Tiger Cave Temple is the most dramatic attraction near Krabi Town. The monastery sits in a forested valley about 8 kilometres northeast of town, built into a complex of caves and rock formations that the monks have occupied since the 1970s. The main cave is worth seeing — a large cavern with a seated Buddha and thousands of tiny buddha figurines covering the walls.
The real draw, however, is the 1,237 steps that lead to the summit of the karst peak above the temple. The climb takes 45 minutes to an hour and is genuinely steep in places. At the top, a large gilded Buddha and a standing golden figure look out over a panorama of karst peaks, coast, and the Andaman Sea stretching to the horizon. Start before 8am to beat the heat and the crowds, and bring water. The stairs are well-maintained but narrow in sections. Monkeys live near the top and will steal anything you leave unattended.