Caving and White Water Rafting In One Day

When I found out we’re going to be exploring Gua Kandu (Kandu Cave) and be doing White Water Rafting at Gopeng, Perak, I just knew I could not turn that trip down. If you’ve read my posts before, you would know that I love doing both these sports, very much.

But now the question is, can I do both caving and white water rafting on the same day?

Are you ready?
Are you ready?

 

Caving at Gua Kandu (Kandu Cave)

Nomad Adventure

Nomad Adventure Gopeng

 

Gua Kandu, like Gua Tempurung, is a limestone cave located in Gopeng, Perak. Only about 30-minutes drive from Gua Tempurung, the dry Gua Kandu was once used by the Japanese during the World War II. After the Japanese left, it became the hideout by Communist guerillas. There are many evidences of former cave dwellers to be seen in some sections of the cave. Sadly, there are also some sections that shows evidences of vandalism but hopefully, now that the cave has been privatized, it will be more well-kept and safe from naughty hands.

Nomad Adventure Gopeng

Before caving begins, we were told to put on our gears, which included safety helmet, harness (for Flying Fox at the end of the caving) and headlamp.

It was not a tough exploration, where you only need to squat or crawl only for short lengths within the cave. What makes it slightly hard is probably because of the dark interior, which is why the headlamp or torch is important to see your way through. The floor is not flat and can sometimes be quite tricky. Because of this, the exploration could take up to approximately 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours.

I especially enjoyed rappelling up and down cliffs within the cave. I wished we had gloves on though because, sweaty hands can make it a little hard to pull ourselves up and can be slippery sometimes. The dust is thick though, since it is a dry cave, so maybe I should have used face mask too – especially with the hot and humid weather these days, a face mask and bottled water is a must to keep one self hydrated.

The height of the exploration would be towards the ends where we have three options to leave the cave:

  1. Leave via the forest trail
  2. Take the 100m long Flying Fox at a height of 20m, hike back to the Flying Fox’s starting point and leave via the forest trail
  3. Take the 100m long Flying Fox at a height of 20m, leave by climbing down the steep vertical limestone wall via ferrata

I, of course, chose the 3rd option. Did you hear me say, #YOLO?

Nomad Adventure Gopeng

White Water Rafting at Sungai Kampar

Surrounded by lush jungles, Sungai Kampar (Kampar River) in Gopeng, Perak is one of the perfect places for water activities like the white water rafting. With rapid levels that can go from as low as level 2 to as high as level 5, Sungai Kampar is famous amongst fans of this extreme sport. And even for someone like me, who is not very good in the water, I would not say no to this.

Nomad Adventure Gopeng

Before we were brought to the river, we were first taught the do’s and dont’s of white water rafting. This includes, the right way of holding the paddle, the right way of sitting in the raft, what to do if you’re thrown out of the raft, how to hold on to the safety rope, and many more. Even if you are experienced in white water rafting, it is advisable to listen to the emergency methods, in case you also need to help a fellow rafter.

Once everybody is geared up – this includes a helmet, life jacket and rubber shoes.

Once we were all gathered at the meeting point in the river, each of us have to let ourselves float, swim and catch the safety rope as practice. Did I say I didn’t like this part? But I managed, even though I swam like a duck.

The best part is once we’re all on the rafts. “High-five”, “Jump jump”, “Bump bump”, “Paddle forward”, “Paddle backwards”, “To the front”, “To the back”, are just some of the most used terms as we paddle through the waters and commands used to manouver through the rapids. Due to the El-Nino and it currently being the dry season, the water level was a little low and rapids were not too high. If only the water level was higher, our journey would be smoother, quicker and more fun!

Caving and White Water Rafting brought by Nomad Adventure

Nomad Adventure was established in 1994 by its owner, Chan Yuen-Li who is an avid lover of nature and extreme sports such as white water rafting. Our caving and white water rafting experience in Gopeng, Perak, was thankfully made possible by Nomad Adventure. Having certification for Wilderness First Aid, Rope & Swiftwater Rescue from Rescue 3 International, all of the whitewater rafting trip leaders are certified by International Rafting Federation.

Other than the two sports I’ve mentioned in this post, Nomad Adventure also has other activities like:

  1. Flat Water Kayaking
  2. River Rescue Team Challenge
  3. Whitewater Kayaking
  4. Mountain School
  5. Academy Kampung
  6. Rafflesia Trekking
  7. Heritage Hunt Gopeng
  8. Camping

If you’re looking to experience activities above, you can contact Nomad Adventure yourself at the address and phone number below. It will surely be an experience you will not forget very soon.

Nomad Adventure
Camp Site: Lot 17525, Kampung Chulek, Gopeng Kampar, Perak.
Tel: +603 – 7958 5152
Web: Nomad Adventure

WOW+GTMThis event was made possible by Gaya Travel Magazine and Tourism Perak in conjunction with World Of Wonders (WOW Perak), Visit Perak Malaysia 2017.

Written by 

LizzaBella is a part-time traveler, amateur photographer and videographer and writer. Connect with LizzaBella through her social medias today!

22 thoughts on “Caving and White Water Rafting In One Day

  1. One thing, I scare of Height. Water rafting is one of the thing I wanna do, but dare not.
    Enjoys ur picture and story.

  2. This is so much fun and tiring sport. I wonder I could survive both!! Lol!If I am to choose, I would prefer caving. I don’t know how to swim so rafting sound a bit difficult for me.

  3. I love sports but those are among all the I’ve never done before! This is gonna be useful for me 🙂

  4. So much activities. I was wondering what the helmets were in the first photo… looked like decorated eggs to me. hahaha

  5. Wow such an amazing place! I tot only Sarawak got gua 😛 Its quite sometimes already since my last visit! Super cool experience! 😀

  6. I look at all the photos and start thinking, where on earth did I do when I was younger? I never gone caving and water rafting. Phobia of the jungle.

    1. I mean *what on earth did I do, not *where. Sorry, typo.

  7. omg i wana go there and try those activities!
    i go to penang almost yearly and it doesnt look too far from penang. thank you so much for sharing this!

    much love,
    everest

  8. I love these activities. Went to Nomad activities before and just love their professionalism in organizing all these activities! will recommend to everyone!

  9. I explore Gua Tempurung before and it is really tough but a good experience. Do it when you are young.

  10. wah! I can see all the satisfaction on the faces, having fun discovering and exploring the nature!

  11. Betty Liew says:

    Exciting event and you really active. It seem a long year I never go for caving. Water Rafting is a no for me as I don’t know how to swim although is fun. I will go for hiking, Firefox or caving. Thank you sharing this fun activities.

  12. Oh my gosh! I have always wanted to go white water rafting!! So trilling and fun!

  13. I always wanted to do rafting but it seems a bit scary to me…but looking at your pictures it looks like a really fun activity! 😀

  14. loads of fun and adventure! Great place to go with friends.

  15. Omg this is so cool. I should do it with my friends. Thanks for sharing your experience.

  16. SO adventurous, I haven’t gone caving since forever and definitely should try rafting one day before getting too old.

  17. Didn’t know about this place until I read your post, thanks for the info sharing 🙂

  18. Caving and white water rafting are somewhere on my bucket list. Being a scaredy cat, I do not know when I fulfill that wishes. A bit reluctant to go into a dark cave as there might be ghost and rafting as you might injure yourself, fell down the raft and get left behind in the jungle.
    *Too much watching TV and movies*

  19. Arisa Chow says:

    Have yet to try it because im quite scared of vigorous outdoor activities like these

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