Welcome to Erawan Falls in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province. With seven different levels and bright green pools, it’s a must-see natural wonder. We had an extended visit to Kanchanaburi last year, and it’s now become our favourite getaway from Bangkok. This guide will help you decide the best way to get there, the best time of year to go and where to stay on a longer visit. 

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Best known for the ‘bridge over the River Kwai’ and its involvement in World War II, Kanchanaburi draws many visitors to its war memorials and museums.

Kanchanaburi, also has some interesting temples, but the top reason many local and some international tourists head there is for the peaceful surrounds and spectacular scenery. 

One of my favourite places to visit in Kanchanaburi is Erawan Falls. Here’s my complete guide from how to get there to what to see.

What makes Erawan Falls special?

Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi Province is Thailand’s 12th national park, founded in June 1975. There are several reasons to visit the national park, but the major attraction is Erawan Falls.

The 7-tiered falls are a hiker’s dream. Each level promises something even more stunning than the previous, culminating in the 7th level, the waterfall that resembles the 3-headed Erawan elephant from Hindu mythology. 

It’s 1,500 meters from the top to the bottom and takes a couple of hours to get there, so be prepared for a half day of trekking.

Along with being just gorgeous to look at these are falls, you are encouraged to swim in. In fact, in many levels, you can get right up underneath the various falls. Little effort is required to walk to or swim in the lower levels, making the falls suitable for most visitors, including families and those with limited mobility. 

What to Expect when you Hike the falls

My advice is to take your time, enjoy all the sights and sounds, and rest at each tier. This is a marathon, not a sprint. However, if you arrive early I think it’s worth doing a quick hike to level 3 so you can enjoy it without the crowds.

Here’s a look at what you can see and do at each of the seven tiers.

Tier 1 – Lai Khuen Rang

This is your entry tier; it’s like a long stream with a drop at the end. Many people prefer to stay here, swim in the shallow pools and picnic by the side of this stream. It’s a promise of what’s to come.

If you are travelling with small kids or if you have any mobility problems, there is wheelchair access to a section of this tier.

Tier 2 – Wang Mat Cha

This is your first achievement; it’s a pretty blue pool, and a few different varieties of fish inhabit it. Feel free to swim here, although more beautiful sites await you.

Resist the urge to stop here for too long and keep moving, the next level is usually deeper and better for swimming.

Tier 3 – Pha Nam Tok

Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the turnoff to level 3. It’s just off the main path, but a sign shows the way. You don’t want to miss Pha Nam Tok, the largest waterfall on the seven tiers.

The pool is enormous, and it can get very crowded during the high season, which is a shame, but if you get here early you can have a pool to yourself. We entered as the park opened and there were only a couple of other people here. 

Tier 4 – Oke Nang Phee Suae

This waterfall flows over some boulders into a big pool with loads of fish. The pond isn’t the easiest to get to as you have to climb over some boulders to get into it.

Don’t worry about the fish; they don’t seem to care that you’re there so you can enjoy the cool water. On our visit in July, there was not a lot of water in the falls and they had set up a pipe to bring water up.

Tier 5 – Buar Mai Long

By the time I got to tier 5, I was ready to rest. There wasn’t a great swimming area here, but the nature is beautiful, and it’s an excellent place to prepare yourself for what’s to come. 

If you have found the walk to this point has become a bit challenging, I suggest you stop here. It only gets harder. In hindsight, I wish I had stopped here! The next section of the hike is harder, but it was actually walking back down the hill that was my undoing.

Tier 6 – Dong Pruk Sa

Dong Pruk Sa is beautiful, and there’s a viewing platform just off the main track. There’s a tiny swimming area, but I didn’t see many people using it.

Tier 7 – Phu Pha Erawan

The final and the best drop is supposed to be Phu Pha Erawan, the 3-headed elephant waterfall. I have to be honest; I didn’t see the elephant.

