Cameron Highlands from KL: bus, train and car routes

Quick pick. Simplest: the express bus from TBS, with no changes. Cheapest fare listed: the slow daily bus via Raub at RM23³. Driving: Wikivoyage rates the Simpang Pulai road in much better condition than Route 59 from Tapah³.

Cameron Highlands is roughly 200 km north⁴ of Kuala Lumpur, and every option below finishes on a winding mountain road.

The route by bus from KL, step by step

The express bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan is the most straightforward way up: a single ticket, a reserved seat and no changes.

1. 01

   Get to TBS

   KTM Komuter, the Sri Petaling LRT and KLIA Transit all stop at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS).

2. 02

   Book your seat

   Unititi Express, Kinta Omnibus and Kurnia Bistari Express serve the highlands; Unititi can be booked online.

3. 03

   Ride up to Tanah Rata

   The bus takes 4–5 hours, and most arrive at Tanah Rata Bus Terminal.

4. 04

   Get to your stay

   Taxis can be hired at Tanah Rata bus station for about RM25 an hour; agree the fare first.

Most buses end in Tanah Rata, the main commercial and tourist town⁵, so it’s the easiest base if you arrive without a car. Compare highlands stays by budget before you book, and read up on arriving at Tanah Rata’s bus terminal for getting around once you land.

Shuttle minivan from Chinatown

Wikivoyage lists a shuttle minivan that picks up at Swiss Inn, Chinatown, at noon daily³. It’s handy if you’re staying in Chinatown and don’t fancy the trip out to TBS; the comparison table below has its fare and journey time.

By train to Tapah Road

The ETS train gets you to the foot of the hills, then a local bus does the climb. Tapah Road station has KTM ETS services and is served by all three ETS Gold routes⁶. Book through KTMB’s online ticketing service or mobile app⁷.

From Tapah, public buses run up to Tanah Rata⁵, including the local Regal bus². Tapah Road is a separate, smaller town 10 km west of Tapah⁶, where the road up starts, so plan that last hop before you set off.

By car via Tapah or Simpang Pulai

You have a choice of exits off the North-South Expressway:

• Tapah exit: take Route 59³, which climbs about 60 km and takes 1.5 to 2 hours⁸.
• Simpang Pulai exit, Ipoh: take Route 145; the first town, Kampung Raja, is about 1 hour³ up.

Roads also come in via Gua Musang and Sungai Koyan⁴.

Bus timetable between Cameron Highlands and KL

Departures in both directions run from the morning to mid-afternoon, so an early bus gets you up the mountain road in daylight.

Express buses between KL and Cameron Highlands

mdcameron.gov.my (official); Wikivoyage

KL (TBS) to Tanah Rata

• 8:30AM to 3:30PM

Chinatown minivan (Swiss Inn) to Cameron Highlands

• Noon daily

Cameron Highlands to KL Sentral (Unititi)

• 8.30am
• 1.30pm

Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur (Kurnia Bistari Express)

• 9.00am
• 10.30am
• 12.30pm
• 1.30pm
• 3.30pm

Return times are the district council's list; the KL departure window comes from Wikivoyage alone. Confirm with the operator before you travel.

Unititi’s return buses run to KL Sentral² (checked October 2026), not TBS, so check which KL terminal your ticket names.

What you pay

KL bus fares range from about RM35 to RM55² (checked October 2026), depending on the operator and where you book. Baolau’s listed price excludes its service fee¹, so compare the final total at checkout.

Routes compared: from KL, Ipoh and Penang

From KL, the express bus is the default choice. If you’re already in Ipoh, its bus is the shortest ride listed.

Day tours from KL with transport included

If you’d rather not juggle buses, a day tour from KL handles the ride both ways. Expect a long day: the bus alone takes 4–5 hours¹ each way. See what Cameron Highlands packages include, or plan your own Cameron Highlands day-trip itinerary.

Tips and common mistakes

Most mistakes on this trip come down to timing, the wrong Tapah and taxi fares.

• Dodge long weekends. On a 2026 long weekend, holiday jams meant up to four hours for trips that usually take under 20 minutes⁹. The jam ran from the Simpang Pulai and Tapah climbs⁹ onto the roads inside the highlands.
• Get off at the right Tapah. The train station and the bus up the hill are in different towns: see the train section above.
• Agree taxi fares first. Most drivers don’t use the meter³, so the fare is up for negotiation.
• Pack for cool, wet weather. Nights can drop to 12 °C and it rains often, and heavily³. Check the rain and temperature calendar by month.

Questions people ask