Tiger Cave Temple: Day Trips and Tours from Krabi

One of Thailand’s most memorable attractions is the sacred site of Tiger Cave Temple, colorful Buddhist temple north-northeast of Krabi. Here you can admire the tall Buddha statues, and the tiger paw prints in the cave and take on the arduous flight of 1,000-plus steps to the summit.

In the surrounding tropical rain forest, you can also visit caves with ancient artifacts and finally experience the streets and stalls of Krabi town. Book your Tiger Cave Temple day trip and discover one of northern Thailand's famous sacred sites.

Here's all you need to know about Tiger Cave Temple, one of the best destinations for day trips from Krabi.

How to get to Tiger Cave from Krabi?

Tiger Cave Temple is located inland, about 7 kilometers from Krabi town by road and about 22 kilometers from Ao Nang Beach. You have several transport options.

Tiger Cave from Krabi by moped

You can hire a moped from companies around Krabi town and Ao Nang Beach at about US$10 per day. Thai roads are fairly dangerous, so take special care.

Tiger Cave from Krabi by car

You could hire a private driver and pay around US$25, including pickup from your hotel. The return trip to Krabi town is around US$20. Tuk-tuks would be cheaper than hiring a private driver.

Tiger Cave from Krabi by public bus

You can take a local public bus Songthaew from Ao Nang, and the fare is about US$5, and from Krabi town, about US$2.

Guided tours to Tiger Cave Temple from Krabi

Enjoy a stress-free vacation by joining a guided tour to Tiger Cave Temple and leave out the planning and organizing hassles. You can choose several kinds of tours that include pickup and drop-off, entrance tickets and meals, along with a professional guide.

What is the typical itinerary?

Your experience will start with the famous Tiger Cave Temple, known for the tiger paw prints in the cave and located in the wooded Khiriwong Valley. If you’re up for the challenge, you can take the strenuous flight of stairs – more than 1,200 —  to the summit.

From here, you will have a 360-degree panoramic view of Krabi’s limestone rocks and the Andaman coast. You will also find the well-known huge Golden Buddha and a golden pagoda at the top.

You will then explore the Krabi Riverside, Black Crab Monument and Khao Khanab Nam, among the most popular places to visit. Your tour will finish with a visit to local fresh markets where you will find good local food and unique local products.

What kinds of tours are available?

Krabi town & Tiger Cave Temple tour

On this half-day tour, you'll venture into the tropical rain forests to visit the famous Tiger Cave Temple. Going back to Krabi, you'll stop at the famous Black Crab sculpture and the beautiful Khao Khanab Nam Mountains.

Your tour finishes in Krabi town with a visit to markets for a full Krabi experience. Finish your tour with a visit to a local fresh market for good local food and other products. The tour lasts about 4 hours and includes transport from selected hotels only,  a guide and a national park fee.

Elephant Care House and Tiger Cave Temple trip from Krabi

A pleasant variation on the Tiger Cave tour is the Krabi Elephant Care House visit, where you can spend a few hours bathing and feeding elephants at the elephant sanctuary. You will end the tour at the Tiger Cave Temple.

The tour duration is 5.5 hours. It includes round-trip transfer, drinking water and fruits, Thai-style lunch, elephant feeding, a multilingual guide and basic accident insurance.

Tiger Cave Temple, Krabi Hot Springs & Emerald Pool jungle tour

This tour adds another attraction in the form of the crystal waters of Krabi's popular Emerald Pool. The meeting point is the floating pier in East Railay. You will enjoy the Emerald Pool and also visit Krabi's natural hot spring, then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Tiger Cave Temple.

The duration of the tour is seven hours and it includes a tour guide, optional pickup at your hotel in Ao Nang, entrance fees and insurance. Some also provide hotel transfers from Koh Lanta.

How much does a tour cost?

Tours vary from US$50 to US$60 per person for the Krabi town and Tiger Cave Temple tours. For the Elephant Care House and Tiger Cave Temple tour, you can expect to pay US$70 per person. About the same amount is charged for the Tiger Temple variation tour that includes the Krabi Hot Springs and Emerald Pool.

What will you see on a Tiger Cave day trip from Krabi?

From Krabi town, you will enter the tropical rain forests to visit the famous Tiger Cave Temple, the Buddhist mountaintop shrine. The sacred Buddhist temple is not just a meditation center, but also a place of archaeological and historical interest.

It’s one of the more interesting temple complexes in southern Thailand, with the monks living and worshipping within a maze of natural caves. You can also visit caves of archaeological and historical interest where many Thanu ancient artifacts were excavated.

At the top of the mountain, you will find a large golden Buddha statue and pagoda, overlooking Krabi town and surroundings. To get there – if you don’t take the lift – you have to negotiate more than 1,200 steps. Another 184 steps take you to the foothills area where monks are living and worshipping in the caves.

Black Crab Monument

Found along the riverside, the giant “Black Crab” is an iconic sculpture that speaks about the country’s culture and awareness of environmental protection. Tourists and guides usually meet up here or take a rest in the middle of their sightseeing.

Khao Khanab Nam

About 1.5 kilometers from the center of Krabi Town lies two steep 100-meter-tall limestone hills, named Khao Khanab Nam. It’s an ideal place to take photos before your guide will take you through the streets of Krabi town to experience the sights and sounds of Southern Thailand.

When is Tiger Cave open over the year?

The Tiger Cave Temple is open throughout the year.

What are the opening times?

Opening times for the Tiger Cave Temple is every day from 8 AM to 5 PM.

When is the best time to visit Tiger Cave Temple?

The best time to visit the Tiger Cave Temple is early morning or late afternoon. Try to avoid the worst heat in middle of the day.  Especially with the ascent of the summit, the peak temperature of the day will make it a lot tougher.

Travel tips

• Bring your own water and snacks.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Dress appropriately if you want to visit spiritual places.
• Don’t feed the monkeys in the temple, and stay at a distance.