How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands

Why visit Cameron Highlands?

Cameron Highlands is a picturesque hill station in Pahang, which enjoys a cooler climate than most states in Malaysia. Its temperature almost never surpasses 30 degrees so it’s a favourite weekend and summer destination for locals.

The lush tea plantations in Cameron Highlands provide a refreshing escape from city life. Its temperate climate also makes for beautiful flora and continental fruits and vegetables. (Tip: Try out their strawberries!) Cameron Highlands can be touristy on weekends, so go on a weekday, if you can.

There are 4 ways to travel the 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands. You can choose between the bus, taxi, train and train via Tapah Road. The journey takes 3 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours 40 minutes and the quickest way is by train via Tapah Road. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train via Tapah Road with tickets starting at 44 MYR ($10).

Tapah is a laidback town located 70 km south of Cameron Highlands. There’s not much to do in the town itself. There are a couple of waterfalls on its outskirts, but they’re still at least an hour away.

The one advantage of making a stopover in Tapah Road though is that combined fares are cheaper.

At least 13 trains operate from KL Sentral Station in Kuala Lumpur to Tapah Road daily. They depart almost every hour from 07:05 to 22:45. Travel time is more or less 2 hours and ticket costs start 29 MYR ($6.60).

For the latest schedules, we recommend checking the KTM website beforehand. You can also buy your train tickets from there.

From Tapah Road Station, you’ll first need to take a taxi to Tapah Bus Terminal. Rates start from 29 MYR ($6.60) for the 20-minute ride.

There are several bus companies operating from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands. These buses depart from Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS) almost every hour from 08:30 to 17:30. The travel time is between 4 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

You can buy your ticket at the bus terminal, but be aware that they can sell out fast on weekends and holidays.

Another option is to book online via BookAway or 12go.Asia. Currently, there are 2 options available for online booking. You can see their schedules and corresponding links in the table below:

You have two options when travelling by train from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands: via Ipoh or Tapah Road. The train is a good option if you plan on checking out any of these 2 locations, but if not, you may be better off taking the bus.

Ipoh is a vibrant town with many interesting attractions. Known as the gateway to Cameron Highlands, we think it’s best to make a stopover here if you’re really keen on taking the train.

The train route via Tapah Road is cheaper, but you really won’t have much to do in this quiet town. But if your goal is just to take the train and not make any other side trips, this might be the better option for you.

Not sure which train route to take? Read on for a more detailed guide.

Buddhist temples, limestone caves, castle ruins – these are just some of the places you can explore if you make a stopover in Ipoh, which is located 90 km west of Cameron Highlands. We think it’s only worth taking the train if you plan on visiting any of these age-old attractions.

There are 15 trains that operate from KL Sentral to Ipoh daily. These depart once or twice an hour from 07:11 to 20:06. The cost of a standard train ticket starts at 36 MYR ($8.10) and travel time is between 2.5 – 3 hours.

From Ipoh Train Station, you’ll need to head to Amanjaya Terminal. To get there, you can take a 15-minute taxi or a 50-minute bus ride. Fares start from 30 MYR ($6.80) and 4 MYR ($0.90), respectively.

Buses bound for the Cameron Highlands depart from Amanjaya from 08:00-18:30 daily. Perak Transit, CS Travel, and Unititi Express are the bus companies you can choose from. Ticket prices start from 22 MYR ($5) if you choose to buy them at the terminal.

If you prefer to book them beforehand online on BookAway, you can get a ticket for 38 MYR ($8.70). A couple of dollars more expensive, but it can be really helpful if you are travelling on a busy day.

If you’re travelling with a small group, there is also the option to take a taxi from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands. You can get a car or a minivan that can fit up to 7 people for rates between 600 MYR ($135) to 645 MYR ($145).

You can ask your hotel for help with booking one, but we highly recommend just booking online via BookAway. It’s more convenient, you’ll be assured of a spacious car, and BookAway also provides good customer service. Just click the link below.