The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will allow a limited number of tourists to go on a guided visit of Chamber 3 in Chiang Rai's Tham Luang cave complex, starting from the middle of next month.
The chamber, which was previously closed to visitors, became world famous after the daring rescue of the 12 members of the "Wild Boar" football team and their coach, who were trapped in the cave system for 18 days following a heavy downpour five years ago.
Athapol Charoenchansa, DNP director-general, said that starting on Dec 15, groups of 10-12 people will be allowed to visit Chamber 2 and Chamber 3.
Five groups will be allowed to visit the chambers each day, each accompanied by a licensed guide, he said.
The tour, he said, will give visitors a sense of the difficulties faced by the rescue workers who retrieved the group from the depths of the cave, which is located in Mae Sai district.
The department will provide tour guides who will take visitors through the route taken by rescue workers five years ago, so they can get a sense of how difficult it was to transport those who were trapped out of the cave, he said.
Chamber 3, which is about two kilometres from the cave's entrance, was initially open only to researchers and experts. The department has decided to open the cave more widely due to public interest.
Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan will officially launch the tours on Dec 15.
