Journey to the centre of the earth – caving in Perak

Some climbing is required when going caving at Gua Kandu. Photo: The Star/Saiful Bahri

Spelunking or caving is not a sport for the fainthearted, and especially not for the claustrophobic – you might have to crawl through tight enclosed spaces, climb up steep cliffs, be lowered into the darkness, or even swim through underwater caverns.

So it was with great trepidation that I set off on my first caving adventure a few years ago at the caves of Gua Tempurung and Gua Kandu, both near the town of Gopeng, Perak.