Travel Tour

As a mountain, Brinchang is a haven for numerous floral species such as pitcher plants, orchids and shrubs. Unfortunately, due to its popularity with tourists and visitors, much damage has been done to the forest over the years and the mountain is still reeling from the effects of overcollection (wild plants, especially orchids by botanists) and pollution. Today, the trail is still quite clean but much of the beautiful flowers and strange plants that adorn the sides of the path have become an uncommon sight. Gunung Brinchang may be accessed by a paved road that forks out from the main road outside Butterfly Garden. If you have a vehicle, take the narrow road which will lead you past colonial bungalows and the Sungai Palas tea plantations.


These tea plantations, which belong to Boh, a major tea producer, are a fantastic place to spot by and visit. You get to see the factory which is open to public and take pictures of the sloping hills with smooth tea bushes. After the tea plantation, take the left junction which leads up to the summit. The road is in terrible condition at some parts, especially one section where a giant pot-hole awaits to trap low-bearing cars or poor drivers.


The road condition remains generally bad despite constant repair works from time to time. While travelling on the road the, soak in the surreal view of the mossy forest. Observe the thin, oak-like trees as they twist their branches and trunks while vines cascade randomly in front of you. As you near the peak, the sound of birds begin to fill the air.

About 2 km before the peak, there is a small clearing to the right which is the entrance to climb Gunung Irau, Cameron Highland's highest peak. Continue on your journey and you will reach the telecommunications tower, an ugly landmark on such a beautiful mountain. However, there is a watchtower at the side which you can climb to catch a magnificent view of the surroundings.

If you come in the early morning, you'll be greeted by a cacophony of bird songs. It provides a huge contrast with the town below, which seems to be devoid of avian creatures. You'll see countless varieties of birds in an array of mesmerising colours darting in and out the peak. Keep an eye out on the trees and you'll probably see at least five to eight species of birds that call Gunung Brinchang home. The best times for visitors to head up the mountain for photography is in the early morning, when the mist is just beginning to envelop, or late evening, where the mist clears for a very short period.

On a clear day, if you want to get good photography, go in the early afternoon where there is just the right amount of sunlight and lack of mist to illuminate a brilliant shot. Besides the paved road, you can also hike on a trail to reach the peak, allowing you to immerse yourself in the greenery. The trail starts from an obscure location near the Brinchang police station and it is a 2-hour hike up to the summit. Be careful on the trail, as there are steep parts while at a few points, there are no clearly-marked signs to point you in the approriate direction. Going in the wee hours of the morning is the best time, as once you reach the peak, you will be greeted by the view of a magnificent sun rising up from the mountains to light a new day. For those who want to visit Gunung Brinchang, check out our Cameron Highland Tours.