M
madjbs
Guest
Who has caved in Thailand? What was it like and do you know any particular caves that are especially good?
Share your experience
Thanks
Share your experience
Thanks
paul
Moderator
My club, Orpheus CC, have ahad a couple of trips in Thailand. There are too many caves to list to be honest, many large river caves which are excellent. The main difference between caving in the UK and Thailand could be summarised as : Hot (~20 degrees C underground) and interesting wildlife!
M
madjbs
Guest
paul said:
Sounds good, how did you go about finding the info on where to find the caves etc.. I think there is some old guidebooks right? I have never seen one though. I have the new Siam Rivers book which has some of the popular caves in but I get the feeling it is only scratching the surface. I have seen a website as well (I think it is run by someone on here) which is very useful.
M
madjbs
Guest
paul said:madjbs said:
We were there to find caves and survey them so there was no prior info...
Others were already known about and we had some local contacts living in the area but who have since moved away. I think there's some info on the Web from Shepton Mallet CC.
Yep that is the site, very useful. I live in Thailand so I am hopefully looking for both known caves and areas that can be explored when I have more time. Cavers are thin on the ground here though
M
madjbs
Guest
Ouan said:
Bangkok, I have a car though so it would be easy to travel to places fairly close by. Are you in Thailand?
graham
New member
Smith,S.L., and Telling,J.P., 2005. UBSS Expedition to Northern Thailand. UBSS Proceedings, 23(2) , pp 87-95.
Abstract: The 2003 UBSS expedition to Northern Thailand tested the practical use of closed-circuit oxygen rebreathers as tools to explore, survey and analyse cave atmospheres in bad air passages of Tham Tab Tao, Chiang Mai Province. 80 m of new cave passage was explored and surveyed and 22 paired readings of CO2/O2 were obtained; the first such paired measurements made in Thailand caves. The ratio of CO2 enrichment:O2 depletion (1:1.2), combined with the maximum calculated CO2 concentrations (5.1%) indicate that the microbial breakdown of organic matter is the source of bad air within the cave. The source of organic matter is largely from bat guano. It was found that although rebreathers were ideal for collecting uncontaminated cave atmosphere samples, on future expeditions lightweight carbon composite air cylinders with SCUBA regulators and nose-clamps may provide the safest and most practical way to extend future exploration.
Farrant,A.R., Flower,S.P., and Lee,S.E., 2001. UBSS Expedition to Northern Thailand. UBSS Proceedings, 22(2) , pp 125-156
Abstract: The UBSS expedition to northern Thailand during December and early January 2000/2001 investigated a previously unexplored area of karst near the northern border with Myanmar. A total of 2.5 km of cave passage was mapped in four adjacent areas and a large number of karst sites were investigated. The two largest caves were 718 m and 758 m in length. However, high levels of carbon dioxide in many of the caves proved a major hindrance to exploration. A description of the finds, coupled with a brief interpretation of the geology and geomorphology of the area is given below.
The latter paper is available from http://www.ubss.org.uk/resources/proceedings/vol22/UBSS_Proc_22_2_125-156.pdf
the former should be available from http://archlib.britarch.net/
Abstract: The 2003 UBSS expedition to Northern Thailand tested the practical use of closed-circuit oxygen rebreathers as tools to explore, survey and analyse cave atmospheres in bad air passages of Tham Tab Tao, Chiang Mai Province. 80 m of new cave passage was explored and surveyed and 22 paired readings of CO2/O2 were obtained; the first such paired measurements made in Thailand caves. The ratio of CO2 enrichment:O2 depletion (1:1.2), combined with the maximum calculated CO2 concentrations (5.1%) indicate that the microbial breakdown of organic matter is the source of bad air within the cave. The source of organic matter is largely from bat guano. It was found that although rebreathers were ideal for collecting uncontaminated cave atmosphere samples, on future expeditions lightweight carbon composite air cylinders with SCUBA regulators and nose-clamps may provide the safest and most practical way to extend future exploration.
