Top 10 Best and Most Beautiful Caves in Thailand

Rowan (Guinness Bear) 7 min read

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Thailand attracts tourists for numerous reasons. Millions of tourists visit for its stunning beaches, pure seas, rich culture, and friendly residents. Not just that! Thailand's beautiful caves draw visitors as much as its other attractions.

A tour is available, but if you want to escape the crowd, you may explore Thailand's caves and see some of the most stunning natural surroundings. Thailand will exceed all of your cave-related expectations.

Here’s my list of the top 10 best and most beautiful caves in Thailand for you to explore:

#1 Wat Tham Chiang Dao (Chiang Dao)

Wat Tham Chiang Dao has around 100 caves that span 10 kilometers into the rock in the Thai foothills of Doi Luang Dao. Its subterranean architecture is among Thailand's best. While not everything is accessible to the public, the parts will exceed your expectations.

Hire a local guide who can bring a gas lamp to navigate the night. Among the various caverns you may explore, you may find shrines housing sculptures of Buddha and other deities, enormous, hanging stalactite formations, and natural limescale and crystal formations. Sacred symbols passed down through the ages may even be visible.

#2 Tham Lot (Pang Mapha)

The Pang Mapha District of Mae Hong Province in northern Thailand has the Tham Lot Cave. This, reportedly one of the biggest caves in Thailand, provides thrilling exploration. You are invited to enter a fascinating and magical realm using a vast limescale cave system that extends 1,666 meters and is traversed by the Nam Lang River. You'll need to be in good physical shape to explore because there are several routes inside the cave and stairs to climb.

Obtaining a gas lamp and a guide should be your priority. Afterward, you can take a bamboo raft into the cave or exit via the forest on foot. According to legend, if you leave just before dusk, you'll be able to see hundreds of swifts swooping into Tham Lot to make their nightly nest. Column Cavern, Coffin Cave, and Doll Cave are three of the most visited caves in the area.

#3 Phi Hua To Cave (Krabi)

Among the most well-known caves in Krabi is Phi Hua To Cave—also known as "Big Headed Ghost Cave." It is a tunnel under a mountain adjacent to Than Bok Khorani National Park in Thailand, making it a popular Thai cave destination. Mangrove woods encircle the limescale caverns, and what makes this ancient site unique is the presence of prehistoric drawings of both people and animals, which set it apart from other caves in Thailand.

According to local legend, Big Headed Ghost Cave was a burial ground three thousand years ago since several skulls were found there. Hence, the name. It's unsettling, but at least you won't have to worry about harming yourself while you investigate. Be careful to locate the famous tiger paw impression in the stone, which can be found in this cave. The natural rock formations at Phi Hua To Cave resemble dragons and crocodiles and are a sight as you go further into the cave.

#4 Phraya Nakhon Cave (Hua Hin)

Phraya Nakhon Cave in Khao Sam Roi National Park is one of Thailand's most fascinating caves. Beautiful mountains, lush woods, and perfect beaches encircle you. You must be ready to trek or take a boat to reach this cave. You should go caving in Thailand and be rewarded with a beautiful landscape.

The cave consists of two rooms with open ceilings. Light pours in, mixing with darkness to create a tranquil ambiance. The inside becomes a verdant forest as it rushes towards the rooftop openings, enriching the scene with more life and color.

One of the most beautiful and diminutive temples in Thailand, the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion, is housed in the main chamber and is adorned with verdant foliage and golden accents.

The early 19th-century Kuha Karuhas Pavilion, built by King Chulalongkorn, has entertained various royal guests. Look for wall inscriptions with King Prajadhipok and King Chulalongkorn's initials. Visitors will be astonished by Thailand's caves' rich history and stunning environment.

#5 Suwan Khuha Temple / Monkey Cave (Phang-nga)

Thailand's Wat Tham Suwan Khuha Cave is 10 km from Phang Nga. Its magnificent landscape and steep limestone cliffs make it a popular road trip destination. The path leading to the parking lots eventually leads to the familiar temple gates. Remember that the monkeys may damage any car, so it's best not to park too close.

