Cameron Highlands Resort

Cameron Highlands was named after William Cameron, a British Government surveyor who discovered it in 1885 on a mapping expedition but failed to mark his discovery.

It was not until 1925 that Sir George Maxwell recorded Cameron’s discovery and developed it as a hill station attracting British colonials and expatriates, including British planters who realised the potential of its fertile mountain slopes for growing tea.

Set 1,500 metres above sea level in a forested mountainscape, Cameron Highlands Resort is built as a long extension from an existing 1930s cottage with architecture dating from the 1970s.

Promising splendour, romance and nostalgia, the interiors hark back to its grand colonial heritage with tall French doors, timber-beamed ceilings and plantation shutters combined with the colours and textures of Jim Thompson’s famed Asian silks. This is mirrored in the friendly service, where traditional English charm merges seamlessly with discreet Asian hospitality.

Endearingly known as the ‘little piece of England in Asia’, the cool climate on the picturesque plateau and its hilly greenery are tailor-made for rounds of golf, pink-cheeked rambles along jungle trails, tea plantations, farms or gardens, afternoon tea with scones and spa treatments that celebrate the restorative powers of tea.

Elegant interiors, lush surroundings and five-star care set the tone for the perfect highland getaway filled with trails, tales and traditions.

ABOUT JIM THOMPSON
Born 21 March 1906 in Greenville, Delaware, James Harrison Wilson ‘Jim’ Thompson was an American businessman and architect who mysteriously disappeared during a stroll in Cameron Highlands on 26 March 1967.

A legend in Southeast Asia, he almost single-handedly revived interest in the Thai silk industry with the establishment of the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company which survives and thrives to this day.

As legend has it, Jim Thompson had been staying at Moonlight Bungalow with close friends. He spent the morning of Easter Sunday attending a church service before moving on to a picnic lunch with his companions. By mid-afternoon, the party had returned to Moonlight Bungalow for a siesta but whatever happened during the next few hours remains an enduring mystery.

When Thompson failed to appear for tea later that day, a search was made. It was discovered that Thompson’s bed had not been lain on. His jacket was found on a chair, a cup of tea on the table and a half-smoked cigar rested against an ashtray.

While it would not have been unusual for him to have gone for a stroll, given his love of the outdoors, the fact remains that decades on, still no one knows for sure what happened to Thompson on that fateful day in the highlands.

Many conspiracy theories have been put forward following his disappearance. Some say that he was attacked and killed by a tiger; others say he simply got lost and was swallowed up by the dense jungle; or had fallen into a ravine or long-forgotten animal trap.

Another theory with a more sinister insinuation was that Thompson, allegedly an OSS agent (the US intelligence agency that would eventually become the CIA), had been kidnapped for his involvement in espionage. There were even some unverified sightings of him after his disappearance, but what happened to him remains one of the greater unsolved mysteries of Southeast Asia.

ROOMS & SUITES
The accommodation at Cameron Highlands Resort captures the nostalgic elegance of an age where quality and care were a way of life. Bespoke furniture merges with the beauty of Jim Thompson’s finest quality fabrics – teak and silk combine to create an environment that is both beautiful and comfortable.

Sleep in the comfort of large four-poster beds surrounded by a mass of soft cushions, or curl up on the day-bed and read a book, whilst nibbling on fresh strawberries and sipping a cup of locally grown tea.

Each room features an elegant colonial design that is spacious and comfortable. There are 56 well-appointed rooms and spacious suites. All rooms and suites enjoy a beautiful view of the golf course against a backdrop of rolling hills and lush green forest.

CAMERON SUITE & JIM THOMPSON SUITE
Our two signature suites provide a spacious area of 76 square metres of space. Each suite has 2 bedrooms, one with a king four poster bed and one with twin beds. The bedrooms share a common lounge furnished with comfortable settees. French doors open onto the balcony with panoramic views.

TWO-BEDROOM SUITE
This is a personal family suite, which shares one spacious bathroom between a double room with a four-poster bed and a twin room. Ideal for families with small children, this 62 square metres suite accommodates 2 adults and 2 children or 4 adults.

JUNIOR SUITE
The Junior Suite is 51 square metres and is perfectly designed, providing spacious comfort and style. A studio style bedroom with a four poster bed and an adjacent lounge area with work desk both open onto the balcony which overlook the golf course.

