Wat Thep Charoen Caves

Location https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jhEBn2cmUi5nsHz5

The caves found at Wat Thep Charoen are 20km north of Chumphon Town. Take Highway 4 for about 15km till you reach the turning for Ban Rap Ro.

Take this road to the left and continue along it till you reach Ban Rap Ro. At the crossroads go straight over and after 1km you should see Wat Thap Charoen on the right. The caves are well signposted from Highway 4.

It is possible to access 3 caves here, being No. CP0017 Rup Ro, CP0056 Phet and CP0057 Ai Tae. 

The caves are located some 30 meters up the side of the hill to the right as you enter the temple complex. Each cave has a dedicated stairway so you can choose which one you wish to visit first. The following is a suggest route which avoids having to go up and down the stairs. When you enter the Wat drive to the end of the buildings to where you see the information board for the caves.

CP0017 Rap Ro Cave

Upon climbing the stairs you find yourself in a large chamber where there is a walkway taking you into the cave. 

Possibly the walkway is for crossing a pond, but during all our visits this has been totally dry. From the walkway you get a good view of the southern wall which has an amazing collection of formations. Water has ponded in this area.

It is possible you work your way up to a higher level where there is an opening looking down onto the cave entrance.

Back towards the entrance is a balcony (lined with bells) which connects to the southern half of this cave.

Rup Ro Cave is also known locally as Phra (ถ้ำพระ) cave the main chamber is the holiest cave within the complex. It is home to a number of important Buddhist relics, including a 1,000-year-old Buddha image known as Luang Pu Lak.

Upon passing though this area you will come to another chamber where at the end are these impressive formations.

To the right of this second chamber you will find steps going through an opening.

Here a path takes you round the mountain to the next cave. Being at an elevated position you have a good view over Ban Rap Ro.

CP0057 Ai Tae

Ai Tay (ถ้ำไอ้เตย์) cave is the largest and most impressive of the caves. It is a large chamber with soaring ceilings and a variety of stalactites and stalagmites. 

Of, importance to the temple an image of reclining Buddha can be found on one of the wall inside this cave.

At the far side of this cave can be found an opening where there are steps down to the ground level.

CP0056 Phet Cave

Phet cave seems to have been abandoned for the approach to the cave has all overgrown. You find it by going northwards around the mountain about 200m from Chang Cave, till you see the V shaped stairs to the cave.

This cave has some impressive formations but sadly has suffered some vandalism.

The cave is rather steep in places and rises to a plateau. Here there is a steel ladder that takes you deeper into the cave. We did not venture past this point on this visit, but on our too do list.