Cameron Highlands: Getting There by Bus and Local Transport

Cameron Highland is located in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. Access to the highland is by road only. Using train makes it rather complicated, requiring a change of transport in the town of Tapah.

Here are some of the few ways you can get there:

  • by car
  • by coach/bus
  • by train to Tapah. Then…
  • by taxi/bus transfer from Tapah

The best way is still by self drive though for the first timer, the winding road needs a certain amount of driving skill especially negotiating through the plantation roads! And of course, you can explore the many sights faster than walking and avoids having to hire a taxi to move about.

For those who don’t drive, backpackers and budget travellers, coaches/buses will be the better alternative. Coaches/buses take you directly to Tanah Rata bus station. So you might consider booking your accommodations here for convenience sake.

I think going there by train then transfer to taxi/bus from Tapah would be the most inconvenient way to travel to Cameron Highlands.

The train station is not even located in Tapah (I couldn’t even find it when I made a detour and drove down to Tapah for a look-see!).

It is located outside of Tapah somewhere to the west. You will need to take a taxi or bus to Tapah, and from there book either a taxi or bus that will take you to Cameron Highlands. Nope, too complicated for consideration. I wouldn’t even try it myself.

Simpang Pulai or Tapah Road

There are two approaches by road. Starting from North-South Expressway, you may use the older winding road from Tapah toll exit, or the newer, easier to drive road from the Simpang Pulai toll exit.

 

The Tapah way – exit the North-South Expressway from Tapah toll exit. Basically just follow the sign board. You can’t miss it! This route is more challenging to drive as the road is more winding. And you will need patience and good driving skill to overtake slower vehicles. Many a times I got to test my patience while trailing a heavily laden lorry!

However, you will pass by the breathtaking Lata Iskandar waterfall. You can get some light refreshment here, and there are pottery and souvenir shops around.

This route will take you to Ringlet town first, then to Tanah Rata.

The Simpang Pulai way – This road is easier to drive. The roads are wider with two lanes for overtaking at some stretch. Roads are less winding.

Exit the North-South Expressway at the Simpang Pulai toll. Turning right from the traffic lights you will be on the trunk road heading to Ipoh.

Just a short distance away, you will reach another crossroad with traffic lights. Turning right will take you to Cameron Highlands, going straight will head towards Ipoh, and if you are so inclined, you can take a quick detour to Kellie’s Castle by making a left turn here.

Sign boards indicating the way to Cameron Highlands are now available on this two junctions. So you are unlikely to make a wrong turn here. Just in case, you can always watch out for some landmarks as a guide.

While waiting for your turn at the traffic light junction, you may double check by looking out for these two landmarks – a Polis Station on your left and a Surau (a small Muslim chapel) on your right.

Turn right once the traffic light turns green. Just continue straight on this road, you may see another sign indicating the way to Cameron Highlands. After that no more. Not to worry, it is just one way stretch with no side road turn offs. Along the way you may see some factories and quarries.

After about an hour of driving, watch out for sign board stating direction to Blue Valley Plantation, Kg. Raja & Kuala Terla. There will be a right turn to Kg. Raja and Kuala Terla. Take it, as it leads to Cameron Highland!

This route is sort of like coming up Cameron Highlands from the back door! Well it felt like it, but it is a lot more easier to drive.

You will go through Kg. Raja, then Kuala Terla, pass through Tringkap, then only will you reach Brinchang before coming to Tanah Rata. There might be some slight confusion at Kg. Raja, but should have adequate signage to get you by. This route you can get to see many farms and housing for the locals, though the side roads tend to be quite hap hazardly arranged.

Both ways takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to arrive at Cameron Highlands.

So which way should you use? Why not use both! Use the Simpang Pulai way to go up, and then use the older Tapah way to go down.

That way you still get to visit the Lata Iskandar waterfall, and have much easier time driving up the hill and still enjoy the scenery!

To Cameron Highlands by Coaches

Don’t have a car? Looks like you will have to take a coach bus to your Cameron Highlands travel destinations and vice-versa!

Well, I have compiled a list of bus schedules in this page from various sources. Using bus coaches is quite convenient as compared to using train services. It takes you directly from the city centre directly to Tanah Rata.

Using a bus to travel to your destination though limits the amount of personal items you can carry up to Cameron Highlands and of course, less souvenir items to bring back, which could be a good thing though! Less clutter in the house!

Buses connect to all the major cities in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang, and also to Singapore.