DELUXE ROOM
The 38 square metres Deluxe rooms are furnished with a king four-poster bed or twin beds overlooking the lush green golf course. Each room features a comfortable seating area with French doors opening to the balcony. Polished timber floors, beamed ceilings and plantation shutters evoke a Colonial feel.

DINING
Dining at Cameron Highlands Resort sees traditional English cuisine meeting the many tastes of Asia in a mouth-watering symphony of flavours and experiences.

Enjoy meals in elegant surroundings be it at the main dining room or the resplendent tearoom, with vistas overlooking the golf course, or in an open dining concept restaurant that merges seamlessly into the lush jungle around.

Guests can also select to dine on the terrace under a starlit sky, at a candlelit private gazebo, by the crackling fireplace or indulge in a signature picnic at the tea gardens for a truly memorable dining experience.

DINING ROOM
Savour a cascade-style breakfast featuring freshly baked pastries, fruit, yoghurt, cereals, eggs, pancakes and even traditional noodle dishes in our sun-filled dining room overlooking lush mountaintops and the golf course. Come evening, candlelight softens the ambience while our chefs serve up colonial classics, western and local specialities followed by sinful desserts for dinner.

JIM THOMPSON TEA ROOM
Named after the famous American who helped revitalise the Thai silk industry, the elegant décor embodies old-world charm and gentility of the colonial plantation lifestyle from a bygone era.

The à la carte lunch menu offers a variety of starters, classic dishes and tempting desserts. Indulge in the age-old ritual of English Afternoon Tea with oven-fresh pastries, delicate sandwiches, homemade scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and plump strawberries complemented by fine teas from Cameron Highlands.

GONBEI
Cooking around a heated hotpot at our semi-alfresco restaurant is a great Asian favourite as it provides a warming meal during rainy days and cool weather. Personalise your hotpot broth complemented by the freshest local produce featuring farm vegetables, succulent seafood, prime meats and noodles to dip into the simmering fragrant broth of choice.

HIGHLANDS BAR
Play a game of snooker while enjoying the extensive selection of whiskies, cocktails and other beverages at the Highlands Bar. The comfortable setting makes it the perfect venue for a drink and snack in the day, or cocktails and after-dinner drinks in the evenings before a merrily crackling fire while the resident pianist serenades.

PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCES
Breathtaking vistas, verdant greenery and cool, crisp highland air whets the appetite to make our private dining experiences a delightful affair. Every dining experience is a unique culinary adventure waiting to be explored with indelible memories to treasure for a lifetime.

SPA & WELLNESS
Here, the first breath of inspiration is drawn from the stunning scenery. Paradise itself provides the essential ingredients for all our treatments, and healing lore as old as the land is imparted into every encounter.

Promising an experience that honours the healing traditions of the region, each Spa Village delivers an individual and authentic encounter combining the therapeutic properties of natural local ingredients and the healing practices of the area.

Coupling these age-old practices together with modern approaches to health and well-being results in a tailored one-of-a-kind experience, delivering award-winning results to our guests.

Each Spa Village offers a consistently unique and uplifting opportunity for rejuvenation. Spa Village Cameron Highlands is a unique haven for relaxation and rejuvenation where tea is the foundation for the experience.

The award-winning wellness centre features healing therapies based on produce from the surrounding jungles and ancient tea rituals combined with knowledge drawn from the Orang Asli or ‘original people’ who have a deep understanding of plants, herbs and flowers that have the power to heal. The tranquil emerald landscape of the highlands provides the perfect ambience for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The surrounding jungle and tea plantations form the basis for many of the therapies at Spa Village Cameron Highlands in addition to the Orang Asli inspired rituals. Each rejuvenating treatment is designed to bring the body and mind back to equilibrium utilising honey, strawberries, tea, roses, and more.

EVENTS
Cameron Highlands Resort provides a magnificent backdrop for weddings, cocktail soirées, dinners, themed parties, corporate meetings and special events with its lush surroundings, crisp highlands air and old-world charm.

Eight function rooms ranging in size from 5 to 250 guests allow flexibility of choice to meet individual needs and for those seeking more unconventional settings, our dining areas and public spaces can also be considered. Our professional banquet and meeting planner teams will work closely with you to create a perfect event.

