Using PLUS, exit Tapah up will be nearest. But the road more narrow and twisty. If you ok with Ulu Yam-Genting, or Fraser Hill road, this is fine.

Using PLUS, exit Simpang Pulai up via Kg. Raja, the road is wider, not that twisty, but further slightly. Time wise, maybe just extra 10-20 minutes overall, since the average speed climbing here is faster than the slow/narrow/twisty Tapah side. First time up, I'll recommend this to be safer.

Sg. Koyan is very far and take more hours. Not advisable unless you are coming from Bentong/Raub/Kuantan.

Another road is from Gua Musang, if you coming from Kelantan/Terengganu.

Depends where you coming from. Even Penang or KL, 2D1N is enough, but not much time to relax (to do nothing).
I still prefer 3D2N. Not that rush.

Then on the way to/fro, I can plan to stop at Ipoh, Kampar, Tapah area for quick stop food.

13 ppl is too much for a single apartment (even with 3 rooms) as most of it have 1 bathroom only.
If everyone bath 10 minutes, or brush teeth + wash face + facial ... imagine 130 minutes.

2 hours before anyone can go out for breakfast

If pang-sai (make big cake business), 20 minutes total each including bath, brush teeth, etc ... 260 minutes

You will need at least two apartments, or a bungalow with at least 2 or more bathrooms.

To me, Cameron is less steep (gradient) than the Awana->Genting stretch.
My 1.5L (but manual) car has no problem fetch 5 big adults, all the way up to Genting top (no cable car).
My car has done about >10x Genting trip, never change clutch pad, brake pad still ok, no burning.

Downhill, suggest your auto-box to switch from D -> 3 or 2 (no need L) for engine braking.

Tapah->Cameron is more windy, narrow, but less steep. Slower pace than Genting.
Simpang Pulai->Kg Raja is wider, less windy than Tapah and Genting.

Slow descend, I suggest to use Tapah, as the average speed here is much slower.

Simpang Pulai descend is like Genting Sempah (tunnel) down Karak highway. The road is wide, fast and sudden slow-down for cornering. I also feel dangerous.

Technically, less weight (spare tyre), lesser momentum, easier to brake or slow down. But the weight is negligible, as the other passengers & luggage weight make up for it.
The tyre at the back, will put more weight at the back, hence front tyre (and steering) will feel lighter (technically). The weight distribution at the rear (with spare tyre) will help in cornering (technically F1 speaking also) as vios is FF (front engine, front driven), i.e. to counter the front weight.

Frankly, I suggest to leave the spare tyre (pumped up) at the back.

I assume you from SG direct to CH, then to Ipoh, back to SG.
If you want slower pace like 40-60km/h (or maybe even slower if a lot of traffic), use Tapah to go up. Nearer also.
If you like faster pace, use Sg. Pulai. you can go like 50-80km/h average.

Downhill, I suggest you use Sg. Pulai, since you detour to Ipoh.

Genting: Going uphill, I always maintain 2nd and 3rd gear and rev at 3-6k rpm constantly. I do not change gear very often, especially at tight corners. Downshift the gear BEFORE you turn into a tight-corner, so that you can maintain momentum. Do not de-clutch or ride half-way on it, confirm burn very fast. Either fully pressed, or fully released.
If you go into a tight corner at 3rd gear and lose momentum in the corner, then only you start to downshift, your car will suddenly slow down a lot. Then the clutch is working extra hard due to friction of de-clutching and re-clutch different gear.

Going downhill, I do not race or follow the speed of cars in front. I just let all of them smoke me. I ride on 3rd gear mostly at left lane, did NOT step at all on accelerator from hilltop until Awana. Just let the momentum pull the engine. Do NOT step on clutch also, let let it fully engaged. Same rule, either fully engaged, or fully pressed. No half-half or balance clutch. Decide 100% on which gear to use.
Brakes only used sparingly at corners, mainly engine braking.

Therefore, my downhill time is longer than my uphill until Genting Sempah. I step-on-it to go uphill most of the time.

The Genting way of driving, does not apply fully to Fraser/CH. You need to try and test your own driving style to fit the speed you want, the braking, how fast cornering you want, etc.

Confirm one lah. My 9 years old car, change brake pad once only. Clutch pad not yet change. Mechanic and car dealer says still good. Driving style matters, and there is difference between driving in city/highway vs uphill.

OT: technically, this may be true for rally/racing/touge, but for our normal drive uphill, I'm not sure how applicable % to each of us.

Also, if you notice, the engine is normally position slightly to the driver side (right-side) and the weight distribution on left/right is affected. The way you put those fat & heavy passengers will also affect the effect of cornering left/right. Technically, it will affect cornering.
However, again, it is applicable to racing bla bla bla...

You don't want to go deeper into negative-camber, etc. for better cornering control, after all, this is a traveling thread. Enjoy the trip!

Seriously, Cameron is ghost town if not weekends or holidays.

Most of those small hotel/hostel are manned by own family members to save cost.
Restaurants are near empty.

Front-office ? Bank ? Starbucks ?

Frankly, the humidity/wetness in Cameron is high. Be prepared when get old, to get "foong sap" (wind wet ? )
Arthritis ?

Sometimes, the bus drivers do not want to take risk on:
- rarely used road.
- too few vehicles use.
- longer non-highway - more risk of accident due to corners, narrow roads, etc.
- buses brake constant going downhill on longer road.

