ถ้ำคลัง

Tham Khlang

Useful Information

Location:	Ao Luek Noi, Ao Luek District, Krabi 81110. (8.337972, 98.745582)
Open:	After appointment, 3 days in advance. [2023]
Fee:	Adults THB 2,900. [2023]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring lamp
Dimension:	L=1,200 m.
Guided tours:	D=1-2 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Tham Khlang, Ao Luek Noi, Ao Luek District, Krabi 81110, Tel: +66-7563-4072, Tel: +66-8-6691-5151, Tel: +66-8-7470-6661. สำนักสงฆ์ถ้ำคลัง, 118, Rural Road Krabi 1010, Ao Luek Noi, Ao Luek District, Krabi 81110.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1987	cave first explored by Poonsak Khansai and some villagers.

Description

ถ้ำคลัง (Tham Khlang, Khlang Cave) is a river cave and a show cave of sorts. There is no electric light, but a wooden elevated trail allowing a rather comfortable visit. The massive stalactites sometimes protrude almost to the wooden trail, and visitors have to walk around. Nevertheless, there are several sections with a simple footpath on the natural cave floor and even a few spots where its necessary to climb over blocks. This cave requires good shoes and surefootedness, and you will get dirty.

The cave is a river cave, although the river is dry during dry season. There are numerous rimstone pools in the cave which hold the water during the year. Beneath an enormous amount of stalactites and stalagmites there are the pools with dogtooth spar calcite crystals,

The cave is located in an isolated karst tower, quite common in the tropical tower karst of Thailand. It is also a through-cave which crosses the tower completely. The entrance in the western side is normally used for the cave tours, while the entrance on the eastern side contains a buddhist temple. The first three chambers are easily visited, which you could call the tourist part. The other 10 chambers require getting dirty. As the cave is guided for small groups after appointment, it's up to the visitors (and probably the fee) how far the tour goes.

Cave tours are organized by Krabi Caves Adventure and include pick up and drop off. Probably a good idea as it is quite difficult to navigate the rural Thailand. The trip includes a local guide who specializes in cave exploration, insurance, round trip transfers, and lamps. The company was awarded Best Tourism Program in 2022. However, their website is extremely poor english, even google translates better (if they had used it). We cannot say how good the guides speak english.