One of the more bizarre and often the most memorable activity during a stay in Kanchanaburi is a visit to the tiger temple. In the tiger temple, or more accurately tiger reserve, it is possible to have your photo taken sat next to a tiger or even feed one of the baby tiger cubs. This is a once in a life time experience but be warned the tiger temple is focused on exploiting as much money from visitors as possible.

The Tiger Temple afternoon session is between 14:00 to 17:00 and the entrance fee is 600THB. For your money expect 10 minutes in the tiger enclosure and have approximately 8 photos taken sat next to tigers. The temple is 40km northwest from Kanchanaburi on the main road to Sai Yok and takes approximate 1 hour by either organized tour of private taxi. A taxi can be hired from Kanchanaburi to the Temple for 800-1000THB. Do not wear bright yellow or orange clothes and photos are taken on your own camera – so check batteries before leaving!

Beautitiful tigers at the tiger temple

There are two sessions to visit the tigers either in the morning or the afternoon. The afternoon entrance fee is 600THB and is standard visit. The session is based in the tiger canyon where the more docile adult tigers are chained to posts and tourists are permitted to have their photo taken sat next to the tigers.

A mighty tiger

Visitor numbers to the Tiger Temple are always very high with between 300-600 tourists visiting per day. Tiger Temple staff who take photos for you posing next to the adult tigers but due to visitor numbers expect to be rushed around. Generally you sit with 5 to 6 tigers and you spend about 10 minutes in the tiger enclosure. The remainder of the time in the tiger canyon is spent sat watching and guessing which tiger will eat a tourist.

 

There are two sessions to visit the tigers either in the morning or the afternoon. The afternoon entrance fee is 600THB and is standard visit. The session is based in the tiger canyon where the more docile adult tigers are chained to posts and tourists are permitted to have their photo taken sat next to the tigers. Visitor numbers to the Tiger Temple are always very high with between 300-600 tourists visiting per day.

Tiger Temple staff who take photos for you posing next to the adult tigers but due to visitor numbers expect to be rushed around. Generally you sit with 5 to 6 tigers and you spend about 10 minutes in the tiger enclosure. The remainder of the time in the tiger canyon is spent sat watching and guessing which tiger will eat a tourist. There is an additional charge of 1000THB to have your photo taken in a selection of special possess; the tigers head in your lap or the tigers paw on your shoulder or you head in the tigers mouth......

A tiger being lead away

During the morning session there is the chance to spend time with the baby cubs, feed the juniors and have photos with the adults. In the cooler morning the tigers are more active but this session has very limited numbers and is significantly more expensive than the afternoon session. The extended morning activities which include feeding and playing the baby tiger cubs costs a whopping 5000THB.

 

Due to the heat of the afternoon sun many of the tigers will be very inactive and spend the majority of the time sleeping. Cat owners will be very familiar with the sleepy nature of the tigers who just want to sleep off their lunch. The inactivity of the tigers gave rise to rumours and reports that the tigers were drugged. I have been numerous occasions and have never seen any acts of cruelty against the animals. I personally feel sorrier for the hordes of tourists who are penned into the visitor areas, harshly shunted around the tigers by non interested staff and moaned at by the drivers for being late back to the taxis. While all of this is happening being blatantly exploited for as much money as possible by the Tiger Temple - you don’t see this tourist cruelty on the tiger temple cruelty websites!

The temple could be so much better managed, both designed for the animals and the hordes of tourists. People will always go to the temple as it is a once in a life time opportunity and this will be the first photo shown to friends and family. The whole experience is similar to waiting for the autograph of an idol, the build-up isn’t always good and you’ll be forced to buy some expensive merchandise but the memory and signature will stay with you forever. This sums up the Tiger Temple, you won’t feel as if you’ve had long enough with the tigers and every additional activity with the tigers is outrageous priced but where else can you sit and stroke a tiger?

 

Most visitors reach the tiger temple via one of the organised tours from Kanchanaburi which includes the entrance fee in the tour price. There are even tours from Bangkok with a 2-3hour drive each way this is certainly a lot of traveling for just 10 minutes with the tigers!