How To Visit The Tiger Cave Temple In Krabi (2026)
Planning to visit the magnificent Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi? You’ve come to the right article.
The Tiger Cave Temple is a Buddhist complex founded in 1975 that consists of temples, caves, and a summit with a large golden Buddha statue. With it only being a 15 minute drive from Krabi town, it’s a definite must-see, and was one of the highlights of my trip!
This article will cover exactly how to visit the Tiger Cave Temple, with updated entrance fees, what to see in the complex, and a few important tips for visiting.
Here is everything to know before visiting the spectacular Tiger Cave Temple.
Overview The Tiger Cave Temple
The Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is a beautiful Buddhist temple complex, around 3 miles north of Krabi town.
The summit sits at an elevation of approximately 278 feet, and has panoramic views of Krabi’s rainforest, and the towering limestone cliffs. Entrance is only 50 baht for foreigners.
This temple was founded in 1975 when a Vipassana monk went to meditate in a cave, and saw tigers roaming around. There’s also legends that a large tiger lived in the cave, and that paw prints were found on the cave walls.
There’s around 8 monks that reside in the caves at the foothills, and over 250 monks and nuns that live in the surrounding village.
You can visit the caves and monk dwellings at the bottom of the temple, but first, it’s time to climb over 1,260 steps to the summit!
How To Get To The Tiger Cave Temple From Krabi
The Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is only a 15 minute drive from Krabi town, or roughly 30 minute drive from Aonang Beach. I got there by motorbike, and it has a large parking lot at the entrance.
If you don’t want to drive, it’s a cheap Bolt/Grab ride (~100 baht/$3 USD) from town. And if you want to relax in pools and hot springs after a long hike, join a full day group tour from Krabi to the temple, famous emerald pool, and hot stream waterfall.
The temple’s entry fee is 50 baht for tourists, and they only accept cash. Near the entrance there’s small food vendors selling drinks, tropical fruit, and smoothies.
From the entrance, you’ll be able to see the temple on top of the hill. It’s a short walk to the stairs, where you’ll begin the hike. There’s complimentary mini water bottles provided by the temple in a fridge right next to the stairs.
Hiking To The Summit
The hike to the summit is incredibly steep, and there’s 1260 steps to be exact. It’s a strenuous climb to the top, but the views make it absolutely worth it. Some of the stairs are particularly steep, and feel like they’re two stairs stacked on top of each other.
However, most of the stairs are normal, and it only took me around 40 minutes to reach the top. It can take 30-60 minutes to reach the top depending on your fitness level. I saw travelers of every age do the hike, and it’s doable, but you may need to take a few breaks in between.
For this hike, you’ll definitely want to wear comfortable sneakers, and light, cool clothing.
I saw several monkeys along this trail, sitting on the railings, and sometimes blocking the way. To be safe, don’t pack any snacks with you, and ideally leave your bag in the car, as they can try to steal your belongings.
They will typically leave you alone if you don’t have anything on you, and walk right past them. There were also stray dogs relaxing on the steps very far into the hike, and I was wondering what they were doing up there!
At the top of the summit there were shoe holders, and water fountains to refill our water bottles. There’s a large Buddha, a variety of Buddha statues, and elevated viewpoints where you can get an amazing panoramic view.
You can see the valley for miles, and lush green limestone cliffs when the sky is clear. It has a super relaxing atmosphere at the tip, and it’s the perfect place to sit around for a half hour before heading down.
The hike back down was a breeze compared to the hike up, and it only took around 15-20 minutes.
How To Get To The Caves In The Complex
Beyond the intense Tiger Cave hike, there’s some hidden jungle caves worth checking out before you leave. They’re to the right of the stairs for the summit hike, and much easier of a hike.
There’s only 184 stairs along this trail, and it leads you through the jungle to different caves. It’s a short 10 minute hike to get to the first cave, where you’ll see tiger statues nestled in the cliffs.
You can continue hiking this trail further into the jungle to see more caves, monk dwellings, and meditation areas.
Tips For Visiting
- Wear supportive sneakers and light, athletic clothing for the hike
- Don’t bring snacks on the trail to avoid monkey thiefs
- Enjoy a refreshing mango smoothie from the vendors by the entrance
- Check out the hidden jungle caves
Tiger Cave Temple FAQs
Why is it named the Tiger Cave Temple?
In 1975, a Vipassana monk claimed to see tigers roaming around the cave which is why the temple was originally founded. There’s also legend that a large lion lived in the cave, and people have discovered tiger paw prints in the cave walls.
How long does it take to hike to the Tiger Cave temple?
It takes around 30-45 minutes to hike to the summit, and around 15-20 minutes to get back down.
How far is it from Krabi town and Aonang Beach?
Tiger Cave Temple is less than a 15 minute drive from Krabi town, and 25 minute drive from Aonang Beach.
What should I wear to the temple?
It’s expected to dress modestly if you’re entering the bottom temple, but you can bring a change of clothes for the summit hike.
I opted out of entering the temple at the bottom, and wore light athletic clothing for the hike to the summit.
Related articles you may be interested in: