Tham Luang [LA0066]

Location

From Wang Nuea take the H1035 south for 3.5 km to Ban Huai Khoi. Tham Phra Ngam is inconspicuously signed in Thai to the west. The side road leads to Ban Mae Phrik with occasional signs to Tham Phra Ngam. From Ban Mae Phrik head westwards and continue where the sealed road becomes a dirt track and reach Wat Tham Phra Ngam. Turn left at the gate to the wat, back onto a dirt track and follow this up the valley to the national park ranger station. Tham Luang is signposted as being 2.5 km to the north of the ranger station. A good footpath goes up the ridge behind the ranger station and then descends into a shallow valley where the track becomes vague. The way on is to descend for about 100 m, cross the valley and ascend the other side. An even vaguer short cut heads left, through a limestone outcrop and then ascends to meet a very good footpath. This ascends steeply up to the foot of the large cliff which has the cave entrance at its base. The good footpath probably comes from the nearest village as the cave is actively mined for guano. Martin Ellis - 06/12/2019