Thailand's Top Twenty: A guide to the longest and deepest caves in Thailand

Abstract

A guide, with surveys, to the longest and deepest caves in Thailand as of mid-2008.

Full text

Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 12 Number 4
Autumn 2008
Contents
THAILAND'S TOP TWENTY 140
By Martin Ellis
Cover photograph: Typical karst landscape near Ma Phong Sui Tung, Doi Ang Khang,
Northern Thailand, January 2007 (photo Martin Ellis)
Published by the Shepton Mallet Caving Club
The Mineries, Wells Road, Priddy, Wells, Somerset, BA5 3AU
http://www.shepton.org.uk
©2008 Shepton Mallet Caving Club

Thailand's Top Twenty
A guide to the longest and deepest caves in Thailand
Martin Ellis
Introduction
This article aims to be a 'sporting' guide to the longest and deepest caves in Thailand.
Several of the caves have been explored after John Dunkley published 'The Caves of
Thailand' in 1995 and others were not included in the more recent 'Caves of Northern
Thailand' (2006).
Before I started I thought this would be a quick report to put together for the club
Journal. However, once work began I realised just how scattered the relevant information
was. Out of the 35 different caves 13 had not had their surveys previously published and of
these, six have been drawn up from the survey notes for the first time.
Only caves that have been surveyed to at least a basic grade have been included.
Several other caves, such as Tham Khao Ting in Trang and Tham Luem in Krabi, are
reported to have been explored for over 2.5km which, if confirmed by a survey, would place
them in the top twenty. With the deep caves list John Dunkley's book reported that Dean
Smart had explored Tham Yin Lee Nan Nam in Mae Hong Son to -150m, but Dean did not
include this cave in his own deep cave list.
Acknowledgements
This guide would not have been possible without the following cavers and surveyors
giving permission to republish their work:
•Dave Checkley, UK (Tham Phu Khieo, Tham Huai Nam Lod);
•Louis Deharveng, Francois Brouquisse and the Association Pyrénéenne de
Spéléologie, Toulouse, France (Tham Luang, Tham Chiang Dao, Tham Pha Mon,
Tham Kleab Yai);
•John Dunkley, Australia (Tham Nam Lang);
•Ken Boland and the Victoria Speleological Association, Australia (Tham Susa, Tham
Pung Hung);
•Kevin Kiernan, John Taylor, et. al., Australia (Tham Mae Lana, Tham Pha Puek);
•John Brush and the Canberra SS Inc., Australia (Tham Nam Tok);
•Susan White and the Australian Speleological Federation, Inc. (Tham Mae Lana,
Tham Nam Lang, Tham Pha Puek);
•Liz Price, Malaysia (Tham Krachaeng);
•Steve Whitlock and the Combined Services Caving Association, UK (Tham Ban Nam
Mut, Tham Nam Mut, Tham Turakit Maiset);
•Groupe Spéléo Scientifique et Sportif, Perigueux, France (Tham Nok Nang En).
The work of the following cavers who explored and surveyed many of the caves
described is acknowledged:
•Dean Smart, Thailand (Tham Phra Wang Daeng, Tham Sua/Tham Lom, Tham Chao
Ram, Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam);
•Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey, USA (Big House Cave, Ma Phong Sui Tung, Dead
Robber Waterfall Cave, Pigs Play In The Mud Cave);
•Mike Gadd, et. al., Thailand (Tham Sra Kaeo, Tham Song Hong).
John Dunkley, Susan White and Terry Bolger were very helpful in contacting various
Australian cavers whose work I wished to republish. Ray Mansfield kindly gave me his copy
of the 1992 Combined Services Caving Association expedition report.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 140

Finally a thank you to the many cavers with whom I have explored and surveyed
several of the caves described in this article:
Neil Anderson (Canberra SS), Tim Ball (SMCC), Dave Barrett (SMCC), Keith Batten
(SMCC), Tony Blick (Craven PC), Terry Bolger (Canberra SS), Dave Briggs (Pegasus Club),
Phil Collett (SMCC), Paul & Tiggy Dummer (SMCC), John Dunkley (Canberra SS), Terence
Fitch (SMCC), Glyn Francis (SMCC), Ivan Hollis (SMCC), Lee Hollis (Pegasus Club), Sean
Howe (SMCC), Steve King (SMCC), Dave Owen (SMCC), Dean Smart and Ed Waters
(SMCC).
Members of the Shepton Mallet Caving Club have been involved in the exploration
and surveying of Tham Phra Wang Daeng, Tham Yai Nam Nao, Tham Takobi, Tham Khang
Khao, Tham Loe Pu, Tham Pha Phueng, Tham Phra Wattanaram, Tham Phaya Naak and
Tham Pha Khan.
Formations in Tham Yai Nam Nao (photograph taken by Phil Collett)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 141

Location map, showing the location of the caves described in this article.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 142

The Long Caves
1. Tham Phra Wang Daeng

Length: 13,844 m VR: 117m
Wat Tham Phra Wang Daeng, Ban Chomphu, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park,
Phitsanulok
47Q 680292 1844462 Alt.: 160m
Location
From Ban Chomphu drive through the check point into the national park. Wat Tham
Phra Wang Daeng is sign posted to the right (south). From the wat follow the track up the hill
to a car park. From the car park it is a short down hill walk to the large entrance.
Description
Tham Phra Wang Daeng is the longest cave in Thailand. It consists mainly of a 10km
long streamway and is a magnificent, sporting trip. Only one group of cavers has been to the
end of the cave on a two day camping trip in April 1998 (though monks had been there before
them).
The entrance section of Tham Phra Wang Daeng is a huge collapse chamber with
two entrances facing each other. A footpath crosses through the upper levels, passing a
golden Buddha and a flat, painted rock symbolising a turtle. Two monk platforms have been
erected in the middle of the entrance chamber. On the opposite side the path continues to the
downstream entrance of the cave.
Descending the steep boulder pile in the entrance chamber leads to a small hole in
the floor, which is fitted with a cellar door, giving access to the upstream section of the cave.
Inside the steep descent over huge boulders continues, finally going down a concrete
stairway to the bottom of the first (entrance) boulder choke where the stream is reached.
Downstream the water quickly disappears into the boulder choke, but it can be rejoined after
a few hundred meters from the downstream entrance. The section of Tham Phra Wang
Daeng downstream from the entrance, though nowhere near as long as the upstream section,
is characterized by a sequence of small cascades.
Heading upstream some gours dam the stream and soon lead to the first swim. Here
a steep climb to the left (as seen in downstream direction) is rewarded by a large Buddha
statue, while an even steeper climb to the right over muddy flowstone, rigged by the local
monks with a thick knotted rope, leads to an upper dry gallery some 30m above the stream.
Again, the passage is dominated by a golden Buddha statue. At the far end of the bypass a
slippery boulder pile leading down to the stream has to be negotiated, this time without the
help of a handline. Thus, the bypass can be used to avoid the first swim. Back down at
stream level, a large pool is found, which hosts an abundance of white cave fishes.
From the first pool on, the passage obviously leaves the entrance area dominated by
its huge boulder choked sections and gives way to several hours of walking, swimming and
bouldering along the main streamway. The sizes of the gallery start with around 10m width
and 5m height, but increase to a width of 25-30m and a height of 20-25m. Only a few minor
inlets are passed, all of them dry at the end of the dry season. After a little over 2km, a
second huge collapse area is reached. The entire river passage is blocked by a huge boulder
choke, giving access to a large, dry boulder room at roof level. Here a major fault zone is
intersected by the cave, as a result the ceiling has collapsed with its overlying sandstone
layers, burying the stream passage for approximately 100m.
After passing the second boulder choke, the active passage continues in a southerly
direction. At a false junction, a dead end passage leads straight ahead, while the streamway
makes an obvious easterly turn. The dimensions of the gallery become smaller again, with
average passage sizes of 10x15m. The phreatic origin of the passage is more obvious here,
with an elliptic tube in the upper part of the section and a meandering vadose streamway
cutting into the lower parts. Twice the streamway is almost entirely blocked by flowstone and
at a small cascade a basaltic dyke is intersected by the gallery. Roughly 3km from the second
boulder choke the passage enters a huge fault, leaving the ceiling some tens of meters
higher. A sizeable, but at this time of the year dry inlet enters from the left – The Sandy Inlet.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 143

The cave continues as a tall, meandering vadose canyon and progress is easy walking on
gravel banks. A sharp bend to the right is reached where large boulders need scrambling
over. An unexplored upper level goes off from here and a 20m tall column stands on a ledge
high above the floor.
Beyond the boulders the main stream tunnel continues around several bends. Fins of
basalt dykes cross the cave in several places and there are small rapids flowing over
flowstone. About 350m beyond the boulders a deeper pool of water requires wading at a
sharp right and bend. A little further on another upper level enters from the right.
More easy walking over gravel banks and through shallow water leads to a point
where large boulders almost block the cave. It is possible to climb up through the boulders
for 15m and enter a large chamber above. Care is needed on the climb as some boulders
are loose. Unexplored upper levels lead off in two directions. Scrambling down a brown
flowstone cascade on the opposite side of the chamber reaches the stream again.
Immediately upstream of the boulder room a small inlet enters the cave via a 10m high aven.
About 50m further is a low flowstone roof. This is the only place where hands and
knees crawling is required in the main stream passage. There is a very powerful draught
through this low section. Easier walking in a round tunnel passes an unexplored inlet on the
right and two upper levels on the left. The passage rises in height to become a canyon again
and widens out at a round chamber. A vadose canyon carries the stream through the middle
of the room.
At the far end of this chamber a short scramble over boulders leads back to the
stream and the passage continues. The passage is small in places and crosses many basalt
dykes. A sharp left hand bend is reached after about 200m. The exploration and survey trip
that reached the end of the cave camped in some large sand filled gours located on this bend.
Shallow wading continues to a boulder pile which is easily passed on the right to regain the
larger stream tunnel. Basalt dykes start to increase in number again and at a sharp right hand
bend a boulder room is reached where the right hand wall is formed by the dyke. Climbing
over the boulders and down the other side is the way through to a short section of streamway
and more boulders. Beyond here, about 350m past the camp, the stream tunnel assumes
large proportions again and continues very spectacularly for about 1km.
The canyon soon reaches a place called the 'Big Bend'. Here the 10m wide and 20m
high passage turns nearly 180° to the right and an excellent view is seen down both tunnels
from the outside edge. Continuing past here the tunnel turns a few meanders, passes an
aven inlet on the left, an upper level on the right and a large walking sized inlet which is also
on the right. A huge vadose canyon. 20m high and 10m wide, disappears on into the dark
ahead. This passage heads south and is almost straight for about 350m, following a basalt
dyke in the roof. Easy walking on gravel banks allows the explorer to get a good look at this
superb section of cave.
At the end of the canyon a prominent basalt dyke crosses the cave and the passage
bends to the left. Passing a large tilted boulder of flowstone the cave becomes smaller and
one wall consists of cemented gravel and cobbles. After a low flowstone roof an upper level
enters and a basalt dyke crosses the passage. A large boulder room now opens up ahead.
This is the third major boulder room in the cave and one of the largest. A large number of
complicated routes may be taken over, under and through the boulders, but basically it is
easiest to try to keep to the stream and go under. Great care is needed in places as some
very large boulders appear to be precariously wedged.
Following the boulder chamber the cave has much less impressive proportions. A
low and wide passage with a gravel floor continues. In one place it is necessary to crawl for
the second time in the cave. Additionally there is no detectable draught after the last boulder
chamber. Some 200m beyond the boulder chamber a sharp limestone shelf projects out into
the passage at a left hand bend. A low crawling sized inlet or oxbow enters here and a rift
crosses the cave on a fault. A small room opens up with large boulders and an upper level in
the roof.
The stream continues in a wide and low fashion. A too tight inlet on the right and a
short scramble over some nice gours leads into more low and wide passage. This gradually
enlarges to a left hand bend where a small inlet enters on the right. The stream turns sharply
to the left, the water deepens and the upstream sump is reached, 9,637m from the entrance
and 39m above it.
The cave was first explored by a Royal Forest Department / Canberra Speleological
Society team in 1997. A Royal Forest Department team reached the upstream sump in April
SMCC Journal 12(4) 144

1998. Further work, mainly exploring and surveying the inlets, has been conducted by
members of the Canberra Speleological Society, Orpheus Caving Club, Shepton Mallet
Caving Club and Royal Forest Department.
Survey
The eight sheet survey is by Dean Smart and is dated July 1998. This survey shows
12,154m of passage and is published for the first time in this report. Since 1998 further
surveying trips in 1999 and 2004 have added a further 1,689m of inlets and oxbows. Many of
the high level passages and smaller inlets have not been explored or surveyed.
References
1. Brooks, Simon (2002) "Thailand 1998-1999. Thungyai Naresuan W.L. Sanctuary & Thung
Salaeng Luang N.P." The International Caver 2001 pp74-76
2. Brooks, Simon (2003a) "Recce Proves Successful" Descent No. 173 pp26-27
3. Brooks, Simon (2003b) "Thailand – October/November 2002" Orpheus Caving Club
Newsletter Vol. 39 No. 7 - 10 pp30-36.
4. Brooks, Simon (2003c) "Cave Exploration in Southern and Central Thailand" The
International Caver 2003 pp38-43
5. Brooks, Simon (2004) "Thailand 2004" Orpheus Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 40 Nos. 10-
12 pp54-57
6. Brooks, Simon (2005) "Orpheus in the Tower Karst" Descent No. 183 p23
7. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
8. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
9. Kaufmann, Georg (1997) "Thailand 97. Exploration in the National Parks of Thung
Salaeng Luang, Thung Saliam, and Sri Nakarind" International Caver No. 21 pp13-18
10. Kaufmann, Georg & Bolger, Terry (1997) "Thailand 1997. Exploration in the National
Parks of Thung Salaeng Luang, Tham Chaoram and Sri Nakarind" Canberra
Speleological Society Inc. unpublished report for the Royal Forest Department, Bangkok
26pp
11. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 2" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 8 pp342-357
12. Smart, Dean (1997) "In The Monks Footsteps" Descent No. 137 p23
13. Smart, Dean (1998) "Thung Salaeng Luang National Park Cave Surveying Project" Royal
Forestry Department, Bangkok Unpublished report 26pp
2. Tham Mae Lana

