Krabi tour: Emerald Pool, Hot Springs, Tiger Cave Temple

The walk to Tiger Cave Temple is steep, but the Buddha statue and the view across Krabi from the top make the stairs worth it.

This small-group tour in Krabi takes you through three natural and cultural stops in a single day: the Emerald Pool (a mineral-rich lagoon in forest), the Hot Springs Waterfalls (waters heated to 42°C by underground volcanic chambers), and Wat Tham Seua, the Tiger Cave Temple perched on a hilltop. The tour runs about nine and a half hours, includes an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, entrance fees and an air-conditioned vehicle. The climb to the temple is steep and requires moderate fitness. The pool and hot springs are gentler stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Emerald Pool, Hot Springs, and Temple

• Swim in Emerald Pool
• See Blue Lagoon
• Soak in Hot Springs
• Climb to Tiger Cave Temple
• View Buddha statue

The experience

The day starts at the Emerald Pool, a mineral pool with blue-green water tucked into a lush forest. The water stays cool enough to swim in, and the overhanging trees and roots extending across the surface make it feel like a place most visitors never find. From there you move to the Hot Springs Waterfalls at Namtok Ron, where water heated to 42°C by underground volcanic chambers flows down the rocks: more like soaking in a natural jacuzzi than a waterfall. Both stops are built into the morning and early afternoon, giving you time to swim and soak without rushing.

The last stop is the Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Seua, which sits on a mountaintop and requires climbing a lot of stairs to reach. The walk is strenuous and the source notes it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy. Once you get to the top, you stand in front of a gleaming Buddha statue and take in views across Krabi. The temple itself is the real draw, not a quick photo stop, but a place where the effort of getting there changes what you see.

The tour includes an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees to all three sites, bottled water and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. You choose your option at checkout: some include hotel pickup, some start at a meeting point, and one option does not include entrance fees if you want to pay separately. The whole day runs nine and a half hours, so plan to be out from morning into early evening.

What’s included

• An English-speaking guide leads the day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off are included (on the options that offer them).
• entrance fees to the Emerald Pool, Hot Springs Waterfalls and Tiger Cave Temple are covered.
• bottled drinking water and air-conditioned transport are provided throughout.

Options for this experience

4 options

Small group tour without entrance fees or meetingGuide in English · Available from 26 Oct 2027Lasts 9 hours

Private TourGuide in English · 06:00, 08:00 and 10:00Private tour, pickup is included

Small group tour, meeting pointGuide in English · 08:00Small group tour, meeting point: Choose this option if you are staying outside the Ao Nang area, Krabi. Please come to the meeting point at McDonald's Ao Nang; includes pickup

Small group tour with entrance fees and meetingGuide in English · 08:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 08:00 and 10:00

AgesAdult (6 to 70 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TripGuru Thailand

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see three different sides of Krabi (a forest pool, a natural hot spring and a hilltop temple) in one organized day without arranging transport or tickets yourself. The small-group format keeps the pace manageable, and the guide handles the logistics so you focus on the stops. If climbing stairs to a mountaintop is not for you, the Emerald Pool and hot springs alone are worth the morning, though the temple view is the reason most people push through the walk.

Traveler reviews

4.79★★★★★★★★★★

148 verified traveler reviews

5 ★136

4 ★5

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★6

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Emerald Pool like when you get there?

The Emerald Pool is a mineral-rich lagoon with blue-green water hidden in a lush forest, surrounded by large trees with roots extending into the water. It is a place to swim and cool off in the mid-morning, and the forest setting makes it feel removed from the usual tourist routes.

How hot are the hot springs, and what do they feel like?

The Hot Springs Waterfalls at Namtok Ron have water reaching up to 42°C from underground volcanic chambers, so they feel like soaking in a natural hot tub rather than a cold waterfall. The water is therapeutic and warm enough that you can stay in without the shock of a typical waterfall plunge.

Is the climb to Tiger Cave Temple difficult?

Yes, the walk to Wat Tham Seua involves a lot of stairs and is described as strenuous. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness to reach the top, but the view and the Buddha statue make it the payoff of the day.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in this tour. The day runs nine and a half hours, so you may want to eat before or after, or bring snacks for the stops between the pool, hot springs and temple.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off (depending on which option you choose), entrance fees to all three sites, bottled drinking water and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Some options start at a meeting point instead of hotel pickup, and one option excludes entrance fees if you prefer to pay separately.

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs about nine and a half hours from start to finish, so you will be out from morning into early evening. The time includes travel between the three stops, time to swim and soak, and the climb to the temple.