Some trips happen without any prior planning. same as this time From Pai District, take the red bus route Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son to get to Pang Mapha District. A small district that is the passageway of this bus line. The starting point of the journey happened after seeing the image sight of bamboo rafts floating above the water at the mouth of the cave. Inquired with the villagers, he learned that this cave was named Tham Lod or Tham lod cave thailand.
Tham lod cave thailand is located in Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son Province It is about 45 kilometers from Pai District, but with this trip without a private car, after reaching Pang Mapha District, I contacted the villagers to request a rental car. By agreeing on a price of 600 baht (round-trip) and ready to continue our journey. From this point, we have to take a car for about 9 kilometers to reach Tham Lod. and when arriving at the front of the entrance to the cave There will be a small kiosk for contacting guides and bamboo rafts. Then walk another 350 meters to the mouth of the cave.
The raft floats slowly along the water with the oarsman steering the direction. The light from the entrance of the cave began to fade little by little until it was completely gone. There is no electrical installation inside the cave. Because the officials want to preserve the nature of the cave to be beautiful and remain as old.
(Tham Lod cave is divided into three large caves, namely Sao Hin Cave, Tuk Ta Cave, and Tham Phi Man Cave, with a length of 800 meters from the entrance to the other side of the cave, 20 meters wide and 50 meters high.)
Tham Sao Hin Cave in Tham lod cave thailand
The raft stops on the shore, it’s time to walk to the Sao Hin Cave. (The first sightseeing point inside Tham Lod ) I follow the light of the storm lantern carried by the guide. The light energy from the hurricane lantern was extremely strong. If you walk closer, you will feel the heat hitting the skin. and heard loud noises from the combustion of fuel No wonder it was cold inside the cave but why I was sweating along the way.
Tham Tuk Ta cave
Tuk Ta cave (the second cave next to Sao Hin Cave). But the walking path of Tuk Ta cave is completely different from Tham Sao Hin cave. Because you have to walk across a bamboo bridge and continue with a steep staircase. (You should walk with caution.) When stepping into the cave hall, you will find a lot of strange-shaped stalagmites and stalactites lining up. In addition Inside the cave, there are still prehistoric paintings of ancient humans. It consists of images of people, animals and trees.
Because the water level inside the cave is not equal, some spots are so shallow that they cannot paddle. The oarsman has to change from paddling to dragging a raft to bring tourists to the last stop of the tour and is considered the highlight of this cave, “Tham Phi Man Cave”.
Tham Phi Man Cave
Phi Man is a large wooden coffin believed to be the coffin of an ancient human. And if this belief is true, ancient humans would have had a very large body because from the coffin was longer than normal people. In addition to the old coffin The remaining ancient pottery was found to be broken, the debris is almost invisible, forming a pile in the coffin. Phi Man Cave tour route is similar to that of the Tuk Ta Cave. Is to walk up a steep staircase climbing the cave wall to the hall where these ancient artifacts are located
to the end of the cave From this point, the raft had to turn back, unable to continue. The raft gradually flows against the incoming tourists. I spent more than two hours admiring the beauty of Tham Lod.
Tham Lod can be visited all year round. You can visit every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The price of a raft including a guide is 650 baht/4 persons (fixed price), It takes about 2 hours to travel inside the cave.
Getting to Tham lod cave thailand
1. Private car From Chiang Mai, take Highway No. 107 (Chiang Mai – Fang) to Mae Taeng District. Then turn left along Highway No. 1095 (Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son) passing Huai Nam Dang National Park, Pai District and entering Pang Mapha District (Tham Lod).
2. From Chiang Mai, take a red bus (Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son) at Arcade Bus Terminal. It is recommended that anyone who is prone to motion sickness should take a bus rather than a van and a minibus. Because the air is well ventilated relax, not uncomfortable Sit and enjoy the view. even a little slower But it made this trip happy.
3. From Pai District, walking street area You can buy a day trip or rent a motorbike to drive to Tham Lod Cave.
Interesting attractions in Mae Hong Son Province
