The Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suea (Thai: Wat Tham Suea), is an active forest monastery about 15 minutes north of Krabi Town, and is famous for one thing: some 1,260 concrete steps lead up the hill to a golden Buddha statue and a 360-degree panoramic view over the limestone towers and rice paddies of Krabi and, on a clear day, all the way to the Andaman Sea. Most visitors take 30 to 60 minutes to climb and almost as long to descend.
The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Visitors report that foreigners have to pay an entrance fee of 50 baht. Shoulders and knees should be covered. If the climb is too strenuous, the trip is worthwhile for the cave temple alone and a short walk through the valley at the foot of the hill.
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Key facts
Approximately 1,260 steps to the summit
The sign at the foot of the staircase still reads 1237, the number of steps before the partial reconstruction. Some steps reach almost to the knees, and the summit is about 278 m high, although some signs and guides indicate over 300 m.
30 to 60 minutes later
Experienced climbers can complete the ascent in about half an hour, most take 45 minutes to an hour including breaks, and the descent takes almost as long. Plan for two to three hours for the entire visit.
A fee of 50 Baht is reported.
More recent visitors report an entrance fee of 50 baht for foreign guests, while some older guidebooks state that entry is free in exchange for a donation. In any case, bring some small change.
Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Begin your ascent as soon as it opens or within the last two hours before closing. Some visitors report that the gates open as early as 5:00 AM for sunrise climbers, so if you're determined to go, check the day before.
Cover your shoulders and knees.
This is an active monastery. Sarongs can be borrowed or rented at the foot of the monastery, and shoes must be removed at the summit shrine and in the halls.
Keep an eye on your bag when the monkeys are around.
Macaques hang around the lower stairs and in the parking lot, snatching up bags, bottles, and food lying around. Securely store everything and do not feed them.
The ascent, step by step
The staircase begins next to the temple buildings at the foot of the hill and ascends in several steep concrete steps. Painted numbers mark the steps. The step heights vary considerably. Some are of average height, others reach almost to the knees, and the steepest sections at the top resemble a ladder more than a staircase. Almost the entire route is secured with railings, and there are covered rest areas where you can rest and have a drink. Trees provide ample shade in the lower section, while the upper third is more open.
Here, pace matters more than speed. Take short steps, stop on your heels before you need to, and drink every two or three steps. The descent is the part your legs will remember, as the steep steps shift all your weight onto your knees. So go slowly, use the handrail, and turn sideways on the top steps. The staircase isn't lit after dark, so I'd recommend being at the top well before 6:00 PM.
What's at the top?
The summit is a tiled platform with a large golden Buddha, a golden chedi, a small shrine, and a Buddha footprint. You remove your shoes as soon as you step onto the tiles. The view sweeps all around, encompassing the karst towers of the Kiriwong Valley, Krabi Town and its river, the farmland, and, on clear mornings, the islands in the Andaman Sea. There's a drinking water tap at the top, so a refillable bottle is all you need. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the climb; the breeze and the view are well worth the effort.
The temple and the valley at the foot of the hill
Wat Tham Suea was founded in 1975 by the meditation monk Ajahn Jamnian around a cave whose rock carvings resemble tiger paw prints – hence the name. There are no tigers here, and the temple has no connection to the ancient Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi. The cave shrine, with its tiger statues and Buddha images, is located next to the main buildings. As this is an active monastery, we kindly ask you to speak quietly and dress as if you were climbing a mountain.
Next to the Kuan Yin Pagoda, a much shorter path with fewer than 200 steps leads up into a valley filled with enormous ancient trees, cave shrines, and monks' huts, which some guidebooks call "Wonderland." It's cooler and much quieter than the main staircase, the walk takes about 20 minutes, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to avoid the strenuous climb. Stay on the path and keep away from the huts, as monks live and meditate there.
How to get to the Tiger Cave Temple
The temple is located in Krabi Noi, about a 15-minute drive from Krabi Town and 25 to 30 minutes from Ao Nang.
From Krabi Town
A ride by Grab or taxi takes about 15 minutes and costs approximately 200–250 baht each way. Shared taxis (songthaews) to the temple depart from Utarakit Road near the river and cost about 50 baht per person. They may stop at the junction rather than the gate, so expect a short walk.
From Ao Nang
A taxi or Grab taxi costs around 500–600 baht for a one-way trip and approximately 1,000 baht for a round trip, with the driver waiting. This is the easiest option for a 6:00 AM start. Songthaews from the beach are cheaper, around 150 baht, but slow, and you would have to change for the last leg or walk.
With the scooter
A scooter costs about 250–300 baht per day. The ride from Krabi Town is short and easy via the main roads, a bit longer from Ao Nang. Parking at the temple is free. I would only recommend riding with a motorcycle license, as the police conduct checks and most travel insurance policies don't cover you without one.
On a tour
The full-day jungle tours in Krabi end here after visiting the hot waterfall and the emerald pool, usually in the early afternoon. It's an affordable way to see the sights, but check the tour duration, as a fast hiker will need at least 90 minutes for the stairs.
Cost overview of the Tiger Cave Temple
The stated transport prices are indicative, and taxis from Ao Nang can often be negotiated for a lower price. Seemingly inexpensive tours often include additional entrance fees. Therefore, carefully check what is included in the price before comparing offers.
