Visitors are attracted to the Cameron Highlands largely for a change of climate and pace. As such, activities are nature-based and relaxing with a variety of activities and attractions to suit one's mood and level of fitness.

Ringlet - Ringlet is the first township that one approaches on the route up to the highlands. It has often been bypassed by visitors in their hurry to get to the summit.

Just after the township, about a kilometer away and perched atop the hill on the left is The Lakehouse Hotel. Overlooking the Sultan Abu Akar Lake, the Tudor-style country house is an ideal place to savor English tea and scones, or strawberry and cream. Built in 1972, the 25-room hotel is exquisitely furnished with antique d?cor, poster beds in the suites and has a cozy fireplace for relaxation. The hotel is well-known for its Continental fare.

Habu, just after Ringlet, is more a locality for the Habu Power Station and the Sultan Abu Akar Lake. Of interest to visitors passing through this locality is the flower nursery, some fruit and vegetable stalls, and the persimmon orchards that are an attraction during the fruiting season, from August to September. Shortly after Habu, on the right is a narrow but scenic road that takes you to the Boh tea Plantation, one of the major tea plantations in Cameron Highlands. Northwards, a narrow steep uphill path leads to the Robinson Power Station and the Robinson Waterfalls.

Tanah Rata - Approximately 13 kilometers away from Ringlet is Tanah Rata, the main town of Cameron Highlands. It has a population about 7,000, mostly those involved in hospitality, food and service sectors.

The heart of the beguiling little town centers on Jalan Besar, the mains street. Flanked by a row of quaint shophouses on one side, the town has a sense of warm communal atmosphere normally found in mountain hamlets. The residents here exude friendly charm and courtesy and are generally helpful to tourists. English is widely spoken, given the early colonial history. It is easy to feel comfortable and at peace with oneself in this tranquil environment.

As the main town in the highlands, Tanah Rata is well-served by a range of hotel accommodation, restaurants, shops, a post office, a hospital clinics, travel agencies, a tourist information center, a scenic public garden, golf course, a bus station and a taxi stand.

All of these are within walking distance but taxis are available for hire at RM18 per hour, for venturing beyond the town. For sightseeing, you can book a half day tour for approximately RM15 to RM30, depending on your itinerary.

Brinchang - About 3kilometers north of Tanah Rata is Brinchang, the center of the highlands' green produce. Though it began its early days as a vegetable gardener's settlement, it has developed into another delightful destination of tourists. It is situated on a slightly higher altitude of Tanah rata, and its surroundings are hills terraced by vegetable farms, flower gardens and tea plantations. Here, a wide range of holiday accommodation is available to visitors, ranging from hotels to apartments and colonial bungalows. Attractions in Brinchang are:-

• The Smokehouse Hotel: The Hotel is an enchanting Tudor-style building built in 1937. The pretty boutique hotel with latticed windows, wooden beams and furnished with interesting antique artifacts has 13 lovely suites. English cuisine, including cream tea is served. Its English country garden is especially a treat to its guests.
   
• Strawberry Farms: Across the road, on the hills overlooking the Cameron Highlands Golf Course are two strawberry farms where fresh luscious strawberries, homemade jam and marmalade are on sale.
   
• Sam Poh Buddhist Temple: Serving the largest Chinese population that live in Brinchang is the Sam Poh Buddhist Temple. The ornate Buddhist temple is built on a hill overlooking Brinchang.
   
• Hindu Temple: A new elaborate temple serving the large Indian population, it is easily located in Brinchang along the main road.
   
• Cactus Valley: Located at Brinchang, this center is built on terraced grounds and covered overhead with skylight roof. There is a variety of cactus plants, some as old as 60 years. On ground level are a profusion of blooms, cacti and even apple trees. Tomatoes, cucumber, honey pears and strawberries are on sale.
   
• Rose Center: The biggest center in Cameron Highlands, Rose Center Kea Farm, is located in Rose Valley Village in Brinchang. It has over 100 varieties of roses growing on terraced ground. Sculpture, fountains, walkways, and pagodas are incorporated with the grounds making it a pleasant experience for visitors. At the peak, one can get a panoramic view of the surroundings. Souvenirs, fresh roses, pressed flowers and plants are on sale.
   
• Flower Nurseries: Fresh flowers are cultivated in the highlands and are a leading export. Most of the flowers are grown in Brinchang. Flower nurseries can be found located on the hilly inclines bordering the main road in Brinchang. Blooms like roses, chrysanthemum, carnations, dalia, geranium, fuschia, gladioli and 'everlasting flowers' are grown at the nurseries. No visit to the highlands is complete without purchasing some of these fresh colorful cuts to take back home.
   
• Butterfly Farms: There are several butterfly farms located conveniently near the main road in Brinchang. Butterflies flit in a natural, simulated environment of a tropical garden. Look out for the large black and shimmering green Raja Brooke butterflies.
   
• Vegetable Farms: Cameron Highlands is the nation's prime producer of fresh vegetables, with some of the produce exported to the neighboring countries. Most of vegetable farms can be spotted from the road from Brinchang to Tringkap. Cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes, carrots, leeks, parsley, pak choy, long beans, pumpkin and pepper are grown there. Purchase can be made at the vegetable stalls.
   
• Vegetable stalls: Vegetable stalls are a common sight along the roadside but for a wide choice and freshness visit Brinchang Market early in the morning. Many visitors staying at bungalows and short-let apartments, in fact, buy an assortment of fresh vegetables for their next meal.
   
• Honey Bee Farm: Beekeeping is a recent activity in the highlands and the only bee farm is located at Brinchang, just after the butterfly farm. Honeycomb and bottled honey are available for sale.
   
• Sungai Palas Boh Tea Estate: One of the bigger tea plantations, guided tour is offered around the factory to enable visitors an insight into the processing of tea. After the tour, visitors can sit out at the tea shop, overlooking the hills, and enjoy tea and shortbread. A variety of teas, from Pekoe to Cinnamon-flavored ones are on sale. Trinkap, Kuala Terla, and Kampung Raja are little settlements populated by the local population who work various sectors in the highlands. They, however, offer a glimpse of the daily lifestyle of the highland village folk as they go their activities.

» Tea story

Tea is influenced by its character, flavor and bouquet which are in turn greatly influenced by the environmental conditions under which it is grown.

The tea story in Cameron Highlands began in 1929 when a young British resident, John Archibald Russell, saw the potential of the Highlands as an ideal 'tea country' and sowed the seeds of a thriving tea industry. Major tea plantations are Boh Tea Plantation, Sungai Palas Boh Tea Estate, Bharat Tea Estate and Blue Valley Tea Estate.

Tea pickers begin their work on the hills well before sunrise, plucking only the tender leaves of the tea bushes. The leaves are then weighted at the hills before being transported to the factory for processing.

At the factory, moisture is reduced through a process which is known as withering, thus stimulating the natural chemical reactions within are vital for the tea's flavor. The leaves are then rolled by machines called rotovans, setting free the juices necessary for fermentation, a critical stage which develops the flavor, aroma, and characteristics of tea. Fermentation is halted when the leaves are fed through hot-air machines. The drying process takes about 10 minutes during which the leaves are turned into the crisp black forms we are familiar with. The tea leaves are then grade according to their particle size.

In recent years, the highland tea has been exotically flavored with oils, flowers, herbs and essences, of which the Songket brand ahs a variety to choose from. They include flavors of vanilla, mint, orange, lemon, passion fruit, cinnamon and cardamom. In all more than 3000 tea varieties are available in the world of tea.