However this top tier sight to behold, and you’ll definitely want to cool off in the pool, especially if you haven’t done it at any of the other tiers.

I was so proud of myself for making it to the top that I rushed back down not being particularly careful, and twisted my knee. It was a long way back to the bottom!

How to Prepare for the Walk & what to wear

You’re going to be walking on a forest track and it’s very humid, so wear light material that breathes, no sweaters needed.

Hiking boots aren’t necessary, you could wear sturdy hiking sandals as your feet will get wet. Whatever you wear make sure it has decent non-slip traction. I wore waterproof hiking shoes as I felt more stable in them. Plenty of people were wearing regular sneakers and even crocs and they seemed fine!  

Also, be prepared for lots of rules. The park management is very strict about safety and there is a large lifejacket rental desk before you head off to level 2.

All who plan to swim are supposed to rent a lifejacket. We saw plenty of people ignoring this rule.

Environmental protection is also a top priority. To curb plastic rubbish in the waterfalls, you may not take food beyond level 2.

You can take drink bottles but these must be declared, and a deposit paid before you continue to level 3. When you return your bottle the deposit is refunded.

Even though it’s only 1,500m from bottom to top, remember you’re steadily going up, so it’s going to take time. I didn’t count the stairs, but there were a lot! Particularly when you get past level 5.

Level	Official Waterfall	Height (metres)	Distance Walked (metres)
1	Hlai Khuen Rung	20	500
2	Wang Macha	170	600
3	Pha Namtok	220	700
4	Oke Nang Peesau	520	1050
5	Buea Mai Long	1120	1550
6	Dong Prucksa	1420	1750
7	Phu Pha Erawan	1550	2000

It will take an average person 1.5 to 2 hours. You’ll want to stop at each tier, look around, and take some photos before proceeding. Allow more time if you plan to swim.

Always look where you’re going, and go slow; the elements erode some slatted stairs, so tread carefully. I slipped on my way down and it was not fun! 

At each tier is a ranger station, they’re not always staffed so don’t expect to find a lot of help there, so never walk the trek alone.

Planning your Visit to Erawan Falls

It’s worth a bit of planning before you set out. On our first attempt to visit in 2022, we discovered the day before we were due to leave Bangkok that the waterfalls were closed because of flooding. On the other hand, visit in the dry season and the falls won’t look their best!

Best Time of Year to Go to Erawan Falls

Erawan National Park is open for 11 months of the year. The entire park is closed for the month of September because of heavy rainfall. If you have some flexibility about when you visit, it’s a good idea to choose a time with decent rainfall so you can see the falls at their best. 

I think the best time to visit Erawan Falls is May-June or after the rainy season in November. 

If travelling to Thailand is new to you it’s important to know Thailand has three seasons:

• Summer: from February to April, it can get very hot and humid during this time, and climbing to the higher levels of the waterfall can be challenging.
• Rainy: from May to October, storms can come from the southwest, however, the hills protect the park from the monsoon so it doesn’t see as much rainfall as other areas. It can still be slippery and slightly dangerous on days with rain.
• Winter: November to January are the cooler months when temperatures drop to around 20° in the evening but remain around 30°during the day. 

Kanchanaburi Rainfall and Average temperatures

Month	Avg High Temp	Avg Low Temp	Avg Rainfall (mm)
January	34.0°C / 93.2°F	19.0°C / 66.2°F	5
February	35.5°C / 95.9°F	21.2°C / 70.2°F	30
March	37.2°C / 99.0°F	23.5°C / 74.3°F	29
April	38.4°C / 101.1°F	25.6°C / 78.1°F	65
May	35.6°C / 96.1°F	25.2°C / 77.4°F	220
June	33.9°C / 93.0°F	24.5°C / 76.1°F	155
July	33.6°C / 92.5°F	24.3°C / 75.7°F	175
August	33.5°C / 92.3°F	24.2°C / 75.6°F	197
September	33.1°C / 91.6°F	24.0°C / 75.2°F	344
October	32.9°C / 91.2°F	23.5°C / 74.3°F	242
November	33.2°C / 91.8°F	22.2°C / 72.0°F	48
December	32.5°C / 90.5°F	19.8°C / 67.6°F	10

If you can visit midweek, it is less crowded. And if you are here during Songkran be ready for some serious water fights!

