Tham Takhobi

Tham Takhobi is a cave system near Mae Klong village outside Umphang, close to the Tak-Myanmar border country in far western Thailand. It’s one of the region’s larger cave systems, with around 15 known entrances and passages estimated at roughly 3 kilometres through the limestone hillside — among the longer caves recorded in Thailand. There’s no entrance fee and no fixed lighting or marked trail, which keeps it well off the standard tourist circuit but also means it isn’t a casual walk-in.

Inside, the cave opens into high, wide chambers in places and narrows into tighter passages elsewhere, with stalactites and stalagmites throughout. Because there are multiple entrances rather than a single through-route, exploring it properly means going with someone who already knows the layout — Umphang locals or a guide arranged in town. Bring your own light: a headlamp with spare batteries is the minimum, since there’s nothing installed inside the cave itself.

Watch out: with 15 entrances and no marked route, this is not a cave to explore solo without local knowledge — arrange a guide in Umphang before setting out rather than relying on directions found online.

Umphang district sees far fewer visitors than the rest of Tak province, and the roads in are rural enough that GPS alone won’t reliably get you to the cave mouth — asking locally at Mae Klong village is the more reliable approach. Closed shoes with grip and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty are worth packing, since sections involve scrambling over uneven rock.

Insider Tip: the dry season from November to February gives the most comfortable conditions underground and for the drive in on unpaved sections; the cave stays accessible outside those months but access roads can be rougher after rain.

Umphang district is also home to Thi Lor Su Waterfall, Thailand’s largest waterfall, and the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary — both worth combining with a cave visit on a longer trip out to this corner of Tak province.