Caves

Big holes, tunnels and cave systems with the biggest known cave chamber (Sarawak Chamber) exist here in Mulu National Park. Some of the caves are show caves with boardwalks and artificial lights on the stalagmites and stalactites, but real caving trips are also possible to arrange with one of the national park's experienced guides. Seeing the Sarawak Chamber (600 m x 415 m x 80 m) is a very difficult and demanding expedition, so don't count on seeing it on your first trip underground. Overground, the jungle and its wildlife can be explored from canopy walks spanning between the tree tops. Don't forget to see the bat exodus at dusk, where millions of bats set out from the caves on their hunt for food. They just keep coming out and draw thick waves in the evening sky. An incredible sight not to be missed.

Not just some impressive caves with human record going some 40,000 years back and rock painting dating 1200 years back, but also a major site for bird nest harvesting. These swiftlet's nests are some of the most expensive food item on the globe and go for about US$500 per kilo in Hong Kong where they are made into bird nest soup. At Niah, the nests are still harvested the old fashion way where the collector climbs 60 metres up the air on thin poles to reach the nests under the cave roof. No serious safety equipment is used and fatal accidents usually happen every year. The harvest season runs from January to March and then again from August to December.

Moqua is a cave system filled with freshwater and is probably Nauru's most exciting sight. The anonymous entrance is small and leads down to a platform of rocks. From this point the cave doesn't look very exciting or big, but if you step into the waist deep water (which you should) and venture further in, the cave expand in all directions except height. Sadly, there are some trash and graffiti, but it doesn't make it a less adventures. The cave system is connected to the underground lake, Moqua Well, which is an important source for freshwater. Rumor says the system extend to more than 3 km, but don't explore deeper than you can always get out. The story goes that the locals used the cave to hide in from the Japanese occupation forces. Moqua Cave is difficult to find, but use our marker to locate it. There is a container at the road and at the end of the driveway is a house with “Maqoa That” written on it. Follow the trail to the left to you reach a square out of bricks. The cave entrance is to the right-hand side.

The occupying Japanese forces dug this cave complex during WWII. It was part of their new island-defense strategy, which also included fortified bunkers and underground positions. Instead of stopping the Allies at the beach, the Japanese would only disrupt the landings at the water's edge and depend on an in-depth defense farther inland. The caves and tunnels have afterwards been cleared for unexploded ordnance, so today it’s open and anyone can venture into the pitch dark tunnels. Remember a flashlight (and to bend down).

This extraordinary underground river is part of a 25 km long cave system, whereof 8.2 km is a river. To add to its uniqueness, the river also outflows directly into the sea. You can only visit on a tour and those will "only" venture 3 km into the river. But it's truly spectacular to be paddled through the darkness with only the boatman's headlamp to point out rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites and bat colonies. The Underground River, which official name is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, is not just an UNESCO World Heritage Site, but was also voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The tours are well organised, but by doing it from Sabang, and not Puerto Princesa or El Nido, you can be one of the first in the cave.

Right next to the main road lies this cave. It's a small lava tube, which is completely dark when you first venture in. A local family runs the cave and there is a small entrance fee. Best to bring your own tourch.

Piula is a chilled natural freshwater pool which disappears into a cave. You can swim about 20 meters into the dark tunnel before you hit the end. Though the cave is natural, the area is developed with picnic fales, toilets, and even a cafe. The pool seems popular with families and teenagers.

Even if you don't have any interest in caves, a visit to the Škocjan Caves is still a must, just for its sheer size. Besides the usual collection of stalagmites and stalactites formations, it contains the largest known underground canyon which extends into several underground chambers. The largest, Martel's Chamber, measures 308 m in length and reaches up to 146 m above the underground flowing river, making it the largest chamber in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Unfortunately, this chamber is not included in any of the cave tours, but instead, you can descend along endless stairs and clinging footbridges into other big chambers like the Murmuring Cave (Šumeča jama) where the Reka River, which created the Škocjan Caves, flows at the bottom. Impressively, Reka River continues to flow underground for a total of thirty-four kilometres before it resurfaces near the Adriatic coast.

If you ever the had urge to go Indiana Jones style, then a visit to the Lod Cave in Thailand's North is for you. The cave system, which holds archeological significance, is locally known as Ban Tham Lod and located on the outskirts of a village called Pang Mapha, around 130 km north of Chiang Mai. Remains from primitive humans dating back 20,000 years, ancient cave paintings from 2 to 3,000 years ago and long wooden coffins have all been found within this massive cave system. A trip through the cave will take anything from 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on how long you stand in awe at the amazing formations that have been created over the eons. As you pass through the massive caverns with a single oil lantern wielded by your local guide, you can't help but think of what these caverns have seen and of how time has forgotten them. If you plan on visiting the Lod Cave, make sure you pay the extra money to take the raft through the entire cave, you won't be disappointed. It may also be a great idea to bring a rain poncho or umbrella - the bats haven't been toilet-trained yet!

There are plenty of stalactites and stalagmites in Anahulu Cave. Though there some lights in the cave, a guy will follow you with a flashlight (part of the entrance fee). The trail through the cave ends at the cool and crisp pool, where you can have a swim in the dark.