Malaysia: Cameron Highlands - Self Drive or Coach?

[Echelon]

Hi, I am going to Cameron Highlands with my family, whats the best way to go there? By coach or self drive?

 

[Voodooman]

You are in a car forum bro. You will get biased feedback.

 

For me, getting on a coach for the 10 hours journey to CH is a big no-no, might as well stay at home. Yes, you can rest and sleep on the bus, get there fresh as a flower and ready to explore the place but driving there with family is great fun. Pluses:

 

- You are trapped in a confined place with loved ones and it is a good time to talk, chit-chat and laugh

- You have options to detour to well-know makan places (ie. Melaka, KL, Ipoh, etc.)

- You get to clear carbon on the way up, not to mention on the way down as well

- Cheaper and you get your own transport while in CH, allowing you to explore more places. Some places in CH are not accessible to tour buses.

 

Since you join a car forum, I guess you are not adverse to driving. If you are not used to long distance driving, suggest you break journey into 2, CH is however very doable in 1 day. Ipoh is a detour you need to make, good food in a historic town.

[Redstorm]

Hi, I am going to Cameron Highlands with my family, whats the best way to go there? By coach or self drive?

 

Many of us here have done it before and would definitely advocate driving up.

 

If you are driving up, there are 2 roads up - Tapah and the newer Simpang Pulai. Tapah is the original road which is single-lane 2-way. It is winding and has plenty of blind spots. Be careful when you take this road as at times there are a lot of lorries going up and down this road. Simpang Pulai is newer 2-lane 2way road which is less winding and more scenic. Less traffic and much easier to drive too. The only disadvantage is that it is further north; another 48km from Tapah.

Edited May 29, 2011 by Redstorm

[Echelon]

Thanks to all the bros for the advise, safety and points.

 

Me and wify has decided to drive up. Looking at the Google Maps/Bing (bing maps is hopeless btw) its a 7hour drive. It will be fun.

 

Thanks for the many advise.

 

 

Edited May 29, 2011 by Echelon

[Boyboy]

You are in a car forum bro. You will get biased feedback.

 

For me, getting on a coach for the 10 hours journey to CH is a big no-no, might as well stay at home. Yes, you can rest and sleep on the bus, get there fresh as a flower and ready to explore the place but driving there with family is great fun. Pluses:

 

- You are trapped in a confined place with loved ones and it is a good time to talk, chit-chat and laugh

- You have options to detour to well-know makan places (ie. Melaka, KL, Ipoh, etc.)

- You get to clear carbon on the way up, not to mention on the way down as well

- Cheaper and you get your own transport while in CH, allowing you to explore more places. Some places in CH are not accessible to tour buses.

 

Since you join a car forum, I guess you are not adverse to driving. If you are not used to long distance driving, suggest you break journey into 2, CH is however very doable in 1 day. Ipoh is a detour you need to make, good food in a historic town.

 

 

coach is good with big group though. but nothing beats driving. since the TS asked I'm sure he never tried, and therefore he SHOULD take a drive up.

 

just make sure the car is in ok condition especially brakes and tires and all should be good to go

[Nemo6089]

Hi, I am going to Cameron Highlands with my family, whats the best way to go there? By coach or self drive?

 

 

I think it is safer to self drive than taking a coach because you have full control of the driving speed of the vehicle you are in and where and when to stop for a break.

 

Coach driver tends to speed and push on even when they are tired because of the schedule that they have to keep.

 

As long as you drive within your driving ability and always give way to others on the road, it is safe.

[Staplesmax]

drive is better , u can go here and there and enjoy lot of scenic view .

If not driving , it will a bit bore .

[Chpeck]

I have driven up there many times. The latest was two weeks ago. Best to go up from Simpang Pulai rather than the old Tapah road.

[Voodooman]

 

coach is good with big group though. but nothing beats driving. since the TS asked I'm sure he never tried, and therefore he SHOULD take a drive up.

 

just make sure the car is in ok condition especially brakes and tires and all should be good to go

 

Big group can convoy together, get a couple of walkie-talkies lagi best, karaoke session all the way! LOL

 

Service your car a week before departure, just to be safe. I always tell the service engineer I am going on an extended road trip and to do a thorough check.

 

Yes, if you have not done it, you should try and decide if you like road trip holidays.... Be warned, it can be highly addictive.

