The upgrade works included pouring a concrete car park, resurfacing the access road and building new walkways and patterned flooring throughout the cave area, all designed to keep the natural surroundings intact while making the site safer and more accessible.
Inside, visitors can expect millions of years’ worth of limestone formations, with stalactites, stalagmites and mineral-streaked walls that have earned the site a reputation as one of Thailand’s Unseen attractions under the nickname “rainbow cave”, a rare and distinctive sight.
The cave is divided into four chambers, each with its own character. The first, Tham Sai Rung (rainbow cave), is known for its Rainbow Wall, a geological feature formed by layers of mineral deposits creating bands of red, brown, yellow, white and grey that resemble a rainbow running through the rock.
The second chamber, Tham Ubosot, is a large hall with a natural skyhole in its ceiling that lets sunlight stream down onto the cave floor at certain times of day, giving the space an open, airy feel. A Buddha image has been placed here for visitors and locals to pay their respects.
The third, Tham Marakot (emerald cave), takes its name from the green tones across its walls and rock formations, the result of minerals in the rock combining with moss, algae and single-celled organisms thriving in the cave’s humidity and light.
The fourth chamber, Tham Phet (diamond cave), is home to stalactites, stalagmites and mineral crystals that catch the light and sparkle like diamonds, a reminder of the millions of years of geological processes behind their formation.
Tham Luang Mae Sap is open to visitors and nature lovers from 1st July, offering a chance to explore its natural formations, distinctive mineral colours and geological history, set against the green backdrop of Samoeng district.