Kompleks Gua Ikan, Gua Keris, Gua Gelap, Gua Pagar

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.

Gua Pagar Monkey Head Stone Journey To The West Pig head

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? 🐷