Caves Galore - Six Ideas For Cave Fanatics

Caving in Thailand: Bats, Buddhas & Butt-Sliding Into Darkness (Now with 100% More Thailand)

You’ve done the beaches. You’ve ziplined through the jungle, eaten your weight in mango sticky rice, and narrowly avoided death by banana boat. Now it’s time to go underground, literally. Welcome to Thailand’s caves: dark, damp, mysterious, and wildly photogenic if you’re not too sweaty to hold your phone or, heaven forbid, your heavy DSLR.

Whether you're chasing adventure, spirituality, or a cool escape from the heat, Thai caves deliver in spades, bats, and unexpected staircases.

1. Tham Lot (Pai) – Bamboo Raft of Mild Terror

If you like your caves with prehistoric bones, bat colonies, and a general sense of “Did Indiana Jones die here?”, then this is your place. You’ll float through this massive cave system on a bamboo raft while your guide holds a lantern like a character in a ghost story.

There are ancient teak coffins, limestone formations that look like melting birthday cakes, and the general feeling that you’ve time-traveled.

Where: Near Pai, Mae Hong Son province

Price: ~300 THB for guide + raft

Wildlife Sighting: Bats. Thousands. Try not to scream.

2. Tham Khao Luang (Phetchaburi) – Buddhas & Drama Lighting

Picture this: You enter a cave and suddenly a beam of sunlight crashes through the ceiling and lights up a golden Buddha like the finale of a Netflix series. That’s Tham Khao Luang, where spirituality and Instagram opportunities collide.

Where: Just outside Phetchaburi town

Price: Free-ish, optional donation

Bonus Feature: Monkeys outside who look like they’re plotting something

3. Tham Luang Nang Non (Chiang Rai) – The Famous One with the Football Team

Yep, this is the cave where 12 boys and their coach got trapped in 2018, sparking a massive international rescue effort that involved divers, pedo expert Elon Musk (sort of), and an entire Netflix series.

Since then, Tham Luang has become a national monument and pilgrimage site. You can’t fully enter the cave anymore (for obvious reasons), but the visitor center tells the whole incredible story. You’ll walk away both awestruck and slightly claustrophobic.

Where: Chiang Rai province

Price: Free to enter the park, donation encouraged

Vibe: Inspirational with a touch of "thank goodness that’s not me"

4. Tham Phra Nang Nok (Railay Beach) – The One with All the... Uh... Phallic Energy

Tucked at the edge of one of Krabi’s most beautiful beaches, this small seaside cave is famous not for its size, but for its collection of wooden penises. Yep. Locals believe the shrine brings fertility and good luck, and tourists wander in with the same facial expression people use at modern art museums: confused but intrigued. And before you ask, no ladies, you're not supposed to try them out.

Where: Phra Nang Beach, Krabi

Price: Free

Weirdness Level: 11/10

5. Wat Suwan Kuha (Phang Nga) – Buddha Meets Bats in a Giant Rock Dome

This one's affectionately known as the “Cave Temple”, and it delivers exactly that: a giant golden reclining Buddha chilling inside a limestone cave. Outside? Cheeky monkeys. Inside? Religious serenity meets mild spelunking.

Where: Near Phang Nga Town, en route to James Bond Island

Price: ~20–30 THB

Bonus: You can pretend you're Lara Croft and find enlightenment

6. Tham Erawan (Loei Province) – Cave with a View and 600 Steps of Regret

This one makes you earn your cave. After climbing 600 steps, legs wobbling and lungs questioning your life choices, you’re rewarded with a wide-open cavern full of Buddha statues, cool air, and zero regrets (once your legs recover).

The views from the top are stunning, assuming you survive the ascent without lying down in protest.

Where: Loei Province (northeast Thailand)

Price: Free (unless you hire a guide)

Pain Level: High. Pride Level: Higher.

Cave Survival Tips

Wear real shoes. Flip-flops in a cave = bad life decisions.

Bring a flashlight or headlamp, even if the guide swears their ancient lantern is “very strong.”

Watch your head, your step, and your ego, especially if a 70-year-old grandma passes you on the cave stairs.

Don’t touch the bats. They don’t want a selfie with you.

Final Thoughts

Thailand’s caves are like the country itself: full of surprises, beauty, legends, and the occasional monkey. Whether you’re in it for adventure, spirituality, or just a break from sunburn, going underground might be the best thing you do all trip.

Just remember: what goes down must climb back up, usually via 432 uneven stairs.