How to Get To Erawan Falls From KanchanaburI

Erawan Falls is 70km from the centre of Kanchanaburi. Thankfully, there is a minibus service for those of you who prefer not to drive in Thailand.

By bus from Kanchanaburi to Erawan Falls– take minibus no 8170 from Kanchanaburi bus station. It leaves every hour from 8.00 – 17.20 and takes 1 and 1/2 hours to get to the Erawan National Park.

From Nam Tok to Erawan Falls – If you are planning on visiting the war memorial at Hellfire Pass on the same day, I would recommend you start at Erawan Falls as soon as it opens then visit Hell Fire Pass after lunch. You will need private transport to do this. The trip is about 50km and the drive will take just under an hour. 

See our full guide to the best ways to travel from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.

How to get to Erawan Falls from Bangkok

If you’re starting in the bustling city of Bangkok, reaching Erawan Falls might seem like a daunting task, but let’s break it down into manageable steps.

First, catch a bus from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal to Kanchanaburi. The journey usually takes around 3-4 hours, depending on traffic. 

Once in Kanchanaburi, you would need to catch the local bus number 8170 from Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to Erawan National park. They depart every hour from 8 am to 5 pm. This leg of your journey will take about another 2 hours. 

Alternatively, if you prefer a more direct and less time-consuming route, you can hire a private car or taxi from Bangkok. You can find a driver on Grab but we used InDrive. 

Tip: To make your journey as smooth as possible, ensure you carry enough Thai Baht to cover your transportation expenses, as credit cards are not commonly used for these.

Where to stay near Erawan Falls

Erawan National Park has a campsite, and bungalows are also available. Hotels and homestays are all along the 3199 road into Erawan to suit every budget. We stayed in town at Natee The Riverfront Hotel in Kanchanaburi and drove to the falls early in the morning.

Z9 Resort

Just 22km from Erawan Falls Z9 Resort is the most lux property near the falls. These 50 square metre pods sit right on the river and have a terrace to hang out on and watch the sunset.  The resort has an onsite restaurant which is very handy in such a remote location. 

Check photos and prices of Z9 Resort

Taramontra Resort

Just under 8km from the falls Taramontra Resort this is a prefect choice if you want an early start for your walk. The floating cabins offer free use of Kayaks, a SUP and life jacket. This family run property can be reached by bus from Kanchanaburi and is clean and modern. 

Check photos and prices of Taramontra Resort

As it’s only an hour away from central Kanchanaburi, you could have your base there and make a day out of it. If you’re looking for something luxurious, Cross River Kwai is one of our favourites.

Need to Know
Entry fee: 300 Baht for adults and 150 Baht for children 3-14 years old, 20 Baht for a motorbike and 30 Baht for a car. Thai citizens pay 60 Baht for adults and 30 Baht for children.

Opening hours: 8am until around 4:30 pm every day. They close the areas from the top down so you may be moved on from the upper levels from about 3pm onwards. 

What’s nearby: Want more waterfalls or something a little less crowded? If you have transport, head to Huai Mae Khamin Falls 43 km north/east of Erawan Falls in Sri Nakharin Dam National Park.

Spend at least half a day at Erawan Falls

If you’re in Kanchanaburi for a few days, spend at least one of them at Erawan Falls. It’s a stunning area of Thailand, and if you’re prepared to walk to the top, the waterfall that looks like three elephant heads is well worth it. 

In fact, we think that a few days staying on the river and an entire day exploring the park, which offers a couple of cool limestone caves with swimming areas that very few visitors see. Put Erawan National Park on your list. You won’t regret it!