If you have claustrophobia in cramped places, you may reconsider entering this Thai cave because of its spaciousness, natural light, and lofty ceilings. With an area of around 40 by 20 meters, you may move about quickly while gazing at the magnificent 15-meter-long golden Buddha and other Budha constructions. To reach a different cavern with golden sculptures and relics, climb the steps next to the reclining Buddha.

Among the many sacred artifacts you'll find here are a reclining Buddha and a monk who occasionally meditates with the help of a few slumbering cats—so at ease with the environment that they frequently fall asleep. If you make it to the very end of the cave, there's a broad stairway leading out into the forest and into other, smaller caverns that you may explore. Wat Tham Suwan Khuha Cave is a cultural treasure trove that will quench your curiosity and delight your senses.

#6 Tham Khao Luang (Phetchaburi)

Many cave temples exist in Phetchaburi, Thailand's hilly region. Tham Khao Luang cave is a temple five miles outside the city on the route to Khao Wang. It is a cave temple with a height of only 92 meters.

You may drive up the road leading to it or walk there, but when you get there, be prepared to climb some steps. Legend has it that deep inside the cave in the Tham Khao Luang, which King Rama IV frequented as a monk, there is a rock formation like Jesus Christ's crucifixion. Sunlight filters through its natural skylight, casting rays on the center Buddha and several stalactite formations, which visitors may admire.

#7 Phra Putthachai Tham Rusi Khao Ngu / Snake Mountain Cave (Ratchaburi)

Many recommend stopping at Tham Lum Khao Ngu in Kanchanaburi's Lam Khlong Ngu National Park when you go caving in Thailand. The famous two-hundred-foot limestone column resembles a church organ and amazes you. The breathtaking surroundings and stalagmites and stalactites transport you to ancient ages.

After visiting the caverns, walk, hike, or kayak for a thrill. Once you emerge from this stunning Thai cave, you may cool yourself at the Nang Kruan waterfall, a welcome relief from the scorching heat.

#8 Chiang Dao Cave (Chiang Mai)

At the foot of Chiang Dao Cave lies the limestone mountain of Doi Chiang Dao. This one is one of Thailand's most extensive underground networks of tunnels and corridors. Stalagmites and stalactites form patterns across the cave's interior.

Among the fascinating features of the almost 12-kilometer-long Cave are several Buddhist artifacts, old sculptures, a beautiful fish pond, and adventurous underground passages. At the beginning of the cave's many tunnels are two well-lit chambers called Tham Sua Dao and Tham Phra Non.

#9 Viking Cave (Krabi)

Tongsai Bay is home to Viking Cave, a limestone cliff with an extensive collection of bird nests to prepare traditional Chinese soup. In addition to this flourishing trade, the Viking Cave preserves images of Viking ships and crew from the Viking Drakkar Longship, a Scandinavian ship. No visitors are allowed inside the cave; the only way to view it is from a boat.

Many nests constructed by swiftlet birds using their saliva may be found in the cave. The Chinese consider bird's nest soup a health food delicacy, and the nests are highly prized in Chinese cuisine. The cultural and ecological importance of the cave means that visitors are usually not allowed to enter. The Thai government has restricted entrance to the cave to preserve its cultural and environmental treasures.

With its ancient murals and the unusual practice of swiftlet nest gathering, the Viking Cave is a fascinating cultural attraction. Visitors may see how the area's history, nature, and local customs unite.

#10 Mae La Na Cave (Mae Hong Son)

Diamond and Coral are the two caverns that makeup Mae La Na Cave in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. The path leading to the caverns is rocky, winds up and down a steep jungle slope, and is manageable only by two-wheeler.

But you can't get in without a guide. A river winds through these dank, gloomy caverns, and the floor is often wet and slippery. Visitors may buy plastic shoes at the entry to provide a pleasant and safe journey. Depending on how their timers may choose which cave they wish to explore.

Visit a Thai Cave Near You Today!

So, to enjoy the most fantastic family vacation ever in Thailand, we highly recommend you visit these caverns. Scuba diving may also be used to explore Thai caves, and beautiful Thai beaches attract scuba divers. Enjoy!