Krabi's best day away from the sea combines three stops: the long stairway to the summit of the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), the Emerald Pool and Blue Pool in the forest, and the hot springs that TAT suggests as a third stop. All three are inland, so you need a car, a driver or a tour, and the day works best if you start the climb early.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) describes this combination as a standard day out by car from the coast, and almost every agency in Ao Nang sells it as a package. This page explains each stop, what is and is not allowed, the best order for the day and how to do it on your own. The beaches are covered in our Krabi guide, and the boat trips in our page on Krabi's island tours.
Krabi's inland day at a glance (checked November 2026)
- Tiger Cave Temple
- Wat Tham Suea, a working monastery; about 1,260 steps to the summit viewpoint (TAT)
- Emerald Pool
- Sa Morakot, in Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (DNP); bathing allowed
- Blue Pool
- Further along the same trail; TAT says you cannot go into the water
- Emerald Pool hours
- Bathing 08:30–16:30 in the last DNP notice found (November 2021)
- Fees
- A foreigner fee is charged at the sanctuary entrance; check the current amount at the gate
- Getting there
- No public transport worth relying on; hire a driver, a taxi or join a tour
Wat Tham Suea: the Tiger Cave Temple and its stairway
Wat Tham Suea is a Buddhist forest monastery in the limestone hills inland from Krabi Town. Most visitors come for the climb. TAT describes a "vertiginous" stairway of 1,260 steps to the summit, where a viewpoint gives a 360-degree panorama over Krabi's limestone peaks. Counts published elsewhere range from about 1,237 to 1,272 steps, so treat the number as approximate.
The stairs are steep and partly in the open sun, and the descent is hard on the knees. People of ordinary fitness manage it with rests; anyone with heart or knee problems should think twice. Take water from the bottom, because we could not confirm that it is sold along the way.
We found no official opening hours for the temple, which is a monastery rather than a ticketed attraction. Go early in the morning: the heat on the open sections of the stairway in the middle of the day is the main reason people turn back. Our guide to heat and sun in Thailand explains the warning signs of heat exhaustion.
Dress, quiet and monkeys at the temple
Because Wat Tham Suea is a working monastery, the normal temple rules apply: cover your shoulders and knees, take your shoes off where others do, keep your voice down near the monks' areas and do not climb on Buddha images for photos. Our guide to temple etiquette and the dress code covers what "covered" means and how to behave around monks. A light shirt and long, loose trousers or a sarong in your bag solve the problem of climbing in the heat and then entering a shrine.
Macaques live around many Thai temple hills, and if you meet them on the steps, keep food and plastic bags out of sight and do not feed them. If a monkey bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day about rabies. Our page on monkeys in Thailand explains the two medical checks that are needed after a bite.
The Emerald Pool and the Blue Pool
Sa Morakot, the Emerald Pool, is a pool of clear green water in the forest. It belongs to the Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary, run by the Department of National Parks (DNP). It is a wildlife sanctuary, not a national park, a detail that matters because the fee schedule is separate from the national park system. From the entrance a nature trail leads through the forest to the pool.
The two pools have different rules, and TAT spells them out: the Emerald Pool is "a natural swimming pool" where you can bathe, while the smaller Blue Pool, a little further along the trail, is one "in which you cannot dive". Treat the Blue Pool as a pool to look at, not to swim in, and follow the signs and staff at the site.
When the DNP reopened the Emerald Pool for bathing on 1 November 2021, after the pandemic closure, it gave the bathing hours as 08:30 to 16:30. That is the only official time we found, and it may have changed since. The visitor caps announced then were pandemic rules and are not in force as far as we know. Mornings are quieter, before the tour groups arrive.
Pay the sanctuary fee at the gate, not to a driver. A fee point at the Emerald Pool entrance collects the visitor charge. We could not confirm the current foreigner rate from an official source, and blogs disagree, so bring cash and check the amount on the board. Our page on two-tier prices for foreigners explains why the rate differs for Thais.
The hot springs: a third stop
TAT suggests the Krabi Hot Springs as an easy addition to the Tiger Cave and Emerald Pool day. These are the saline hot springs in Khlong Thom district, also sold as the "hot spring waterfall". We could not find an official page for the site, so we cannot confirm who runs it, the entry fee or the opening hours; ask your driver or tour to check before you go.
Hot water and a hot day are a demanding combination. Drink water, leave the pools if you feel dizzy, and be careful on wet rock. If you have a heart condition or are pregnant, ask your doctor before using hot pools. Do not use the springs after heavy rain if the water is cloudy or rising; our guide to waterfall and river safety explains how fast streams change.
The best order for the day
The order that works for most people is the temple first, the Emerald Pool second and the hot springs last:
- Early morning: Tiger Cave Temple. Climb while it is cooler and come down before the midday sun.
- Late morning: Emerald Pool and Blue Pool. The swim cools you down after the stairs.
- Afternoon: the hot springs. The most relaxing stop comes last, and the drive back to the coast follows.
Bring a change of clothes, a towel, sandals for the pools and something to cover your shoulders and knees for the temple. Swim only where you are allowed to, and never leave valuables on the bank.
The weather matters less than for a boat day, which makes this a good plan for the monsoon months when the sea is too rough for island trips. Heavy rain still makes the stairs slippery and can close forest sites, so keep the day flexible. If you are still deciding between the two provinces, our comparison of Phuket or Krabi puts the inland sights in context.
Getting there from Ao Nang without a tour
The sites are spread out inland, and public transport does not link them in a way you can rely on. Shared songthaews run between Ao Nang and Krabi Town in the daytime, as our Ao Nang guide explains, but not to the Emerald Pool or the hot springs. The practical choices are:
- A car with a driver for the day. The most flexible option: you choose the order and the time at each stop. Agree the price, the stops and the finishing time before you set off; our guide to hiring a car with a driver lists what to settle in advance.
- An app taxi to each stop. Grab and Bolt both list Krabi as a service area, but finding a car back from a rural site can be slow. Our comparison of Bolt and Grab explains the differences.
- A group tour. The cheapest and easiest option, sold by almost every agency in Ao Nang, but on a fixed schedule that may put the climb in the midday heat.
Staying in Krabi Town puts you closer to the inland sights than the beach does, and it is the cheapest base in the province; our guide to where to stay in Krabi compares the town with Ao Nang and the other bases.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps are there at the Tiger Cave Temple?
TAT gives about 1,260 steps from the foot of the hill to the summit viewpoint, though other published counts range from about 1,237 to 1,272. The stairs are steep and uneven, so go early in the morning, take water and rest on the way.
Can you swim in the Emerald Pool in Krabi?
Yes. TAT describes the Emerald Pool as a natural swimming pool where you can bathe, and the DNP gave bathing hours of 08:30 to 16:30 when it reopened in 2021. The Blue Pool further along the trail is not for swimming, according to TAT.
Is the Emerald Pool in a national park?
No. Sa Morakot is a nature-study site in the Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary, run by the Department of National Parks. A foreigner fee is charged at the entrance; check the current amount at the gate, as we could not confirm it officially.
What should I wear to the Tiger Cave Temple?
Clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, because it is a working monastery, and shoes with good grip for the stairs. Many visitors climb in light clothes and carry a sarong or long trousers to put on before entering the shrines.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Discover the amazing natural wonders of Krabi (May 2021) (checked November 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Emerald Pool reopens for bathing, Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (November 2021, Thai) (checked November 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Emerald Pool fee point, Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (October 2021, Thai) (checked November 2026)
- World Health Organization – Rabies fact sheet (wound washing) (checked October 2026)