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Princess Cave in Krabi is one of the most beautiful caves we have ever seen. In fact, it’s a very iconic and unique attraction in Krabi. You may have seen pictures of this beautiful cave online and wondered where it is and how to get to it.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to plan an independent adventure to Princess Cave in 2025. We will include information about what to expect, how to get there, how much it costs, and other things to do in the area.
While Princess Cave is very beautiful and unique, it really is not what we expected. Please read this article carefully. We have written this article from our own first-hand experience and travel research. We have written this article to be as helpful as possible. So whether you are working out if Princess Cave should be included on your itinerary or whether you are trying to find some last-minute information to help you plan your trip to Princess Cave, there is something for everyone here.
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE – How to get to the Railay Beach area from Ao Nang AND How to get around in the Railay Beach area
Is it worth visiting Princess Cave in Krabi?
One of the first and most important questions is, is it worth visiting this cave? The short answer is yes. If you’re spending time in Krabi, we strongly recommend that you include Tonsai Beach and Railay Beach on your itinerary. If you do choose to explore these beautiful, iconic beaches, then it is very easy to get to Princess Cave and explore this area too. You don’t need to take any additional boats or transport to reach this cave. All of the beaches in this area are connected by footpaths, and it is possible to walk to Princess Cave. Furthermore, visiting Princess Cave will not add any cost to your trip because it is free to enter and explore this area. Princess Cave is also very unique and beautiful. Surprisingly, this is actually one of the best attractions in the area for families with young kids. Keep reading for more details.
DID YOU KNOW? – you can visit the Princess Cave on this very affordable Island Hopping Trip in Krabi AND you can also see some of the other beautiful islands in the Krabi bay area (including Tub island, Chicken Island and Poda Island). Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to island hopping trips in Krabi and find out more about the iconic 4 islands trip.
How do you get to Princess Cave?
The good news is that it is relatively easy to get to Princess Cave in Krabi. You can do this as a short day trip or even a half-day trip from Ao Nang town.
1 Take a boat to Railay Beach
In order to get to Princess Cave, you will need to take a boat from Krabi town or from Ao Nang. There are no overland routes to this area, so a boat is your only option. The cheapest way to get to the area is to take a shared taxi boat.
If you are staying in Ao Nang, there are several boat pickup locations in town (marked on the map), and the taxi boat price is the same from any location. It costs 100 baht per person each way, and children four years and older are considered adults for the boat tickets. This rule is not strictly enforced. Boats run every day starting at 8 a.m., with the last boat returning at 6:00 p.m.
The shared taxi boats are the iconic long-tail boats, so you also get to experience a beautiful part of the culture while you travel. There is no timetable or schedule for boats to depart; they wait until boats are full before they leave. This normally takes around 20 or 30 minutes at the most. It is not possible to pre-book shared taxi boat tickets, and you cannot pay for your return ticket in advance, so you will need to buy this on the beach when you are ready to leave.
2 Walk to Railay East Beach
If you are traveling from Ao Nang, the shared taxi boats go to Tonsai or Railay West Beach. The price is the same for both of these beaches. Tonsai Beach is more quiet and also a better climbing spot, but it is slightly further from Princess Cave. From Tonsai Beach, you can walk to Railay West Beach. If you are not interested in visiting Tonsai, we recommend taking a boat directly to Railay West Beach. From here, it takes around 15 minutes to walk to Princess Cave.
To walk to Princess Cave from Railay West Beach, you need to walk overland through the Railay Bay Resort and Spa. There is a footpath leading all the way through the resort, connecting these beaches. The footpath is relatively easy to follow, and it is a pretty short and easy walk.
3 Walk to Phra Nang Beach
When you reach Railay East Beach, you then need to take a right (and walk to the south side of the beach). At the south side of the beach, you will see a small shop and the start of a small pathway that leads to Phra Nang Beach and Princess Cave. It takes around 5 minutes to walk this path to the cave. Princess Cave is located right at the end of this footpath.
If you are traveling from Krabi town, the route is a little bit easier because the boat takes you to Railay East Beach, and then you only need to walk along the footpath to reach Princess Cave.
How much does it cost to visit Princess Cave?
The great news is that it is completely free to visit Princess Cave. You only need to cover the cost of your transport. There are no entry tickets, national park fees, or permits to visit this area. There are also no entry tickets required to visit the cave itself.
What is the best time of year to visit Princess Cave?
It is possible to visit Princess Cave throughout the year. This is a popular area for tourism, so Princess Cave is likely to be busy anytime of the year that you choose to visit. However, there is a peak season from January to March where the weather is hot and dry, and you can see beautiful blue skies and turquoise waters in this area.
You do get spells of lovely sunny weather throughout the year; the rainiest months are from September to October, which is the peak of the wet season. It is even lovely to visit Princess Cave in these months; just be aware of afternoon storms rolling in. It is important to be aware that you can get rainstorms in this area anytime of the year; even in the dry season. One of the things we love about Princess Cave is the way the overhanging rock shelters the water. This makes a beautiful and naturally sheltered area for swimming in crystal-clear tropical waters.
Learn more in our full guide to the best season to visit Krabi
How do you get the iconic photo of Princess Cave?
Here is the iconic photo of Princess Cave…
The iconic photo of Princess Cave has dramatic stalactites across the top of the picture, and you seem to be peering out of the cave onto a paradise tropical beach with golden sands and turquoise waters. You can genuinely get photos like this in the area; however, it is slightly misleading. This photo makes it look like you are stood in a cave gazing out at the beach; the geography of the area is not quite like this.
