Viking Cave on Phi Phi Leh Island
On the way to Maya Bay, your long-tail driver will inevitably stop at Viking Cave, the high grotto that cuts through the cliffs of Phi Phi Leh.
The Chinese are fond of the nests of salangans (a bird of the swift family often mistaken for a swallow), which are said to stimulate virility. These birds make their cozy homes away from predators in the shelter of high caves. To reach them, Phi Phi's hunter-funambulists traverse bamboo scaffolds that are as dizzying as they are fragile.
Observe the tangle of platforms and incense-bedecked offering altars that the men erect in honor of the cave spirits before whom they meditate as they climb their makeshift scaffolding.
Where?
On the northwest tip of Phi Phi Leh Island. Access by Long Tail.
Duration?
Half an hour long tail to Viking Cave from Ton Sai Bay.
How much does it cost?
Access to the cave is free (visit only in high season).