Therefore, they prefer to take longer distance with highway, can't blame them.

However, if coming from Bentong, your recommended route is the nearest.

PLUS exit at Tapah. After pay Tapah toll, you reach T-junction traffic lights. Turn left (follow signboard).
Then all the way up (follow signboard) for about 1 hour+

Altenative route is exit at Simpang Pulai. After toll, turn left also, follow signboard towards Kg. Raja. Need to turn right somewhere there, otherwise you'll go towards Gua Musang

I suggest better not. There is one time (many years ago) we did that. Start searching from 4pm onwards. In the end, we sleep in a wooden hut (not even a chalet) at the top of the hill in the middle of tea farm somewhere near Brinchang (not sure is under Sg. Palas or not).
No heater, hence taking bath with cold water is
No bed, only 3" mattress.
It's actually those hut for tea farmers to stay, but since no one stay, they rent it very cheap to us.

But in the morning, the view, air-freshness, no humans, no cars, etc. Only tea farm 360°, it was very nice.

Seriously, don't go Cameron or anywhere during big public holiday like Raya or CNY.
Stay put in wherever you are, unless the compulsory balik kampung exodus.

Those who went Cameron during CNY, please share your story on traffic jam, fight for food, fight for hotel/apartment booking, price increase, etc.

This one can. Leave KL/Pg like 5am, and reach the foot-hills (Tapah / Simpang Pulai) at around 7am and start climbing. Reach Brinchang/Tanah Rata 8:30-9:30am for breakfast.
Anything later than 8am, the traffic will start to build up, but not yet jam.

2pm-4pm go Sg. Palas tea plantation ? Unless you alright with driving on single lane road for two ways traffic and inches of gap, then fine. Normal it takes <15 minutes to reach. In jammed up, can take up to 30-60 minutes.
Open parking at Palas there maybe full also.
Long and slow queue to order food & hot tea.
Tables all full. No one clean up since staff not enough.


However, by afternoon/evening, even with car, several sections of the road will be fully jammed up. e.g. 5km jam from Tanah Rata -> Brinchang night market. Can take 20-60 minutes. You can't even go anywhere, unless you walk. Normal is just <10 minutes. There are people who will walk/trek along the road between tanah rata and brinchang.

Eat restaurant / steamboat ? Can, reach the shop by 6-6:30pm and start order. If reach 7-8pm, be prepared to wait. Be prepared get chop with higher price, lesser food qty, and food freshness issue (look, who eats seafood up the hill ? the cost and freshness to bring it up is a question already). You can't just eat vegetarian steamboat. Fishball, perhaps ?

My advise, if going with group of friends, tapao steamboat raw stuff and put in ice box (with ice). Bring along pots & pans. Rent apartment/bungalow. Do own steamboat. You can choose what you want to eat, more choices, cheaper.
You can add beer, ribena, wine, whatever you want for drinks. Continue whole night until supper.

Or do BBQ, bring own charcoal, nets, forks, and food.

This weekend should still be alright, I put it at shoulder-rate. You can always follow Genting Seasonal Chart.

17-20 Aug and 30 Aug-2nd Sep will be super-peak.

As I've mentioned above

21-24 Aug will still be peak period, due to Raya week, still Raya mood + clear leaves and school holiday
Good luck!

hehe... concern is not on to-and-fro there. More on going out to visit places, and going out to dinner/pasar malam. Traffic queue and parking full problem.
Hope not that jam, come back and report to us later. Useful for others to plan their future trips as well.

I'm still waiting for those who go during Raya to post their trip here

Otherwise, drive further up NSE and exit Simpang Pulai. Then follow the road sign towards Kg. Raja/Brinchang/Cameron. Slightly further, but at least not that bengkang-bengkok.

Subjective la bro, for those coming from south.

Some may want to detour Ipoh for breakfast

Some may want wider road

Some due to passengers cannot endure the corners if climb uphill at Tapah. I remember when I was small and riding bus uphill, every time sure got people vomit into plastic bag.

It's not really the direction/GPS matter, but the experience of driving single lane uphill in dark condition without streetlights. The small trunk roads, without proper lines at certain area (wear out).
Also the twist and turns.
Maybe some season lorry/bus/4WD follow behind and give pressure.
Also, wild animals running across the road (less possibility).
Or some rocks, earth, landslide, tree trunks across the road, happens very frequent, especially during rainy season, which 99% not publish in newspaper, due to afraid affect the tourism.
Trust me, my relatives work and stay uphill and comes downhill every week for >30 years. Even he himself don't recommend driving at night.

If driver has the skills & experience before, then it is alright to TRY at night. Otherwise, not really recommend, it's higher risk.

Not trying to scare you, it can be easier/less risky than what I've stated. But just to set some expectation to be careful.

Generally speaking, with the same weather and day/night time conditions, simpang pulai will be better for non-experience-Cameron drivers.

I support another poster who suggest to go home sleep after the wedding dinner, then start an early trip to reach Tapah/Simpang Pulai at 7am to start the climb. You'll reach there before 9am and still can enjoy the full day, except the driver who wakes up early, the rest can sleep in car.

From KL -> Tapah at 110km/h, KL Jln Duta toll start, is <2 hours.