Tham PlaTham Pla at a Glance
Exploring Tham Pla
About 15 kilometres south of Mae Sai is Tham Pla, the “fish cave”, famous not only for its underground lake crammed with fish but also for its monkeys. In contrast to nearby Tham Luang, which is usually deserted, Tham Pla is a popular destination for locals who come to make merit at the temple at the foot of the limestone outcrop in which the cave sits. They feed the koi carp and catfish in a pond outside the cave, and give bananas to the hordes of squabbling macaques that live around the temple.
Don’t go too close to the monkeys, and hang on to your bags, as they can be aggressive. There is also a small pond with crocodiles. A run of 300 steep steps leads up the mountainside to the cave entrance and a magnificent view across the countryside; because the ascent is so steep, few people actually climb up, most preferring to stay with the animals in the temple.
Nearby Attractions to Tham Pla
Best Time to Visit Tham Pla
Best seen in the dry season for safer trails and clearer cave pools; afternoons in the wet season can be muddy and slippery.
Weather & Climate near Tham Pla
Tham Pla's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in May) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 13°C to 34°C. Abundant rainfall (1776 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 13° - 27° | 20° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 69% | 1.0 m/s | 1.4 high | 10.9h |
| February | Ideal | 14° - 31° | 23° | 15 mm | mostly sunny | 58% | 1.0 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.4h |
| March | Ideal | 17° - 33° | 25° | 21 mm | mostly sunny | 54% | 1.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 21° - 35° | 29° | 89 mm | some cloud | 58% | 1.1 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 23° - 33° | 30° | 221 mm | overcast | 71% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 13.0h |
| June | Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 216 mm | overcast | 77% | 1.2 m/s | 2.0 very high | 13.2h |
| July | Good | 23° - 30° | 27° | 349 mm | overcast | 82% | 1.0 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.1h |
| August | Good | 23° - 30° | 26° | 383 mm | overcast | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.7h |
| September | Good | 22° - 30° | 26° | 273 mm | overcast | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.1h |
| October | Very Good | 21° - 30° | 25° | 127 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.6h |
| November | Excellent | 17° - 28° | 23° | 55 mm | some cloud | 77% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 high | 11.1h |
| December | Excellent | 14° - 26° | 20° | 18 mm | some cloud | 74% | 0.8 m/s | 1.3 high | 10.8h |
How to Get to Tham Pla
Tham Pla is in northern Thailand; access typically requires a vehicle from the nearest provincial town. Visitors usually reach the region by car or motorcycle from the nearest district center; local songthaews (shared pickups) and private tuk-tuks serve village routes. Expect rough, sometimes unpaved last miles-high-clearance vehicles are helpful in the rainy season.
Tips for Visiting Tham Pla
- Visit early morning when light filters into the cave pool and the fish are most active.
- Bring a flashlight and waterproof shoes-paths can be slippery after rain.
- Ask a local guide about seasonal insect activity; some trails are best avoided in the wet season.