Tiger Cave Temple & Emerald Pool tour: Jungle swim & hike

Swim in two jungle pools, then climb through a working temple carved into the hillside

This full-day tour from Krabi takes you to Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple) and Sra Morakot (Emerald Pool), two of the region's main jungle attractions. You start with a swim in the freshwater Emerald Pool inside Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, then move to the temple, where you explore meditation caves and walk through an intact forest ecosystem. An English-speaking guide leads the day. Pickup from Klong Muang Beach, Krabi Town or Ao Nang is included, along with entrance fees, lunch and access to the hot springs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Emerald Pool2h · entry included
2. Tiger Cave Temple2h · entry included

Visit Emerald Pool and Tiger Cave Temple

• Swim in the Emerald Pool
• Explore the Blue Pool and jungle hike
• Visit Tiger Cave Temple and meditation center
• Discover archaeological sites at temple

The experience

The day begins at the Emerald Pool, a natural turquoise-blue pond fed by freshwater streams running down from the hills. You swim in the main pool, then explore the smaller Blue Pool nearby and the natural hollows carved into the creek by thermal springs: some shaped like bathtubs where you can soak while water cascades around you. A short forest hike connects the pools, and the guide points out the intact jungle ecosystem as you move between them.

After lunch, you head to Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua), located near Krabi Town. The temple sits inside a limestone cave system and doubles as a working meditation center. Stone tools, pottery and Buddha footprint molds have been found in excavations here, and the site carries both archaeological and spiritual weight. You walk through the caves, see the meditation spaces, and get a sense of how the temple functions as a living practice rather than a museum.

The full day runs eight hours with an English-speaking guide managing the route, timing and stops. Pickup happens from your hotel in Klong Muang Beach, Krabi Town or Ao Nang, and the tour includes all entrance fees, a Thai lunch and access to the hot springs. The schedule can shift depending on traffic and weather, so the guide adjusts as needed.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from Klong Muang Beach, Krabi Town or Ao Nang.
• entrance fees for the Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple and hot springs.
• a Thai lunch.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 35

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mam Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this if you want swimming and temple exploration in one day with a guide managing the route between two main sites, rather than piecing together separate visits yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Emerald Pool like when you get there?

The Emerald Pool (Sra Morakot) is a natural turquoise-blue pond fed by freshwater streams from the hills, located inside Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve. You swim in the main pool and explore a smaller Blue Pool nearby, plus natural hollows in the creek shaped by thermal springs where you can soak.

What makes Tiger Cave Temple worth visiting?

Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua) is a working meditation center built inside a limestone cave system near Krabi Town. Excavations have uncovered stone tools, pottery and Buddha footprint molds, making it both an archaeological site and a spiritual practice space where monks still meditate.

How much walking and climbing is involved?

There is a short forest hike between the Emerald Pool and Blue Pool, and you explore caves and walk through the temple grounds at Wat Tham Sua. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers.

What does the eight-hour tour include?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Klong Muang Beach, Krabi Town or Ao Nang; entrance fees for the Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple and hot springs; a Thai lunch; and an English-speaking guide for the full day.