Nang Thong Cave

Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wiGs8DDcTpzysT5dA

Nang Thong Cave is on the other side of the hill from Wat Tham Khao Bang Siap and 32km north of Chumphon town. Take road No. 3180 out of Chumphon Town. After 21km turn right onto road No. 3201. 8km down the 3201 turn left onto a small concrete road.

Follow the concrete road for 2km round to where you will find the signboard to the cave. (Only the blue sign now, the larger one has fallen down).

Follow the sign direction through the palm plantation for about 200m til you reach another blue signboard. Here you will have to park.

Follow the sign directions towards the hill on the left. At the base of the hill you should see a large rope ascending up. There are building blocks on the ground which act as steps.

For the steepest part a metal ladder is in place.

Just past the ladder it levels out and the rope handrail stops. Here it gets difficult to know which way to go. We spent nearly an hour trying to find the cave at this point. Best is to follow the hill on the left as closely as possible for about 150m. No point describing undergrowth as that changes quickly, however would suggest looking for the builders blocks that form the steps up.

It is about a 50m climb (not difficult) up to the cave entrance which is rather small, less than 1m in diameter.

At the entrance the cave descends steeply. A steel ladder has been installed to allow easy access.

Here you find yourself on a slope leading into a large dome shaped cavern, about 25m across. By venturing through this cavern you find a large passageway leading to a larger cavern of about 40m across.

Whilst the cave was relatively dry, water was dripping from the roof and in places the start of stalagmites can be seen.

Where the water seeps down the walls the calcium buildup forms nice shapes and in one place a small travertine terrace.

The 'Caves & Caving in Thailand' website has referenced this as Cave No. CP0115.