Cameron Highlands Resort Invites You To Its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Weekend

Cameron Highlands Resort is turning to Old England for its festive weekend, with a Tudor tart, a gala dinner and a tree lit on the front porch.

Words: abdul aziz draim
Published: 3 November 2026
Reading time: 2 min

An early Christmas at Cameron Highlands Resort.

Christmas comes early this year as Cameron Highlands Resort hosts its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Weekend this month. This year, Cameron Highlands Christmas weekend returns from 20 to 22 November. Thematically, the resort is taking its cue from Old England with a programme that curates an itinerary of afternoon tea, a gala dinner and the annual tree lighting ceremony. It’s an event designed to make your festive season that extra special.

The Tudor tart at the heart of the weekend

At its heart, the celebration honours the Maids of Honour tart that, as legend has it, became a favourite of Henry VIII upon discovering Anne Boleyn’s maids of honour eating the delectable pastry. So protective was the king of the tart’s melt-in-your-mouth sensation that His Majesty then locked the recipe in an iron box at Richmond Palace. Fortunately, this recipe has somehow escaped the king’s vault through the centuries. Thus ensuring that we too are now able to savour its deliciousness.

Chef Nathan, and his version of the Maids-of-honur tarts.

And so, the Cameron Highlands resort’s very own pastry chef, Chef Nathan, flew to London to learn the recipe, where his search led him to Newens Patisserie, a historic bakery near Kew Gardens. There, he mastered the secrets of the cheese-laced pastry and its sweet curd filling.

The ultimate English Afternoon Tea

The Christmas Tree Lighting Weekend begins on Friday, with English Afternoon Tea served in the Jim Thompson Tea Room. Here, guests can savour Chef Nathan’s Maids of Honour tart, served with scones, clotted cream and assorted savouries. To add to the charm of timber-beamed ceilings and crackling fireplaces, Uncle Steven, the resident pianist, plays “gentle melodies of a bygone era.” Later, a steamboat dinner takes place at Gonbei restaurant.

Come Saturday, a Highlands produce buffet lunch awaits. As the evening draws nearer, pre-dinner cocktails arrive with live carollers.

Then onwards to the big feast: a Christmas Gala Dinner, complete with succulent roasts, endless desserts and seasonal dishes for all ages. Soon, the highlight of the weekend unfolds, as guests gather to witness the much-awaited Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony along the front porch.

Between meals, the resort’s theme of Trails, Tales and Tradition takes over. Guests are invited to walk the nature trails, then settle by the fire.

Make your booking

The package covers three days and two nights for up to two adults, from MYR2,750++. To reserve, call the YTL Travel Centre on +60 3 2783 1000. Alternatively, click here for bookings. Rooms are already selling fast.