Wat Ban Tham (Dragon Cave Temple)
A cave temple entered through the mouth of a giant sculpted dragon; steps lead up through the dragon's body to a hillside cave shrine and viewpoint tied to the legend of Nang Bua Khli.
- Category
- Temples (Wat)
- Entrance fee
- Free (donations welcome). As of 2026, confirm locally.
- Hours
- Roughly 08:00-17:00 daily. As of 2026, confirm locally.
- Best time
- Cool season mornings; climb the dragon staircase before midday heat.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- easy
About Wat Ban Tham (Dragon Cave Temple)
This one's just plain fun. You enter through the mouth of a giant sculpted dragon and climb up through its body to a hillside cave shrine and viewpoint, all tied to the local legend of Nang Bua Khli. It's photogenic, genuinely local and rarely crowded.
Don't underestimate the climb, though. The dragon staircase is a real set of steps, so decent shoes make a difference.
Go on a cool-season morning and tackle the stairs before the midday heat sets in. It's a quick stop, an hour or so, but a memorable one.
Highlights
- Entrance through the mouth of a giant sculpted dragon
- Staircase climbing up through the dragon's body
- Hillside cave shrine and viewpoint at the top
- Tied to the legend of Nang Bua Khli
- Photogenic and rarely crowded
Tips
- Climb the dragon staircase in the morning before the midday heat
- Wear decent shoes, it's a real staircase climb inside the dragon
- Bring your own transport or a taxi, it's out along the Mae Klong River
- Dress respectfully, it's an active temple
How to get there
About 13 km SE of Kanchanaburi along the Mae Klong River. Car/motorbike ~20-25 min; best with own transport or taxi.