Viking Cave, Phi Phi

Viking Cave, Phi Phi (4 November, 2005)


Viking Cave, or in Thai, Tham Phaya Nak, is a cave on the eastern side of Phi Phi Le, the smaller of the two major islands of the Phi Phi archipelago. The cave's Thai name Tham Phaya Nak was given by His Majesty King Rama IX when he visited Viking Cave in 1972. There is a particular boulder in the cave the resembles the head of a great serpent in Buddhism, the naga, and he named the cave after this peculiar shape.

Tham Phaya Nak is more popularly known as Viking Cave. It got this unusual name not because it was visited by ancient Vikings, but due to the ancient cave painting found there that depict long boats resembling those of the Viking. The drawings are located on the eastern and southern walls of the cave.

There are wall paintings of elephants as well as various boats, including European, Arab and Chinese sailing ships, baroques, motorboats, and steamships. In all likelihood, the paintings are fairly recent, are were probably executed by sea gypsies or pirates who stopover in the cave to shelter from unfavourable weather, to transfer their cargo and to repair their vassals.

Bird nests are harvested from the cave walls, hence Viking Cave is out-of-bounds to visitors. The bird nest season is between February and April. A birdnest company has the concession for the cave, and their approval must be sought if you want to visit the cave.

A closer view of Viking Cave. (4 November, 2005)


One of our speed boats arriving at Viking Cave. (4 November, 2005)


A pier for bird-nest harvesters at Viking Cave. (4 November, 2005)

Viking Cave is on the map of Mu Ko Phi Phi Archipelago

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