What to expect when you take a day trip to Muang On Cave – a suggested itinerary

Due to its relative closeness to Chiang Mai, if you choose to only visit Muang On Cave, this would be more of a half-day trip unless you combine it with other attractions. Although to be fair, after the hike into and back out of the cave you may have had enough for one day!

We suggest you start the day early to avoid the heat of the mid to afternoon sunlight and possibly visit other attractions along the way.

The first attraction you come upon is The Dutch Farm. It’s a nice place to stop and walk around if your children really like sheep and horses. If they don’t, then maybe give it a miss because while it’s a beautiful place and the animals seem to be well taken care of, we actually found the entrance fee to be ridiculous for what you actually see and do.

The entrance fee for Dutch Farm is 150 baht per adult and 80 baht per child. On top of that if you wish to feed any of the animals, it’s another 20 baht per tiny bushel. In my personal opinion, we were all very disappointed by it all, however if your kids love sheep, horses and want a photo in giant clogs, then it may be a worthwhile stop.

The next rather intriguing looking attraction along the way is right next store to The Dutch Farm. You’ll know it by the Native American teepees lining the side of the highway. It’s a place called The Log of Paradis.

The structures here are log cabins which is a rare sight in Thailand and they have a treehouse! They serve food (although we recommend you skip it) and cold drinks. If you just want to stop for photos, be sure to purchase a drink or two to be polite!

After here is the Muang On Cave. Take the turn off to the left and drive straight up the road to the cave entrance. If you are lucky, you will get to see wild monkeys lining the road. On our particular trip we saw dozens of monkeys and babies all over! There is a particular spot where they hang out and you’ll see banana peels dotting the roadside area. We pulled to stop and watched them play about for a while before moving on.

At the entrance there will be free parking and a place to get water and snacks. We suggest you get some water if you don’t already have some before you go in. Also, be sure to visit the toilet here as there are none elsewhere. This is also where you will pay the entrance fee if you are a foreigner. The entrance ticket is 30 baht per adult and kids are free! Locals don’t pay at all.

From here, it is a climb up to the cave entrance. The stairs are decorated with Nagas that offer protection and thankfully the stairs are mostly covered in the shade of the trees. You will know you are nearly at the entrance to the cave when you see a golden Buddha in a pagoda. Here, it is customary to make merit or a prayer. It’s only a little ways further to the cave!

The cave entrance is just off to the right where there may be a person offering lanterns. They are a novelty and fun, but are honestly not needed. The cave’s interior is fairly well lit and if you did need an extra light you could always use the torch or flashlight on your smartphone.

The first part of the cave is a tight fit and those of you who are claustrophobic or really tall may not like it. You’ve really got to squeeze down and under to get through the first part and the stairs down are very steep. After this the cave opens up and the path flattens out for a while.

Eventually more steep stairs leading down appear that will take you into the impressive cavern. Here you will find the giant stalagmite and Buddha statues to make merit and pray to. It also happens to be nice and cool down here, a nice reprieve from the upper cave chambers and from the outside heat. Once you’ve enjoyed your time in the cavern, it’s time to make the inevitable climb back out of the cave.

Once out of the cave, and believe me, it’s a workout to get out, it’s time to decide whether you will climb to the viewpoint. We say do it! Especially if you are only going to be here once! The views are beautiful on a clear day as is the trek up to the top.

The path is well marked and the stairs clear. It probably took us more than 30 minutes to reach the top, but I was carrying my toddler most of the way. He did manage quite well on his own though for quite a while! 

Once at the summit, there will be two peaks to explore. Both provide differing views of the countryside below and a chance to ring the temple bells and gong loud and proud because you made it! There is also usually a nice breeze up here and another chance to pray or make merit. 

Then it’s time to walk back down while encouraging those on their way up that they are nearly there! We decided to get drinks at the adorable cafe after the trek down. Even the view from the coffee shop is stunning!

If you’ve still got energy left, and depending on the time of day, we recommend heading up the road to the nearby San Kampaeng Hot Spring. The entrance fee is unfortunately dual priced with local’s paying 40 baht for adults and 20 baht per child, while foreigners pay 100 baht per adult and 50 baht per child. Although if you have a Thai driver’s licence you can get Thai price. It’s a lovely spot with a playground, swimming area, food stalls, massage places, and hot springs to dip your legs in.

At this point it may be time find a restaurant for dinner or a late afternoon meal. A great place to check out is Taiton Chiangmai. It is decked out in antique cars and furniture providing great photo opportunities and the food is yummy too! 

Once you are all selfied out it is time to head back home or to your hotel.