Visit Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) (Krabi)

Better known by tourists as the Tiger Cave Temple, this temple is located a few kilometers outside Krabi town. It is especially appreciated for the view it offers of the surroundings from a mountain you climb via a 1260 steps staircase and for its caves, including the famous 'tiger cave '. Signs indicate 1237 steps but the last step has the number 1260. At the top, besides the views, you will find a small golden chedi and a sitting Buddha image. The walk through the forest of the temple called 'Wonderland' where all the caves are located and where you can see beautiful old trees and a sanctuary with a colorful Buddha is nice and peaceful. A small horde of monkeys lives in the temple but do not worry, they are not aggressive.

The foundation of the Tiger Cave temple dates back to 1975, when a monk came to meditate in the cave. During his meditation, he saw tigers roaming around the cave. That probaby explain its name. But there are other legends about the name of Wat Tham Seua, like the one telling a huge tiger lived in the cave or the one telling traces of tiger paws were found on the walls or the one stating the temple is called like that beacause part the cave like looks like a tiger paw. You can choose the version that suits you best.

The cheaper way to get to Wat Tham Seua from Krabi town is to take the red songtheaws (little trucks serving as local buses). Their stop is on Utarakit Road, along the river, in front of the River View Hotel but you can also catch them when they are circulating. The trip takes half an hour and costs 50 baht. To come back, you will not always find a red truck to bring you to Krabi and may need to hire a motorcycle taxi, or take a private car. Surprisingly, for me, it was the policeman from the police box near the temple entry that left his post to take me to town for 150 THB (2 persons).
Otherwise, a tuk-tuk or taxi ride to or from the temple costs around 120 baht.

Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) is a temple and when you visit a temple in Thailand there are some rules to know and follow:

• Dress properly (knees and shoulders should be covered)
• Take off your shoes when entering the buildings
• Be quiet
• Don't hug or kiss
• Don't point your feet to Buddha's image
• Don't smoke