Farrant,A.R., Flower,S.P., and Lee,S.E., 2001. UBSS Expedition to Northern Thailand. UBSS Proceedings, 22(2) , pp 125-156
Abstract: The UBSS expedition to northern Thailand during December and early January 2000/2001 investigated a previously unexplored area of karst near the northern border with Myanmar. A total of 2.5 km of cave passage was mapped in four adjacent areas and a large number of karst sites were investigated. The two largest caves were 718 m and 758 m in length. However, high levels of carbon dioxide in many of the caves proved a major hindrance to exploration. A description of the finds, coupled with a brief interpretation of the geology and geomorphology of the area is given below.
The latter paper is available from http://www.ubss.org.uk/resources/proceedings/vol22/UBSS_Proc_22_2_125-156.pdf
the former should be available from http://archlib.britarch.net/
M
madjbs
Guest
Thanks, I appriciate the help
Ouan
Member
If you are west of the river go to Kanchanaburi town then take either the H3199 to the Erawan National Park or the H323 towards the Three Pagodas Pass. You'll find some caves. The Thai National Parks website has some basic information.
From east of the river take the H1 to Kaeng Khoi or Muek Lek. South of the highway there is a 2km stream cave Tham Lumphini Suan Hin at 47P 731706 1611876 while north of the main road Tham Dao Khao Kaeo is at 47P 751920 1645443. There are several other caves near here - either signed as tourist attractions or in wats.
The caves in the articles mentioned by Graham and in the River Books guide are all a very long way from Bangkok.
What are you doing spending all evening and most of the night (posting at 02:30 and 04:45!!) on a caving forum? There are more interesting things to do in Bangkok.
From east of the river take the H1 to Kaeng Khoi or Muek Lek. South of the highway there is a 2km stream cave Tham Lumphini Suan Hin at 47P 731706 1611876 while north of the main road Tham Dao Khao Kaeo is at 47P 751920 1645443. There are several other caves near here - either signed as tourist attractions or in wats.
The caves in the articles mentioned by Graham and in the River Books guide are all a very long way from Bangkok.
What are you doing spending all evening and most of the night (posting at 02:30 and 04:45!!) on a caving forum? There are more interesting things to do in Bangkok.
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madjbs
Guest
Thanks Ouan (is your name Thai?)
Posting on a caving forum at funny hours due to insomnia from previous nights doing interesting stuff all night
So are you in Thailand ?
EDIT: ahh, you are the website guy, well done its a very usefull site
Posting on a caving forum at funny hours due to insomnia from previous nights doing interesting stuff all night
So are you in Thailand ?
EDIT: ahh, you are the website guy, well done its a very usefull site
rhychydwr1
Active member
EXPEDITION THAM FARRARG, THAILAND by Dean Smith. Report of the Combined Services Association 1992 31 pp [many are A3] in photocopy, unbound.
KARSTSTUDIEN IN THAILAND by Harald Mark 1992 151 pp 64 figs 24 photos. This is a university thesis which instead of resting in some dark library, the author has had published. It is an important contribution to tropical karst. His detailed chemical studies produce some interesting results. SB In German with English summary.
MAE KWAE 88 / Exp?dition Sp?l?ologique en Tha?lande 1993 140 pp, many photos, lots of surveys, some A3 in size, lots of line drawings. A very detailed expedition report. SB In French
SACRED ROCKS AND BUDDHIST CAVES IN THAILAND by Christopher Munier 1998 266 pp numerous colour photos. What I like about this book is the depth of scholarship The author has studied and precised the history of Thailand and this gives an in depth perspective to the holy caves, most of which are natural limestone caves. The maps, detailed descriptions of how to get to the sites, show that the author has done his homework. But most cavers will buy this book for the chapter on Phallic Rocks and not for the cave descriptions.
