Explore Tham Luang Cave: Site of the 2018 Miraculous Rescue Now Open for Tours
The Tham Luang cave rescue operation, a well-known and globally followed event, involved a massive and international effort to save the lives of 12 young football players and their coach.
In June 2018, the Wild Boars football team, comprising twelve members aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach, ventured into the Tham Luang cave following a practice session.
However, shortly after their entry, heavy rainfall began, causing partial flooding of the cave system, which resulted in them being trapped deep within.
This unprecedented rescue effort saw the involvement of around 10,000 individuals, including representatives from nearly 100 governmental agencies.
Among them were Singaporean volunteers, Mr Poh Kok Wee and Mr Douglas Yeo, who notably joined the mission independently, without being officially dispatched by the Singapore government.
The Tham Luang Nang Non, a karstic cave complex situated beneath the Doi Nang Non mountain range on the Thai-Myanmar border, has long been a draw for adventurers and travellers due to its fascinating caverns and extensive tunnels.
However, public interest in the cave surged even more after the dramatic 2018 incident.
Five years on, the cave has been reopened for guided tours, offering visitors a chance to experience the site of this remarkable rescue operation.
A Journey Through the Historical Cave System
Spanning 10 kilometres, the Tham Luang cave system features deep recesses, narrow passages, and tunnels winding under hundreds of metres of limestone strata.
Visitors entering the cave complex will pass through the 200-metre deep Chamber 1, which served as the command centre for the rescue operation, led by former Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn and the Thai Navy Seals.
Well, entry to Chamber 1 is free of charge.
The guided tour covers Chambers 2 and 3, where tourists can explore up to 700 metres into the cave, encountering stalactites, rocks, holes, and other geological formations that played a crucial role during the rescue of the Wild Boars.
Eligibility Criteria for Cave Exploration
To qualify for a visit to Chamber 3, each tourist must be physically fit and healthy, as the journey involves navigating slippery floors, steep paths, and sharp rocks.
In certain areas, the passage is so narrow that visitors must move in single file.
This area of the cave also holds a poignant significance as it is the site where heroic figures like Saman Kunan and Beirut Pakbara from the Royal Thai Navy SEAL tragically lost their lives during the rescue effort.
The guided tour, lasting between two to four hours, costs approximately $57 per person for foreign tourists, and $36 for Thai nationals.
It’s important to note that this fee does not include the cost of equipment or accident insurance, and tourists partake in the tour at their own risk.
Strict Rules for Safe Visitation
Given the inherent dangers of the cave, strict rules have been established for visitors.
Tourists must register at least 15 days prior to their visit, and the national park will confirm the feasibility of the trip based on weather conditions within seven days.
Upon arrival, visitors must present their identity card and proof of registration. Unregistered individuals will not be permitted entry to Chambers 2 and 3.
Tour packages for cave exploration are now available on travel platforms like Expedia.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, commented that the cave’s delicate interior and challenging navigation make sightseeing complex, according to Bangkok Post.
For the second chamber, only four groups of 15 people can visit per day, and applications must be submitted a week in advance.
The third chamber, previously accessible only to researchers and experts with 30-day prior permission, now allows groups of no more than 10 people, accompanied by a forest official and a local guide, with only two groups permitted daily.
Chamber 3, located about 800 metres from the entrance, will feature a demonstration of how rescuers transported each boy on a stretcher.
Notably, the football team was trapped in Chamber 9, approximately 2.4 kilometres from the entrance, which remains closed to the public.
The chambers are closed to visitors on Fridays and during rainy days, ensuring safety and preserving the cave’s integrity. Meanwhile, areas beyond Chamber 3 are still not open for public exploration.
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