Length: 12,600m VR: 130m
Ban Mae Lana, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
Swallet entrance: 47Q 417693 2163635 Alt.: 561m
Resurgence entrance: Alt.: 450m
Other names: Tham Nam Mae Lana
Location
The swallet entrance is located at the southwest end of a large closed depression
3km south of Ban Mae Lana. From the village a seal track leads south up to the ridge
between the two dolines. The track then descends, occasionally unsealed, but concreted on
the steep sections to where there is a rockfall and a turning area. The track is very rough
after here and a barrier has been built to prevent anyone from driving further. From here it is
a 15 minute walk down to the cave entrance, crossing an stream flowing from the western
wall of the doline (the source of this stream has not been investigated), past a monk's
dwelling to the large Mae Lana stream at the bottom of the depression. The way in is to follow
the stream, but this can only be done safely in fairly low water conditions. Guides can be hired
from the shop in Ban Mae Lana.
The resurgence entrance is about 45 minutes walk north of the H1095 road, about
500m west of the Ban Luk Khao Lam turnoff. Head down the pine-covered ridge on the right
SMCC Journal 12(4) 145

slightly before the viewpoint into the Huai Pong Saen Pik valley. A camp site has been made
close to the entrance next to the stream and would make a good base for exploring the cave
at leisure.
Description
The cave is described from the swallet to the resurgence. The swallet entrance is 5m
high and wide. From the entrance to the Green Lake, where the stream sumps, is 4.15km of
passage generally 3-4m high and wide with the roof dipping to a minimum of 1.5m in one
place. At a distance of 2.4km from the swallet entrance a large upper level was seen entering
from the south. In 1988 and 1990 this upper level was surveyed for more than 2km and has
noticeably high carbon dioxide levels. One of the high level inlets around 3.6km from the
swallet and on the north side of the passage has been explored up numerous waterfalls
towards the Ban Chabo area. Other high level passages are found at 1.7km, 3.1km and
3.2km from the entrance.
Around 2.4km into the cave a series of large gours rise from stream level to a height
of 10m, completely blocking the passage. They occur at the start of a 300m long fault
controlled passage and are up to 40m across. Two inlet streams join the main passage here:
a small one from the north and a much longer one directly opposite from the south. Beyond
the fault passage the stream drops down a series if rapids and over an 8m waterfall. Below
the waterfall the stream goes down a small twisting water chute and into a sump after 50m. A
traverse route goes over the top of the falls into a dry bypass about 10m above stream level.
This bypass has evidence of annual flooding. After 150m in the bypass passage you reach a
point where the flood waters sink. It is then necessary to ascend a 15-20m high boulder
slope above the river and then descend again to the rejoin the stream at Red Crystal Stream
with the water emerging from beneath huge boulders to the south. This point is 3.4km from
the swallet entrance.
A short distance downstream the stream again sumps, but progress can be made
over rocks and along a dry stream bed for another 100m until the stream is met again. The
stream meanders gently between gravel banks for about 500m where it ends at a large,
green, deep lake about 30m in diameter where the stream sumps. About 2m above the lake
an inlet stream emerges from a sump before dropping into the Green Lake.
About 400m upstream of the Green Lake there is a steep climb over muddy rocks
which leads up to a series of well decorated chambers. Part way up this first boulder slope a
1m wide, well decorated passage heads down in a northwards direction. About 50m above
the river a large chamber with a level mud floor is reached. This area is very well decorated
with cave pearls 3cm in diameter and the boulder slope continues northwards between a
group of 25m high stalagmites with a calcite flow covering the boulders. This rock fall can be
ascended to about 100m above the stream level. Beyond the high point the passage slopes
down into an enormous flat-roofed chamber about 100 to 200m across. The boulder slope at
the north end of this chamber has been climbed almost to roof level, but the chamber has
only been looked at briefly and further extensions are possible. Back at the first large high
level chamber a descent down a boulder slope leads to the main stream which is joined just
downstream of where it emerges from a sump.
From here there is 3km of streamway to the resurgence and it was originally explored
upstream from the downstream entrance. The stream has a low gradient and alternates
between shallow sections between gravel banks and deeper water between sheer rocks.
There appear to be several higher level passages above the streamway. In one place a large
passage 20m wide by 10m and 20m above the river has been followed for 150m without
reaching the end. In the last kilometre before the resurgence the cave make a long loop to the
north and is well decorated with some long curtains of flowstone.
The Mae Lana river emerges from between boulders below a steep cliff at the head of
a deep valley. The small cave entrance is in the cliff at the top of the boulder slope.
First entered in 1986 by the Australians, the cave was originally explored as far as the
Green Lake from the resurgence. With the discovery of the sink entrance Kerry Hamilton and
Attila Vrana made the first 8.4km long through trip in the same year. The southern tributary
and high level passages were explored and surveyed on the next Australian expedition in
1988. The northern waterfall tributary was explored in 1992. There is still great potential to
extend this cave.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 146

Survey
The survey published here is based on the one drawn by Kevin Kiernan and John
Taylor and published in Dunkley & Brush (1986). This survey only shows the 8.4km of the
main stream passage. An outline survey in 'Caves of Thailand' shows the two major inlets and
was used for the compilation survey in this report. The survey by the Australian expeditions is
very basic and the cave could do with being re-surveyed.
References
1. Boland, Ken (1989) "Under the Triangle - Thailand 88" Nargun Vol. 21 No. 10 pp90-95
2. Boland, Ken (1992a) "Caving in Thailand" Australian Caver No. 132 pp7-9
3. Boland, Ken (1992b) "NW Thailand - The Story So Far" International Caver No. 5 pp30-
35
4. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
5. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
6. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1 62pp
7. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
3. Tham Yai Nam Nao

Length: 9,817m VR: 76m
Ban Huai Lat, Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun
47Q 767316 1874832 Alt.: 693m
Location
Tham Yai Nam Nao is a well known tourist attraction in the Nam Nao National Park in
northern Phetchabun.. It is clearly sign posted from the H2216 in Ban Non Chat. At busy
holiday times there are stalls selling food and beer, but at other times there are just three or
four rangers who are there to guide tourists into the cave.
Description
Inside the cave a metal ladder and walkway soon leads to the 'Second' entrance.
Beyond the Second entrance the subtly lit 'Tourist Cave' follows a large fossil passage. There
is a bat colony in the big chamber where the 'Bat' entrance enters from high on the right.
Beyond the bat chamber the cave has a few formations and then reaches a breakdown area
with a series of high level passages ascending up on the right. After the breakdown area
there is a mud floored chamber that funnels down to the left. By descending this it is possible
to go through a low, squalid, occasionally wet section to reach the bottom of the 6m ladder.
However, it is easier to follow the lit cave which ends at the top of the solidly constructed 6m
metal ladder. Descending the ladder leads to a series of smaller, muddy passages. The
main way on, marked with white paint arrows, is a short crawl on the right followed by some
smaller passages with a second crawl. Finally there is a flat out crawl of about 10m over mud
which breaks out into a large passage with a mud and silt floor.
This large passage ends by descending a mud slope to a stooping and crawling
height passage. This area occasionally has a pool of water and can be prone to carbon
dioxide build up – we recorded over 5% here on our first visit and this section was
impassable. In January 2006 this section again had a pool of water and very high carbon
dioxide levels making the rest of the cave inaccessible. However, once past this low section
you regain the large passage, named 'Main Passage' by the 1992 expedition, which
meanders gently to the junction with the streamway. The passage is floored with sand and
dry mud which has created some large mudbanks.
At the streamway it is possible to climb down the 3m bank of cobbles and mud fill.
Downstream enters a small passage with many cascades and deep pools, a couple of which
can require swimming to cross in high water conditions, to end at a sump. Upstream is a
SMCC Journal 12(4) 147

magnificently large streamway with a lot of cemented cobble fill on the walls and floor. After
275m the passage makes a 90° turn to the south. The passage changes character as the
gradient is lower and more wading is required, often at stooping height.
Before reaching this high level bypass there is a small, insignificant inlet on the left
hand (eastern) wall of the passage. This starts as a flat out crawl over cobbles to a small
chamber. More crawling leads to a stream which disappears into a very small hole in the left
hand wall. The stream way continues as mostly crawling for a total of 300m to a wide pool
with very limited airspace. A gravel bank was dug out and the water level lowered. Crawling
through the duck for 50m leads into a high rift passage which leads to the Tham Pha Rai
entrance.
After the Tham Pha Rai inlet and high level passage you reach the 'Y Junction'. The
main stream comes in from under the left (eastern) wall and can be difficult to spot although it
is marked with a painted 'Y' – it wasn't found by the 1992 expedition and the 2003 expedition
walked past it twice before finding the duck under into the streamway.
This streamway, named the '2004 Series', was first explored by the Shepton Mallet
Caving Club in January 2004. At the 'Y Junction' a short, wet crawl leads into larger passage
where there is a short section of wading in deep water. The stream meanders across the floor
of a fairly straight passage and there are extensive deposits of sand and mud. After 450m
from the junction the roof lowers and more wading is required. The water gets steadily deeper
until at 700m from the junction you are in water over 1.5m deep with only 20cm of airspace.
The water soon gets shallower, but the low, wet crawling continues for another 200m until you
reach larger passage and can stand up out of the water. This series of wet crawls ends in a
very high rift passage. The passage is now easy going for about 400m to a dry oxbow on the
left which is followed for 100m back to the streamway. After the oxbow the streamway
continues for about 1.5km to the upstream sump and no side passages or inlets have been
found (only two groups have been to the sump). The going is mainly wading with varying
water depths and one short swim.
From the 'Y Junction' the other branch of the cave leads southwards and has been
named the '1992 Series' as it was first explored by the student expedition. In the dry season
it does not have a stream for most of its length until you reach the 'Boulder Chamber'. After
about 200m it is necessary to crawl through a low, muddy, sometimes wet, passage for about
100m. Above this section there is a series of dry, boulder-filled chambers. Cave 14 was
connected to Tham Yai Nam Nao just before this crawling section. After the crawl the large
passage is regained and it is mainly easy going for 500m to the 'Boulder Chamber' with just
some crawls under boulders and flowstone to negotiate. About 100m before reaching the
Boulder Chamber there is a small series of side passages that has been used as a campsite
by previous explorers, probably monks.
The Boulder Chamber is the second largest chamber in the cave (after the Bat
Chamber in the Tourist Cave) and is a collapse feature on the left (eastern) side of the stream
passage. It is possible, with great care, to ascend the slope of boulders and debris to reach
the back wall of the chamber, but the rock is heavily corroded and friable. There didn't
appear to be a passage entering into the roof of the chamber. There might have been a high
level passage heading downstream, but access would have been via a very exposed
traverse.
After the Boulder Chamber the stream passage becomes smaller and passes through
a couple of small, decorated chambers. Eventually you reach a duck. This duck, and the
three following ducks, are easily passed and the large main passage is rejoined. This 200m of
passage is quickly traversed to end at a large gour that fills the passage.
About 50m before the gour there is a tall, vadose inlet passage on the right (western)
side, named the '1992 Series Inlet'. The inlet passage is followed for about 400m to a boulder
choke. The stream is regained beyond the choke and can be followed upstream to a 5m climb
up a waterfall. This is free climbable, but a handline is advised. The water is then followed to
a second boulder choke. The path of least resistance leads to a duck which may need bailing.
Beyond the duck a crawl of 10m goes straight on and then sharp left to a squeeze. After the
squeeze a slot up to the left leads to the surface.
The 1992 expedition had failed to pass the large gour that blocks the main stream
passage in the 1992 Series. A wet crawl lead to the left while the stream came in from the
right. Continuing to the left went through a flat out crawl in a pool. Beyond the pool a small
chamber was reached. The way on was to crawl through another pool and head right to a dry
crawl. Finally bearing left and following the crawl over cobbles allowed the very large
SMCC Journal 12(4) 148

passage to be regained. By ascending the boulder floored passage a pool is reached at the
base of a 10m aven. The stream enters at the top of this aven which has not been climbed
and is currently the end of exploration in this section of the cave.
This cave was originally explored by British students in 1992, but was extended
considerably by the Shepton Mallet Caving Club between 2003 and 2006.
Survey
An A2 survey of Tham Yai Nam Nao was published in Shepton Mallet Caving Club
Occasional Publication No. 10 and is reproduced in this report.
References
1. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
2. Ellis, Martin (2006) "The Caves of Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun, Thailand"
Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occasional Publication No. 10 47pp
3. Standing, Nick (1992) "Report of the 1992 Expedition to Nam Nao National Park,
Thailand" Unpublished report 13pp
4. Tham Nam Lang

Length: 8,550m
Mae Nam Lang, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 409408 2157915 Alt.: 400m
Location
Tham Nam Lang is 3km southeast of the Mae Nam Khong bridge on the H1095 road.
Follow the path down the river from behind the Royal Forest Department station, crossing and
recrossing the river several times before reaching the junction between the Mae Nam Khlong
and Mae Nam Lang rivers. The cave entrance is at the base of enormous cliffs 1km to the
east, at the top of a long pile of boulders above the stream resurgence.
Description
Tham Nam Lang is the resurgence cave draining the Nam Lang polje, a complex
depression 400 sq km in area. Despite its size the cave was apparently not well known
locally, being about 4km from the nearest village. The entrance chamber, 50m wide, 30-40m
high and 80m long, has a large boulder slope that descends down to the river. The river
passage can be followed upstream to the limit of daylight over 200m into the cave. A climb is
then soon required over a flowstone barrier and gours nearly 60m wide. The stream is then
regained and can be followed continuously for 5km and then intermittently for another 1.6km.
The streamway is very constant in width being 10-20m wide. The roof heights have
been estimated at never less than 10m, usually over 20m and sometimes reaching 80-100m.
In places the line of sight reaches 200m. For the first kilometre the cave is strike controlled.
In the first 3km the floor is occasionally bedrock, but is usually meandering stream channel
between sand and gravel banks. There are regular rockfalls up to 6-8m high and a few
hundred metres long. Between 3 and 6km from the entrance there are long stretches of slow
moving water up to 1.5m deep with large deposits of mud. Near the 5km mark the cave
shows signs of flooding to the roof. At the upstream end of this area the cave briefly narrows
and the ceiling drops to within a few metres of the water before opening up again.
Large expanses of flowstone and gours are found 0.3km (Tham Khang Khao) and
1.3km (Phra Racha Wang Mekhala) from the entrance forming ramps up to 10m above the
stream. Both flows are formed by small seasonal inlets. Several other similar inlets occur,
most of which close down after about 50m though one near the 5km mark can be followed
southwards for 255m.
The extensive, unstable, rockfalls suggest that the cave has higher levels. The first
rockfall is 1.1km into the cave and has not been thoroughly explored, but has been climbed to
a height of about 50m. The second rockfall, Doi Hin Yai, is 1.8km into the cave. This rockfall
is 120m long, 80m wide and from the top, at 50m, a large shaft (Ban Khong Ramasura)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 149

extends upwards beyond the limit of your light. The trickle of water and fresh vegetation
suggest a connection with the surface which is about 300m above.
The most extensive upper level series explored by the Australians is the Tham Ban
Khong Kwan series. This starts with a steep rubble slope just before the 4km mark. From a
trunk passage about 50m above the stream a chamber to the east gives access to at least
one large passage that ends at an undescended 25m pitch that draughts strongly. From the
downstream end of the trunk passage a very well decorated and large chamber (Sala Khan
Thai) leads off to the left. At the western end of the chamber there is an estimated 30m pitch
back into the streamway while at the other end a muddy passage 5m in diameter leads to a
small inlet (Huai Khwae Noi) which sumps at both ends.
Back in the main streamway, from the boulder slope up to Tham Ban Khong Kwan
the stream passage continues with gravel banks. The deep water shallows at a point beneath
a huge fissure ascending up into the roof which has a rockfall below and a large chockstone
wedged across the rift 10m above the floor. Deeper pools are then met in the streamway until
a rockfall is reached which blocks the full width of the passage. 10m above the stream a dry
bypass starts. This bypass passage is 20m wide by 20m high. At the upstream end of the
dry bypass there are sandy banks. This area has been used as a campsite to explore the far
reaches of the cave.
Upstream of the campsite the stream passage continues to a flat, gravel floored,
section where the 255m long inlet comes in from the south. Beyond this inlet the stream
passage reaches a bench (another possible campsite), an area of columns on the left and a
large flowstone which overhangs the stream. This is the start of a deep, swift flowing section
known as King Khlong. The passage is 6m wide and 15m high with sharply scalloped
bedrock floor and walls. However, ledges above the stream help with crossing this area.
The stream makes a 90° bend (where there is a possible side passage) then widens
to 30m and the roof rises to 30m. The next section has rockfalls across the stream in two
places and widens further to 15m with large columns on the right (where, again, there may be
an upper level). Beyond here the streamway narrows and increases in gradient with several
rapids. After 250m there is a rockfall of large boulders which is nicely decorated with a large
stalagmite. Descending the far side of the rockfall regains the stream, but it emerges from
another rockfall on 30m further on.
This rockfall is an a very high rift and the boulders have been climbed without
reaching the top of the roof. This boulder choke is very unstable. Towards the east the
rockfall leads to a section of decorated upper level with several descents between the
boulders back to the stream. After a short section in the rocks a solid stream passage was
reached, about 6m wide and 4m high. After 80m this ended at a deep pool with a 0.5m
waterfall on the far side where the stream comes out of a slot 0.6m wide. This obstacle has
been passed to reach another 30m of stream passage to a point where the stream emerges
from beneath a 4m high boulder. To the left a boulder slope has not been pushed. At this
furthest point it is only about 500m to the last sink of the Nam Lang river.
Tham Nam Lang was first visited by the Australian expeditions in 1984 who explored
the first 3.5km. In 1985 the cave was extended to 6.7km and finally in 1986 the upstream
choke was reached on an epic 53 hour trip. The upper levels were explored in 1988. The
cave is normally accessible only during the dry season and the water is cold and often deep
until February or March.
Survey
The survey was drawn by John Dunkley and was published in Dunkley (1985) and
Dunkley & Brush (1986).
References
1. Boland, Ken (1989) "Under the Triangle - Thailand 88" Nargun Vol. 21 No. 10 pp90-95
2. Boland, Ken (1992) "Caving in Thailand" Australian Caver No. 132 pp7-9
3. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
4. Dunkley, John (1985) "Karst and Caves of the Nam Lang - Nam Khong Region, North
Thailand" Helictite Vol. 23 No. 1 pp3-22
5. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
SMCC Journal 12(4) 150

6. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1 62pp
7. Kiernan, Kevin (1991) "Tropical Mountain Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution in
North-west Thailand" S.Z. fur Geomorphol. Vol. 35 No. 2 pp187-206
8. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
5. Tham Takobi

Length: 7,346m VR: 65m
Ban Mae Khong, Umphang, Tak
47Q 481293 1774488 Alt.: 545m
Location
Tham Takobi is a popular tourist attraction north of Umphang and west of Ban Mae
Khlong on the road to Ban Kho Tho. As the road starts to descend after reaching the top of
the hill the cave is sign posted to the south of the road (the sign posts start just south of Mae
Sot over 170km away). Take this dirt track and turn left after a hundred metres to drive to the
main entrance. A toilet block was built outside here in 2003. Continuing along the dirt track
you reach an open area of fields and the track passes between two dolines. The doline to the
south of the track (called Northern Doline) involves a scramble down the vegetated boulders.
To the north of the track is the main stream sink and an entrance that has been developed
into a shrine by the monk who lives here. These two entrances give the easiest access to the
streamway. The other entrances are easier to find from inside the cave.
Description
This is a complex cave with 13 entrances and with over 7km of passage on three
levels. The lowest level is the active streamway which can be followed for nearly the entire
distance from the sink to the resurgence. About 25m above this level is the majority of the
cave passage. Some of these passages, such as Tourist Cave and Southern High Level,
take water in the wet season, either by backing up of the stream or from seasonal streams
flowing through them. Other passages such as Shrine Passage and South-East Passage do
not appear to take any water. The highest level, 25m above the middle level, consists of
Bamboo Ladder Cave and Bedding Cave.
From the main entrance, known as Tourist Entrance to the SMCC, a very pleasant
mud floored passage, 5-10m wide by 10-40m high and known as the Tourist Cave, meanders
gently in a southward direction for around 750m. One small side passage reaches a narrow
rift which can be climbed up to enter a chamber with an entrance, Spider Entrance, which
comes out near the Umphang town rubbish dump. The main passage ends at a chamber
where a bamboo ladder aids the ascent up out of a rift to the upper part of the chamber.
Below this ladder is a small hole that goes into the low and muddy passage to the East
Passage. At the far end of the chamber a slope down reaches a rift passage where there are
a couple of bamboo bridges over holes. This passage is more rockier and more awkward
than the entrance series, but eventually after a scramble over some flowstone and the
passage drops down into a flat floored chamber about 950m from the Tourist Entrance.
Ahead is a steep boulder slope that ascends about 25m to the Backdoor entrance. A
few metres up the slope, on the right hand side, there is a small hole that opens into Shrine
Passage. Back in the flat floored chamber a large passage opens on the left at the bottom of
the boulder slope. This passage, Southern High Level, as its name suggests heads
southwards for about 500m with an easy going, 10m wide by 10-20m high mud floored route.
There are a couple of breakdown chambers where a decorated high level oxbow, Umphang
Gallery, joins the Southern High Level. Southern High Level ends at the largest chamber in
the cave where another boulder slope leads up to the Side Entrance. To the south of this
passage descend the boulders to rejoin the Southern High Level where once again it is easy
going in large passage for 200m until the passage closes down. A narrower, but still
comfortable, route over flowstone and a couple of short climbs ends at a 6m pitch down into
the streamway. By traversing over the stream the Pothole Entrance can be reached.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 151

The cave in the Monk's and Main Entrance area is very complex (see survey). From
Main Entrance the South East Entrance can be reached and after a traverse over the
streamway this heads southwards for 300m to join Shrine Passage. Northern Doline is the
most convenient entrance to us to access East Passage and the Main Streamway. The
boulder slope drops down to the stream passage. The stream rises from a large sump and
after about 50m disappears down a narrow rift. The large passage continues, in the wet
season the stream flows into this passage. On the right there is a complex of rift passage, the
Flood Overflow Series, that links via a 4m climb with the upstream end of the Main
Streamway. This is the easiest way to reach the streamway. The main passage continues
past the Flood Overflow Series, below a couple of 7m pitches from the Main Entrance to
become the East Passage. Along East Passage there is a 6m free-climbable pitch down from
the end of Shrine Passage and a series of high rifts that link with Bedding Cave. East
Passage eventually becomes a very low, narrow and muddy passage that ends in the Tourist
Cave.
The Main Streamway is over 1lm long and from Flood Overflow can be followed all
the way through to the resurgence. It starts off 5m wide by 10m high, but the height
decreases in places and there are a couple of ducks. The passage increases in size as it
reaches the pitch at the bottom of Southern High Level. From this pitch the next landmark is
the large collapse entrance of Shaft Entrance where the low streamway can be bypassed by
clambering over the breakdown. 150m after the Shaft Entrance the stream resurgences into
a large pool formed in a collapse feature.
Tham Takobi was explored and surveyed by the Shepton Mallet Caving Club
between 2000 and 2003.
Survey
The two page survey of Tham Takobi was originally published in Shepton Mallet
Caving Club Journal Series 11 Number 1.
References
1. Barrett, Dave, Ellis, Martin & King, Steve (2001) "Thailand Expedition 2001 - Umphang
District, Tak Province" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occasional Publication No. 9
2. Ellis, Martin, King, Steve, Waters, Ed, Barrett, Dave & Fitch, Terence (2002) "Thailand
2002 Expedition Report" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 11 No. 1 pp1-29
6. Tham Luang

Length: 6,220m
Wat Ban Nam Cham, Tham Luang Forest Park, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai
47Q 591417 2252625 Alt.: 440m
Other names: Tham Nam Cham; Tham Yai; Tham Big Cave
Location
Tham Luang is 3km west of the H110 road from which there are two sign posted
turnoffs 5.5km and 7.5km south of Mae Sai leading to the cave. The northern route is shorter,
but unsurfaced. The southern route is surfaced all the way, turning north slightly before the
Khun Nam Nang Non Royal Forest Department ranger station, then west after about 1km for
another 500m into the headquarters of Tham Luang Forest Park. The cave is in the south-
east corner of the forest park, less than 100m from the car park. There is a visitor centre with
a detailed map of the cave, but not much else.
Description
An impressive entrance chamber 80m long leads to easy walking in mostly spacious
passages for the first kilometre along a well-formed, partly cemented path. Beyond this there
are about 4km of small passages with occasional short tributaries. After 2km the cave is
accessible only at the end of the dry season, but little running water is seen and neither the
active levels nor the resurgence have been located. In the Monk's Series the way on is
obvious, but very low and is followed by a strong air current. Elsewhere in the system several
high level passages remain to be looked at. The existence of narrow avens opening into the
SMCC Journal 12(4) 152

main passage suggest the necessity of surface prospecting as the depth potential is over
600m. The strong air current indicates that there is a link with the surface.
The entrance is only 3km from Burma and local legend has long maintained that the
cave passes under the border, however, it swings to the south-south-west presumably
following the strike and its closest approach is 1km from the border.
Survey
The survey was carried out in 1986 and 1987 by the APS and it was published in the
1988 report.
References
1. Deharveng, Louis, et. al. (1987) "Expédition Thaï-Maros 86" Association Pyrénéenne de
Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-01-5 177pp
2. Deharveng, Louis, et. al. (1988) "Expéditions Thaï 87-Thaï 88" Association Pyrénéenne
de Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-02-3
3. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
4. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
7. Tham Krachaeng

Length: 5,633m
Ban Than To, Ban Nang Sata, Yala
47N 744065 0687006
Other names: Tham Lod
Location
Tham Krachaeng is found to the south of the H410 road about 50km south-west of
Yala, near the village of Ban Than To which is halfway between Yala and Betong. The cave
is in Khao Tham Krachaeng. The river sink entrance, Tham Lod, is near the Ban Lang
National Park. From the entrance to the park headquarters a track on the opposite side of the
road, just south of the bridge, leads for 2km to some houses. From this small village the
limestone hill can be seen and is reached by a 10 minute walk downstream or through the
cultivated land.
The resurgence entrance, Tham Krachaeng, is reached by driving north from Ban
Than To for 14km, through Ban Ka Sod to the 8.47 kilometre marker. Turn right here and
follow the track for about 2km. Where the track swings left after some houses the hill can be
seen on the right. The 100m long Krachaeng Arch Cave is seen immediately and the
resurgence is found by walking upstream for a few minutes.
Description
From the stream sink at the Tham Lod entrance a very flood prone passage leads
after 620m to the main junction where a tributary stream comes in from the south. The water
in this tributary is noticeably warmer. The main streamway is a mainly large, south to north
trending passage. The floor is covered in sand and gravel and in some places the water is
deep enough to swim.
The Tham Krachaeng entrance is blocked by gours. A swim is necessary to get to
the gours which can be climbed up and over to regain the stream inside the cave. From here
it is easy going in a generally straight passage to the first skylight. There is one side passage
with a floor of mud filled gours to the west. This becomes too small after 70m. At the first
skylight there are many guano covered boulders where it is easier to stay at water level to find
the way through. The streamway then continues south and then loops north. At the point
where the loop turns north there is an inlet coming in from the south. This has been followed
to where the passage splits into a low crawl and a climb up that is draughting.
As the streamway heads north it reduces in size and the noise of the water increases
as it approaches a major boulder choke. An awkward climb up of 2m leads to a squeeze and
SMCC Journal 12(4) 153

then the main choke. The choke of large white marble boulders is fairly solid and it is
necessary to climb up through the choke. At the top of the choke there is a chamber filled
with flood debris.
On other side of the boulder choke the passage heads north for a short distance before
looping back round to the south. After a few minutes the junction with Tham Lod is reached.
The distance from the resurgence entrance to this junction is 2.8km.
From the main junction the warm tributary stream which can be followed upstream
and southwards for nearly 2km passing a skylight after about 500m to a boulder choke that
has not yet been negotiated. Just before this terminal boulder choke there is a cold water inlet
from the east which has been surveyed for just over 100m, but not completely explored. The
source of the warm water inlet is not known on the surface.
The cave was first explored and surveyed by Liz Price and Malaysian cavers in
August 1993 to 5,516m. A second expedition by Liz and the Axbridge Caving Group in
December 2000 was thwarted by flooding after surveying only another 117m of an upstream
inlet. Unfortunately an insurgency by some of the Muslim inhabitants of southern Thailand
since 2004 has made access to this region potentially unsafe and no further visits have been
made.
Survey
The survey is based on the sketch survey published in Price (1995).
References
1. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
2. Gray, Alan (2001) "Thailand and Malaysia Expedition 26 December 2000 to 14 January
2001" Axbridge Caving Group Journal March 2001 pp9-64
3. Price, Liz (1994) "A River Cave In Southern Thailand - Tham Krachaeng" International
Caver No. 10 pp9-13
4. Price, Liz (1995) "Tham Krachaeng System (Tham Krachaeng-Tham Lod), Thailand"
Cerberus Spelaeological Society Journal Vol. 23 No. 4 pp81-83
5. Price, Liz (2001) "Thailand 2000-2001" Cerberus Spelaeological Society Journal Vol. 26
No. 1 pp6-12
6. Price, Liz (2002) "Thailand 2000-2001: Expedition to Southern Thailand & Langkawai
(Malaysia)" The International Caver 2001 pp66-72
8. Tham Chiang Dao

Length: 5,190m VR: 43m
Ban Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao National Park, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai
47Q 492800 2144300 Alt.: 455m
Location
Tham Chiang Dao is a perhaps the best known cave in northern Thailand. The cave
is located at the base of Doi Chiang Dao, 5km west of Chiang Dao town. The cave is inside
the temple at the centre of Ban Tham. A small charge is levied at the cave entrance to cover
maintenance costs for the electric lighting system while guides with lanterns can be hired
inside the cave for anyone wishing to explore the unlit sections.
Description
There are two clearly defined passage levels and several places where water is
encountered briefly, but there are no extensive stream passages and the resurgence cannot
be entered. The passages appear to trend either north-west or west. The water encountered
in the north-west trending passages may derive partly from Tham Bae Bet, but no tracing has
been carried out over the intervening 11km. The well-decorated main passage, which is open
to tourists is called Tham Nam (Water Cave) and is electrically lit for about 400m. Several,
mostly tight, side passages to the east lead to four other entrances in the cliff face north of
Tham Chiang Dao. Beyond the developed passages a spacious 5 x 5m passages
SMCC Journal 12(4) 154

encounters water even in the dry season and eventually ends in sumps. The large fossil
passages are encountered 40m and 120m from the entrance; visitors are welcome to enter
both of these fossil passages and guides with lamps may be hired for a small charge
(currently 100 baht). The passage at 40m, Tham Maa (Horse Cave) (referred to as Reseau
Superieur by Deharveng) is horizontal and about 15m above the entrance series and 30m
above resurgence level. After 200m it branches to the west and north, with a small
intermediate level (Reseau Moyen). The passage 120m from the entrance, Tham Kaew
(Reseau Guano) is mostly horizontal and is at the same level as Tham Nam. Tham Kaew
ends after 500m at a siphon and, above, a steep rock fall dropping into an enclosed chamber.
A few ways on remain to be explored, in particular the gallery located 60m upstream of the
terminal sump of the active system, where the French were stopped by a pitch up in a zone of
fallen rocks. The area of the sumps also need to be investigated again at the end of the dry
season.
Tham Chiang Dao appears to be the major resurgence for water falling on the Doi
Chiang Dao mountain, which at 2,225m is the third highest in Thailand. The mountain has a
depth potential of up to 1,500m with the highest known entrance on the mountain (Cave
CHD11) at 1,900m while Tham Chiang Dao is at 455m. Local legend maintains that the cave
extends for 10 to 14 km.
The cave has been known for over 1,000 years and most caving expeditions to the
region have visited it. The first proper survey was by Windecker, et. al. (2,150m of passage)
in 1972-73 and by the Americans of the Thailand Karst Hydrologic Project in 1984. The most
thorough exploration and survey was by the Association Pyrénéenne de Spéléologie from
1981 to 1985.
Survey
Several surveys have been made of this cave. The earliest is by Windecker, et. al, in
1975. Locally produced surveys are for sale at the cave. The survey in this report is based
on the 1986 survey by the APS.
References
1. Deharveng, Louis & Gouze, Alain (1983a) "Grottes et Karsts des Environs de Chiang Mai
(Thailande)" Karstologia No. 2 pp55-60
2. Deharveng, Louis & Gouze, Alain (1983b) "Expédition en Thailande - Rapport
Spéléologique" Privately circulated report
3. Deharveng, Louis, et. al. (1986) "Expédition Thaï-Maros 85" Association Pyrénéenne de
Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-00-7
4. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
5. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321
6. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
7. Windecker, R.C., et. al. (1975) "Map of Chiang Dao Cave - Tripod-Mounted Compass and
Tape Survey 1972-73" The Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society Vol. 26 Nos. 1 & 2
9. Tham Pung Hung
  ! 
Length: 4,542m
Ban Pha Puek, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 416464 2170792 Alt.: 850m
Other names: Banyan Valley Cave; Long Snake Cave; Tham Boong Hoong; Tham Mae Hung
(Piman);Tham Boong Hoong (Piman)
Location
A permanent stream flows west downdip to enter the cave at the bottom of a large
doline below Ban Pha Puek. The Banyan Valley Cave entrance is 50m north of the Tham
Pung Hung swallet entrance.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 155

