Wat Tham Khao Noi

Wat Tham Khao Noi is a Chinese-style temple on a limestone hill about 12 km from Kanchanaburi town, crowned by an ornate seven-tier pagoda that’s visible for miles. It stands directly beside the Thai-style Wat Tham Sua, and the two towering pagodas — one Chinese, one Thai — are almost always visited together. Entry is free, it’s open daily from about 08:30 to 16:30, and the reward at the top is a wide view over the Mae Klong River plain.

The temple and the view

This is a hilltop pagoda temple, not a cave shrine — the “tham” (cave) in the name refers to the hill rather than the main attraction. The seven-tier tower is worked in full Chinese style, with murals, tapestries and fine sculptural detail, and koi ponds sit in the grounds below. Founded in 1881 by a Chinese monk and still tended by monks of the Anam tradition, it’s one of only two Chinese temples in Kanchanaburi. From the top, the country opens up: the river, the patchwork plain, distant mountains and the dam.

Insider Tip: Do both temples in one climb. Wat Tham Khao Noi (Chinese) and Wat Tham Sua (Thai) share the hill, and seeing the two styles side by side — and comparing the views from each — is the point of coming out here.

Getting there

It’s about 12 km from central Kanchanaburi, 15–20 minutes by car, tuk-tuk or taxi, near the Mae Klong River in Tha Muang district. Climb the staircase to the pagoda, or use the small cable-car lift if the steps are too much in the heat.

Watch out: It’s an active temple — dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove your shoes before entering, and keep quiet inside. The climb is exposed and hot at midday, so go earlier or later.

Wat Tham Khao Noi is at Muang Chum, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi 71110. View on Google Maps.