Tapah is a forgettable Malaysian outpost along the highway that connects Kuala Lumpur with Ipoh, the capital of Perak Province. There’s little to see here beyond a few rows of colonial shop houses.
This town is a practical transportation hub serving as a staging ground for excursions into the Cameron Highlands. Buses traveling between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh stop here to let off passengers bound for the highlands. Buses depart regularly for Tanah Rata hill station, 2 hours away.
This isn’t the kind of town where tourists hope to spend the night. There’s nothing to see and little to do, but those arriving at the end of the day may find that their onward connection doesn’t depart until the next morning. If this happens you can always visit the local waterfalls or while away a couple of hours in a Chinese coffee shop.
Getting There & Away
Tapah bus station offers direct service to Penang (2 hours) and Kuala Lumpur (2 hours). More comprehensive service is available outside the Restoran Caspian where buses regularly depart for Hat Yai, Thailand (7 hours), Singapore (7 hours) and Melaka (4 hours). The two-hour ride to Penang or Kuala Lumpur puts you in range of large international airports.
Things to Do
Tapah Attractions
- Lata Kinjang
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Ten miles outside the city, these lovely cascades tumble through 2,800 feet of elevation and are home to indigenous orang asli tribes.