Edited May 29, 2011 by Voodooman

[Solar]

if self-drive, do your research using keywords in mcf... lots of good info what to prep and where to go.

yes, lots of fun in the process of going up/back down. btw, do keep your car insurance number available in case required, and make sure u activate roaming on your cell phone.

importantly, enjoy your holiday there

 

 

[Adrianli]

Take coach??? U board the coach at 9.30pm in SG, reach Cameron Highlands 8.30am. Lots of stops along the way cos the coach drivers got to pay tribute to all the rest stops!!! Then up there in CH, u got to find ur own transport either Taxi or walk. It can be a pain to walk cos its uphill and downhill walk.

 

I set off 6am from SG and reach CH ard 1pm. With my own car, I can explore CH and not worry abt transport. Only two stops at NSH, one for pee n breakfast and another at Pagoh for pee, lunch at KFC and tabao Dunking Donuts for tea up in CH.

 

 

Enjoy ur drive up. The drive from tapah up to CH is abt an hour, avg speed 60km/h otherwise ur passenger will vomit cos of the winding road. On the way up, do drop by the waterfall. Ice cold clear water. But better not drink, not sure wat others did up there. The last last time I was there, saw someone taking a dump in the waterfall. Yucks!!!

[Lowrider]

I'm planning to drive up end of the year... Since this is my first time to drive up there, all the info you guys share here is very useful to me... Thanks!

[The_Bear]

I'm planning to drive up end of the year... Since this is my first time to drive up there, all the info you guys share here is very useful to me... Thanks!

 

There are a few older threads with details in the forum. You can do a search and dig them out. Generally speaking, avoid weekends, especially school holidays, it will potentially ruin your trip.

[Lowrider]

There are a few older threads with details in the forum. You can do a search and dig them out. Generally speaking, avoid weekends, especially school holidays, it will potentially ruin your trip.

Thanks, I am aware of that...

[Coder]

better to drive up yr self. 6 hours only. went there 14th May. up fr Pulai, down to tapah. my advise is, take some medicine b4 drive the 99 x 99 turn up the highland. they might feel sickness.

[Echelon]

Thanks for all the replies and advise, I already got my maps read, my GPS and safety equipment, thanks for the insurance advise, will ensure i have that around as well, because I recently took it out of my car. Also I will be going for a service this week, so will advise Aldan about it.

 

Also will get the walkie talkies for the fun of it.

 

I am really looking forward to the trip, so are my family, btw where can I purchase a Touch N Go machine? I will try to borrow it from my friend.

 

[Voodooman]

But better not drink, not sure wat others did up there. The last last time I was there, saw someone taking a dump in the waterfall. Yucks!!!

 

I am more worried about the huge amount of chemicals (ie. fertilizers) in the water, call me paranoic, but CH is intensive farming territory and the waterfall is downsteam to a lot of these farms. So I won't recommend letting the kids play in the water.

 

And just to note, the sweet corns in CH are super sweet and fresh, they can be eaten raw but just make sure you wash them before bitting into them. My mouth went a little numb the last time....

Edited May 30, 2011 by Voodooman

[Byond]

Make sure got enough rest before embarking on this journey

 

I went there last year...in Aug / Sept 2010...cant rem which date though...

 

Went Batu Pahat on a Fri nite,

set off from Sg, 7pm plus...jam all the way till reach BP at 11pm plus.

Then took a rest before departing from BP at 4am...

drive all the way to CH, reaches there 11am plus (oh yeah...took a long time due to alot of kids in the journey)....rest alot due to hunger and toilet breaks.

 

Road wise, jamm along the way due to school holidays....

 

Up the old road, passes by the water fall (be careful of the winding roads...its really wind alot)....

alot of blind spots too....

 

Food there is nice..but just take note. For Food wise, their steam boat there is nothing special.

and its quite pricey..

200 plus RM for a family of approx 12 (6 kids).....

I would rather u eat bah kut teh....

 

Must go the Boh Tea plantation.

Very nice there...air very fresh

 

Pasar Malam at nite, weekend nites, alot of pple..alot of good snacks...

my gf's family purchases alot of vegetables...back to BP...haha

for cooking purposes...

 

WEnt down the new expressway...easier to drive....wider too..but alot further.

 

Then on the way back, can try dropping by Ipoh to eat their dao gei chicken rice

quite nice....

 

Good luck and rest well...

due to the lack of rest on my side, I got spare driver.

 

so it would be good to have spare driver else rest well...