Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A taxi from Kuching costs RM40 one-way, or RM170 return including the Fairy Cave
and three hours of wait time. A tour from Kuching to both caves costs about RM125 per
person.
SEEING MOUNTAINS FROM THE INSIDE
Many of Sarawak's limestone hills are as filled with holes as a Swiss cheese. Boardwalks let you stroll around in-
side the Wind Cave, the Fairy Cave and the caverns of Niah National Park and Gunung Mulu National Park, but
to get off the beaten track you need an experienced guide - someone like UK-born James, who runs
Kuching
Caving
( 012-886 2347;
www.kuchingcaving.com
)
. He knows more than almost anyone about the 467 cave
entrances that have been found within two hours of Kuching, the longest of which is 11km. For an all-day caving
trip, prices start at RM200 per person (minimum four).
FAIRY CAVE
About 9km southwest of Bau, the
Fairy Cave
(Gua Pari Pari; admission free; 24hr)
-
almost the size of a football pitch and as high as it is wide - is an extraordinary chamber
whose entrance is 30m above the ground in the side of a cliff; access is by staircase. Out-
side, trees grow out of the sheer rock face at impossible angles. Inside, fanciful rock form-
ations, covered with moss, give the cavern an otherworldly aspect, as do the thickets of
ferns straining to suck in every photon they can.
Cliff faces near the Fairy Cave, many rated 6a to 7a according to the UK technical
grading system, are popular with members of Kuching's friendly rock climbing commu-
nity, especially on Saturday and Sunday. The sheer white cliff 300m back along the access
road from the cave has three easy routes and about 15 wall routes with bolts. Nearest the
cave is the Tiger Wall; nearby routes include the Orchid Wall and the Batman Wall. For
information on guided rock climbing, contact
Outdoor Treks
(
http://bikcloud.com/rock
ropes.htm)
.
Getting There & Away
To get from Bau to the Fairy Cave turn-off (a 1.5km walk from the cave), take BTC bus
3A, which runs five times a day.
From Kuching, a taxi to the Fairy Cave costs RM40 one-way, or RM170 return includ-
ing the Wind Cave and three hours of wait time. A tour from Kuching to both caves costs
about RM125 per person.
