfast is an ideal getaway for travellers seeking to relax in cooler weather. There is a small kitchen where you can make your own snacks, and complimentary tea and coffee to start your day before heading out. The guesthouse arranges nature and sightseeing tours to explore the Cameron Highlands so you can pick what you want to do. Other perks of this place include free parking, wifi and a charming garden to relax in.

5. The Lakehouse Cameron Highlands

Boutique Hotel, Resort

A spacious double room at The Lakehouse Cameron Highlands, with a four-poster bed, plush armchairs and wooden furnishings.
Courtesy of The Lakehouse / Expedia

Step into a blissful fairy tale-like world with a stay at this Tudor-style country house. The Lakehouse Cameron Highlands is located at The Valley of Eternal Spring, overlooking the rolling hills and calm woodlands. It is a short drive to Tanah Rata and Ringlet where you can see many natural attractions. You can also book a guided jungle trek to explore the Cameron Highlands. On the accommodation side of things, each room flaunts a spread of Tudor-esque features, from beamed ceilings to four-poster beds. There is a spa if you’re in need of a post-trek pick-me-up and the main restaurant follows the old-world theme.

6. The Smokehouse Hotel

Boutique Hotel, Inn

The exterior of The Smokehouse Hotel in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of The Smokehouse Hotel / Expedia

Enjoy a relaxing stay at this Tudor-style boutique hotel, which was built in 1939 along with an adjoining golf course. The garden follows the English country theme, with classical flowerbeds and manicured lawns. The Tudor theme runs throughout, and the well-appointed bedrooms offer maximum comfort after a day exploring the rolling hills. Come the morning, tuck into a fine traditional English breakfast. The afternoon tea, complete with fluffy scones, cream and strawberry jam, is also not to be missed.

7. Arundina

Hotel

The yellow exterior of Arundina Hotel in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Arundina / Expedia

This 12-room boutique guesthouse is named after a bamboo orchid. The bungalow was originally built as a family home and today it serves as a welcoming spot for tourists to stay. All the rooms are cosy and tastefully furnished with comfort in mind, and come with free wifi and multiple power sockets. The staff are really friendly and happy to provide you with information about local tours and transportation. If you fancy something closer to home, the Parit Falls are less than a 15-minute walk from the guesthouse. The gardens at this hotel are equally as lovely, with some very photogenic views.

8. Hotel De'la Ferns

Resort, Suite Hotel

Spacious twin room with two double beds and simple furnishings at Hotel Dela Ferns in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Hotel De'la Ferns / Expedia

Hotel De’la Ferns is located between Tanah Rata and Brinchang. The boutique resort features 78 well-furnished rooms, with singles, doubles, twins and queen options. The junior and family suites come with Japanese-style sliding doors. Up your vacation game with a stay in the duplex-style penthouse suites, Cameron Ferns and Highland Ferns. Each suite boasts incredible views of the highlands. Another highlight here is the Fern Restaurant, which serves Western and local dishes. The scones, chocolate brownies and apple pie are real crowd-pleasers.

9. Cameron Highlands Resort

Resort

The exterior of the Cameron Highlands Resort.
Courtesy of Cameron Highlands Resort / Expedia

Set 1,500m (4,921ft) above sea level in a forested mountainscape, Cameron Highlands Resort is a charming 56-room resort that started life as a 1930s cottage. The interiors hark back to its grand colonial heritage with tall French doors, timber-beamed ceilings and plantation shutters. All rooms and suites enjoy splendid views of the golf course with a backdrop of rolling hills and lush green forest. The views from the refined restaurant are also a treat, along with the English-Asian fusion cuisine. Make time for the on-site spa during your stay, with natural ingredients and local healing practices used during treatments.

10. Strawberry Park Resort

Resort

Spacious and stylish double bedroom at the Strawberry Park Resort in the Cameron Highlands.
Courtesy of Strawberry Park Resort / Expedia

Set on a sprawling seven-acre (2.8ha) plot, Strawberry Park Resort is beautiful property with breathtaking views of the highlands. Be sure to book a room with a balcony so you can soak up your surroundings from dawn to dusk. The exterior of the property is neo-Tudor in style, but the rooms have a modern feel, with polished wood floors and monochrome furnishings. Upgrade to an apartment for an ultra-luxurious experience, with a whirlpool tub and fireplace to indulge in. On the dining front, there are several restaurants offering everything from Wiener Schnitzel to home-made pizza. And if you fancy partying the night away, there’s even a nightclub.

Vanessa Tai contributed additional reporting to this article.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article