Fish Cave, Mae Hong Son Provence, Thailand (Carp Swimming up stream into a an Underwater Cave)

     Last week Ploy and I were traveling to Mae Hong Son from Chiang Mai, when we stopped off for a short rest at Thai Nature Park, where the fish swim upstream into an underwater cave. It sounds less amazing that it is, so I took many photos of the park and of the beautiful fish to convey how special it is to see them.

     This fish cave park is an absolute must for anyone who travels to Mae Hong Son. It is not a tourist attraction, but a natural wonder.

The large fish swim around in the ponds and stream, until they reach the cave,
where they disappear into the dark cavern beneath the water's surface.

Here is spot where the fish swim into the cave and likely breed in the cool water.

Cave Exploration in Northern Thailand, at the Bang Mapra Tham Lot

   
     The cave at Bang Mapra is far more extensive than one would predict before entering it. This cave is close to one mile long, and is only accessible by floating downstream on a tiny rickety bamboo raft, with both a guide and raft-man.

    As we approached the cave, there was a back board set up in all its glory, as a wary hazard for first time spelunkers.

    This is Thailand, so we knew it could be rough, as we climbed aboard out small bamboo craft and drifted into the mouth of the cave.

    The original cavern is about 50-60 feet tall, and filled with both stalactites and stalagmites.

Bamboo rafts awaiting their riders.

Approaching the cave's mouth.

     The main cave has three offshoots, one to the right, which is easily manageable, and two off to the left, both of which are only accessible by climbing up a very tall, very straight ladder set all the way up to the top.

Here I am, on the raft as we entered the large cave.

 Thank you for looking, and please enjoy these pictures of teh Bang Mapra Cave in all its splendor