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Gua Tempurung

A limestone cave system with an underground river, in the adventure country around Gopeng

Difficulty
Moderate
Duration
40 minutes to 3.5 hours, depending on the tour
Summit elevation
120 m

Gua Tempurung runs for about 1.9 km through a limestone hill and is one of the longest cave systems in Peninsular Malaysia. Four tours of increasing commitment are sold at the entrance: the shortest is a lit walkway through the upper chambers, the longest crawls and wades the length of the underground river. Gopeng, four kilometres away, is the base town for the whole area and for its white water.

Highlights

  • The Golden Flowstone and Battlefield chambers on the dry route
  • Wading the underground river on the two long tours
  • Five domed chambers, each with its own limestone formations
  • Gopeng as a base for rafting and caving in the same trip

Getting there

The cave is signposted off the North South Expressway at the Gopeng exit, about 25 km south of Ipoh and a two hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. There is no public transport to the entrance; most visitors drive or arrange a lift from a Gopeng guesthouse.

Safety tips

The two long tours involve crawling through low passages and wading a river inside the cave, and they are not suitable for anyone uneasy in confined or dark spaces. Water levels inside rise quickly after heavy rain, which is why those tours are cancelled rather than shortened. Take the guide seriously when they turn a group back.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you do not mind soaking
  • A head torch, even though the short route is lit
  • A full change of clothes for the wet tours
  • Water, and a dry bag for anything electronic