Tempurung Cave, Malaysia

The largest cave system in peninsular Malaysia, Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave), is 4.5 kilometers long, with 1.9 km (1.18 miles) open to visitors. It features five massive domed ceilings, an underground river and stalactite and stalagmite formations. 

There are four tours of escalating difficulty. Every half hour, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the easiest tour, “Golden Flowstone,” takes about 40 minutes on a concrete path (MYR20 [near $5] adult/MYR10 senior). Every half hour, 9-11 a.m., the most strenuous tour, the 3½-hour “Grand Tour,” takes spelunkers on a 3.8-km loop, including climbing almost-vertical walls, squeezing through tight holes and wading in the river (up to chest level) (MYR50/MYR25).

Near Gopeng, 24 km south of Ipoh, the cave office and entrance can be found at Pusat Plancongan Gua Tempurung, 31600 Gopeng, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia (www.guatempurung.my). For more info, call Tourism Malaysia Perak Office at +60 5 255 9962.