Description
The large dry entrance chamber, known as Banyan Valley Cave to Gorman, can be
used to by-pass the first 100m of stream passage. The stream entrance is 1 to 1.5m high and
opens up into a passage 10m wide by 2m high. After a couple of hundred metres an inlet
from the south brings the water from the 400m long Short Snake Cave (MH162). The current
end of Short Snake Cave is a gravel sump and is very close to this inlet.
During the dry season the active stream disappears into gravel at a flat-out crawl
about 500m from the entrance and is not seen again until below the pitch. Around 800m from
the entrance a 200m long inlet from the east which brings a tributary stream from Sink
MH161. The cave continues with the same 1 to 4m high sinuous passage with 4 or 5 flat-out
crawls and a couple of dry bypasses. At a distance of 2km from the entrance there is a long,
well decorated, tributary coming from the west which may be associated with a doline to the
north of Tham Pha Daeng (MH77). Near this tributary, but on the east side of the passage,
there is the only chamber in the cave. The entrance to the chamber is over the top of the silt
banks in the stream passage and is easily missed. This funnel shaped chamber is about 15m
across and 8 to 10m deep. This chamber doesn't appear to take water from the streamway,
even though it is 8m lower.
Just beyond the western tributary the character of the passage changes, becoming a
vadose canyon, reducing in width to 0.5m in places and up to 10m high. After descending a
couple of impressive swirl pools the top of the 16m pitch is reached. There is a handily
placed jug at the pitch head for rigging.
Below the pitch the stream reappears from amongst the gravel. Passing one small
tributary from the west the passage continues for 600m until the roof lowers. Exploration was
stopped where the cave was only 10cm high over a gravel floor. This point is about 1km from
the upstream end of the 1.7km long Tham Huai Kun.
In the Banyan Valley Cave entrance signs of Chester Gorman's original
archaeological excavation in 1972 can still be seen although all the interesting artefacts have
long since been removed. There are 3 separate excavation pits 90-130cm deep. A unique
example of a triangular stone tool shaped like a spear head was found at this site.
The stream cave was initially explored by the 1988 Australian expedition who were
stopped by the 16m pitch. In 1990 exploration was continued below the pitch and the cave
was surveyed. As well as its archaeological significance the cave has important geological
features being very well decorated with some of the biggest cave pearls known from the
region. The system has the potential to be over 8km long.
Survey
The cave was surveyed by the 1988 and 1990 Australian expeditions and published
in Boland (1992b).
References
1. Boland, Ken (1989) "Under the Triangle - Thailand 88" Nargun Vol. 21 No. 10 pp90-
2. Boland, Ken (1992a) "Caving in Thailand" Australian Caver No. 132 pp7-9
3. Boland, Ken (1992b) "NW Thailand - The Story So Far" International Caver No. 5 pp30-
35
4. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
5. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
6. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
SMCC Journal 12(4) 156

10. Tham Ban Nam Mut
   " 
Length: 4,161m VR: 117m
Ban Nam Mut, Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Si Sawat, Kanchanaburi
TF20 47P 497188 1611345
TF21 47P 497008 1612021
TF25 47P 496560 1611314 Alt.: 365m
Location
The cave is on the western shore of the lake in Khuean Srinagarindra National Park.
From Ban Nam Mut go through the village and over a stream (which is the water from the
cave). Take the second track on the left after less than 100m and follow this until it ends.
Left takes you to a small group of houses and back to the stream. Follow this upstream to the
resurgence, TF18. Uphill to the right is the entrance to the small cave TF19. Right leads
along a footpath which rejoins the track. Follow the track right up the hill to the main cave
entrance (TF21).
Description
TF20 is a large collapse entrance which provides only a small entrance hole which
drops into a sizeable fossil chamber which requires a 10m handline to assist the climb down
to the stream. Downstream sumps quickly. Upstream a short swim closes into a complicated
boulder choke for 100m before breaking out into the main streamway again. The streamway
follows the passage, up to 40m wide in places, for a further 600m before joining with TF21.
The streamway was surveyed for a further 2km to where TF25 breaks in on the left. The
passage varies in places from wide and high to wide and low, with sporting ducks in several
places. The cave continues upstream unsurveyed.
TF21 is an immense 80m wide entrance opening into a 180m long fossil chamber.
This chamber houses a magnificent 15m high Buddha and bamboo bunk beds. Some large
stal bosses to the right produce separate smaller chambers. To the left is a fine fossil
passage which drops via a fixed ladder and three pitches to the main streamway.
The TF25 entrance is a small collapse at far end of a dry sink with a large doline. A
climb down through boulders leads to two short pitches which are best laddered. A muddy
phreatic passage with static pools leads to a squeeze which shortly ends in a tight rift
passage that takes the stream in flood conditions. A traverse above this leads to a further
15m rope traverse and onto a 55m pitch split by a ledge. At the base of the ledge a narrow
passage leads into a low water filled passage which is a very unpleasant bat nursery.
Beyond this a squeeze through calcite breaks out into the main streamway.
The cave was explored by a British expedition in 1992, exploration stopping due to a
lack of time with the streamway continuing. It is thought that the water may come from the
Huai Tin Phao sink which is 7km and 360m higher. However, an attempt to continue
exploration in 1997 by a joint Thai / Australian expedition failed to reach the point where the
British turned back due to high carbon dioxide.
Survey
The cave was surveyed by the 1992 Combined Services Caving Association
expedition. However, the published survey is known to have a major blunder in the direction
which the stream takes beyond the TF21 entrance. The stream must head west to reach the
doline with TF25, not north. In this report the survey has been redrawn with an approximate
passage direction and location of the TF25 entrance.
References
1. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
SMCC Journal 12(4) 157

4. Rolland, Ian (1993) "Cave Exploration In Kanchanaburi - Tham Farang" International
Caver No. 92 pp29-32
5. Rolland, Ian (1994) "Tham Farang" Chelsea Speleological Society Newsletter Vol. 36 No.
1 pp14-17
6. Smith, Richard J. (Ed.) (1995) "Exercise Tham Farang Thailand 1992 Report" Combined
Services Caving Association 49pp
11. Tham Pha Mon
#$
Length: 4,050m VR: 90m
Ban Pha Mon, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 424603 2156271 Alt.: 697m
Location
The resurgence entrance is 50m east of the H1095 a few kilometres from Ban
Soppong. In 2005 the whole cave was under the protection of the Thai military and closed to
the general public. A wooden and bamboo walkway leads into the cave for the first kilometre
from the sink entrance and electric lighting has been installed. This work was carried out to
allow a Royal visit to the cave. It is unclear whether these facilities will be maintained in the
future.
Description
The cave is most conveniently traversed from resurgence to sink. At the resurgence
there are two entrances, one active and the other a roof hole. The stream passage makes
great sporting caving, usually with a gravel bed and no deep water, some fine decoration and
the occasional tight or low wet section for variety. Elsewhere it is mostly walking in passages
up to 10-15m high and wide with frequent sections where the roof is only about 1.5m high. A
pleasant breeze blows through the cave, becoming very strong in one or two constrictions.
During the 1992 Australian expedition a small tributary was followed, increasing the length of
the cave to over 4 kilometres.
The last few metres are over increasingly large boulders and up small waterfalls to a
final climb emerging at the bottom of a collapse feature. From here the return walk to the road
through attractive forest takes about 30 minutes, passing some small caves en route.
While this cave has been known locally for a long time it seems likely that in 1985 the
APS was the first to make a through trip.
Survey
The 1986 APS survey, redrawn for this report, shows 3,989m of passage.
References
1. Deharveng, Louis, et. al. (1986) "Expédition Thaï-Maros 85" Association Pyrénéenne de
Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-00-7
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1 62pp
4. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
12. Tham Khang Khao
"
Length: 3,736m VR: 61m
Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, Phitsanulok
47Q 677203 1839271 Alt.: 110m
SMCC Journal 12(4) 158

Location
Finding this cave will probably require the use of a GPS as describing the route is not
easy. Take the dirt back road from Noen Maprang to Ban Chomphu. Tham Khang Khao is
approximately halfway between the two villages. When the GPS indicates that the cave is
nearby take a farm track towards the cliffs. The track ends at an orchard about 100m from
the cliff. The upper entrance to Tham Khang Khao can be seen from the end of this track.
Description
Tham Khang Khao is the obvious entrance that can be seen part way up the cliff. A
footpath leads up to it across the field. The upper entrance is 5m square and gives access
into the roof of a large stream cave. To reach the stream a 20m pitch would have to be
descended. However, 10m below Tham Khang Khao and a little to the south is another,
smaller entrance at the base of a small cliff. This entrance gives access to the stream level of
the cave via an easy scramble down boulders. The main stream passage is 1.5km long and
goes upstream. The passage is 15-20m high by 5m wide and floored with gravel, bedrock
and occasional pools. About 150m from the entrance a large proportion of the stream
disappears down a hole on the north-west side. The main stream passage ends at a large
chamber where two tributary streams join.
The left hand tributary can be followed for another kilometre to an upstream sump.
This passage is mainly less than 2m wide and is 2 to 5m high. After 600m the passage
becomes a flat out crawl, which has a high level bypass. Upstream of this obstacle there is a
large chamber before the sump.
The right hand tributary has just under a kilometre of passage to another upstream
sump. Two short inlets have been explored to avens.
The cave was first explored by a Royal Forest Department / Canberra Speleological
Society team in 2003. On the next visit in April 2004 Shepton members helped with the
further with the exploration and survey of this cave, which was completed by the Orpheus
Caving Club in November 2004. There have only been about five visits to the cave and
although the two upstream tributaries have been pushed to sumps closer examination of the
known cave is required.
Survey
The cave was surveyed in 2003 and 2004 by members of the RFD, CSS, SMCC and
OCC. The survey is published here for the first time.
References
1. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 2" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 8 pp342-357
2. Smart, Dean (2002) "Wang Daeng Karst Resurgence Survey 25-30 August 2002" Royal
Forest Department, Bangkok. Unpublished report. 6pp
3. Smart, Dean (2004) "Project Concept – Protecting the Wang Daeng Karst and Raising its
Significance Through Water Analysis" unpublished report Department of National Parks
9pp
13. Tham Sua / Tham Lom
%&$'/ 
Length: 3,336m VR: 41m
Huai Nam Tung, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
Tham Huai Nam Tung 47Q 406700 2152700 Alt.: 420m
Tham Sua 47Q 406600 2152600 Alt.: 443m
Tham Lom 47Q 406700 2152400 Alt.: 421m
Location
The various entrances to this cave are located 7km east of the H1095 and 1.5km
west of the Mae Nam Khlong. Access is from the bridge where the H1095 road crosses the
Mae Nam Khong, walking south alongside the river. After 1 hour the Nam Lang joins the
Nam Khong from the east. Another 1½ hour walk brings you to the Susa waterfalls. A final 1
hour of walking leads to Tham Lom - a total of 3½ hour walking. Alternatively the cave may
SMCC Journal 12(4) 159

be reached by following a track east from the H1095 to the now abandoned village of Ban Luk
Mak Fai (a distance of about 6km) and then walking a further 2km east to reach the Huai Nam
Tung.
Tham Huai Nam Tung is at the head of the main tributary stream entering the Nam
Khlong from the west, about 1km south of the Susa waterfalls. The 3m diameter entrance to
Tham Lom lies behind a pool a few hundred metres downstream from Tham Huai Nam Tung.
The Tham Sua Upper and Lower entrances are between Tham Huai Nam Tung and Tham
Lom, being a short distance above and 100m south-west of Tham Huai Nam Tung.
Description
The Tham Sua/Tham Lom system is a complex of caves that collect the water from
two streams which are about 1km apart and are both called Huai Kut Pa Tung. The streams
sink in dolines, each containing a cave (MH219 'pothole' and Tham Huai Kut Pa Tung) and
are presumed to feed into the Tham Sua/Tham Lom system.
The Tham Sua/Tham Lom system has four entrances: Tham Huai Nam Tung, Tham
Lom and the Tham Sua Upper and Lower Entrances. The relationships between the
passages in the system are unclear. Tham Huai Nam Tung appears to lie within a high hill at
least 500m south of and trending away from from the Tham Huai Kut Pa Thung doline and so
may once have carried drainage from the MH219 pothole.
In Tham Huai Nam Tung the cave starts as a crawl under and through rocks which
leads to a chest deep wade. About 100m from the entrance the stream enters from the left
side in a low passage that has not been fully pushed. The main, now dry, open walking
passage can be followed west and south-west, rising gradually. After about 600m Bat
Passage can be followed north-west for 200m to a sump. A short distance further a narrow
canyon leading to 100m of muddy crawls has not been fully explored. The passage gradually
turns to the east along the Maekhong Way and after 500m a junction leads after 300m to the
Tham Sua entrances. Two pitches connect (a P20 and a P25) to Tham Lom after a further
200m and 350m. The passage is seen to continue beyond the P25, but has not been
explored.
At Tham Lom the 3m diameter entrance gives access to an attractive sporting cave
characterized by phreatic tube passages 3-4m in diameter.
The Tham Sua Upper and Lower entrances join via a 10m pitch just inside the cave.
From the upper level a very muddy, walking-sized passage has not yet been explored, but it
heads towards the low inlet near the entrance in Tham Huai Nam Tung. The lower level
trends south-west along some attractively decorated passage, connecting after 300m with
Tham Huai Nam Tung.
After initial exploration of Tham Huai Nam Tung and Tham Lom by Australian
expeditions in 1985 and 1990 an expedition led by Dean Smart in 1993 surveyed 2,886m in
the system with another 300m known from earlier.
Survey
The survey included with this report is by Dean Smart in 1993 and has not been
published before. This survey details 2,886m of passage and there is at least a further 450m
of unsurveyed passage.
References
1. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1
4. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
SMCC Journal 12(4) 160

