Cameron Highlands Malaysia – Tea Plantations, Steamboat Dinner & Hidden Waterfall

The Cameron Highlands sit about 1,500 meters above sea level, and after the heat of Kuala Lumpur, the cooler air is the first thing you notice. On this trip with my friend Shum, we had a steamboat dinner, toured the BOH tea plantation and stopped at Lata Iskandar Waterfall on the drive back to KL.

We only had one night, since Shum needed to get back to KL. We stayed at the Zenith Hotel Cameron Highlands; the full review is on Crash Course Hotels.

Steamboat dinner. Steamboat is basically the Malaysian version of hot pot. A pot of simmering broth goes in the middle of the table, and everyone cooks their own thin-sliced meat, seafood, fish balls, tofu, noodles and leafy greens. It’s social and relaxed, more of an experience than just a meal. You’ll see steamboat restaurants all over the Highlands for a good reason: evenings can drop to around 15 to 20°C, the vegetables are grown locally, and a hot pot is the perfect meal on a cool, misty mountain night.

We ate at May Flower Restaurant. I don’t remember what it cost, but I’d do it again. Shum was rather insistent on steamboat, and I can see why. It fits the local climate perfectly.

BOH Tea Centre. We were blessed with beautiful weather the next morning, and the drive up to the BOH tea plantation was gorgeous. The whole place smells wonderful, like tea leaves. Shum warned me there were three billion stairs; to be fair, they’re very well maintained, and the viewing deck at the top, looking out over tea on every hillside, makes them worth it. The factory tour is free and only takes a few minutes, though no cameras are allowed inside. There’s also a gift shop with every variety of tea you can imagine, plenty of snacks and ice cream, and tea tastings every couple of hours.

We skipped the tasting this time. We were short on time, and it would have meant staying longer. If you have the time, plan around one.

This is one area where, even though it’s touristy, I could stay a while longer just for the climate. I’m a fan of cooler temperatures and elevation.

Lata Iskandar Waterfall. About halfway down from the Highlands on the way back to KL, this is a convenient spot to take a break, snap a picture and grab a snack. There’s a little market with fresh fruit and roasted corn.