The Temple of the Golden Dragon is also famous because the staircase leading to it ends in the jaws of a dragon before you reach the cave where the temple is located. From there, an iron staircase leads outside, from where you can continue climbing the mountain and enjoy the view over the Mae Klong River and the plains. Wat Ban Tham is located about fifteen kilometers from Kanchanaburi.

There is no public transport to Wat Ban Tham temple, but you can hire a songthaew (shared taxi with benches in the back). From Kanchanaburi, a round trip costs around 700 THB, regardless of the number of passengers. Allow about an hour for your visit. Songthaews can be found outside the bus and train stations in Kanchanaburi. Negotiate the price before boarding. You can also extend your trip by visiting Wat Tham Suea and the Crystal Cave. This will cost around 1,000 THB.

Wat Ban Tham is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Ban Tham? There is no public transport to Wat Ban Tham temple, but you can hire a songthaew (shared taxi with benches in the back). From Kanchanaburi, a round trip costs about 700 THB, regardless of the number of passengers. Allow about an hour for your visit. Songthaews can be found outside the bus and train stations in Kanchanaburi. Negotiate the price before boarding. You can also extend your trip by visiting Wat Tham Suea and the Crystal Cave. This will cost about 1,000 THB.