Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Wat Tham Pla is a cave temple in the Mae Sai district in the far north of Chiang Rai province and is almost universally known as the Monkey Temple. Every day, a troop of macaques comes down from the hill to snatch food thrown by visitors, and these monkeys know exactly what they're doing. They'll grab things right out of your hands and rummage through parked cars and scooters. So keep food out of sight and bags closed.

Past the monkeys, the temple winds its way up the hillside through dark tunnels and musty staircases. Along the way, you'll encounter bats, a garden with hellish sculptures, the namesake Fish Cave, and a dark Buddha cave. The Fish Cave itself is more of a pond and receives only lukewarm reviews. The worthwhile reward, however, is the steep staircase that leads from the darkness to a balcony with a sweeping view. The temple is located on the road north towards Mae Sai and the border with Myanmar, making it a good option for a day trip.