14. Tham Nam Mut
  
Length: 2,938m VR: 62m
Ban Thimongtha, Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi
Resurgence 47P 460227 1657858
Sink 47P 463811 1658590
Other names: Tham Nam Farang; Tham Farang
Location
The location of the large resurgence is marked by a large fallen rock where the lake
first comes into view when travelling south from Sangkhla Buri. The cave entrance is almost
directly under the road. There are large boulders and lots of bamboo around the entrance
which has a large river coming out.
Description
The first 200m of passage is a canal about 15m wide with deep water and a powerful
draught. At the 200m point the river sumped and there was an obvious passage continuing in
the roof. This was above a tricky 7m climb starting from 13m deep water. The climb was
eventually scaled using an inner tube, a bamboo pole and three cavers to support a man with
a bolting kit. This sump bypass was 50m long before it dropped back to the streamway at a
log filled lake.
The Log Bog Lake ended in a narrow log filled constriction which opened out into
more log bog. After about 40m this became shallow enough to stand in log free and faster
flowing water. This part of the cave was home to several catfish, including one over 1m long.
After the Catfish Pond the cave opened up into a huge breakdown chamber. This was 290m
long and up to 80m wide covering an area of over 20,000m2. The chamber is well decorated,
but very steamy.
The river passage continues for a further 2km to the sink, varying from 15 to 30m
wide. The majority of this is walking or wading interspersed with several short swims. About
1km from the sink there is a large flowstone blocking the passage. This can be bypassed via
a short climb to the right with a pile of flood debris on top. Eventually the sink is reached
where the Huai Nam Mui enters the cave through a very impressive jungle entrance.
The entrance series as far as the streamway was explored by the 1990 French
expedition. The streamway was explored by the British in 1992.
Survey
The streamway was surveyed by the 1992 Combined Services Caving Association
expedition and is reproduced here. There is a detailed survey of the entrance area in the
French report.
References
1. Apel, Laurent; et. al. (1990) "Kwai 90 - Expédition Spéléologique en Thailande" Société
Spéléologique de l' Ariège - Pays d' Olmes, Lavelanet 34pp
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Rolland, Ian (1993) "Cave Exploration In Kanchanaburi - Tham Farang" International
Caver No. 92 pp29-32
4. Rolland, Ian (1994) "Tham Farang" Chelsea Speleological Society Newsletter Vol. 36 No.
1 pp14-17
5. Smith, Richard J. (Ed.) (1995) "Exercise Tham Farang Thailand 1992 Report" Combined
Services Caving Association 49pp
SMCC Journal 12(4) 161

15. Tham Phu Khieo
()*
Length: 2,866m VR: 130m
Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum
47Q 770800 1813100 Alt.: 800m
Location
This cave is in the depths of the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary. Permission will be by
permit only from the Royal Forest Department in Bangkok and is unlikely to be given for a
purely sporting trip. From Tham Nok Nang An follow the track back towards the Tung
Kamang ranger station follow the track towards to Tham Nok Nang An to an obvious junction
branching off on the left hand side. Follow the track heading south-south-west through
secondary forest to the foot of a col at the second break in the cliff line. An obvious stream (or
dry stream bed) leads to the entrance at the base of the cliff.
Description
The entrance is a wide, steamy, draughting hole with a steeply descending pile of
greasy boulders leading down into the cave. This entrance passage is clean washed
suggesting that the cave functions as a major flood-sink during the wet season. The obvious
route steepens to the head of a 38m pitch. A short scramble below the foot of the pitch leads
down into the main river passage. Half way between the entrance and the pitch an obvious
passage to the west leads via a couple of awkward and greasy climbs (a handline is useful) to
a large chamber with a long echo and an 80m overhanging pitch down to the river passage
below. The pitch can be avoided by climbing around and down a boulder slope at the
southern end of the chamber, to reach an unavoidable free-hanging 15m pitch into a wide,
muddy chamber. From here the cave river is best reached by following the southern wall in a
south-easterly direction.
Back at the start of the 'long echo' an intricate upward route over and between
boulders along the southern wall leads into a very big chamber with an 'endless' echo and a
lot of boulders. The ceiling of this chamber is very high.
The river passage, at the bottom of the 38m pitch, begins impressively, 30m wide and
20m high, but narrows after about 150m and swings eastwards for a further 150m, before
shooting off south into a miserable sump. The obvious eastwards 'overflow' passage (the
original course of the river) ends at an outward draughting, boulder choked rift beneath a
large aven filled with many noisy bats. The latter must use a nearby (presently unknown)
entrance, which may lie in the hillside just 500m south-south-west of the Tham Phu Khieo
sink entrance. A small outward draughting passage loops round to the north of the 'bat aven'
and ends in a similar (possibly the same) outwards draughting choke, about 70m past the 'bat
aven'.
The cave has only been visited once when it was explored by the 1989 British
expedition.
Survey
The survey is from the unpublished expedition report.
References
1. Checkley, Dave, et. al. (n.d. [1989]) "Caves of the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, North-
East Thailand" Unpublished report
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 124pp
16. Tham Nam Tok

Length: 2,710m VR:132m
Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi
47P 485200 1644110 Alt.: 500m
SMCC Journal 12(4) 162

Location
The Nam Khlong Ngu is on the karst plateau to the east of the H323. Good gravel
roads give access to the river. To access the gorge it is usually possible to call on the day
and get permission to drive through the lychee farm located just before the road crosses the
Nam Khlong Ngu river. A 4WD vehicle can reach river level and it is an easy walk for 500m to
the entrance. The entrance is 15m east and 5m above the bank of the Lam Khlong Ngu, 4km
upstream of its sink at Tham Nok Nang En.
Description
The cave has two main streams that join about 800m from the entrance. The Left
Hand Branch has more than 800m of passage and ends in a sump above a 3m waterfall. The
Right Hand Branch (or Waterfall Passage) has 15 waterfalls more than 1m high along its 1km
length.
While the low entrance cannot be seen from the river level, its presence is indicated
by a tufa cascade on the river bank. For much of its length the passage is 3-5m wide and the
stream extends from wall to wall. Beyond the 1m high entrance the roof rises and is generally
two or more metres high. In places there are low crawls and duck-unders resulting from
speleothem growth across the passage. The first such place is about 20m from the entrance
at The Cows Udders. These are short stalactites 20-30cm in diameter with rounded bottoms
from which a number of short straws are growing.
In the main passage the stream is mostly walking or wading depth. Several deep
pools can be avoided by traversing along the walls. Near The Junction the cave takes a sharp
curve left (north) and there are several gravel banks. The main passage has a low gradient
falling only 7m in its 800m length. The largest cascade has a vertical drop of about 0.5m.
Beyond The Junction a 2m climb past a waterfall leads into the Left Hand Branch. It
starts with a low 5m wide passage. Roof height soon increases and most of the passage is at
least 2m high. There are some attractive areas of decoration along the passage. Flowstone
cascades occur in several places and at one point flowstone almost completely blocks the
passage, leaving just a duck-under. Towards the end of the Left Hand Branch the stream
passage splits vertically. An upper level stream cascades down a bedrock and flowstone
balcony to join the main stream passage. Some of the water emerges from a tight vertical
squeeze that has not been pushed. More water emerges a few metres away from a small
tube at the top of a 3m high flowstone cascade. The main stream passage continues under
the balcony to a 3m waterfall. This can be climbed, but a dry bypass on the right hand side
(looking in) provides easier access to the top of the falls. Disappointingly 20m further on the
stream emerges from a sump beneath a huge flowstone cascade. Along its 800m length the
Left Hand Branch drops 23m with a total of 6 waterfalls or cascades more than 1m high.
The character of the Right Hand Branch (or Waterfall Passage) is quite different to
the rest of the cave with a steep gradient and 15 waterfalls or cascades. The total drop is
125m in a little over 1km. From The Junction a section of chest deep water in a tall (up to 20m
high) narrow passage leads to a cobble beach at the edge of a deep pool. Across the pool is
a 7m high waterfall that can be climbed on the right hand side. Above this are cascades of 4m
then 8m (waterfalls No. 2 & 3), leading to a room at least 14m across. Water extends the full
width of the room with the stream entering high on the right hand side (waterfall no. 4).
With a height of 20m waterfall no. 4 is the highest found in the cave. It was climbed
using a rope and climbing equipment. A bolt and bracket were fixed at the top to allow a safe
descent and rope recovery. The next obstacle is a 10m waterfall (no. 5), followed by a deep
pool and a 4m cascade. Waterfall no. 7 is 8m high. Above this there is a prominent chock
stone wedged across the passage and nearby there is a flowstone bridge. Further on there is
a 2m waterfall beside a large flowstone bank. A small stream enters near this point. The
passage continues past a duck-under (10cm air space) to two small waterfalls (no. 9 & 10)
and a low crawl under flowstone. Beyond several deep pools and some low sections under
flowstone are three more falls within 30m. The first is a 5m cascade followed by falls of 3m
and 2m (no. 11 - 13). Above the falls there is a section of rapids and several cascades about
half a metre high. The final two falls (no. 14 & 15) are 2m and 1.5m high respectively. Above
the final set of falls the character of the cave changes. The passage has a lower gradient and
is generally wider. Roof height varies from less than 1m to 7m, but is generally 2-3m high.
The meandering passage gradually reduces in size as the terminal sump is approached.
About 70m before the sump is reached a dry stream passage on the left can be
followed for about 50m to a mud choke. This passage is heading north and may be coming
SMCC Journal 12(4) 163

from Tham Ban Ton Maprow. A considerable amount of vegetable matter is present in the
upper reaches of the Right Hand Branch. This suggests the stream sink is not too distant. The
presence of bats and a definite draught indicate the possibility of an open connection.
Tham Nam Tok was explored by the 1996 Canberra Speleological Society expedition.
Survey
The eight page survey was drawn by John Brush and originally published in Brush
(1996).
References
1. Brush, John (Ed.) (1996) "Khlong Ngu Karst Expedition April 1996. A Report Prepared
for the National Parks Division, Royal Forest Department, Thailand" Canberra
Speleological Society Inc. iv + 67pp
2. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
3. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
17. Tham Loe Pu
Length: 2,625m VR: 34m
Umphang, Tak
47P 486989 1764342 Alt.: 594m
Location
From Umphang don't cross the river on the H1090 towards Ban Pa La Tha, but take
the road south of the town that follows the Huai Umphang valley. After crossing the river on a
large concrete bridge and going through a village (the road is unsealed by this point) a track
to the west leads to a monastery. This track goes through rice paddies and involves driving
through a couple of fords and over earth dams. The main entrance to the cave is about 20m
above the monastery. By continuing along the dirt road up the Huai Umphang valley another
track on the right (south) is reached. This track is fairly rough and goes over a hill to drop
down into the valley upstream of the cave. This is the site of a village that has been moved
as it is within the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. Follow the stream to find the main sink with
the cave entrances a few metres above and to the north.
Description
This is a complex through cave with at least four streamways on two different levels
and seven entrances. The main passage takes the stream through a spur of the mountain
from south to north. From the Monk's Cave entrance above the monastery some bamboo
bridges and ladders aid access to a large dry passage and a second entrance. After 150m
the dry passage meets the Main Passage at a big, boulder floored chamber.
In this chamber the stream drops down some climbs into the Lower Streamway which
is a narrow vadose canyon that leads, via some canals, to the Resurgence Entrance. Just
before the resurgence there is a maze of small passages to the east which link up to form the
New Streamway series that has the second stream in it. This ends at an upstream sump.
Back in the junction chamber the large passage heads west. This is dry, but probably
takes water in the height of the wet season. This now abandoned streamway ends at the
Third Entrance. From the junction chamber the large Main Streamway, 15m wide by 20m
high, heads southwards for 200m to where it abruptly turns to the east. The stream enters
from an inlet to the south and bifurcates in the Main Streamway – part of the stream follows
this passage to the Lower Streamway while the other half of the stream flows in the opposite
direction (seemingly 'uphill') in the Main Streamway before disappearing down a small hole.
This caused confusion for the first explorers who were happy following the stream uphill and
then found themselves going downstream. The main stream, now dry, turns south again and
after 100m ends at the upstream entrances.
About 50m to the west of the upper entrances there is another, small, entrance that
leads into the Upper Cave. This is a complex series of vadose streamways and an older dry
series that eventually ends in a downstream sump. This sump is about 100m from the
SMCC Journal 12(4) 164

upstream sump in the New Streamway and these two sumps are probably connected. This
Upper Cave is connected by a couple of high level passages to the dry part of the Main
Streamway.
This cave was explored by the Shepton Mallet Caving Club in 2002 and 2003. There
are still several unexplored passages in the cave and many linking passages have not been
surveyed.
Survey
The survey of Tham Loe Pu was originally published in Shepton Mallet Caving Club
Journal Series 11 Number 1.
References
1. Ellis, Martin (2003) "The SMCC Expeditions To Umphang & Mae Sot, Tak Province,
Thailand" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 11 No. 3 pp75-138
2. Ellis, Martin, King, Steve, Waters, Ed, Barrett, Dave & Fitch, Terence (2002) "Thailand
2002 Expedition Report" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 11 No. 1 pp1-29
18. Tham Susa
+)+
Length: 2,617m
Mae Nam Khong, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 408944 2151105 Alt.: 400m
Location
A tiring 6km walk east from Ban Mae Suriya (on the H1095, via Ban Luk Mak Fai) or
a much longer, but pleasanter, 12km walk down the river from the Nam Khong bridge further
north on H1095. The cave is at the foot of the cliff face 500m east of where the Susa stream
tumbles over a spectacular 300m wide travertine delta into the Nam Khong river. In 1990 an
illegal road, passable by 4WD, had been bulldozed to this travertine delta, but it is not known
if this road is still drivable.
Description
This resurgence cave is the only known rising for the extensive karst plateau between
the Mae Nam Lang and the Mae Nam Pai. Downstream of the spring below the entrance the
stream has built an extensive travertine delta 300m wide, falling into the Mae Nam Khong
over attractive waterfalls 3m high.
Tham Susa has two entrances which are close together and above the resurgence.
The lower entrance drops 3m to a mud floored passage which leads to a 4m mud slope down
to the stream, 15m upstream of the final sump before the resurgence. The upper entrance
opens into a large chamber that has prehistoric artefacts on the floor. This leads to another
chamber with massive speleothems and possible access to a high level passage. At the back
of both chambers mud slopes drop down to the stream.
The stream passage is 5-7m wide and mud coated: the walls, slopes, banks. Even
the formations. The stream is 0.5-2m wide and there is a strong current. After 100m there is
a side passage to the south at the top of a mud bank. This passage is large and dry, 8-10m
high and 20m wide. It has been followed for 150m and the smaller passages beyond have
not been investigated. There is a second high level passage to the south around 300m from
the entrance. This leads to a large, high chamber 20-30m in diameter. The floor of the
chamber is covered with fallen, decaying formations which lead down a dry flowstone back to
the stream. Other high level passages have been seen along the stream passage, but not
investigated.
The river passage can be followed for 740m from the entrance to the First Waterfall.
This waterfall is 4m high and can be free-climbed. Immediately above the First waterfall there
is a plunge pool, 10m across, which is at the bottom of the 5m high Second Waterfall. The
Second Waterfall was the end of exploration until the 1990 Australian expedition when
several days were spent engineering a bamboo platform across the plunge pool which
allowed a bamboo maypole to be hoisted and the waterfall was scaled.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 165

