If you are a madman and have seen this famous temple in Thailand and want to conquer climbing up the endless stairs for the tiger cave temple, then this guide is for you. I will cover tips and tricks, how do you best get here and my recommendation to combine this with the Emerald Pool.
This temple is basically built on a mountain or cliff whatever you want to call it. It has blown up mainly on TikTok and people now want to go there themselves to climb the uneven and steep stairs. Is it worth it? Maybe. Is it a challenge? Yes. Will you be satisfied that you have done it? Definitely.
Where is Tiger Cave Temple
You will need to visit Tiger Cave Temple from Krabi/Ao Nang. It is approixmately 1.5 hours by car. You will need to either rent a moped/ motorcycle or just get a private taxi for the day like we did. Honestly it is much more easier, relaxing and even though I preach to the masses to save money, in Thailand it is so worth splurging a little to feel a bit like royalty and rich for a fraction of the cost.
While you will need to dedicate a day specifically for visiting this temple, if you start early ish then you will have time to cool off and relax at the Emerald pool a further hour away from the temple. I will give the details further on this post.
That will leave you with a 3 hour return trip back to Krabi for you to rest further your legs after the uphill climb.
Climbing up the 1260 Steps
Once you have arrived and want to torture yourself, you will find 1260 steps awaiting you. The worst part of it is that they are all uneven. That tires you even more as some of them worth two or three steps at once.. There are sections which are steep where one stair is worth two or three. Others are normal. The only good thing is there are signposts highlighting the number of steps you have taken so you will have an idea of how much longer you have left.
You may be asking, how long does it take you to climb. It really depends on your fitness levels. I climbed it in around 20-25 minutes and down in around 15 minutes. However I would like to think that I am quite fit and I saw people struggling, even myself at times. So definitely have some time to pace yourself going up and don’t try to be a hero and start rushing at the start because it gets steeper after the halfway mark.
Sometimes along the way you will get some markers with the number of steps that you climbed so far like these
Tips on Visiting Tiger Cave Temple
Watch out for the Monkeys
My first thing that I ought to tell you is that there are wild monkeys on the trail. Having said this, please do not feed them, as they will be on you like rash and will take and splatter anything and everything from your hand and onto the floor. On my way back down I saw someone going up with a smoothie. You can guess what happened next, splat on the floor and the trail was filled with monkeys eating and drinking now their smoothie.
Also don’t trust them and go next to them, I have had a bad experience previously when I visited Monkey bay on my Maya Bay day trip. I had to take rabies shots because one scratched me. So I was petrified of the creatures on this trail and sped up once I saw one in the distance. Don’t take my bad experience as gospel however as the rule of thumb is don’t bother them and they won’t bother you.
Bring Plenty of Water
My other tip is to definitely take plenty of bottled water with you. There is nowhere to buy anywhere along the stairs. It is Thailand so it will be hot and humid. Also take the water in a small bag so there will be no risk that the monkeys will snatch it from you either as they tend to do so as well.
There is a place to refill your bottle and drink right at the top but I didn’t trust it due to the quality of water Thailand has. It is supposedly safe to drink but I just used it to cool off rather than to drink.
There is also a shop at the bottom selling some snacks and ice cream which I gladly bought after to cool off a bit.
Wear Proper Footwear
Don’t attempt this climb in flip-flops or slides
Many steps are steep, uneven, and occasionally slippery. Trainers or hiking shoes will make the experience significantly easier and safer.
Also worth mentioning, there are madmen that use it as an active religious site. You will need to remove your shoes at the top, and you will also are recommended to cover your shoulders and knees.
Things to See at Tiger Cave Temple
The Viewpoint
Once at the top the view is the most spectacular thing there is. The landscape is dominated by dramatic limestone cliffs that seem to stretch forever in every direction. However it is more spectacular in person than taking a photo with the cliffs as a backdrop.
The Golden Buddha
The gold buddha dominates the temple. I can’t even imagine how they got it up there but got it up there they did. It makes for a great photo trying to get the buddha fit in with the surroundings.
The Summit Sign
Once you made it up, remember to take a picture with the sign certifying that you successfully climbed the 1260 steps required to reach the top of this temple. If nothing else it should be a personal satisfaction and achievement that you conquered this feat.
The Cave
Despite the name, the temple at the summit isn’t actually inside a cave.
The cave that gives Tiger Cave Temple its name is located at the base of the mountain near the start of the staircase. Entry is free and it’s worth spending a few minutes exploring before or after the climb.
Other Temples
Walking from the parking to the actual start point of the climb up to tiger cave temple, I noticed other magnificent looking buildings to the right, presumably other temples or pagodas. Look out for these as I thought they were really nice to look at.
Extra Stop: Emerald Pool
If you got out of your way to visit Tiger Cave Temple specifically it is worth going a bit of extra distance to visit the emerald pool. This natural pool is definitely worth visiting as it is surorunded by trees and forest and the colour of the water is really emerald like and hence the name.
It is a great way to relax a bit after the exhausting climb. Take your swim trunks/ bikinis seperately as I don’t really recommend climbing up the temple in swimwear.
It might be a bit crowded, but still worth a visit in my opinion. You will struggle to find places where you put your stuff but we managed to find a quiet bench in the shade. The water is also not hot and is cool enough to make you feel fresh in the tropical heat.
Emerald Pool Information
- Walking Distance from Entrance: Around 800 metres
- Entrance Fee: Approximately 400 THB for foreign adults
- Time Needed: 1–2 hours
- Swimming Allowed: Yes
Visit the Emerald Pool official website for the latest up to date information and prices.
Blue Pool
Blue Pool is located a little further along the trail beyond Emerald Pool. While you cannot swim here, it’s still worth visiting. The water is an incredible shade of blue and easily one of the most photogenic spots in the area.
Blue Pool is also the natural source of Emerald Pool. Expect an additional walk of around 15 minutes from Emerald Pool to reach it.
Conclusion – Tiger Cave Temple
While it got absolutely popular from TikTok videos, I would say that this stop is not for everyone. You will find better views if you are visiting Doi Inthanon in northern Thailand. However in Krabi it is one of the most spectacular ones.
Personally I would go more for the achievement of climbing this temple rather than there is an absolute must see attraction here. The climb is hot, steep and exhausting.
However if you want to combine it with the Emarald Pool and Blue pool, you will have a nice little day out from Krabi. Make sure you are comfortable in driving those distances.
