The Mossy Forest and BOH Tea Plantation are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. We did a half-day tour of these two places with Oastel and had a wonderful time. If you’re visiting the Cameron Highlands, we recommend taking day to experience it for yourself!
PRICE
Our tour cost 60 MYR/person ($13.21 USD), but they have other options if you want to go in a private van with a small group. We were able to pay for the tour online. However, you will also need to pay 30 MYR/person ($6.60 USD) to walk on the boardwalk at the Mossy Forest, so bring cash.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The tour started at 8 am and dropped us back off just after noon. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel by our guide. The drive towards the Mossy Forest was scenic, with breathtaking views of the rolling hills and lush greenery of Cameron Highlands.
FIRST STOP: BOH TEA PLANTATION FARM
The BOH tea plantation is one of the largest and most popular tea plantations in Malaysia, located in the Cameron Highlands region of Pahang state. The plantation was founded in 1929 by John Archibald Russell, a British businessman who was fascinated by the potential of tea cultivation in the region.
Today, the BOH tea plantation covers more than 1,200 hectares of rolling hills and valleys, with over 8,000 acres of tea bushes that produce an average of 4 million kilograms of tea leaves annually. The plantation is known for its high-quality tea leaves that are processed using traditional methods to ensure that the unique flavor and aroma are preserved.
SECOND STOP: MOSSY FOREST
The Mossy Forest is located on the slopes of Mount Brinchang. The forest is named for the thick layer of moss that covers the trees, giving them an otherworldly appearance. On the way up the mountain, our guide pulled over at various points to show us various plants and animals that call the area home, including the largest carnivorous plant in Malaysia: Nepenthes.
At the top of the mountain, there is a beautiful lookout point and the trailhead to the Mossy Forest. Foreigners must pay a 30 MYR/person ($6.60 USD) entrance fee to enter the boardwalk.
The Mossy Forest is located on the highest peak of the highlands, Gunung Brinchang, which stands at 2,032 meters above sea level. It is known for its dense fog, cool temperatures, and unique flora and fauna. The forest is named after the thick carpet of moss that covers the ground, trees, and rocks, creating a mystical and enchanting atmosphere. Because the forest is at such a high altitude, it is constantly blanketed by the mist and moisture from the low-lying clouds, creating an ideal environment for moss, ferns, lichen, and orchids.
As we trekked deeper into the forest, we were greeted by the sight of towering trees covered in moss and lichen, forming a natural canopy overhead. The air was fresh and crisp, and we could hear the sound of birds and insects chirping in the distance.
There is a tall lookout tower that you can climb that gives you beautiful panoramic views of the area.
THIRD STOP: BOH TEA HOUSE
After about an hour of exploring the mossy forest, we headed to our final stop for the day, the BOH Tea House. The Tea House is located in the middle of the plantation, and offers beautiful views of the rolling hills of Cameron Highlands.
There is a gift shop where you can purchase tea as a souvenir to bring home, as well as a cafe and a restaurant in the Tea House. We were able to explore the tea house and surrounding areas for about an hour before our guide drove us back to Tanah Rata and dropped us back home at our hostel just after noon.
Overall, our half-day tour of the Mossy Forest and BOH Tea Plantation was a fun & memorable experience. We were able to connect with nature and learn about the rich heritage of Cameron Highlands, all while enjoying some of the best scenery and tea in the world. It’s definitely a tour that we would recommend to anyone visiting the region.
