MALAYSIA is home to some of the world’s most amazing and complex cavern structures and networks waiting to be explored.
Some have flora found nowhere else in the world, while others are historical sites with relics of its former inhabitants. Others have been converted into temples, while others have been made into dedicated tourist attractions and conservation sites.
Whether you’re new to cave-diving or spelunking, there are a host of caverns waiting for you to discover them.
Kelam Cave (Perlis)
Beginning your journey in Kangar, make your way north to Kaki Bukit and look out for the ‘Gua Kelam’ signage to begin your adventure.
Located some 33km north of Perlis state capital of Kangar, Kelam Cave is situated near a small town called Kaki Bukit (Foot Hill), which shares the border with the Nakawan Range of Thailand.
As a 370-metre-long limestone cave famous for its 'cave walk', Kelam Cave is also one of Malaysia's most unique caves and a popular site for avid adventurers.
Here, the only way in is through a wooden suspension bridge with a 2.4-metre (8-foot) wide walkway. The hollow limestone path is thought to have been the brainchild of an Englishman who converted this cave as a means of transporting tin from a mine near the Kaki Bukit stream entrance. Today, remnants of the ex-mining operation can still be found inside.
After traversing the cave, you can visit the Wang Kelian Sunday Market to quench your thirst, satiate your appetite and bring home some souvenirs. The market itself is divided into different segments that sell a wide range of goods such as food, textiles, handmade jewellery and even Thai handcrafted goods.
It costs RM1 for adults to enter the cave whereas children only need to pay RM0.50. Operating hours are from 9am to 6pm.
Niah Cave (Sarawak)
The Great Cave and its majestic entrance at Niah National Park in Sarawak.
Niah Cave is part of the Niah National Park in Sarawak and consists of two caverns: The Great Cave and The Painted Cave.
This network of caves is historically significant, housing palaeolithic and neolithic burial sites and ancient cave paintings. The park itself, on the other hand, covers 3,183ha of rainforest and limestone hills, was established back in 1974.
While Mulu National Park's cave system is more well-known and attracts more visitors, Niah Caves has an understated tale and has a lot to offer for a fun day trip.
The Great Cave's spectacular cave mouth is one of the world's largest cave entrances and sheltered human life some 40,000 years ago, prompting a rethinking of theories about human population distribution on Earth. What's more incredible is that there's evidence of continuous human settlement in this cave until very recently.
Visitors need to pay RM10 (adult) and RM3 (child, 7-18 years) while children under the age of six can enter for free.
Tempurung Cave (Perak)
Through the ranger-guided tours, spelunkers can even wade in the underground river of Tempurung Cave.
Tempurung Cave located in Gopeng, Perak is another local favourite about 25 minutes away from Kellie’s Castle.
This 3km long cave has long been known for its huge chambers, jaw-dropping stalactites and incredible natural rock formations. The cave gets its name (Tempurung) from the Malay word for coconut shell as some of its ceilings in the five giant domes resemble them:
> Golden Flowstone Cavern
> Gergasi (Giant) Cavern
> Tin Mine Cavern
> Alam (Universe) Cavern
> Battlefield Cavern
Here, you can find four different tours available. Tours 1 and 2 are suitable for beginners and consist of dry walks along concrete pathways and steel staircases with no need for a guide. Tour 1 is rated easy but only goes as far as the third platform. Meanwhile, Tour 2 covers all five domes and is slightly more strenuous with the additional steps to climb.
For the dry tours (1 and 2), it’s recommended that adventurers wear a T-shirt and long trousers or shorts due to the humidity. You’ll also want to make sure you wear the right shoes with good grip for the trail. Meanwhile, for the wet tours (3 and 4), bring a change of clothes and a towel - you’ll need them after the guided tour.
The tour prices range from RM8 to RM30, and are subject to weather conditions so be sure to call ahead to plan your trip.