The choice of function rooms and public spaces at Cameron Highlands Resort will easily allow for groups to be accommodated and our dedicated events team is at hand to personalise any social gatherings, corporate meetings or getaways and team building sessions to suit needs.

WEDDINGS
Amidst lush greenery and rolling hills, the stately Cameron Highlands Resort exudes colonial charm with its timber-beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tall French doors and plantation shutters. Intimate weddings and celebrations in the tranquil highlands set the stage for a lifetime of joyful memories.

Cameron Highlands Resort possesses the allure of a charming English lodge that is matched with cool weather all year making this the ideal venue not just for exchanging vows, but also for cherishing each other on special occasions. The resplendent hilly surrounding and misty peaks form the perfect platform to capture romantic moments.

GOLF
Situated directly opposite our hotel, the 6,101 metre, par 71, 18-hole golf course provides a full day’s golf in fresh mountain air. The manicured course comprises green fairways with mature trees, fine sand bunkers, tricky greens and thick rough. Proper attire of collared t-shirt, pants, shorts or skirts and golf shoes or sport shoes is required on the golf course, practice areas and driving range.

TEA PLANTATION
No trip to the highlands would be complete without a tea plantation visit. In 1929, John Archibald Russell, the son of a British administrative officer, started the famous BOH Tea Plantation.

Visitors are welcome to view the factory production process and enjoy a brew at the teashop with spectacular vistas. Other tea plantations within Cameron Highlands are the Bharat and Blue Valley plantations.

WATERFALLS & NATURE TRAILS 
Located on the Titiwangsa Mountain Range spine, the forests of Cameron Highlands reveal nature at its best with exotic flora and fauna. There are plenty of jungle walks of varying difficulty and distance with some leading to waterfalls. Guests are recommended to be in proper sportswear attire and comfortable covered shoes for excursions. Discover trail excursions offered at our hotel.

FARMS
A wide range of fruits and vegetables thrive in the highlands’ cool climate and fertile soil, especially the ever-popular strawberry. Some farms allow self-picking of the juicy strawberries, fresh from the plant, while seeing how they are cultivated. Try the freshly picked fruit with thick delicious fresh cream or the quintessentially classic scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

GARDENS
Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s leading producer of fresh flowers with varied species that will dazzle you with their colours and blooms. More than 400 species of roses can be found in rose gardens and nurseries along the main road from Ringlet to Kampung Raja. The popular Cactus Valley in Brinchang has many varieties of cactus plants, some as old as 60 years.

NIGHT MARKET
Pasar Malam or the Night Market is a place not to be missed when in Brinchang and Tanah Rata towns. Every weekend and on public holidays, peddlers will gather in the evening to set up their little stalls offering a variety of kitsch souvenirs, vegetables and fruits, plants, cactus, indigenous handicrafts and weapons as well as hawker stalls serving local favourites and continental snacks.

JIM THOMPSON MYSTERY TRAIL
An American businessman and famed for his revival of the Thai silk industry, Jim Thompson had a love of nature and the countryside. On Easter Sunday, 26 March 1967, he set out from the Moonlight Cottage for a mid-afternoon stroll in the jungle and was never seen again. Our signature trail combines his passion for the surrounding hills with the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance.

THE ORGANIC CULINARY JOURNEY 
Wander through plots of undulating vegetable beds with our chef and the farmer, learning the intricacies of organic farming methods and nurturing crops. Enjoy a cooking demonstration by the chef using freshly harvested vegetables to prepare a three-course meal before settling down to sample the healthy fare. Guests will receive a copy of the recipes and a certificate of participation.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS LEISURE TRAILS
This fascinating three-hour tour will introduce the unique varieties of vegetables, flowers, strawberries and cacti grown in the highlands. Plan out the unique sites you’d like to visit with our in-house guide.

JUNGLE TREKKING ADVENTURE 
Discover the plethora of natural wonders native to the highlands; encounter colorful flora that bloom along the trails whilst hearing the cicadas’ call. Select from a variety of trails with the help of our Resident Naturalist.

Website: www.cameronhighlandsresort.com

Rooms: 56

Price: from 150 EUR per night