Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)

Located just outside the town of Krabi and surrounded by dense forest, the Tiger Cave Temple gets its name from the tigers that supposedly once lived in its limestone caves. Today, instead of tigers, the caves are filled with Buddhist relics and statues that you can explore independently or as part of a guided tour which includes refreshing dips in nearby pools, hot springs, and waterfalls, as well as round-trip transportation and a local guide.

• The temple is a sacred Buddhist site; please remember to dress respectfully, covering your knees and shoulders.

• Bring water and snacks with you when climbing the stairs, and take breaks along the way if you feel tired.

• Be careful with the monkeys—they might look cute, but they can also bite and scratch.

• The steps are very steep and are not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Krabi’s Tiger Cave Temple is located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Krabi town and can be reached by mini-bus, taxi, tuk-tuk, or scooter. For easy access, join a guided tour with round-trip transportation included.

The Tiger Cave Temple is open to the public all year round. The views are at their most beautiful at sunrise and sunset, and you’ll want to visit early or late in the day so that you’re not climbing the stairs in the midday heat. The best time to visit is between November and March, while September and October are the wettest months.

In addition to offering amazing views and gilt statues, the Tiger Cave Temple is also an important archeological site where people have discovered stone tools and pottery shards from earlier civilizations. Keep an eye out for the tiger paw prints in the caves, evidence that the area was actually once home to a population of tigers!

Tiger Cave Temple is located 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of central Krabi Town. You can rent a scooter or take a taxi, tuk-tuk, or songthaew from Krabi or Ao Nang. The temple is also included in many Krabi sightseeing tours, which usually include round-trip transportation.

There are now 1,260 steps (formerly 1,237) leading to the summit of Tiger Cave Temple. Depending on your fitness level and how often you take breaks, it will take 30 to 60 minutes to climb to the top. The steps can be quite steep and not suitable for visitors with limited mobility. Bring water.

Since Tiger Cave Temple is an active place of worship, visitors should dress respectfully. Tank tops and shorts are prohibited, and visitors should cover their shoulders and knees to enter. Rental clothing is available. You will also need to remove your shoes to enter certain areas.

Although the temple got its name from the tigers that supposedly once lived inside the caves at the bottom (and there is some evidence of that based on the tiger paw prints in the cave), there are no longer any wild tigers here. There are wild monkeys, which are known to steal things.

As one of the top attractions in the region, Tiger Cave Temple is included in many Krabi sightseeing tours. Tours typically include round-trip transfers, a local guide to provide insights and answer questions, and stops at other area highlights, typically the Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot), hot springs, and waterfalls.

The views from the summit of Tiger Cave Temple are at their best around sunrise and sunset. It’s best to visit Tiger Cave Temple either early or late in the day to avoid climbing the many steps in the worst of the midday heat and to avoid crowds.