Climb the 1260 steps to Tiger Cave Peak and enjoy amazing 360 degree views of the Khao Kaew mountains and out towards the coast. Take a stroll through the lush jungle of the Khiri Wong Valley and discover where the local monks reside. And be sure to make a visit to the actual Tiger Cave Temple!
Wat Tham Sua, commonly known as the Tiger Cave Temple, is a Buddhist temple complex approximately 9km north of Krabi Town in southern Thailand. The name Tiger Cave Temple has become synonymous of Tiger Cave Peak, while the actual cave itself is often overlooked.
In the 1970s, a monk named Jumnien had a vision of starting a new monastery in a place surrounded by mountains and of a “tiger cave”. There were a number of suggested locations which his monks scouted. When Jumnien visited what is now Tiger Cave, it was the exact place he saw in his vision. Inside the cave there is a natural stone in the form of a tiger paw. In 1975 he bought 53 novice monks and 56 nuns to the place and founded the Na Ching Monastery, named after the nearby village. Villagers from Na Ching told the monks that in the past there was many tigers in the area. In 1990, Na Ching Monastery was renamed to Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple).
Wat Tham Sua Temple Complex
The Wat Tham Sua temple complex consists of a number of temples, structures, and points of interest:
Guan Yin Pagoda: a Chinese style pagoda dedicated to the goddess of Guan Yin.
Khao Kaew: the surrounding mountain range.
Tiger Cave Temple: a large temple built onto the side of the rock face. Inside the temple is the entrance to the actual Tiger Cave. Tiger Cave has a natural stone in the form of a tiger paw, and a model tiger just for show.
Tiger Cave Peak: the famed peak with a golden stupa and giant Buddha statue.
Wat Tham Sua Temple: The giant temple currently under construction.
Wonderland / Khiri Wong Valley: a small valley covered in lush jungle where the monks have their living quarters.
Tiger Cave Peak
Tiger Cave Peak is a steep climb of over 250 metres from temple complex to summit. Previously there were 1237 steps leading to the summit but following a rebuilt section there is now 1260 steps. The steps are incredibly steep and vary wildly in heights with some being almost knee height! This makes the climb all the more draining on your body, even if you’re fit. Make sure you bring plenty of water (it can be purchased for 10 baht from the temple complex). Even if you don’t usually drink much, I strongly strongly recommend you bring water. It might not seem like the biggest hike but you’ll lose a lot of water in sweat and there is no water available on the climb or at the top. The time it takes to make the climb will vary on your fitness and stamina. It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.
Tiger Cave Peak
Steps: 1260
Elevation: 278m
Return Time: 30 minutes to 2 hours
Difficulty: moderate / steep
Sights: 360 degree views over the entire region!
Make sure you bring plenty of water!
Reaching the summit you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the whole region: from the temple complex down below, across to the Khao Kaew mountains, and out to Krabi Town and the coast. On the summit ridge is a huge sitting Buddha, a golden pagoda, and a couple of other small constructions. You don’t need long to look around, but you will need time to recover. The walk back down to the temple complex is only marginally faster. The steps are so narrow it makes it difficult to move fast. Once you get back to the temple complex and have another drink, be sure to visit Wonderland and the actual Tiger Cave Temple if you already haven’t.
WONDERLAND / KHIRI WONG VALLEY
Return Time: 30 minutes return
Return Distance: 1km
Difficulty: easy flat walking
Sights: jungle, caves, monks living quarters
Most people come to Wat Tham Sua solely to climb the peak. Many people are unaware of Wonderland or are simply worn out after their climb. Wonderland is an easy 30 minute walk through lush jungle and passes limestone caves. The only up and down is the first flight of stairs from the pagoda up to a small stupa and then down the other side. The rest of the walk is completely flat. Within the valley are some huge tree, some of which some are hundreds of years old. There are numerous caves around the valley, some of which have monks living quarters. Signs direct you in a loop from the living quarters. This little walk is stunning in itself.
HOW TO GET TO WAT THAM SUA
Distance: Wat Tham Sua is approximately 9 kilometres northeast of Krabi Town.
Entrance: Entry to Wat Tham Sua is free.
How long do I need? Anywhere from 1-3 hours. I spent approximately two hours at Wat Tham Sua in total.
Scooter: A scooter can be rented for 200 baht (AUD$9.70) for 24 hours. The ride from downtown Krabi takes 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.
Minibus: 100 baht one way / 150 baht return (including guesthouse pick up and drop off) . Departures from Krabi Town every two hours 0900 to 1700. The last departure from Wat Tham Sua is at 1900.
Taxi: Around 300 baht one way from Krabi Town.
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