KHAO BIN CAVE
This 300-metre-long cave offers spectacular
stalactites and stalagmites — formations of calcium
deposits that are shaped by dripping water. The cave
has eight chambers and a formation that resembles
a bird’s wings can be seen in one of the chambers.
There is a well-defined path that makes exploring
the cave easy and colourful lights illuminate the cave
interiors. It takes less than an hour to reach the end
of the cave but it can be quite hot and humid inside.
All visitors need to pay a 20 baht or USD0.60 entrance
fee. Visitors may also want to visit Chomphon Cave,
which is a 15-minute drive away.
Where: Ratchaburi Province, 114km or a
2-hour drive from Bangkok
Getting there: Take a car from Bangkok.
If you are travelling from elsewhere in
Thailand, take a train to Ratchaburi Railway
Station or Ban Kluai Railway Station, then
take a car (about 30 minutes).
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm
PHA TAEM NATIONAL PARK
Spanning 340 square kilometres, the park is a haven
with its intriguing rock formations, abundant wildlife, wild
flower field and picturesque waterfalls. The numerous
rock paintings that adorn its cliffs are believed to be about
3,000 years old and provide a glimpse of life in the area in
prehistoric times. Another must-see in the park are the
peculiar mushroom-like rock formations at Sao Chaliang.
The area is believed to have been submerged around 1,000
years ago and small fossils can be seen in the rocks.
As the park is located less than a kilometre from the
Mekong River at the Thailand-Laos border, one can see
Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area in Laos on the
opposite side of the river from Pha Mon Viewpoint. The
park’s location in the easternmost part of Thailand
means it sees the earliest sunrise and sunset in
the country. The entrance fee is 400 baht for
foreigners. As there is no transport available
within the park, visitors who do not have
Wear comfortable
their own transport and do not wish to walk
covered shoes as
are advised to join a tour group.
the trek has jagged
There are campsites with tents and
rock paths and small
bedding within the park and a few food and
sections that
require climbing.
drink outlets near the visitors’ centre . ag
TIP
Where: Ubon Ratchathani Province
Getting there: It takes about 1 hour
40 minutes to drive there from Ubon
Ratchathani Internatonal Airport
Opening hours: 6am to 6pm