In order to get this photo, you need to climb up onto a rock and frame the stalactites from an overhang at the top of your picture. When you are stood at this particular photo spot, you are not really stood in the entrance of a cave mouth as the photo may seem. Rather, you are stood on top of a rock underneath an overhang of limestone rock. This photo is actually not very easy to get, and you do need to scramble up some rocks to get the shot. However, we don’t want to spoil the magic of this place; it really is a stunningly beautiful location and is perfect if you love natural beauty, adventure, and stunning tropical beaches.
The actual location of Princess Cave is just next to this photo spot; the cave itself is not deep. Princess Cave is more of a hollow in the rocks. Inside, you can see a Palad Khik shrine (a phallic symbol originating from Indian Hinduism). Interestingly, this unusual cave reflects the unique religious and cultural diversity of this area.
Is Princess Cave suitable for families?
Apart from the obvious phallic symbols, this area is fantastic for families with kids. In fact, this is one of the best beach areas for families around Krabi. If you’re traveling to Thailand with young kids, the direct sun exposure on beaches can be very intense and dangerous for young children. An advantage of visiting Princess Cave with your kids is the natural shelter created by the overhanging rock. The rock overhang proceeds so far over the beach that you can actually find a nice spot of beach to relax, and your children can swim and play in relatively shallow, clear water under the shade of these rocks. So not only is Princess Cave particularly beautiful and unique, it is also a top spot for families in the area.
Top tips for visiting Princess Cave
If you’re planning to visit Princess Cave, we just wanted to share a few top tips to help you make the most of your visit.
- Firstly, Princess Cave is situated on Phra Nang beach. This is a pretty remote beach, and there are not any options for food and drink in the area. Therefore, we recommend packing up plenty of drinks and food for your adventure.
- The nearest toilets to Princess Cave are situated at the start of the pathway on the south side of Railay East Beach.
- If you’re planning to visit Princess Cave, we recommend getting here nice and early in the morning. The boats typically start running around 8 a.m.; however, you may need to wait a little longer for a boat to fill up if you come first thing in the morning. Visiting early in the morning will allow you to enjoy this location when it is calm and quiet, and the weather is a little cooler.
- Keep an eye out for storms rolling into the beaches, especially in the rainy months of September and October. The storms in this area can be very intense, and shelter is pretty limited on the beach. You could shelter underneath the cliffs, but after a while, you may feel stranded. If you see the conditions changing and the storm rolling in, you could also start heading back for a boat and try to catch a boat before the storm hits.
What other things are there to see and do in the area?
This is actually a very beautiful area with a lot of things to see and do. Firstly, you can rent sea kayaks in the area and explore the beautiful coastline. Sea kayak rental is available on Tonsai Beach and on Railay West Beach. It generally costs around 250 baht to rent a two-person kayak for 1 hour in this area. There is also some beautiful snorkeling on the coastline in this area. If you are planning to snorkel around here, remain very vigilant because there are a lot of boats traveling between the beaches around here.
Close to Princess Cave, you can also take an intrepid jungle adventure to Princess Lagoon, which is a concealed lagoon deep in the jungle. Be aware that this is a very challenging route with several sections of steep rock climb. This is also a very popular destination for rock climbing. There are a couple of fantastic rock climbing spots in the area; one of which is located on the south side of Railay East Beach. There is also an excellent climbing spot on the south side of Tonsai Beach. If you are looking for something more relaxing and chilled out in the area, there are several bars, cafes, restaurants, and resorts around. Be aware that prices are more expensive than Ao Nang and Krabi town.
What are the best places to stay near Princess Cave?
There are also several beautiful hotels and resorts in the area. So if you have ever dreamed of staying on the paradise beach, this may be your perfect opportunity. The cheapest beach to stay in the area is Tonsai Beach, which has some relatively affordable guest houses starting at around £20 per night for a basic fan room. There are also lots of beautiful resorts situated between Railay East Beach and Railay West Beach. You can get a very nice room in a resort starting for around £100 per night in this area.
Railay Village Resort – spacious luxurious paradise villas surrounding a beautiful pool immersed in lush green grounds. Reserve Railay Village on Agoda. Book Railay village on booking.com.
Railay Bay Resort & Spa – Large, beautiful, lush and luxurious Resort. Deluxe cottages and amazing facilities. Beachfront pool and sun loungers. Reserve Railay Bay Resort on Agoda. Book Railay Bay Resort on booking.com.
Railay Phutawan Resort – a great combination of luxury and value for money. Stunning jungle cliff location. Reserve Railay Phutawan on Agoda. Book Railay Phutawan on booking.com.
Bhu Nga Thani Resort Railay – check out the stylish contemporary resort – stunning location on the north side of Railay East beach. Reserve Bhu Nga on Agoda. Book Bhu Nga on booking.com.
One of the BEST resorts in the area (see picture above & very close to the cave!) – don’t miss the superlative 5-star Rayavadee resort on the south side of Railey East Beach. Reserve Rayavadee on Agoda. Book Rayavadee on booking.com.
Garden view Resort Tonsai – Great option if you’re looking for a budget stay in the area. This tranquil guest house is clean, beautiful and tranquil. Great value for money. Reserve Garden view on Agoda. Book Garden view on booking.com.
