Tham Khao Pina

Tham Khao Pina rises out of the karst country of Huai Yot district, about 45 kilometres from Trang town along Phetkasem Road and then a 2-kilometre branch road into Na Wong subdistrict. The mountain itself is what makes the site unusual — it is hollow through to the summit, more like an overturned pan than a solid hill, and the cave system inside runs across three marked trails linked by concrete stairways. At the cave mouth sits Wat Khao Pina, a small temple built around a reclining Buddha image enshrined right at the entrance, so the cave and the temple work as one stop rather than two separate sights.

Past the shrine, the passages open into chambers built up over millennia — stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites rising to meet them, and flowstone running down the walls in places. The concrete stairs keep the main route manageable for most fitness levels, though side passages get darker and rougher the further in you go. Cool air moves through the tunnels year-round, which makes this a genuinely useful stop during the rainy season when outdoor sights turn to mud, or during the hot season when a break from the heat is worth the 30-minute drive out from town.

Outside, the setting is quiet forest rather than a coach-park attraction — limestone outcrops, tree cover, and on weekdays, few other visitors. Weekends bring more local traffic, mostly Trang families rather than international tour groups, so a weekday morning is the easiest way to get the chambers mostly to yourself.

Insider Tip: Bring your own flashlight. The main trail has electric lighting, but the side passages and deeper chambers don’t, and a phone torch drains fast in the cool, damp air underground.

Watch out: Cave floors stay damp from dripping water even in the dry season. Wear shoes with real grip — sandals are a bad idea on the stairs.

Getting here works best with your own transport, car or motorbike, since it sits well off the main bus routes. Entry is free and there is no ticket booth or fixed tour schedule to plan around — you walk in, follow whichever of the three trails suits your time and stamina, and pay respects at the reclining Buddha on the way in or out.

Tham Khao Pina pairs easily with two more of Huai Yot district’s cave systems, Tham Khao Chang Hai and Lay Khao Kob Cave, if karst geology is the theme for the day. For a coastal contrast nearby, Hat Chao Mai National Park covers Trang’s Andaman side — both work as a loop out of Trang town.