Schedule listed here is a guide only, and you should check it up with the bus operator or at their sales counter for more detailed information. Advance booking may be necessary during peak period in order to get a seat.

Bus Transportation and Schedule:

Kuala Lumpur -> Cameron Highlands

Bus-Kuala-lumpur-Cameron

Kurnia Bistari Coaches

Ticketing Counter #39 at Puduraya Central Bus Station, KL.
Tel: +603-2031 8307
Price: RM17.30, RM22.00 (VIP Bus)
Approximate travel time: 5 hours
Departure time KL: 9am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm
Departure time CH: 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 1:30pm. 4:30pm

Unititi Express Service

Ticketing Counter #66 at Puduraya Central Bus Station, KL.
Tel: +605-4911452 / +605-4914181 / +6012-2150044 Price: Approx. RM22.00 (VIP Bus)
Departure time KL: 8:30am, 1:30pm
Departure time CH: 8:30am, 1:30pm

Singapore — Cameron Highlands

Singapore-to-Cameron-Highlands

Alisan (S) Pte Ltd
The coach will stop at Tapah, and you will have to transfer to a minivan which will take you up to Cameron Highlands. You will need to let the driver know where you like to stop at Cameron Highlands.

Daily Departure at 10pm from Golden Mile Complex, Beach Road.
Tel: +65-6294 4772
Price: Weekday (Sun-Thurs) S$85 per person
Weekend (Fri-Sun) S$95 per person
Peak Periods S$105 per person
Daily one way rates S$45

VIP Coach

From Golden Mile Complex, Beach Road to Tanah Rata Bus Station.
Tel: +65-6294 9306
Departure: 10pm
Daily rate: S$33

Others
These buses travel from Singapore to Cameron Highlands via Kuala Lumpur.

Transnational Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603-20703300 (KL), +65-62947034 (S’pore)

Plus Liner Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603-20720763 (KL), +65-62565755 (S’pore)

Supercoach Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603-20708001 (KL), +65-62947711 (S’pore)

Sri Maju Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603-20701279 (KL)

Konsortium Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603-20313036 (KL)

Bus Terminal Puduraya

Tel: +603-20700145

Some buses depart from Lavender Street, Singapore and some from Golden Mile Complex. Rates are approx S$30+. Please check with the buses companies for current fares and schedule. Approximate 6 hours travel time.

The Bus Terminal Freesia at Tanah Rata

There is a new RM3.9 million Bus Terminal Freesia located in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands just recently opened to the public on the 29 December, 2005.

The terminal was built not only as a bus terminal but has a taxi stand on the ground floor with offices and free car parking space on the upper floors.

New is good right? Not really, due to space constraint for the construction of the terminal, the ramps are steep and the bends are narrow and tight with hardly enough room to maneuver.

“Motorist must slow down when driving along the ramps at the new three-storey bus terminal building in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands.”

Advised by Cameron Highlands district council secretary Mohd Pauzi Abu Hussaini, who did admit that the bends along the rams were quite narrow.

But still commented that the design “was okay and no different from what you see at some hotels and buildings in Kuala Lumpur”.

Really? Those buildings and hotels that had narrow ramps and tight bends I simply just avoid going in to park because they are such a hassle to attempt negotiating the tight bends.

One has to be very careful and very patient to turn every corner, especially big cars and MPVs. They would have the toughest time rounding every bend. Evidence of car scraping against the wall could be seen at those places, and I’m sure the Terminal Freesia will have its fair share of “car graffiti” on its walls.

Already it seems that “a motorist scraped his Mercedes Benz against the wall while attempting to negotiate a bend,” commented a local resident. And some resident consider the terminal a failure as both the buses and cars had difficulty using the terminal.

Despite all the shortcomings, two bus companies will be moving in the terminal. Maybe others will eventually move in too as the old bus stand is very old.

Well time will tell whether the new terminal will be fully utilized.

Recently, I got a good sneak peak at this bus terminal. It is sad to say that the upper floors are totally abandon and unused. Since no one dares to drive up the narrow ramp, they have cordon off the entrance.

I saw a sign which was suppose to lead to an office for tours, but the office was just not there.

What a waste of resources from bad planning. Now this building just sits there looking pretty with nothing much to do. Though the ground is being utilized by some bus company, on the whole, the building is just a white elephant.

Perhaps they could convert the parking area into an extreme sport center or convert it into a sport complex? Well, we’ll see how smart the authorities are or perhaps some enterprising entrepreneur might go do something about it.