SHEPTON MALLET CAVING CLUB EXPEDITION REPORT / THAILAND 2002. SMCC Jl Series 11 (1) Spring 2002 29 pp 23 colour photos, surveys etc. SB
THAILAND EXPEDITION 2001 UMPHANG DISTRICT, TAK PROVINCE by Martin Ellis et al. pub as Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occ Pub No 9 May 2001 25 pp, 15 colour photos, maps, surveys etc. SB
SHEPTON MALLET CAVING CLUB JL Ser 10 N1 8 AUTUMN 2000 SMCC Thailand Expedition Feb 2000 by Matin Ellis pp 247 - 272
THAILAND 98 Caving Report [in] The Belfry Bulletin Dec 1998 Vol 50 No 1 pp 13 - 38 illus. surveys. A reconnaissance trip to the Tai Rom Yen National Park. Photographed and mapped over 2.7 km of cave passage. SB
THE CAVES OF THAILAND by John R Dunkley 1995 124 pp numerous photos surveys etc. This compendium will be a useful work of reference for many years to come. It is not just a source book on caves but an /appreciation of Thai culture, or monastic karst! Now out of print, I have the last few copies. SB ?20.00
KARSTSTUDIEN IN THAILAND by Harald Mark 1992 151 pp 64 figs 24 photos. This is a university thesis which instead of resting in some dark library, the author has had published. It is an important contribution to tropical karst. His detailed chemical studies produce some interesting results. SB In German with English summary.
MAE KWAE 88 / Exp?dition Sp?l?ologique en Tha?lande 1993 140 pp, many photos, lots of surveys, some A3 in size, lots of line drawings. A very detailed expedition report. SB In French
SACRED ROCKS AND BUDDHIST CAVES IN THAILAND by Christopher Munier 1998 266 pp numerous colour photos. What I like about this book is the depth of scholarship The author has studied and precised the history of Thailand and this gives an in depth perspective to the holy caves, most of which are natural limestone caves. The maps, detailed descriptions of how to get to the sites, show that the author has done his homework. But most cavers will buy this book for the chapter on Phallic Rocks and not for the cave descriptions.
SHEPTON MALLET CAVING CLUB EXPEDITION REPORT / THAILAND 2002. SMCC Jl Series 11 (1) Spring 2002 29 pp 23 colour photos, surveys etc. SB
THAILAND EXPEDITION 2001 UMPHANG DISTRICT, TAK PROVINCE by Martin Ellis et al. pub as Shepton Mallet Caving Club Occ Pub No 9 May 2001 25 pp, 15 colour photos, maps, surveys etc. SB
SHEPTON MALLET CAVING CLUB JL Ser 10 N1 8 AUTUMN 2000 SMCC Thailand Expedition Feb 2000 by Matin Ellis pp 247 - 272
THAILAND 98 Caving Report [in] The Belfry Bulletin Dec 1998 Vol 50 No 1 pp 13 - 38 illus. surveys. A reconnaissance trip to the Tai Rom Yen National Park. Photographed and mapped over 2.7 km of cave passage. SB
THE CAVES OF THAILAND by John R Dunkley 1995 124 pp numerous photos surveys etc. This compendium will be a useful work of reference for many years to come. It is not just a source book on caves but an /appreciation of Thai culture, or monastic karst! Now out of print, I have the last few copies. SB ?20.00
axbridgecaver
Member
The Axbridge Caving Group expedition report to Thailand in 2001 is posted on the ACG web site. Includes photographs, surveys maps etc.
Link - http://www.axbridgecavinggroup.org/international_expeditions/thailand_and_malaysia/index.shtml
Link - http://www.axbridgecavinggroup.org/international_expeditions/thailand_and_malaysia/index.shtml
rhychydwr1
Active member
Pindar Sidisunthorn, Simon Gardener, Dean Smart (2006): Caves Of Northern Thailand, 392 pp, over 900 colour photos, 106 caves described and surveyed. This book brings together these diverse aspects of caves in northern Thailand for the first time, with chapters on geology, archaeology, temples and folklore.
Have a look at http://www.showcaves.com
and click Thailand in the right hand column. Plenty of caves described.
Have a look at http://www.showcaves.com
and click Thailand in the right hand column. Plenty of caves described.
M
madjbs
Guest
Thanks guys, thats a good list for me to get working on.
