This temple, 16 kilometers before Mae Sai and thus 45 kilometers from Chiang Rai, makes a lovely stop on the way there or from there. Its name literally means "Fish Cave Temple," but it's also nicknamed the "Monkey Temple" because a troop of monkeys lives in the mountain above the temple, and some of them inevitably wander inside. Your presence hardly bothers the monkeys, and you can approach them without any trouble, though you should still be careful. The monkeys, the pond with the fish, and the cave are the main attractions of Wat Thaam Pla. There's also an enclosed pool with crocodiles, but you know me, I prefer seeing animals in the wild. That's my only reservation about this little-known temple, which is rarely visited by foreign tourists and which I like very much. As soon as you enter, you'll see the ordination hall, on whose roof there are probably some monkeys, and behind it a steep mountain topped with a small white chedi. To the right, you'll see a magnificent hell garden, and a little further on, an old chedi. The pond with the fish is to the left of the ordination hall. Behind it begins the long Naga staircase, which leads to a kind of gorge. At the end of this gorge is the cave entrance. The somewhat steep climb isn't very long. Immediately to the left at the top of the stairs, you'll find a platform with a magnificent panoramic view. You can borrow a flashlight at the cave entrance. Inside, you'll see several Buddha statues. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much more about the interior of the cave. I arrived at 5:30 p.m., it was already dark, and there was no one left to lend out flashlights.

Free entry. Lamp rental for the cave: 20 THB. If you wish to visit the cave, please arrive before 5 pm.

Even though the bus to Mae Sai will likely drop you off near Wat Tham Pla, you'll still have a bit of a walk. Therefore, there's no convenient way to reach the temple using public transport.

The Fish Cave Temple (Wat Tham Pla) is a temple. When visiting a temple in Thailand, there are some rules to observe: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes upon entering the building, be quiet, no hugging or kissing, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, and do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to the Fish Cave Temple (Wat Tham Pla)? Even though the bus to Mae Sai will likely drop you off near Wat Tham Pla, you'll still have a bit of a walk. Therefore, there's no convenient way to reach the temple using public transport.