Lod Cave (or Tham Lod, the Thai word "Tham" meaning "cave") is the most fascinating cave in Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand. It is frequently offered as a day trip from Pai (Mae Hong Son) or Soppong, the nearest town. The cave consists of three main chambers: the Pillar Cave, the Doll Cave, and the Coffin Cave. It stretches for 1.5 kilometers, with ceilings reaching up to 50 meters high in some places. However, in my opinion, the most unforgettable experience is the bamboo raft trip on the river inside the cave, a section of the Lang River. The tour is led by a local guide with an oil lamp. He first takes you on foot through the first two chambers. After the Doll Cave, rafts await you to take you downstream to the entrance of the final chamber, the Coffin Cave. The entire tour takes place in complete darkness, as there is no lighting inside the cave. I highly recommend bringing a powerful flashlight, especially if you plan to take good photos or videos, as the guide's kerosene lamp quickly becomes inadequate. I visited the cave in the morning, but it seems that arriving just before sunset is definitely worthwhile. You'll be able to observe hundreds of thousands of bats flying out to feed at night and countless birds flying in. A truly impressive natural spectacle.

A guided tour is required to visit Lod Cave. In addition to the entrance fee, there are charges for the guide and, if you wish to take a bamboo raft trip, for the raft guides. Costs vary depending on the activity, but a complete tour costs 500 THB per group of 3 people. All proceeds benefit the villagers who maintain the cave. Allow at least 1.5 hours, ideally 2 hours, for a complete visit including the bamboo raft trip. The cave can be visited year-round, but the water level varies depending on the season, and some chambers may be inaccessible during the rainy season. In exceptional cases, the cave may be closed for several days during periods of very heavy rainfall. Please note that a visit is not recommended for people with mobility impairments, as some sections with ladders or stairs are quite steep.

There is no public transport to Lod Cave. If you want to get closer, I recommend getting off at Soppong (the vans and buses between Pai and Mae Hong Son pass through there) and arranging to be picked up from there. Alternatively, you can easily book tours to Lod Cave from Pai or Mae Hong Son.

How to get there

How do you get to Lod Cave? There is no public transport to Lod Cave. If you want to get closer, I recommend getting off at Soppong (the vans and buses between Pai and Mae Hong Son pass through there) and arranging to be picked up from there. Alternatively, you can easily book tours to Lod Cave from Pai or Mae Hong Son.