Kompleks Gua Ikan is a cave complex in Stong Geopark close to the small town of Dabong, Kelantan. The cave complex is formed within the limestone hill of Bukit Batu Kapur, and consists of several popular caves: Gua Ikan (Fish Cave), Gua Keris (Dagger Cave), Gua Gelap (Dark Cave) and Gua Pagar (Gate Cave).
Each cave has different points of interest and level of difficulty. For example, Gua Ikan has spacious, well-lit cave chambers suitable for self-exploring, while the other caves are dark, tight at some parts (you’d need to crawl through tight spaces), and confusing to navigate without a guide. Unless you are only going to explore Gua Ikan, it is highly recommended to hire a local registered guide to visit the other caves, so you could safely navigate them and not miss any points of interest as you explore the many chambers of secret. You could hire a guide from the park office counter when you pay for the RM2 entrance fee.
Our trip to these caves was part of the Baha Ayam Stong (BAS) hiking package offered by our guide. We explored the caves before starting our hike.
I stayed in Jeli the night before this trip in order to explore Gunung Reng caves. So,while in Jeli, I had delicious nasi dagang for breakfast at Restoran Kak Nie, and stopped by Akok Belahat for their authentic snacks on the way to Dabong.
Gua Gelap
We started with Gua Gelap.
Entering Gua Gelap from one end to exit from another opening. It took us just around 10 minutes to complete the tour.
A bat hanging on the low cave ceiling.
Some tight spaces to squeeze or crawl through.
Gua Keris
A 5-minute walk through the jungle from Gua Gelap to Gua Keris.
Entering Gua Keris.
The cave’s ceiling.
The famed keris-shaped cave column that gave the cave its name. Keris (or kris) are traditional daggers with distinct shapes.
Another spotlight (literally) of Gua Keris is the ‘God’s Light’. A small opening on the cave’s ceiling shines the sun’s beam into the dark cave, creating a spotlight effect.
Gua Pagar
Entering Gua Pagar.
The ‘Skylight’.
The different openings for natural lights and cave structures create wonderful scenes.
A wide area with low ceiling and a column. You could also spot ancient marine fossils around the cave walls and ceilings.
I see a white elephant.
Going deeper.
A waterfall, or a limestone-fall?
These are shaped like corrals.
Some layered columns.
This point of interest is called ‘Monkey Head Stone’ with reference to a Journey To The West character. The guide cheekily told us it’s actually not the monkey/Wukong character, but they use ‘monkey’ because they can’t use the pig’s character 😆. Can you spot the Zhu Bajie? 🐷
Out of Gua Pagar.
Gua Ikan
Since it’s the only straightforward cave easy to tour independently, the guide let us explore Gua Ikan by ourselves.
Gua Ikan features a cave river in a huge, spacious chamber, well-lit with artificial lights.
After exploring the caves, we regrouped at Gunung Stong State Park to start our 3D2N hiking trip to Baha Ayam Stong (BAS).
Have this guide helped you? Tag @meowtainpeople in your hiking stories & posts!
*Captain Planet passing by* Remember, please take care of our environment, and please don’t destroy the Nature. Leave no trash behind and take back only photos and memories (and also some trash if you can). Walk on the designated path and stay in the middle as much as you can, so that the exposed soil doesn’t spread/corrode further. BE ONE WITH NATURE *flies away*
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