Gua Tempurung, Selangor - Malaysia's Largest Cave

Tempurung Cave, Ipoh Overview

Gua Tempurung is a beautiful limestone cave located in Gopeng in Perak. Popular for caving, it is the largest cave in all of peninsular Malaysia. A part of this 3-kilometer-long cave has been developed as a show cave, complete with walkways and electric lighting. It is quite easy to explore and has a 1.6-kilometer-long river passage running through the hills.

The tunnel of Tempurung Cave is made up of five gigantic domes, the ceilings of which resemble coconut shells; other than this, there are also some spectacular stalactites and stalagmites worth witnessing here. The caves are also well known worldwide for their rock formations and these speleological wonders are found only in this part of the world.

Structure of Gua Tempurung

The caves are 4.5 kilometers long, while only 1.9 kilometers of it is accessible to the local public.
Five huge domes make up the caves, and all of these domes have their own unique calcium formations and marbles, which exist at different temperatures and water levels.
All of these caves are located under limestone hills, and they form tunnels that run from east to west.
The hills above the cave are known as Gunung Tempurung, and are about 500 meters in height.
Thanks to their gigantic shape and stature, they are easily visible from a great distance.

The Five Caves of Gua Tempurung

The Golden Flowstone Cavern includes a stone cascade which is smoothened and appears golden in color when the river flows; while the Giant Cavern houses a 15-meter high column. The Tin Mine Cavern has some excavations that were left by earlier tin miners, and the Battlefield Cavern is littered with fallen stalactites and rock formations all across the floor. The Universe Cavern houses a 72-meter high cavern.

A lot of bats reside in these caves, especially during the mating season between March and May. In fact, even these bat droppings have created some bat guano artwork on the ceilings of the domes.

Tempurung Cave Tour

Golden Flowstone Tour (Dry Tour)
Duration: 40 minutes
Time: 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
Entry Fees:
Adults: RM 6
Children (6 to 12 years of age): RM 2.50
Senior Citizens: RM 3
What to Explore: Marble stone slabs and walls in different shades greet you as you enter the cave, and the wall of the cave has a golden shade to it when the water flows and illuminates it. Standing at a height of 90 meters, there are various stalactites and stalagmites on display here.
Difficulty level: Easy, No guide required

Top of the World (Dry Tour)
Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Time: 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM
Entry Fees:
Adults: RM 9
Children (6 to 12 years of age): RM 4.50
Senior Citizens: RM 3
* The minimum number of people needed is 5 adults.
What to Explore: You get to enjoy all the sights on this tour, which covers all five domes. This tour, however, is a little more challenging since you will have a lot more steps to climb. However, you get to visit each and every cavern and explore the attractions that they are famous for.
Difficulty level: Medium, No guide required

Top of the World and Short River Adventure (Wet Tour)
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Time: 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Entry Fees:
Adults: RM 11
Children (6 to 12 years of age): RM 6
Senior Citizens: RM 6
* The minimum number of people needed is 8 adults.
What to Explore: The tour involves a 2.4-kilometer journey from the entrance to the Golden Flowstone and the Top of the World, following which you return through an underground river. You get to enjoy being wet in this river, and besides, you will also be crawling through holes and sliding down stones to explore the beautiful caves.
Difficulty level: Challenging, Ranger guided tour

Grand Tour (Wet Tour)
Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Time: 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Entry Fees:
Adults: RM 22
Children (6 to 12 years of age): RM 11
Senior Citizens: RM 6
*The minimum number of people needed is 8 adults.
What to Explore: The tour involves a 3.8 kilometer journey from the entrance to the Golden Flowstone, the Top of the World and the end of the cave, following which you return through an underground river. The most thrilling of all tours, you will be required to wade through water, climb through holes, slide on slippery stones, and then return entirely by the route of the river. These strenuous activities are rewarded by sights of some really amazing rock formations.
Difficulty level: Challenging, Ranger guided tour
* This tour does not take place on Friday.

How to Reach Tempurung Cave

Getting to Gua Tempurung is quite easy. Drive on the North-South highway, and then take an exit at the Gopeng Interchange, which is located about 25 kilometers to the south of Ipoh. From here, proceed towards Kampung Gunung Mesah and drive for another 4 kilometers. The limestone hills can be easily spotted from a distance.

Tips

For the Dry Tours:
Ensure that you dress comfortably, and wear shoes that give you sufficient grip. Hiking boots are your best option.

For the Wet Tours:

Wear comfortable clothes along with socks and shoes. Clothes made up of poly-pro or wool are the best for caving.
Make sure that your shoes have a good grip. Flip flops are a strict no when it comes to caving.
It is strongly recommended to wear gloves and kneepads.
Put all expensive and important items in waterproof bags so that they don’t get wet or soaked.
There is no need to carry food along, since there are multiple local stalls outside Gua Tempurung.
All cavers should be free from any allergy related to limestone and bat guano. Additionally, heart patients and claustrophobic people should indulge in only limited activities at the cave. Ensure that you inform the guide beforehand of any similar or related medical condition.