Discovered just 200 years ago in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, the Phraya Nakhon Cave has quickly garnered a reputation for being one of the world’s most ethereal natural formations; here, deep within the Maya Peninsula, labyrinthian passages give way to sun-soaked, open-roofed chambers resplendent with lush greenery, dry waterfalls, and even the smallest temple in Thailand.
The best time to make the hike to Phraya Nakhon is during the early hours of the day, when the glow of the morning sun floods the cave interior, illuminating the regal Kuha Kharuhas Pavilion, a small temple built by King Rama V, and everything else it touches.
Because of its remote and relatively inaccessible location, few travelers make the journey to Phraya Nakhon when compared with Thailand’s other highlights; because of this, those who make the journey are treated to an experience few others can even imagine, as a visit to the cave today is as meditative and tranquil as it was when explorers first stumbled upon it in the 19th Century.
