How To Go From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands

So, you want to know what the best method is for getting from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands?

What are all the available options, which is the cheapest, and which is the most convenient for your group size?

You’ll find out in this post!

Taking The Bus

We don’t recommend this option personally because the buses can be late. And on public holidays and weekends, this is truer.

Breakdowns and air conditioning malfunctions mid-journey are not unheard of.

Secondly, the buses don’t start from Ipoh Old Town or Ipoh New Town. You’ll have to first, go to Amanjaya Bus Station which is all the way in Meru, Ipoh (20 minutes’ drive from town).

The good news is that there are several departures throughout the day. And bus fares are cheap.

The two services that do this route are Unititi Express and CS Travel & Tours. Bus fares cost RM20 to RM25 per person.

Driving Up By Yourself

Many locals are familiar with the drive up to Cameron Highlands. But if you haven’t been driving in Malaysia for a while, we don’t advise doing so.

The roads up to Cameron Highlands are narrow in places. Moreover, abundant greenery and sometimes mist, can make it difficult to see an approaching car or motorcyclist.

If you must drive up from Ipoh, we recommend taking the newer route that goes through Tapah.

When there’s little traffic, it can take less than 2 hours to reach Cameron Highlands from Ipoh.

Expect traffic in the little townships leading to Tanah Rata around lunch time. The worst of all the traffic is typically at Kea Farm Market.

Note: The old route passes by the Lata Iskandar waterfall, but it has a lot more bends and anyone prone to motion sickness in the car will not enjoy this journey at all.

There are petrol stations in Cameron Highlands, but they might be overcrowded so we suggest refuelling at Ipoh before you start your journey.

Since you only need to pay for petrol and a small toll fee (Tapah tollgate) if you choose to drive up from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands, you can expect the total to be under RM80 for a small passenger car.

Taking A Taxi Or E-Hailing Service

Don’t want to drive but want to travel in private?

Whether you start your journey from the Ipoh airport, Ipoh train station or Amanjaya Bus Station:

Taxis are usually readily available at these places and may charge something like ~RM300 for a one-way trip from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands.

And it might take a while and a little extra effort to convince a Grab driver to take you up to Cameron Highlands for the day, but it is not impossible.

If you’re starting from your hotel in Ipoh, the reception might be able to help get you a reliable taxi for the journey.

Private Tour Service

This is the most expensive option for solo travellers and couples especially. But it is convenient.

Here are all the reasons why our private tour service is worth booking:

• Private – your group only (no mixed groups)
• Stress-free – you don’t have to worry about logistics
• Language preference – we have English-speaking and Chinese-speaking guides
• Experienced drivers – all of our guides and drivers have done this journey many times and know it well
• Local insight – which places are tourist traps, and which are worth seeing? You can ask our guides for suggestions
• Comfortable transport – we have MPVs as well as vans
• Door-to-door transport – we can pick up you up anywhere in Ipoh and drop you off back in Ipoh or at your hotel in Cameron Highlands
• Flexible timing – start your journey at 8:30am and have our service until 6pm, or start at 12pm (E.g., pick up from Ipoh Airport), and end at 8pm.
• Customizable itinerary – our itineraries are not fixed so you can choose where you want (or don’t want) to go

WhatsApp us for a free quote.

Conclusion

That wraps up all the ways you can choose to get from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands. For those that don’t mind a little inconvenience and want to save on transport fares, the bus is still a popular option.

But for convenience and comfort (especially if you’re travelling with elders or kids), we highly recommend either taking a taxi or a Cameron Highlands private tour service from Ipoh.

As for those who are keen on driving to Cameron Highlands for the first time, drive in the daytime and preferably not on a rainy day. Make sure you got a full tank, enough air in your tires, and check the traffic situation on a navigation app beforehand.