There have only been two trips to the stream passage above the waterfalls. The first
trip surveyed 700m of passage while the second, a few days later, pushed on up the stream
passage. After approximately 1,200m from the waterfalls the stream emerges from an
underwater hole. After a couple of hundred metres of dry passage exploration ended at a
large, unstable boulder choke.
Tham Susa was first visit by the 1984 Australian expeditions and surveyed as far as
the waterfall in 1985. The waterfall was scaled by the 1990 Australian expedition. Although a
rope was left on the Second Waterfall a lot of effort will be needed to visit the upper
streamway again. Carbon dioxide pervades the whole length of the river passages.
Survey
The survey is by the 1990 Australian expedition, drawn by Ken Boland and published
in Boland (1990) is reprinted here.
References
1. Boland, Ken (1990) "Thailand 1990 - Part II" Nargun Vol. 23 No. 5 pp43-46
2. Boland, Ken (1992) "The Exploration of Tham Susa, Nam Khong Basin, NW Thailand"
International Caver No. 3 pp36-40
3. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
4. Dunkley, John (1985) "Further Under The Golden Triangle" Australian Caver No. 108
pp2-5 [Mae Hong Son]
5. Dunkley, John (1985) "Karst and Caves of the Nam Lang - Nam Khong Region, North
Thailand" Helictite Vol. 23 No. 1 pp3-22
6. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
7. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1 62pp
8. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
19. Tham Nok Nang En
$
Length: 2,500m
Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi
47P 485150 1639800 Alt.: 480m
Other names: Swallow Cave; Tham Khao Ngu
Location
The Nam Khlong Ngu is on the karst plateau to the east of the H323. Good gravel
roads give access to the upstream and downstream ends. To enter at the uppermost stream
sink it is usually possible to call on the day and get permission to drive through the lychee
farm located just before the road crosses the Nam Khlong Ngu. A 4WD vehicle can reach
river level and it is an easy walk for 4.5km, past Tham Nam Tok, down the valley to the cave.
The lower karst windows (4th, 5th and 6th) are reached from the Phra In ranger station.
Description
From the bridge where the gravel road crosses the Nam Khlong Ngu the river goes
through 10km of gorge before it sinks at the upstream entrance to Tham Nok Nang En. The
entrance is about 40m wide and high. This magnificent river passage, usually 30m wide and
up to 50m high can be followed for 2.5km to the downstream entrance, with swimming being
necessary occasionally. The passage is unroofed in three place, called karst windows by
Dunkley. The 1st karst window is 400m from the upstream entrance and is 80m long. There is
then 100m of roofed passage before the 2nd karst window, which is 150m long. The 3rd karst
window is 40m long and about 1km from the upstream entrance. The cave resurges in the 4th
karst window. This downstream entrance is 40m wide and 80m high. The cave got its name
SMCC Journal 12(4) 166

from the swallows which enter the downstream entrance after spiralling down into the
spectacular karst window.
From the 4th karst window the river enters Tham Nang Nok En 2 which is 300m long.
The river sees daylight again in the 5th karst window before sinking into Tham Nang Nok En 3.
The downstream entrance of Tham Nang Nok En 3 is the 6th karst window. Within the 6th
karst window the river passes through a sumped cave (Tham Nang Nok En 4) before it is last
seen in Tham Yai where it sumps. Tham Yai has a very big chamber. After Tham Yai the
river is next seen in the Tham Nam resurgence cave.
A German engineer working at Song Tho mine, Gert Pedall, may have been the first
person to traverse the cave. He showed the cave to the Groupe Spéléo Scientifique et Sportif
who surveyed and explored it in 1986 and 1988.
Survey
The survey is by the Groupe Spéléo Scientifique et Sportif and was originally
published in their 1988 report.
References
1. Borowsky, Richard (1998) "Survey of the Cave Fishes of South-Western and Peninsular
Thailand, March 1998" Unpublished report for Royal Forest Department 16pp
2. Brush, John (Ed.) (1996) "Khlong Ngu Karst Expedition April 1996. A Report Prepared
for the National Parks Division, Royal Forest Department, Thailand" Canberra
Speleological Society Inc. iv + 67pp
3. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
4. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
5. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
6. Dunkley, Robert, Wilton-Jones, Graham & Clark, Jane (1989) "The Karst Windows of the
Nam Khlong Ngu, Western Thailand" Cave Science Vol. 16 No. 2 pp71-73
7. Ostermann, Jean-Michel (1986) "Expedition Thailande '86" Spelunca No. 23 p25
8. Ostermann, Jean-Michel (Ed.) (1988) "Thailande 86: Expedition Speleologique" Groupe
Speleo Scientifique et Sportif, Perigueux 144pp
9. Roche, Francis (Ed.) (1993) "Mae Kwae 88. Expedition Speleologique en Thailand"
Groupe Speleo Scientifique et Sportif, Perigueux 140pp (French)
10. Smart, Dean (1998) "Caves of Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, Kanchanaburi Province,
W. Thailand" Royal Forestry Department, Bangkok unpublished report 16pp
11. Wilton-Jones, Graham (1988b) "Tham Huai Klong Ngu - The Snake River System &
Swallow Cave, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand" Bristol Exploration Club Belfry Bulletin
No. 443 pp9-18
20. Tham Klaeb Yai

Length: 2,190m VR: 20m
Ban Tham Klaeb, Chiang Dao National Park, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai
47Q 506752 2164255 Alt.: 570m
Location
On the eastern edge of Chiang Dao National Park in the vicinity of Ban Tham Klaeb
on the main road between Chiang Dao and Fang, about 25km north of Chiang Dao town. 1
km north of Ban Tham Klaeb turn north-west on a surfaced road for about 1 km. The
upstream entrance window is hidden in a dense patch of forest at the base of cliffs less than
100m south of the road. The 20m scramble down from the window to the stream level
requires some care as many boulders are loose and slippery.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 167

Description
This is a seasonally active stream cave skirting the edge of Doi Pha Daeng. The
origin of the water is unknown and there are some fossil galleries. The stream passage itself
is generally straight forward, although there are some rather low sections. The whole cave
could be subject to flooding after heavy rains.
There is little hope of continuation in Tham Klaeb Yai, because in particular not one
tributary or conduit arrives from the heart of the massif into the main passage; the
underground drainage system of Doi Pha Daeng (which measures 6km x 2km) remains to be
discovered.
The cave was explored and surveyed by the French in 1985.
Survey
The survey is by the Association Pyrénéenne de Spéléologie and was originally
published in their 1985 report.
References
1. Deharveng, Louis, et. al. (1986) "Expédition Thaï-Maros 85" Association Pyrénéenne de
Spéléologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-00-7
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321
4. Farrant, Andrew, Flower, Simon & Lee, Simon (2001) "UBSS Expedition to Northern
Thailand" University of Bristol Spelaeological Society Proceedings Vol. 22 No. 2 pp125-
156
5. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
Entrance to Tham Sra Kaeo (photograph taken by Martin Ellis)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 168

The Deep Caves
1. Tham Sra Kaeo
%*
VR: 240m Length: 300m
Khao Nong Chang Tai, Ban Nai Sa, Krabi
47P 479153 0902656 Alt.: 20m
Other names: Tham Sra Keow; Tham Sra Kaew
Location
The resurgence pools of Tham Sra Kaeo are a popular tourist destination. The cave
is to the east of the village of Ban Nai Sai. The turning off the H4034 road is clearly marked.
Follow this road until the tarmac ends then keep going along the dirt road. After passing the
elephant trekking place on the left turn left at the junction. The road goes along the base of a
limestone tower to soon reach the two pools.
Description
This is the deepest known cave in Thailand and all of it is underwater. It is a very
deep vauclusian resurgence with two surface pools which join underwater. The sump
contains fresh water, even at -240m. There are several other deep resurgences in this area
and the source of the water is not known.
The site was first dived by Matt London and the Thailand Cave Diving Project around
1993. The two surface pools were connected at a depth of 84m. These dives pushed the
cave to a depth of -120m using open-circuit equipment. Exploration was resumed in
December 2005 when Bruce Konefe, Cedric Verdier and Mike Gadd reached a depth of
-150m using rebreathers. In May 2006 Verdier and Gadd extended the cave to -201m. The
bottom of the sump was eventually reached by Ben Reymenants in November 2006 at a
depth of -240m.
Survey
The survey is based on a sketch published on Mike Gadd's website. To a depth of
-120m this survey is based on the work of London and the Thailand Cave Diving Project.
References
1. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
2. Gadd, Mike (2005) "Sra Keow I Expedition (-150m), Thailand, Dec 05"
http://www.drmike.smugmug.com/Caving%20and%20Cave%20diving [accessed June
2008]
3. Gadd, Mike (2006) "Sra Keow II Expedition (-200m), Thailand, May 06"
http://www.drmike.smugmug.com/Caving%20and%20Cave%20diving [accessed June
2008]
4. Gadd, Mike (2006b) "Sra Keow III Expedition (-240m), Thailand, Nov 06"
http://www.drmike.smugmug.com/Caving%20and%20Cave%20diving [accessed June
2008]
5. Smart, Dean (2003) "Sub-sea Level Speleothems From The Andaman Coast of Southern
Thailand and Sea Level Change in Southeast Asia" Cave & Karst Science Vol. 30 No. 1
pp39-42
6. Verdier, Cedric (2006) "A 201m/663 ft Cave Dive with a Megalodon CCR" Cave Diving
Group message board 18 May 2006 http://www.cavedivinggroup.org.uk/cgi-
bin/CDG/BBS/threadall.html?Thread=1580 [accessed June 2008]
7. Verdier, Cedric (2007) "240m/784ffw Exploration In Sra Keow Cave, Thailand"
http://www.cavedivinggroup.org.uk/cgi-bin/CDG/BBS/threadall.html?Thread=1858
[accessed March 2007]
SMCC Journal 12(4) 169

2. Big House Cave
"
VR: 199m Length: 590m
Ban Kum, Doi Ang Khang, Fang, Chiang Mai
47Q 504532 2199828 Alt.: 1,400m
Other names: Big Horse Cave
Location
This cave is possibly about 500m to the south or south-east of Ban Kum, near the Doi
Ang Khang Royal Project.
Description
The entrance is 25m wide and 10m high and the stream passage descends steadily.
After 60m the south-west trending passage gets smaller as an oxbow goes off to the left,
which allows the bypassing of a short, wet pitch. The passage is then 5m wide and picks up
a couple of unexplored tributaries. The passage stays 5m wide for 100m to where it opens
into a 30m wide boulder floored passage. After 80m the passage continues to descend and
narrows to 10m and stays much the same width to the end. In the narrower section the
stream continues to descend via a series of small drops and the passage is mainly a boulder
floored inclined rift. The cave ends at a downstream sump.
The cave has seen only one trip, in January 1984, by the Americans on the Thailand
Karst Hydrologic Survey expedition.
Survey
The previously unpublished survey is by the 1984 expedition.
References
1. Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey (1984) "Doi Chiang Dao & Doi Ang Khang" unpublished
notes
3. Ma Phong Sui Tung
VR: 167m Length: 480m
Ban Luang, Mae Fang National Park, Fang, Chiang Mai
47Q 504312 2191089 Alt.: 1,130m
Other names: Horse House Water Cave
Location
Ma Phong Sui Tung is located in the large doline south of Ban Luang and below the
army camp and checkpoint which is on the road which follows the ridge above. From the
checkpoint go a couple of hundred metres north and take the dirt track to the west down to
the bottom of the doline. The track continues north along the cultivated bottom of the doline
to a farmstead. From the farm go another couple of hundred metres north and then cross the
fields to the base of the cliffs at the western edge of the doline. The entrance is a stream sink
at the base of the cliff, but on a visit in March 2005 it looked like it had been blocked by a cliff
fall.
Description
This turned out to be a deep cave that appeared to be getting bigger, but exploration
was stopped by a lack of rope at a depth of 167m. The narrow rift entrance drops down for a
few metres before opening up. This entrance series spirals round in a complete circle with a
few drops and a couple of oxbows. From one of the oxbows an upper level leads to a 30m
pitch that is undescended. After a flat out crawl the entrance series opens up again and a
series of pitches (P7, P12 and P21) lands in the main stream way. This point is almost
directly underneath the entrance.
Upstream 50m of wading in a high passage leads to a 25m high aven where the
stream enters from the top of a 10m waterfall. Downstream the cave descends steeply in a
SMCC Journal 12(4) 170

passage which gets wider and higher before exploration was stopped at the top of a pitch.
This point is at a depth of 167m.
The cave was explored by the Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey in January 1984.
Survey
The survey has been drawn by the author from the survey notes of the 1984
expedition. The survey has not been published before.
References
1. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321
2. Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey (1984) "Doi Chiang Dao & Doi Ang Khang" unpublished
notes
4. Dead Robber Waterfall Cave
VR: 166m Length: 570m
Royal Project, Doi Ang Khang, Fang, Chiang Mai
47Q 504649 2200525 Alt.: 1,440m
Other names: Dead Rotten Cave
Location
This cave is within the grounds of the Doi Ang Khang Royal Project. The shaft
entrance to this cave is possibly a couple of hundred metres to the east-north-east of the
main gate into the Doi Ang Khang Royal Project.
Description
The 64m entrance pitch is small at the surface, but soon bells out. The pitch lands in
a stream passage. The water comes in from the south via an unclimbed 10m water fall. The
stream heads east and drops down a 20m pitch into a sump formed on a rift. From the
bottom of the entrance pitch the passage heads north and narrows to 5m wide for a few
metres before opening up into a huge passage. This is 30m wide by 15m high and descends
at 45° down a boulder slope. There are large flowstone deposits and other speleotherms. At
the bottom of the slope, after 100m, the cave levels off and the floor is gravel. The stream
rejoins the cave from a small passage from the east (right). After a further 100m the passage
reduces to 10m width for 50m before opening up again into another large passage/chamber
which is of similar dimensions to the previous. A second stream joins the cave from a high
level passage on the right. This second chamber is also about 100m long and is gravel
floored with a bank of boulders and flowstones on the left (west).
A 10m pitch at the end of the second chamber drops down into much smaller
passage and the stream descends a series of climbs and rapids with a bedrock floor. After
passing a tight duck there is a 10m then a 15m pitch. The cave then becomes too small to
follow.
Dead Robber Waterfall Cave has only been explored by the Americans of the
Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey in January 1984.
Survey
The previously unpublished survey is by the 1984 expedition.
References
1. Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey (1984) "Doi Chiang Dao & Doi Ang Khang" unpublished
notes
SMCC Journal 12(4) 171

