The approach to Tham Nam passes through rice paddies and small farms — the bicycle or walk out from town is part of the appeal, and many visitors combine it with a visit to Tham Loup, a dry cave nearby. You rent a headlamp and inner tube at the cave entrance. The water is cold year-round, which is welcome in the heat.
The cave is accessible for most of the dry season but closes when the river rises in the monsoon months. Check conditions in town before making the journey north; locals will tell you honestly whether the water level is too high. The scenery around the cave area — limestone outcrops, buffaloes, paddy fields — is worth the trip regardless.