Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)
1,260 steps to a golden Buddha on a limestone outcrop, with a 360° view over Krabi's karst landscape.
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is 3km north of Krabi Town, with 1,260 steps up to a summit chedi and a huge golden Buddha. It is free and takes about two hours, most of it on the stairs.
Prices and hours are our current best information, not a published rate. Confirm on the day before you travel.
1,260 steps to a golden Buddha on a limestone outcrop, with a 360° view over Krabi's karst landscape.
The temple takes its name from the tiger paw prints found in the cave where the first monks meditated, which are still shown in a shrine. The forest around it was a monastic training ground for decades before the staircase was built, and the summit chedi is one of the most photographed viewpoints in southern Thailand.
The climb is brutal and the view is the best in southern Thailand. It is a working monastery, not a tourist attraction, which makes the effort feel worthwhile.
What you’ll actually see
- The summit chedi and the 360-degree view over Krabi's limestone karsts
- The tiger paw print shrine in the lower cave
- The golden Buddha and the ordination hall at the base
- Monkeys along the stairs — entertaining, and they will take your water bottle
How to visit it well
- Start before 7am; the steps are exposed and very hot by 9.
- Monkeys will take food and sunglasses — keep bags zipped.
- Wear proper shoes; the top steps are steep.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Attempting the stairs at midday in April — there is no shade at the top third
- Wearing flip-flops; the steps are steep and uneven
- Carrying food or visible water bottles, which the monkeys will grab
Is it worth it?
Worth it for the view, which is the best in Krabi and justifies every one of the 1,260 steps. Start at 7am, take water, and allow 45 minutes up and 30 down. Not suitable for anyone with knee or heart problems.
Common questions
1,260 to the summit. The first 900 are in forest; the last 360 are exposed and steep.
45–60 minutes up, 30 minutes down. Allow two hours total including the chedi.
Yes, entry is free and parking is free. There is a donation box for the temple's upkeep.
Yes — they are on the same road east of Krabi Town and a natural half-day pairing, temple first at 7am, pool by 10am.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Nattapong Srisuwan