5. Tham Pha Puek
##&$
VR: 166m Length: 680m
Ban Pha Puek, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 418220 2172628 Altitude: 1,000m
Other names: White Cliff Cave; Tham Pha Phuak
Location
The large doline with this cave is 1km west of the road to Pang Kham, 13.5km from
the H1095 road. A steep, sealed track descends to the Lahu village of Ban Pha Puek which is
on a ridge in front of white cliffs. A good walking trail leads down the cave entrance 200m
further on. A small perennial stream runs off impermeable rocks and soil to sink beneath an
enormous entrance which is at least 100m high.
Description
The enormous entrance gives access to a vast chamber floored by huge, dangerous
and unstable talus blocks. The roof, formed by a series of bedding planes and dipping
steeply westward, has massive stalactites. High in the northern corner is a possible
extension, not yet entered. Around 60m down a ridge of breakdown material extends right
across the chamber, dividing the chamber into two. A further 40m down the breakdown
nearly reaches the roof, but a short drop between blocks leads to a sloping passage at the
head of which there is an inlet.
After a tight wet squeeze, wet passages through rock fall can be pushed downwards
to a 20m pitch which can be bypassed through a nasty squeeze, another pitch, then more
climbs to the top of yet another cold, wet pitch estimated at 20m. Sufficient enthusiasm to
continue pushing has yet to be mustered. The water probably drains to Tham Pung Hung
and re-emerges at Tham Huai Khun which is 2km to the north-west. There have been reports
of bad air in the cave.
Tham Pha Puek was visited by the Australian expeditions between 1983, with the
cave surveyed and extended in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992.
Survey
The survey was drawn by Kevin Kiernan and published in Dunkley & Brush (1986).
References
1. Boland, Ken (1989) "Under the Triangle - Thailand 88" Nargun Vol. 21 No. 10 pp90-95
2. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
3. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
4. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1 62pp
5. Kiernan, Kevin (1990) "Some Limestone Caves North-east of Mae Hong Son, Northern
Thailand" Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society Vol. 38 No. 1 pp59-67
6. Sidisunthorn, Pindar, Gardner, Simon & Smart, Dean (2006) "Caves of Northern
Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
6. Tham Pha Phueng
##,
VR: 163m Length: 757m
Ban Mani Phruk, Doi Phuka National Park, Thung Chang, Nan
47Q 717319 2149726 Alt.: 1,325m
SMCC Journal 12(4) 172

Location
This cave is sign posted. It is beside the H1291 1 km before Ban Mani Phruk. From
the road a good footpath leads, after a couple of minutes, to the entrance at the base of a
50m high cliff.
Description
The cave descends steeply with a boulder floored passage 30m wide and 20m high.
A small inlet on the right about 50m inside the entrance has not been explored. The passage
stays big and impressive for about 300m until it levels out and narrows into a rift. After 25m
the top of a 7m pitch is reached. Descending the pitch drops you into a large streamway. In
the easterly direction this passage has only been explored for about 50m and not pushed to
any conclusion. To the north the passage is smaller and follows a bedding plane descending
at 12°. This passage gets larger and after 135m a canyon inlet on the left has been explored
for 50m to an unclimbed 2m cascade. The main passage continues to descend and after a
further 200m the stream flows over some gours and then drops down a very large pitch.
Stones take six seconds to fall, hitting a couple of ledges on the way, and the pitch is
estimated to be at least 150m deep.
To the top of the big pitch the cave is 163m deep which makes it the sixth deepest known
cave in Thailand. However, including the undescended pitch the cave is approximately 310m
deep which would make it by far the deepest Thai cave. The resurgence is unknown. Maps
show a tributary to the Mae Nam Nan about 4km to the west of the cave which is at an
altitude of around 600m which gives a depth potential in the region of 700m.
Tham Pha Phueng was explored to the top of the big pitch by a Canberra
Speleological Society / Shepton Mallet Caving Club team in April 2005. Goodden describes a
smaller doline not far from Tham Pha Phueng and about 100m from Ban Mani Phruk. This
was caused by the collapse of a cave roof and has dense and intertwined vegetation in it.
Stop press: In February 2009 the Shepton Mallet Caving Club descended the big
pitch (125m) in Tham Pha Phueng. Exploration stopped at the top of a 4m gour with the way
on open in a vadose canyon. The resurgence is still unknown. Tham Pha Phueng is now the
deepest known cave in Thailand at -306m. Full details of this exciting find will be published in
a later edition of this journal.
Survey
The survey is published here for the first time.
References
1. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321
2. Goodden, Christian (2000) "Trek It Yourself in Northern Thailand" Jungle Books
(Halesworth), England ISBN 0-9527383-2-5 414pp
7. Tham Turakit Maiset
VR: 157m Length: 767m
Ban Thimongtha, Khao Laem National Park, Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi
47P 461490 1663201 Alt.: 720m
Location
The doline with this cave (and also TF10 and TF12) is easy to get to, as long as you
can get through the locked gates into the National Park, as there is a good 4WD track to a
mining camp located in the doline. The alternative is a 4 hour uphill trek through the jungle.
The doline is about 6km to the east of the H323 road and south-east of Sangkhla Buri town.
Description
The entrance to Tham Turakit Maiset is behind the stream sink in the south-east
corner of the doline. The stream is soon picked up and is followed steeply down a number of
cascades, climbs and short pitches. The passage then levels out at a low canal which leads
to the junction with another equally sized streamway coming in from the left. This is possibly
the stream seen in TF12. Following this upstream leads to a series of climbs that have not
SMCC Journal 12(4) 173

been explored. Downstream the passage enlarges to an elliptical phreatic tube, but
unfortunately it soon sumps.
The stream is thought to resurge about 4km to the south-west, near the H323 road,
and 500m below the stream sinks.
The cave was explored by a British expedition in 1992 and has not been visited since.
Survey
The cave was surveyed by the 1992 Combined Services Caving Association
expedition.
References
1. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
2. Smith, Richard J. (Ed.) (1995) "Exercise Tham Farang Thailand 1992 Report" Combined
Services Caving Association 49pp
8. Pigs Play In The Mud Cave
VR: 150m Length: 180m
Mai Pas Ao, Ban Oui Haen, Chiang Dao National Park, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai
Location
The only information available is that this cave is near Mai Pas Ao on the western
flank of Doi Chiang Dao. It is in effect a 'lost cave'.
Description
Pigs Play In The Mud Cave is a shaft system with a 30m entrance pitch leading
directly to a 24m pitch. After a narrow Z bend the cave opens up again at a P60. At the foot
of the big pitch 20m of horizontal passage leads to the final pitch which is a blind 10m pot.
This cave was found and explored by the American Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey
expedition in December 1983.
Survey
Only the station co-ordinates from the survey by the 1983 expedition are known.
These have been used to produce the survey.
References
1. Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey (1984) "Doi Chiang Dao & Doi Ang Khang" unpublished
notes
9. Tham Song Hong
%$"$
VR: 140m Length: 900m
Bang Di, Huai Yot,Trang
47P 553076 0867170
Other names: Thale Song Hong
Location
Thale Song Hong is in tambon Bang Di, 8km from the district centre. To get there
take the Huai Yot to Krabi road as far as Ban Phraek then turn right and go for12km. Thale
Song Hong is a large natural lake, surrounded by mountains. A mountain juts out in the
middle, dividing the water into two sections.
Description
The large pool at the entrance to the cave is a well know tourist attraction with the
main entrance directly in front of the parking area. There is a second entrance nearby that
leads directly into the cave. The entrance pool descends to a depth of 105m while the cave
SMCC Journal 12(4) 174

entrance is at a depth of 28m. The 20m diameter passage descends gradually and the
upstream passage has been explored for a distance of 800m to a maximum depth of 140m
with the way on left wide open. Local reports say the water source is a river about 2km away,
but the divers who pushed this passage didn't have a compass so its direction is unknown..
This large, underwater, cave was originally explored by Matt London and the Thailand
Cave Diving Project in the early 1990s. The cave was extended by Mike Gadd, Mathew
Partridge and Ben Reymenants to -140m and a length of 900m in October and November
2007.
Survey
The survey is based upon the sketch on Mike Gadd's website. This in turn is based
on a Thailand Cave Diving Project survey. This is only a sketch survey –the divers in 2007
did not have a compass. Some survey data of the entrance pool, to a depth of 85m, was
available from the Thailand Cave Diving Project Yahoo Group.
References
1. Gadd, Mike (2007a) "Song Hong I (-105m) and Baa Cave Discovery, Thailand, Sept 07"
http://www.drmike.smugmug.com/Caving%20and%20Cave%20diving [accessed June
2008]
2. Gadd, Mike (2007b) "Song Hong II Expedition (-140m), Thailand, Nov 07"
http://www.drmike.smugmug.com/Caving%20and%20Cave%20diving [accessed June
2008]
3. Partridge, Mathew (2007a) "Song Hong Cave, Expedition Oct 2008" http://tech-
ccr.blogspot.com [accessed July 2008]
4. Partridge, Mathew (2007b) "Song Hong Expedition, Thailand, Nov 2007" http://tech-
ccr.com/technicaldiving/song-hong-2007.shtml [accessed July 2008]
10. Tham Phra Watthanaram
-
VR: 136m Length: 450m
Wat Tham Phra Wattamaram, Phu Pha Man National Park, Phu Pha Man, Khon Kaen
47Q 809269 1844574 Alt.: 295m
Location
This is a large shrine cave 300m to the east of the well sign posted Tham Khang
Khao. From Khon San, on the H12 road, go north-west through Ban Phu Pha Man and head
towards the limestone massif to the north. Alternatively the sign posts can be followed from
the H201 road a few kilometres north of the junction with the H12.
Description
In the wat steps lead up to the very high entrance. A large Buddha sits at the bottom
of a boulder pile. Some ladders are in place to aid the ascent of the boulders and into the
cave proper. The large phreatic, main passage ascends steeply to a small upper exit which is
on top of the hill. To the west there is a passage goes past a collapse entrance and then
narrows and descends to eventually open in the wall of the main passage. On the east of the
main passage there is another passage/chamber with a bat colony that has not been
explored.
Tham Phra Watthanaram was explored and surveyed by the Shepton Mallet Caving
Club in 2004 and 2005.
Survey
The survey by the Shepton Mallet Caving Club is published here for the first time.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 175

11. Tham Phaya Naak System
Tham Phaya Naak / Tham Wi Mahn Mek / Tham Nop Pa Krauw
,'.'+'.'"
VR: 133m Length: 1,285m
Other names: Bamboo Cave; Tham Papalai
Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun
47Q 769838 1872159 Alt.: 801m
Location
These caves are a brisk 1½ hour's walk from the car parking area to the east of Tham
Yai Nam Nao. Follow the path up the valley to where the path to Tham Pha Hok, Tham Song
Hong and Tham Monhwa forks off to the right. Take the track left, over the crest and descend
into the 'Banana' plantation. After passing Tham Pha Rai the path crosses the flat floor of the
doline through an old banana plantation. It then ascends steeply to a col at the south-eastern
end of the doline. The path contours round to the right and crosses a gully (this gully has
been descended into the 'Elephant' doline, but this route can be best described as hard)
before gently ascending to a second col. The path than narrows and traverses round to the
right, going across the steep mountainside. This path is also used by elephants. The far end
of the traverse is marked by a limestone outcrop and the path descends. Head right and go
round the left hand side of the limestone hill. At the next col you can either follow a path right
which descends to Cave 5 or take the path that goes left and ascends round to the right to
Tham Nop Pa Krauw. At Tham Nop Pa Krauw there is a camp used by forest monks and the
southern entrance to Tham Phaya Naak is a few metres further on.
Description
Tham Wi Mahn Mek has one entrance at the base of the limestone outcrop at the top
of the hill. The main passage of Tham Wi Mahn Mek has several skylights and goes through
the hill to a second entrance. A passage to the right inside the main entrance leads to a large
chamber in the floor of which there is a very large pitch that has been aurally connected with
the pitch in Tham Nop Pa Krauw, but the pitch has not been descended. The total depth of
this pitch is around 70m.
The entrance to Tham Nop Pa Krauw is located lower down the hill than Tham Wi
Mahn Mek. The first visit was in January 2004 and exploration was soon stopped by a crawl
after 90m. This crawl was dug out a year later to reach about 40m of passage ending at a
pitch. This pitch was descended into a big chamber where the connection to Tham Wi Mahn
Mek was above and to the right. In January 2006 the pitches linking this cave to Tham Phaya
Naak were descended and surveyed.
The southern entrance to Tham Phaya Naak is small, but a very strong draught blows
out of the cave. A 3m bamboo ladder lands in a narrow passage that gradually gets larger as
you follow it to the north-east. Another 3m bamboo ladder allows access to the large main
passage. A high level oxbow goes from above this second ladder round into the main
passage. There is a shrine in front of a large calcite column and the cave is also used by the
monks for walking meditation. The large passage descends gently to a junction with a
passage on the right. The right hand passage soon reaches a T junction and the pitch in from
Tham Nop Pa Krauw lands at the junction. To the left leads steeply up a mud slope to end at
the foot of an aven. This pitch is stal covered and appears to be about 20m high. To the right
the passage soon ends at a grotto. A pit in the floor has been descended for 4m and was
found to be blind. This blind pit is above the high rift passage in Tham Bah Dahn. Before the
grotto an inclined, mud floored passage on the right can be followed for about 30m.
Back at the junction the main passage continues, but soon reduces in size. The
monks have constructed various bamboo ladders and bridges which allow you to ascend
through several small chambers and climb up to the small northern entrance which is in the
other side of the hill to where you went in. This area near the northern entrance appears to
take a small stream in the wet season.
Tham Phaya Naak had been explored and surveyed by the 1992 British expedition.
Between 2003 and 2005 the Shepton Mallet Caving Club explored Tham Wi Mahn Mek and
Tham Nop Pa Krauw and linked the three caves.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 176

Survey
The survey of this system was included on the Tham Yai Nam Nao survey which was
published in Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occasional Publication Number 10.
References
1. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
2. Ellis, Martin (2006) "The Caves of Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun, Thailand"
Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occasional Publication No. 10 47pp
3. Standing, Nick (1992) "Report of the 1992 Expedition to Nam Nao National Park,
Thailand" Unpublished report 13pp
12. Tham Nam Tok

VR: 132m Length: 2,710m
Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi
47P 485200 1644110
See longest cave no. 16.
13. Tham Mae Lana

VR: 130m Length: 12,600m
Ban Mae Lana, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 418177 2163406 Alt.: 450m
See longest cave no. 2
14. Tham Phu Khieo
()*
VR: 130m Length: 2,866m
Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum
47Q 770800 1813100 Alt.: 800m
See longest cave no. 15
15. Tham Chao Ram

VR: 128m Length: 1,091m
Tham Chao Ram Non-Hunting Area, Thung Saliam, Sukhothai
47Q 549436 1901918
Other names: Tham Phra Ram; Tham Jowlarm
Location
This cave is located in Tham Chao Ram Non-Hunting Area, about 50km north-west of
Sukhothai town. Turn off the main road about halfway between Sukhothai and Tak and take
the side road to the Thung Saliam ranger station.
SMCC Journal 12(4) 177