The best time for climbing
Time of day is more important than month. Be at the bottom of the stairs at 6:00 AM or in the last two hours before 6:00 PM, when the steps are shaded and the air is cooler. The midday heat deters most climbers, and tour groups arrive in the afternoon. On weekends and Thai holidays, local families also come.
Sunrise and sunset are both popular, but in both cases, they involve climbing up or down in poor lighting conditions. Therefore, bring a headlamp and allow plenty of space, as the stairs are unlit. From November to April, the weather is drier and clearer; in February, the Phuket weather station recorded only 24 mm of rain. Krabi follows a similar pattern. From May to October, rainfall increases, reaching approximately 350 mm in September. Wet steps can be slippery at this time, although on a dry morning between showers, the sky is often clear and calm.
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Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Krabi. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
What you should wear and bring
Wear light clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, or bring a sarong to wrap around your body. Pack a spare shirt, as you'll get wet at the top. Sneakers or hiking boots with good tread are better suited to the high, sometimes damp steps than flip-flops. Bring a water bottle to refill at the summit tap, sunscreen, a small towel, and a headlamp for a sunrise or sunset hike. There are toilets, cold showers, and a small snack bar at the base of the mountain. There are no toilets on the steps, so use them before you start climbing. Pack everything in a lockable backpack—this is also an important rule.
Is this climbing tour right for you?
Those accustomed to mountain hikes can manage the tour at a leisurely pace, and children who can handle longer walks at home usually cope well with frequent breaks. However, it is strenuous in the heat, and there is no medical assistance on the stairs. Therefore, I would advise against attempting the summit if you have heart or respiratory problems, knee problems, or very young children who would need to be carried. The temple, the cave shrine, and the valley path are, however, worth a visit in their own right.
Tiger Cave Temple on a jungle tour
Most travel agencies in Krabi offer the Tiger Cave Temple as the final stop on a full-day jungle tour. A minibus picks you up around 8:00 AM in Ao Nang or Krabi Town. You'll relax by the waterfall and hot springs, swim in the Emerald Pool, and have lunch. The temple visit is the last stop on the itinerary, before you return around 5:30 PM. One tour operator in Ao Nang charges 949 baht for the full-day tour, plus a 50 baht temple fee and fees for the Emerald Pool and hot springs. This tour is ideal if you want to visit all three attractions in one day without having to worry about transportation. However, it's not suitable if you plan on climbing the stairs in the cool of the morning. In that case, an independent hike at 6:00 AM and visiting the pools on another day is recommended.
Viewpoint and nearby attractions, rated and mapped
Viewpoint at the Tiger Cave Temple
Khao Khanab Nam
Wat Kaew Korawaram
Is a visit to the Tiger Cave Temple worthwhile?
Yes, if you climb up early in the morning. At 6:00 a.m., the steps are cool and almost empty, and the view from the golden Buddha over the karst landscape of Krabi is one of the best in southern Thailand for the price. However, at 1:00 p.m. in March, the climb in the blazing sun is a real ordeal, and people come back down saying it wasn't worth it. If you only have one or two days in Krabi and the sea is calm, I would prioritize Railay and the islands and plan to visit the Tiger Cave early in the morning before a day at the beach or on the way back from the Emerald Pool.
Plan the rest of your days in Krabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi (Wat Tham Suea).
Around 1260. The sign below states 1237, the number before the partial reconstruction of the staircase, and some guidebooks mention 1256. Some risers reach almost to the knees.
The ascent, including breaks, takes most people 30 to 60 minutes, and the descent almost as long. Allow two to three hours for the climb, the summit, and the temple at the foot of the mountain.
Recent visitors report an entrance fee of 50 baht for foreign guests. However, some older guidebooks describe entry as free in exchange for a donation; therefore, bring some small change. Parking is free.
Open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Some visitors report that the gates open as early as 5:00 AM for sunrise climbers. The stairs are not lit, so you should be back down before nightfall.
As this is an active monastery, clothing that covers shoulders and knees, as well as shoes with good tread, are required. Sarongs can be borrowed or rented at the foot of the monastery; shoes must be removed at the summit shrine.
Yes, macaques live in the area of the lower stairs and the parking lot. They snatch loose bags, bottles, and food, so put everything in a backpack and don't feed them.
Yes. A reservation is not required. Come during opening hours, pay the entrance fee if applicable, dress appropriately, and start climbing.
The journey by taxi or Grab takes about 25 to 30 minutes and costs 500–600 baht each way, or about 1,000 baht for a round trip with a driver. Songthaews are cheaper but slower, and jungle tours end here in the afternoon.
Yes, if you climb right after opening or in the late afternoon. The view of the limestone towers of Krabi is breathtaking, but the midday heat makes the climb arduous. However, the temple and the hike through the valley at the foot of the mountain are worthwhile even without reaching the summit.
No. Kanchanaburi has its own Wat Tham Suea, a temple located on a hill south of Kanchanaburi town, and the old Tiger Temple, where tigers were kept, is not the same one either. This guidebook describes the Krabi Temple with its 1260 steps.
Children accustomed to longer hikes can usually manage the route slowly, with breaks and plenty of water. For very young children who would need to be carried, the valley path at the bottom is more suitable.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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