Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave Opens Tours to Chamber 3 Where Footballers Were Trapped

The Department of National Parks in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district has officially opened Chamber 3 at Tham Luang Cave which depicts the rescue operation of 12 football players and coach from the “Wild Boar” team that became trapped in a cave for 18 days after a heavy rain five years ago.

Attapon Charoenchansa, head of the Department of National Parks announced that Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park will market itself as a cave adventure destination, with a significant attraction serving as a remembrance of the remarkable rescue mission.

No more than ten participants may visit Chamber 3 at one time, and a forest official and a local guide must accompany each group. The trip will go for approximately three hours, and each day, the chamber will only be open to two parties.

Tourist safety is our first priority. He announced the decision to open the stretch of the cave that leads to and includes Chamber 3, a crucial location for the rescue operation, after speaking with specialists.

Tham Luang Cave Chamber 3

Near the entrance, around 800 meters away, is Chamber 3. The Wild Boar football squad became trapped in Chamber 9, which is located approximately 2.4 kilometers from the cave entrance. Public access is not currently available to the area beyond Chamber 3.

The route is going to be complicated and risky, so we’re planning to offer a longer trail only to professional cave explorers. We’ll also be conducting more studies to determine which regions may be opened to accommodate the demand from these expert explorers.

The slick floor, steep path, and jagged pebbles make it imperative that all visitors are in good health before venturing into Chamber 3. He also mentioned that due to the narrowness of the walls, there are instances where the party can only pass through in single file.

During a recent media tour, Noppadon Uppakham—a member of the rescue crew and a guide—explained that guests will gain an understanding of the sacrifices made by many in order to rescue the 13 football players and their coach.

Mr. Noppadon helped set up the guiding ropes that divers used to reach Chamber 3 with their oxygen tanks.

Rescue team member reflects

The ropes, electrical lines, communication cables, and tubing used to transfer oxygen into the cave are still in their original, undamaged form as museum pieces. The rescuers’ use of stretchers to transfer the boys into Chamber 3 is another noteworthy feature.

A member of the cave rescue team named Mario Wild reflected on his experience, saying that things were chaotic at the outset of the expedition owing to ineffective management, but that things settled down and the effort was a success in the end. The sight of the first rescued youngster was a moment he vividly recalled.

His delicate wrappings made it impossible for me to tell if he was alive or not. The medical staff’s thumbs-up signaling that he was still alive was a relief, nevertheless. The enchanted land of Tham Luang is very remarkable. “And it made possible things that were previously impossible thanks to strong cooperation from all partners,” he said.

Tham Luang Cave is a great spot to visit and a safe venue for people looking for their own cave adventure, according to Josh Morris, a former coordinator of an international rescue team with extensive experience in cave exploring.

Morris also mentioned that his team will work with the DNP to train its employees to be cave guides. Until the weather permits, Chamber 3 will not be open to the public. It opened to the public on Friday.

Tourists from Thailand can enter for 950 baht, while visitors from other countries will have to pay 1,500 baht. This does not include any additional fees for renting safety gear.