Description
Tham Chao Ram is a large cave in which archaeological remains have been found
including an inscribed tablet of the Sukhothai period. It is much visited for the spectacle of
between 800,000 and 1,800,000 wrinkled-lipped bats flying out at dusk in a spectacular
swirling cloud, constantly moving across the sky for about 40 minutes.
The cave is near the Thung Saliam ranger station which is located at the base of two
karst towers rising from the relatively flat surroundings. Even at the ranger station, which is a
good 10 minutes walk away from the cave entrance, the smell of the bats is present during
the evening flight. Entering the cave entrance, the smell hits you like a fist. In the huge, dusty,
and dark main chamber of Tham Chao Ram virtually everything is covered with piles of dry
guano. A closer inspection of the floor reveals millions of flies, crickets, worms and other
creatures busily crawling around, amidst corpses of bats in all states of decomposition. At the
far end of the chamber, a lonely and dusty Buddha is barely illuminated by a daylight opening
some 50m higher. The passage continues in a rift, with several pitches giving access to the
lower level. Two drops of 30m and 20m lead to this lower level gallery, which contains a
seasonal stream, but offers no obvious way on.
Tham Chao Ram was first explored and surveyed by the Royal Forest Department in
1996. The work was continued by the Canberra Speleological Society in 1997.
Survey
The survey was drawn by Dean Smart and published in Kaufman & Bolger (1998).
References
1. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
2. Dunkley, John (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological
Research Council, Sydney
3. Kaufmann, Georg & Bolger, Terry (1998) "Thailand 1997. Exploration in the National
Parks of Thung Salaeng Luang, Tham Chaoram and Sri Nakarind" Canberra
Speleological Society Inc. unpublished report for the Royal Forest Department, Bangkok
26pp
4. Smart, Dean (1996a) "Bats, Slabs, & Dinosaurs. The Story of Tham Jowlarm"
International Caver No. 18 pp17-23
5. Smart, Dean (1996b) "Caves of Tham Phra Ram Non-Hunting Area, Sukhothai Province"
Royal Forest Department, Bangkok Unpublished report 24pp
16. Tham Huai Nam Lad / Tham Huai Khang Khao
VR: 125m Length: 674m
Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum
47Q 766100 1813300 Alt.: 750m
Other names: Small Waterfall Cave
Location
As with Tham Phu Kheio this cave is in the depths of the Phu Khieo Wildlife
Sanctuary. Permission will be by permit only from the Royal Forest Department in Bangkok
and is unlikely to be given for a purely sporting trip. From the Lam Chi River camp follow the
main track east for 20 minutes to reach the first dry river bed. Follow this river bed north
(uphill) for 30 minutes to a shallow depression which is skirted on the lefthand side. Then
head north-north-west up the valley for 20 minutes and cross the col to a second deep and
large depression. Go down slope and follow the stream at the bottom to its sink. About 25m
above Tham Huai Nam Lad, up a climb, is the 10m high upper entrance known as Tham Huai
Khang Khao.
Description
Tham Huai Nam Lad has a spectacular high canyon entrance with the stream falling
down a series of cascades into it. Climbing down these cascades leads to a 5m pitch which
drops into 200m of high canyon ending at a sump. Near the entrance a small side passage
SMCC Journal 12(4) 178

leads off in the floor to about 400m of narrow, winding and steeply descending wet passage.
After losing about 70m of height the water rejoins the main stream just before the sumps.
Tham Huai Khang Khao has 40m of wide, guano-filled passage leading to a pitch which drops
down into Tham Huai Nam Lad.
The cave has only been explored once, by the 1989 British expedition which found
and surveyed the cave.
Survey
The survey is from the unpublished 1989 expedition report.
References
1. Checkley, Dave, et. al. (n.d. [1989]) "Caves of the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, North-
East Thailand" Unpublished report
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 124pp
17. Tham Pha Khan
VR: 118m Length: 763m
Ban Mae Thot, Thoen, Lampang
47Q 521800 1974866 Alt.: 760m
Location
Tham Pha Khan is difficult to get to. From Ban Mae Thot, which is just off H1 to the
north of Thoen, drive for about 10km to the end of the 4WD track which heads out north of the
village from the wat. The end of the track is at 47Q 521550 1970750 altitude 270 m. By
motorbike it is a further 20 minute ride across the fields and through the forest to the edge of
a river. From the river it is a very steep walk up the valley, past a couple of other caves, to
reach the entrance to Tham Pha Khan. The entrance is 4km north of where you park the car.
Description
The cave descended steeply with a couple of low sections which have been dug out
to make it easier. Soon you reach a magnificent calcite floor flowing down the passage. We
first explored an upper passage which ascended steeply. Back at the junction we then
followed the calcite river, bypassing a climb via a small passage and a rift on the right. Below
the pitch the cave got smaller and we were stopped at the top of a 3m gour climb. One person
descended this and reported that the passage continued to descend through a couple of
chambers before he turned back
The cave was not been fully explored due to a lack of time. The way on below the
3m gour has only been quickly looked at by one Western caver (the locals have explored
extensively below this drop). If the cave resurges at the valley floor level the cave has the
potential to be about 300m deep. Tilley describes the cave as a 'huge labyrinth burrowing
more than a kilometre into the heart of the mountain.' It is unfortunate that it is such a difficult
cave to get to.
Tham Pha Khan was explored by a Canberra Speleological Society / Shepton Mallet
Caving Club team in April 2005.
Survey
The survey by CSS and SMCC members is published here for the first time.
References
1. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
2. Ellis, Martin (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal
Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321
3. Tilley, Robert (2004) "A Cave's Promise" The Nation 3 April 2004
SMCC Journal 12(4) 179

18. Tham Ban Nam Mut
   " 
VR: 117 m Length: 4,161m
Ban Nam Mut, Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Si Sawat, Kanchanaburi
47P 498547 1611930
Other names: TF25
See longest cave no. 10.
19. Tham Phra Wang Daeng

VR: 117m Length: 13,844 m
Wat Tham Phra Wang Daeng, Ban Chomphu, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park,
Phitsanulok
47Q 680292 1844462 Alt.: 160m
See longest cave no. 1.
20. Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam
")"
VR: 113m Length: 485m
Ban Luk Khao Lam, Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son
47Q 411520 2161220 Alt.: 590m
Other names: Tham Ban Pak Kut; Porky Pit; Tham Ham
Location
The village of Ban Luk Khao Lam is to the south of the H1095 road to the west of Ban
Soppong. At the turning there is a large billboard advertising the Spirit Well (Tham Nam Bor)
which is a well known local attraction. Ban Luk Khao Lam is a large village and the cave is at
the bottom of the doline.
Description
Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam drains the large, 150m deep Luk Khao Lam doline, also
known as Pak Kut. The cave is one of the few open vertical systems in the area, though the
cave does suffer from high carbon dioxide.
A 2m climb followed by a 12m pitch drop into the entrance chamber. The pitch is
rigged with a long belay to boulders and there is a thread deviation half way down. In this
chamber a climb up boulders leads to an unexplored inlet and boulder choke. The way on is
down the free-climbable 5m second pitch. After 40m the 12m third pitch is reached which is
rigged with a long belay to rock knobs. The cave then follows a narrow, very high vadose
canyon which has several short climbs to the fourth pitch. This pitch is 15m deep and was
rigged with three 8mm spit belays. After a 3m climb the fifth pitch is soon reached. The fifth
pitch is 22m deep and was rigged from a flake thread and two 8mm spit belays.
At the bottom of the fifth pitch a couple of short climbs give access to the main stream
way. Downstream can be followed for about 80m before the way on become too small.
However, this small passage was draughting strongly. Upstream ascends a flowstone slope
and gours to reach a narrow, joint controlled section of passage that is waist deep in water
and mud. In places it is necessary to duck under various stal obstructions which reduce the
airspace to 20cm. After 30m the passage opens up again as it ascends a couple of climbs,
passes under a 15m aven to where exploration ended at the base of a 20m aven. This
section of the cave has cave fish.
Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam was first explored by the 1992 Australian expedition as far
as the top of the fourth pitch who were stopped by bad air. The cave was bottomed and
surveyed by Dean Smart, John Spies and others in March 1993 who did not encounter any
SMCC Journal 12(4) 180

bad air.. It was visited again in 1995 by Borowsky and in January 2003 by Borowsky,
Cosslett, Cahill, et. al. It is thought that the most likely destination for the water is Tham Nam
Lang which is about 3km to the south.
Survey
The cave was surveyed by Dean Smart and others in 1993, but has not been
published before.
References
1. Coggan, Marjorie; Dunkley, John Robert; Anderson, Neil (1999) "Tham Sanuk: The
Lighter Side Of Caving In Thailand" Canberra, 76pp
2. Dunkley, John (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney
ISBN 0-9589253-9-9
3. Dunkley, John & Brush, John (Eds.) (1986) "Caves of North-west Thailand: Report of the
Australian Speleological Expeditions 1983-1986" Speleological Research Council,
Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-2-1
Formations in Tham Phaya Naak (photograph taken by Tiggy Dummer)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 181

Surveys
L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 1 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 182

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 2 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 183

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 3 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 184

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 4 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 185

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 5 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 186

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 6 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 187

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 7 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 188

L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng (sheet 8 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 189

L2 Tham Mae Lana
SMCC Journal 12(4) 190

L3 Tham Yai Nam Nao
SMCC Journal 12(4) 191

L4 Tham Nam Lang
SMCC Journal 12(4) 192

L5 Tham Takobi (sheet 1 of 2)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 193

L5 Tham Takobi (sheet 2 of 2)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 194

L6 Tham Luang
SMCC Journal 12(4) 195

L7 Tham Krachaeng
SMCC Journal 12(4) 196

L8 Tham Chiang Dao
SMCC Journal 12(4) 197

L9 Tham Pung Hung
SMCC Journal 12(4) 198

L10 Tham Ban Nam Mut
SMCC Journal 12(4) 199

L11 Tham Pha Mon
SMCC Journal 12(4) 200

L12 Tham Khang Khao
SMCC Journal 12(4) 201

L13 Tham Sua / Tham Lom
SMCC Journal 12(4) 202

L14 Tham Nam Mut
SMCC Journal 12(4) 203

L15 Tham Phu Khieo
SMCC Journal 12(4) 204

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 1 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 205

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 2 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 206

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 3 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 207

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 4 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 208

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 5 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 209

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 6 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 210

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 7 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 211

L16 Tham Nam Tok (sheet 8 of 8)
SMCC Journal 12(4) 212

L17 Tham Loe Pu
SMCC Journal 12(4) 213

L18 Tham Susa
SMCC Journal 12(4) 214

L19 Tham Nok Nang En
SMCC Journal 12(4) 215

L20 Tham Kleab Yai
SMCC Journal 12(4) 216

D1 Tham Sra Kaeo
SMCC Journal 12(4) 217

D2 Big House Cave
SMCC Journal 12(4) 218

D3 Ma Phong Sui Tung
SMCC Journal 12(4) 219

D4 Dead Robber Waterfall Cave
SMCC Journal 12(4) 220

D5 Tham Pha Puek
SMCC Journal 12(4) 221

D6 Tham Pha Phueng
SMCC Journal 12(4) 222

D7 Tham Turakit Maiset
SMCC Journal 12(4) 223

D8 Pigs Play In The Mud Cave
SMCC Journal 12(4) 224

D9 Tham Song Hong
SMCC Journal 12(4) 225

D10 Tham Phra Wattanaram
SMCC Journal 12(4) 226

D11 Tham Phaya Naak System
SMCC Journal 12(4) 227

D15 Tham Chao Ram
SMCC Journal 12(4) 228

D16 Tham Huai Nam Lad
SMCC Journal 12(4) 229

D17 Tham Pha Khan
SMCC Journal 12(4) 230

D20 Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam
SMCC Journal 12(4) 231

Cave Data
Name Length Co-ordinates Alt.: Province Amphoe Area
L1 Tham Phra Wang Daeng 13,844m 47Q 680292 1844462 160m Phitsanulok Noen Maprang Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
L2 Tham Mae Lana 12,600m 47Q 417693 2163635 560m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Mae Lana
L3 Tham Yai Nam Nao 9,817m 47Q 767316 1874832 693m Phetchabun Nam Nao Nam Nao National Park
L4 Tham Nam Lang 8,550m 47Q 409408 2157915 400m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Mae Nam Lang
L5 Tham Takobi 7,346m 47Q 481293 1774488 545m Tak Umphang Ban Mae Khong
L6 Tham Luang 6,220m 47Q 591417 2252625 440m Chiang Rai Mae Sai Tham Luang Forest Park
L7 Tham Krachaeng 5,633m 47N 744065 0687006 Yala Ban Nang Sata Ban Than To
L8 Tham Chiang Dao 5,190m 47Q 492800 2144300 455m Chiang Mai Chiang Dao Chiang Dao National Park
L9 Tham Pung Hung 4,542m 47Q 416464 2170792 850m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Pha Puek
L10 Tham Ban Nam Mut 4,161m 47P 497008 1612021 Kanchanaburi Si Sawat Khuean Srinagarindra National Park
L11 Tham Pha Mon 4,050m 47Q 424603 2156271 697m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Pha Mon
L12 Tham Khang Khao 3,736m 47Q 677203 1839271 110m Phitsanulok Noen Maprang Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
L13 Tham Sua/Tham Lom 3.336m 47Q 406700 2152700 420m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Luk Mak Fai
L14 Tham Nam Mut 2,938m 47P 460277 1657858 Kanchanaburi Sangkhla Buri Ban Thimongtha
L15 Tham Phu Khieo 2,866m 47Q 770800 1813100 800m Chaiyaphum Nong Bua Daeng Phu Kheio Wildlife Sanctuary
L16 Tham Nam Tok 2,710m 47P 485200 1644110 500m Kanchanaburi Thong Pha Phum Lam Khlong Ngu National Park
L17 Tham Loe Pu 2,625m 47P 486989 1764342 594m Tak Umphang Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary
L18 Tham Susa 2,617m 47Q 408944 2151105 400m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Mae Nam Khong
L19 Tham Nok Nang En 2,500m 47P 485150 1639800 480m Kanchanaburi Thong Pha Phum Lam Khlong Ngu National Park
L20 Tham Kleab Yai 2,190m 47Q 506752 2164255 570m Chiang Mai Chiang Dao Ban Kleab Yai
Name VR Co-ordinates Alt.: Province Amphoe Area
D1 Tham Sra Kaeo 240m 47P 479153 0902656 20m Krabi Muang Krabi Ban Nai Sa
D2 Big House Cave 199m 47Q 504532 2199828 1,400m Chiang Mai Fang Doi Ang Khang
D3 Ma Phong Sui Tung 167m 47Q 504312 2191089 1,130m Chiang Mai Fang Doi Ang Khang
D4 Dead Robber Waterfall Cave 166m 47Q 504649 2200525 1,440m Chiang Mai Fang Doi Ang Khang
D5 Tham Pha Puek 166m 47Q 418220 2172628 1,000m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Pha Puek
D6 Tham Pha Phueng 163m 47Q 717415 2149716 1,325m Nan Thung Chan Doi Phuka National Park
D7 Tham Turakit Maiset 157m 47P 461490 1663201 720m Kanchanaburi Sangkhla Buri Khao Laem National Park
D8 Pigs Play In The Mud Cave 150m Chiang Mai Chiang Dao Mai Pas Ao, Chiang Dao National Park
D9 Tham Song Hong 140m 47P 553076 0867170 Trang Huai Yot Bang Di
D10 Tham Phra Wattanaram 136m 47Q 809269 1844574 295m Khon Kaen Phu Pha Man Phu Pha Man National Park
D11 Tham Phaya Naak System 133m 47Q 769838 1872159 801m Phetchabun Nam Nao Nam Nao National Park
D12 Tham Nam Tok 132m See Cave L16
D13 Tham Mae Lana 130m See Cave L2
D14 Tham Phu Khieo 130m See Cave L15
D15 Tham Chao Ram 128m 47Q 549436 1901918 Sukhothai Thung Saliam Tham Chao Ram Non-hunting Area
D16 Tham Huai Nam Lad 125m 47Q 766100 1813300 750m Chaiyaphum Nong Bua Daeng Phu Kheio Wildlife Sanctuary
D17 Tham Pha Khan 118m 47Q 521800 1974866 760m Lampang Thoen Ban Mae Thot
D18 Tham Ban Nam Mut 117m See Cave L10
D19 Tham Phra Wang Daeng 117m See Cave L1
D20 Tham Ban Luk Khao Lam 113m 47Q 411520 2161220 590m Mae Hong Son Pang Ma Pha Ban Luk Khao Lam