Caves in Krabi
Everything you need to know about Krabi's caves
The limestone scenery which dominates the entire region offers a fascinating network of cave systems, both inland and along the coastline. Many contain wonderful crystalline formations, stalagmites and stalactites. A number are said to be the home of spirits and are steeped in local folklore, containing Buddha images and items of spiritual worship.
Many of the coastal caves reveal collapsed caverns also known as karsts or 'hongs' in Thai. Inside the hongs are many interior lagoons open to the sky and accessed only at certain tides through tunnels in the rocks. Local kayaking companies provide excellent tours inside these cave systems giving an unobtrusive view of a unique eco-system.
Many of the caves also contain prehistoric paintings, stone tools and pottery shards, giving a clue to Krabi's rich past.
Klong Thom Museum, southeast of Krabi Town, has a collection of ceramics, stone tools and bronze implements found at various excavations throughout the area.
Around Krabi Town
Tham Sadet
Tham Sadet is located at Ban Nong Kok, Tambon Sai Thai, 7 kilometres from Krabi Town on Highway No. 4034. It is a beautiful cave with stalactites and stalagmites. In 1909 the future King Rama VI visited the cave, earning it the title 'Sadet' indicating the presence of royalty.
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Ao Luk District
Tham Lod
Just northeast of Krabi Town, surrounded by limestone mountains and rich in cave systems, lies the area of Ao Luk. Along the Ao Luk-Laem Sak Road, approximately 2km from the district offices are two caves located in the mangrove of Ta Prang Canal: Tham Lod Neua and Tham Lod Tai. The latter is a long narrow limestone tunnel with stalactites and stalagmites and can be visited by long-tail boat at low tide. Other caves located in this area: Tham Prah Cave, the site of the Khao Prah Suhn Yah Tah Rahm Meditation Centre, Tham Pet Cave, named because the walls of the cave reflect light like a diamond, and Tham Phi Hua To (see below.)
How to get there: By longtail boat or by canoe from Bor Thor Jetty. Follow the signs displayed on Ao Luk - Laem Sak road to get there.
Tham Phi Hua To
Tham Phi Hua Toh/Hua Galok is a large cave which used to be a burial site some 3,000 years ago. Some paintings located on the ceiling of the cave are dated from this time. Tham Phi Hua Tho means 'Big-headed Ghost Cave', due to the fact that the cave, viewed from Ta Prang Canal, looks like a huge limestone face. Apart from the paintings, the cave also displays some strangely shaped rocks: a dragon's head and a crocodile head.
How to get there: By longtail boat or by canoe from Bor Thor Jetty. Follow the signs displayed on Ao Luk - Laem Sak road to get there.
Railay Beach
Diamond Cave
Diamond Cave is also worth a look, the well-signed path begins at the north end of Railay East Beach. It doesn't take long to get there and lights and a wooden walkway have been installed inside.
The cave features bats, a very high roof, stalactites, stalagmites and is a true wonder of nature. Entrance is 40 baht.
Tham Phra Nang Nok (Princess Cave)
Take a boat to see this strange cave located on lovely Phra Nang Beach, within 10 minutes' walk of Railay Beach East.
Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nok, reveals a more recently discovered inner Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nai, believed by local fishermen to be the home of a mythical sea princess.
Inside the cave is a collection of colourful phallic symbols or lingams, offerings and objects believed to help with fertility. Read More...
Phi Phi Islands
Viking Cave (Tham Phraya Nak)
Located about 90 minutes by boat from Krabi Town, Phi Phi Ley contains another large cave Tham Phraya Nak or Viking Cave, contains prehistoric paintings alongside more recent pictures of modern ships.
The cave is also home to vast numbers of swifts. Their nests, an essential ingredient in the Chinese gourmet dish Birds Nest soup, are collected by locals from a series of rickety bamboo ladders. Note: Phi Phi Ley is only accessible during high season (Nov - March).
Koh Lanta
Tham Mai Kaew
Koh Lanta has a series of caves collectively known as Tham Mai Kaew, that can be reached by a short jungle trek through rubber plantations and entered from a small entrance of rocks.
Local guides can lead you through the caves to a cavern pool, with plenty of bats, stalactites and stalagmites to see along the way.
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