ถ้ำพุงช้าง

Tham Phung Chang

Useful Information

Location:	Thai Chang, Mueang Phang-nga District, Phang-nga 82000. (8.442720, 98.515730)
Open:
Fee:	Adults THB 150, Foreigners THB 500. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	headlamp provided
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=90 min.
Photography:	not allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Tham Phung Chang, Thai Chang, Mueang Phang-nga District, Phang-nga 82000, Tel: +66-85-784-4839.
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

Description

ถ้ำพุงช้าง (Tham Phung Chang) is the most famous tourist cave of the district. Located right at the western outskirts of the capital it is also easy to access. The cave is a river cave, the cave river was dammed and is used for tours by boat. The tour starts with gum boats, then bamboo rafts, and finally there is a walking section. It is a show cave with trails, open hours and guided tours, but a bit on the rough side. There is no light and visitor are equipped with headlamps. Also, the ride in a gum boat is not for everyone, and you might get a little wet when entering and leaving. There is also a section where you must wade through knee-deep water, so you should wear appropriate shoes.

The name of the cave means Elephant’s Belly. The reason is, that the karst tower it is located in, is called Khao Chang or Elephant mountain. The elephant is a sort of emblem of the city. In front of the cave is a big sculpture of an elephant family. Also, there is rock formation inside the cave, a solutional form on the wall, which is pure white limestone and resembles the head of an elephant with a brown flint nodule as eye. According to legend it was discovered by a local farmer who had a dream that there was a white elephant inside the mountain.