Krabi
Phi Phi by speedboat, with lunch
- Maya Bay and the Viking Cave
- Buffet lunch
- Best for
- Phi Phi without spending the whole day on a boat
- Skip if
- You want the sunset or Bamboo Island
Temples and caves · Northeast side of Phi Phi Leh
Viking Cave
A sea cave in the cliffs of Phi Phi Leh where swiftlet nests are harvested: closed to visitors, seen from the boat as it slows down.
Access
By boat only
Entry
National park fee
Time to allow
A few minutes from the boat
Best time
Whenever your boat passes
Why go
So you know what the stop is before you get there. Viking Cave appears on many Phi Phi itineraries, but you do not land or go in: the boat slows down at the mouth of the cave, and that is the visit.
What you will find
A cave at the foot of the cliffs on the northern part of Phi Phi Leh, called Tham Phaya Nak in Thai. Swiftlets nest inside, and their nests are collected for bird's nest soup; the cave is guarded because of the value of the nests, and it is no longer open to visitors.
The name comes from paintings on the walls that were taken for Viking longships. They show boats of several kinds, and elephants; nobody knows who made them, and there were never any Vikings here. Sources disagree on whether you can make them out from the water.
Getting there
By boat only, as a brief stop on a Phi Phi day tour from Krabi. Check that the cave is among the stops on the tour you book.
Before you go
Do not try to land, or to swim into the mouth of the cave.
The water off Viking Cave is one of the snorkelling sites the park reopened on 17 April 2025; if your tour stops to snorkel here, follow the crew's instructions.
The park fee for Phi Phi Leh is often not included in the tour price: ask before you book.
Days out that go with this
Krabi
Phi Phi at sunset, with plankton
- Sunset at Koh Poda
- BBQ dinner
- Best for
- One long island day with the most named stops
- Skip if
- You want an early night or travel with small children
Where this place leads
Common questions
Can you go inside Viking Cave?
No. The cave is closed to visitors, because the swiftlet nests inside are harvested and guarded. Boats stop briefly outside.
Why is it called Viking Cave?
Because of paintings on its walls that look like longships. They show several kinds of boat, and elephants; their origin is unknown, and there were no Vikings in Thailand.
Is Viking Cave worth it?
As a short look from the boat on a Phi Phi day, yes. It is not a reason to choose one tour over another.