Tham Luang Nang Non

Tham Luang Nang Non is a karst cave complex in the Doi Nang Non mountain range of Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. The cave gained global attention in 2018 following a widely publicized rescue of a youth football team.

The site includes the cave mouth and passages formed in limestone where guided visits and viewpoints nearby allow observation of the ridge and cave entrance. The 2018 incident and subsequent memorials have made the cave a focal point for visitors interested in the rescue, local geology, and memorial sites.

The cave formed in karst limestone and has long been known to local communities. In June 2018 a youth football team and their coach became trapped by rising floodwaters; they were located by divers and rescued between late June and 10 July 2018 in a multinational operation that included Thai Navy SEALs and international cave divers.

Tham Luang sits in Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand within the Doi Nang Non ridge, near the border region with Myanmar and accessible from towns in Chiang Rai Province.

• 2018 rescue: Twelve boys and their football coach were trapped inside the cave from 23 June to 10 July 2018; an international rescue operation freed them, and one rescuer died during the mission.

The turn-off to Tham Luang lies about 12 kilometres south of Mae Sai, with the road winding roughly three kilometres to the cave-keep an eye out for signs. Set in an idyllic, quiet and lush green setting with a visitor centre and toilets, the cave is huge, with well-formed stalactites and loud echoes. It is reputedly one of the deepest caves in the country, but it is best not to venture too far in without a guide.

Bring your own torch, as you will need one and there is not always someone on hand to hire one from. If you are lucky you may find an English-speaking guide with a lantern.

• Visit early in the morning on weekdays to avoid tour‑bus crowds and to see the cave mouth in softer light; avoid the monsoon months (roughly June-October) when the cave is prone to dangerous flooding and parts may be closed.
• Enter via the official Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park entrance and speak to the park office/visitor centre on arrival-local park rangers or licensed guides provide up‑to‑date safety information and access rules.
• Don't stop at the cave mouth only: follow the marked trails up to the viewpoint above the cave for a broad view of the Nang Non ridge and quieter photo angles that many visitors miss.