Lod Cave gives you Great experience in amazing cave

lod cave, tham lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son

More than one hundred caves in Pang Mapha district were burial caves of the ancient peoples who lived here. Lod Cave is one of Thailand’s most impressive and easily accessible caves, partly for its size, partly for its attractive limestone stalactite formations and partly for an unusual coffin cave hidden within the main cave.

Lod Cave or Tham Lod Cave is a cave system with a length of 1.666 meters. The Nam Lang River flows through the cave which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also home to large numbers of bats and swifts. In Tham Lod Cave and other caves nearby teakwood coffins have been discovered which are thought to have been carved by the Lawa tribespeople thousands of years ago.

lod cave, tham lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son
lod cave, tham lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son

The mouth and ceiling of the Lod cave is wide and tall, filled with large stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over thousands of years. Three caves are connected into one, with  prehistoric wall paintings and skinny, wooden coffins serving as reminders of an ancient past. A quiet stream runs through the cave, and visitors can snag a ride on a bamboo raft to explore every nook and cranny.

lod cave, tham lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son

The entrance to Lod cave is relatively easy to reach and the river then passes through 600 metres of cave systems. After reaching the water, getting on small bamboo raft inside the cave. The water was filled with hundreds of fish and the water was only a few inches deep! It was so cool and weird. You will get to the other side of the cave, explored some more and then made our way back to the front. Looking out from the inside of the cave was an incredible view.

lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son
lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son

There are a few levels within these caves and in the upper levels the humidity is very high. There are typical large Stalagmites and Stalactites in the caves and in the upper levels there is a coffin cave where there are some old historic wooden coffins to be found.

The river is pushing the narrow bamboo raft deep into the heart of the mountain. A carbide lamp casts a vivid light upon the walls of the three giant halls supported by 60 feet high limestone pillars, unveiling the remains of a human settlement. Above the old fireplace and the very rough sleeping areas, the image of a deer and a bow with arrows shows up drawn with seemingly indestructible paint. It has been there for three thousand years.

The third cavern shelters the remains of prehistoric teak coffins.  Nearby is a recently excavated archaeological site a rock shelter where a 20,000 year old human skeleton was found the oldest in Northern Thailand.

lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son
lod cave, attractions in mae hong son, things to do in mae hong son

Lod Cave is definitely worth to visit and a real adventure off the beaten track. A complete visit should take about two hours depending on your pace. Plan your visit around late afternoon as at dusk hundreds of thousands of bats fly out of the cave.

Opening hours : 09:00 – 18:00

How to get there : The Lod Cave are situated about 8km north of the small town of Sop Pong which is about halfway between Mae Hong Song and Pai.

Address :  Tham Lod, Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son, Thailand, 58150

GPS Coordinates Map : 19.5682626, 98.2775205

Entrance :

Guides (with lanterns) for Tham Lod Cave are only 150 Baht per group (1-3 people), and the bamboo rafts inside the cave are 300 to 400 Baht for 3 people (one way or return trip through the cave).

Nearby Places

The Mae Lana Cave is located in Pang Mapha in the Mae Hong Son province.Stalactites and stalagmites can be found in this cave. The stream inside the cave is a habitat to eyeless and colourless fish that live in the dark environment. This cave is suitable only for adventurous tourists.

The Sai Ngam Hot Spring. With crystal clear water, pleasant temperatures and amazing natural surroundings that one would expect from a jungle-jacuzzi.