Help for Cameron Highland Trip

Asked

Hello Muzamil,

I came across your blog and Cameron Highland post at http://forum.virtualtourist.com/Cameron_Highlands-1282142-5-10064997/6-days-in-Cameron-Highlands.html?showPost=10182009

We are a group of eight people touring Malaysia for the first time, we would like to go for a day trip from KL to Cameron HIghlands. Can you please refer a good tour package company? On the web I see very expensive deals worth RM 250 but in the above site you mentioned about going there for only RM 25.

Really appreciate your help and really liked your site.

Thanks

Replied

Hi Nayeem

Thanks for your email and for going through my blog.

RM 250 looks expensive to me too, however, RM 25 I mentioned on my blog was the cost of half-day trip we bought once we reached the Cameron Highlands - and not from KL.

I would suggest you to buy the KL-CH-KL bus ticket yourself which may cost you around RM 70 per person as per the following helpful website:

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptacamerons.htm

Just to mention, this would be a long journey, ~4+ hours, therefore, I'd suggest staying there for a night or two. Cameron Highlands is a beautiful place and there is a lot to explore around, so staying there is worth it in my opinion. However, if you are short of time for a night stay, then your best bet would be to take the earliest bus.

For the sight-seeing trip, you can buy one once there or pre-book. It would still cost you under RM100: 70+25!

So this is my two cents worth. Hopefully it helps.

Regards

Muzzammil

Asked

Hi Muzzammil,

Thank you very much for the prompt response and helpful tips on the bus. This is really great to know..  I would have loved to spend more time there, but due to our short time, we have to make only a day trip (7am-8pm).

The reason we are leaning towards tour package from KL is because it will give us the flexibility to see around in Cameroon Highland, the itinerary covers lunch as well as entrance to tea garden, butterfly park and few other attractions. If we take the bus, as you mentioned we have to get a package tour after arrival and also taxi from terminal in KL to our hotel in xxx.

Any recommendation in terms of reasonable package tour company? I understand you are busy and this is just your hobby, so thanks again for taking the time to read my email and responding.

Regards

Replied

Hi Nayeem.

My pleasure.

Your observations regarding the overheads of not buying a tour makes a lot of sense. In this case, I would suggest shopping around (the internet) to get more options and buy one with good reputation without paying extra. With 8 people, I believe you have a good bargaining power for that.

When in Cameron Highlands, I observed that there were 4 tour agencies. So imo it'd be wiser to contact them directly to minimize the middle man commission. Here goes those 4 agencies:

Titiwangsa: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g298293-d1961928-Reviews-Titiwangsa_Tours_Travel-Brinchang_Cameron_Highlands_Pahang.html http://www.titiwangsatours.com/

TJ: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1497917-d2271956-Reviews-TJ_Nur_Travel_and_Tours-Tanah_Rata_Cameron_Highlands_Pahang.html

CS: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1497917-i16161-k5901529-Cameron_Highlands_Tour_with_C_S_Travel_Tours_Review-Tanah_Rata_Cameron_Highlands_Pahang.html http://cstravel.com.my/

Kang: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1497917-d2527395-Reviews-Kang_Tours_Travel_Day_Tours-Tanah_Rata_Cameron_Highlands_Pahang.html

CS was the one we booked the tour from and the experience was fine.

Btw, did you think of making to CH directly from the airport, rather than going into KL and hence saving time and some money. This way you might manage to spare one night for CH. It would anyways be worthwhile to discuss this possibility with the tour operator you contact, unless the stay in KL is already locked-in.

This might sound pushy but spending 7-8 hours on the road is a bit too much for a half-a-day trip. 

And yes sharing tips with traveler is a good hobby for me and I feel glad when someone finds that helpful. So please feel free to contact me whenever you need so.

Regards

Muzzammil

Asked

Thanks a lot Muzzammil! Infact I got a much better offer from Titiwangsa tours using your recommendation..Feel free to add my email to the travel blog..

Regards