# Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), Krabi > Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is a forest monastery 9 km from Krabi Town. Below are caves with 'tiger paw prints'; above, a golden Buddha stands 278 m up with a view over all of Krabi. About 1,260 steep steps lead to the top — a 30–60 minute climb. Entry is free. Climb early in the morning. It's about 30 minutes by taxi from Ao Nang. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/tiger-cave-temple - City: [Krabi](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi), Thailand - YesGo score: 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; donations welcome - Hours: Daily, roughly 6:00–18:00 - Stairs: About 1,260 steps to the 278 m summit; some steps over 30 cm high - Climb: 30–60 minutes up, the same down - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered in the temple areas - Distances: ≈ 9 km from Krabi Town, ≈ 23 km from Ao Nang, ≈ 9 km from the airport - Coordinates: 8.12400, 98.92518 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1975** — the monk Ajahn Jumnean came to meditate in the cave and founded the monastery (source: English and Thai Wikipedia) - **Tigers** — legend says tigers lived in the cave, and 'paw prints' are shown on its walls (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 1,260** — steps lead to the summit; there used to be 1,237 (source: English Wikipedia) - **278 m** — the height of the summit with the Buddha statue (source: English Wikipedia) - **> 30 cm** — the height of some steps — the climb is very steep (source: English Wikipedia) - **90.9 m** — the height of the big valley stupa, on a 58 m base (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **5 m** — the height of the Guanyin statue in the grounds (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **Archaeology** — stone tools and ancient pottery have been found in the caves (source: English and Thai Wikipedia) ## What is Tiger Cave Temple? **Wat Tham Suea** ('Tiger Cave Temple') is a forest Buddhist monastery and meditation centre in a valley among limestone cliffs, north-north-east of Krabi Town. The monk **Ajahn Jumnean** founded it in **1975**, after coming to meditate in a cave where, legend has it, **tigers** roamed. 'Tiger paw prints' are pointed out on the cave walls. The temple has two parts. **Below** are the caves, a big stupa about 90 m tall, a Guanyin statue and forest trails where monks live in caves. **Above** is a shrine with a large golden Buddha and a stupa **278 m** up, reached by about **1,260 steps**. From the top you can see all of Krabi, the plains and the cliffs out to the sea. > **A tough climb — pace yourself** The staircase is very steep, some steps are over 30 cm high, and the heat makes it exhausting. Climb early in the morning or towards evening, bring water and go at your own pace — there are rest spots on the way. Monkeys on the lower flights snatch bags and bottles: keep things in a closed backpack and don't feed them. ## Entry, hours and rules **Entry is free**, with donation boxes around the grounds. According to guides it's open **daily from about 6:00 to 18:00**; there's no official website. Climb **early in the morning**: it's cooler, the light is soft and there are fewer people. It's a working monastery: in the temple areas **cover shoulders and knees**, take your shoes off at the hall doors and keep your voice down. For the climb wear comfortable shoes and light clothes, then put on a shirt at the top. ## What to see - **The summit with the golden Buddha** — the reward for the climb, with views over Krabi. - **The cave with the 'tiger paw prints'** at the base. - **The big stupa** in the valley. - **The 5 m Guanyin statue.** - **The forest trail** to the caves where monks live. - **Sunrise or sunset** from the top. ## How to get to Tiger Cave Temple 1. **From Krabi Town** — about 9 km, 15 minutes by taxi, Grab or scooter. 2. **From Ao Nang** — about 23 km, around 30 minutes. 3. **From Krabi Airport (KBV)** — about 9 km, 15 minutes. 4. **On a tour** — the temple is often included in mainland Krabi tours. 5. There's parking at the foot; the stairs start by the temple buildings. ## How long do you need? Allow **2–3 hours**: 30–60 minutes up, half an hour at the top, then the descent and a look round the lower temple. If the climb isn't for you, the lower part with its caves and stupa is worth an hour on its own. The best time is the **dry season, November to April**. After rain the steps are slippery, and in fog the view from the top can vanish — though sometimes you get a 'sea of clouds'. ## Is Tiger Cave Temple worth the climb? Yes, if you're reasonably fit: the view over Krabi from the top is one of the best in the province, and the climb is memorable. The YesGo take: 1,260 steep steps in tropical heat is a serious workout, and the top can be crowded. Don't climb at midday. If it's too much, the lower temple with its caves is enough. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] An early start - [ ] Water — at least a litre each - [ ] Comfortable shoes with good grip - [ ] A shirt or scarf to cover shoulders at the top - [ ] A closed backpack — against monkeys ## Krabi viewpoints: compare and choose Viewpoints in Krabi rated by YesGo. - [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; toilets charge - [Railay Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht - [Koh Tup and Chicken Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/chicken-island) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra - [Tiger Cave Temple](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/tiger-cave-temple) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free - [Koh Poda](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/koh-poda) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 300 - [Koh Hong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-hong-island) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra ## Mainland Krabi in a day Tiger Cave Temple early in the morning, the Emerald Pool around midday, and Ao Nang Beach towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Tiger Cave Temple](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/tiger-cave-temple) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free 2. [Emerald Pool](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-emerald-pool) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 200 3. [Ao Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht ## Good to know Krabi's Tiger Cave Temple is a monastery without tigers. Wat Tham Suea in Kanchanaburi is a different temple, and the closed 'Tiger Temple' with animals was also in Kanchanaburi — an entirely different place. ## Tips - Start before 8:00 — cooler and quieter. - Rest at the landings on the way — don't rush. - Water isn't always sold at the top — bring your own. - Go down slowly: the steps are tall. - Afterwards: cool off at the [Emerald Pool](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-emerald-pool). ## Questions ### How many steps are there at Tiger Cave Temple? About 1,260 to the summit at 278 m. ### How long does the climb take? 30–60 minutes up and the same down. ### Is there an entrance fee? No, entry is free; donations are welcome. ### What are the opening hours? Roughly 6:00 to 18:00 (according to guides). ### How do I get there from Ao Nang? About 23 km — around 30 minutes by taxi or scooter. ### Are there tigers? No — the tigers are from the cave's legend. The temple with animals was in Kanchanaburi and has closed. ### What is the dress code? Shoulders and knees covered in the temple areas. ### Are the monkeys dangerous? They grab food and bottles — keep your things in a closed backpack. ## How we checked There's no official website. History, the step count (1,237 before, about 1,260 after rebuilding) and the 278 m height are from English Wikipedia; Thai Wikipedia gives 1,239 steps and '600 m above sea level', which doesn't match the map, so we use the English figures. The 90.9 m stupa and Guanyin statue are from Thai Wikipedia. We don't describe the human remains displayed at the temple. Hours come from guides and are marked unconfirmed. Distances are OSRM routes from Krabi Town (8.8 km), Ao Nang (22.6 km) and the airport (9.2 km). ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Tiger Cave Temple: founding in 1975, legend, staircase, summit height, monkeys, archaeological finds - Thai Wikipedia — Wat Tham Suea (Krabi): founder, 90.9 m stupa, Guanyin statue - 2026 travel guides — opening hours, climbing tips (unofficial) - Wikidata Q6710654 — coordinates; OSRM route — distances from Krabi Town, Ao Nang and the airport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.