Getting here:
Local boats can be hired from the Park Headquarters to the famous Sea Stack. This iconic landmark of Bako National Park is located between Teluk Pandan Kecil and Teluk Paku.

Description:
Ask anyone about what is the most well-known landmark of Bako National Park, and the answer would be the famous Sea Stack. On a map that I saw at the Park Headquarters, the Sea Stack is locally denoted as Batu Belah, which literally means "a split rock". I often refer the Sea Stack as Batu Kapal (or "Ship Rock" in English) as this unique rock formation uncanningly resembles that of a ship bow when viewed from certain angles.

Whatever the correct name of this renowned landmark of the national park, the Sea Stack is a truly unique attraction on its own. Otherwise, its photos will never be widely used by travel brochures to introduce Bako National Park to the world. Perhaps the Sea Stack is the holy grail of testament on how millions of years of sea erosion have produced such a spectacular rock formation. In fact, the sign of ocean ravages is so extreme that the base of the Sea Stack is left with a thin supporting structure that hold the overhead outcrop in its place. On its walls, one can witness various linear formations as a result of the erosions. To me, they are natural carvings at their best.

One thing to note that while the Sea Stack is the main landmark of Bako National Park, it is not easily accessible. Bako is unlike many national parks around the world where the landmarks are most probably within reach from the Park Headquarters. The Sea Stack is ONLY accessible by boat as this unique rock formation is actually a tiny islet located off the coast of Teluk Pandan Kecil. One can actually see the Sea Stack from the beach of Teluk Pandan Kecil but in all honesty, the view is considered unappealing due to the distance.

If you really wish to view the famous Sea Stack up close, there are plenty of single-engine tourist boats that depart from the Park Headquarters in Teluk Assam to the Sea Stack and terminating at Teluk Pandan Kecil. The journey is very interesting as the boat will pass along other exciting rock formations that form the coastline of Bako National Park.