ถ้ำสัตคูหา

Tham Chet Khot - T̄ĥả s̄ạt khūh̄ā - Satta Khuha Cave - Chet Khot Cave


Useful Information

Location: Thung Wa, Thung Wa District, Satun 92180. Village No. 10, Tambon Nam Phood, Amphoe La-ngu. Khao Banthad's Wildlife Conservation Area.
From Satun City highway 406, then highway 416, left at km 68 on 3007, left at km 18 on 3011, right at km 24 for 1 km, left on 3014, left at junction 3014-5008. 70 km from Stun.
(7.111613, 99.933879)
Open: All year daily 9-16.
[2021]
Fee: Boat rent THB 250.
[2021]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: bring headlamp
Dimension:  
Guided tours: L=600 m, self guided.
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography:  
Address: Tham Chet Khot, Thung Wa, Thung Wa District, Satun 92180, Tel: +66-74-789-317.
TAT Trang Office, Tel: +66-7521-5867.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

ถ้ำสัตคูหา (Tham Chet Khot, Seven Bends Cave) is a river cave which is visited on kajak tours. The cave is part of the Satun Geopark. The Lam Lon river flows through a valley, and at the end of the valley it flows into the cave. Underground it crosses the hill until it reaches the Rangu river valley on the other side. Immediately after the resurgence, the cave river flows into the Rangu river.

There are numerous boat rentals which offer kayaks for tours on the Lam Lon and Rangu river. The road ends at a huge parking lot, campground and restaurant. The cave visit is a beginners tour, paddling 600 m through seven bends or curves, hence the name of the cave. Halfway is a karstfenster, which is most impressive around noon when the sun hits the cave river. To the end of the cave is a huge chamber, which is 15 m wide and 30 m long. If you ask at the boat rental, you can also rent a lamp, but we recommend bringing your own headlight instead. It's also possible to enter with a cave guide, if you book one at the boat rental. The cave is a through cave and if you booked a guided tour you are either picked up at the cave entrance and driven back to the starting point, or you can add 2 km downstream paddling and are then picked up. There is no entrance fee for te cave, only the fee for the kayak and the optional guide. As far as we know there are no restrictions, so you may bring your own boat too.

The cave is also sometimes transliterated Tham Satta Khuha which also means Seven Bends Cave. It has numerous fine speleothems and a huge bat colony. There are pools with fine calcite crystals and trails in the most interesting spots. It's quite helpful to have a guide, you might miss the interesting spots otherwise in the dark cave. The cave has formed in thin-bedded Ordovician limestone.