Erawan Waterfall, Kanchanaburi

Located in Kanchanaburi province, Erawan National Park is home to one of Thailand’s most impressive waterfalls. With its inviting emerald pools and lush forest setting, the multi-tiered Erawan Waterfall makes for a relaxing day trip from Kanchanaburi town.

Erawan National Park

The national park and waterfall are named after Erawan, a three-headed white elephant from Hindu mythology. The name was given because the top tier of the falls resembles an elephant’s head.

As one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, Erawan is at its busiest on weekends and public holidays. The park and waterfalls can be visited at almost any time of the year, but during the rainy season (June to October), extra care is needed, and some higher-elevation trails may be temporarily closed by park rangers.

In addition to the trail that leads up to the different levels of the waterfalls, there is a separate Erawan Nature Trail. This 30-minute hike takes you through the forest with viewpoints along the way. If you’d like to do this hike, ask at the visitor centre because you may need to be accompanied by a park ranger

Hiking the waterfall trails

The seven-tiered Erawan Waterfall is the star attraction of the park. Stretching over 1,500 metres in length and cascading over limestone rocks, the striking blue-green colours of the falls come from the calcium carbonate crystals in the water.

Each level has its own character, with natural pools perfect for swimming and relaxing. The lower tiers are easy to access and consequently are the busiest. As you climb higher, the crowds thin out and the scenery becomes more dramatic. The upper levels require a moderate hike and are more slippery, but reward the effort with quieter pools and panoramic jungle views.

The trail is well-maintained and consists of a mix of paved sections and more natural paths. With a reasonable level of fitness, you could reach the top level in around an hour. However, that does not include spending much time at any of the natural pools on the way. For a more relaxed and enjoyable hike, allow around three hours to reach the top. This gives you ample time to swim in the pools and enjoy plenty of breathers on the way up.

Fish spa
Most of the pools at Erawan are home to a type of carp known as mahseer barb. These fish are commonly seen at waterfalls and freshwater streams in Thailand, but if you haven’t seen them before, they can be unnerving when you get into the water. They won’t harm you, but they will swim around people’s feet because they are attracted to the dead skin. This free fish spa can be ticklish, so be careful if you have sensitive feet.

The first two tiers of the waterfall are the busiest and most popular with Thai daytrippers. As you go higher, you will see fewer people.

Level 1: Lai Kuen Rung
From the visitor centre, it’s a gentle walk (around 500 metres) to the first level. The pool here is a pleasant place to sit with your feet in the cool water and experience the fish for the first time.

Level 2: Wang Macha
Continue along the trail for around 100 metres, and you arrive at the second level, which is home to the largest of the Erawan pools. This is also one of the most attractive, with inviting turquoise/emerald water tempting you in for a dip. The large pool on this level is also where the fish are at their most abundant.

With this level being one of the best for swimming and easily accessible, it is usually the busiest and especially popular with Thai families.

Reducing rubbish
To prevent littering, no food or plastic water bottles are allowed beyond the second level. However, you can pay a 20 Baht deposit for your water bottle. The money is refunded when you return and show that you still have the bottle.

Level 3: Pha Nam Tok
The third level is characterised by water cascading from a cliff. This causes the water in the pool below to foam and makes it a refreshing location for a natural-style ‘jacuzzi’.

Level 4: Oke Nang Peesua
While this level may not be the most spectacular, it is good for adventure seekers with two large limestone boulders acting as a natural water slide.

Level 5: Bue Mai Long
After level four, the trail becomes more strenuous. The pathway is unpaved, and you need to be extra careful with your footing in the slippery conditions. There is also more distance between each of the last three levels, so if you are already feeling tired, keep that in mind.

The trek to Bua Mai Long takes you over a small bridge before bringing you out to several pools with water flowing down from a series of picturesque limestone steps.

Level 6: Dong Phruk Sa
The waterfall at level six may not be the most spectacular, but the hike between level five and six is one of the most scenic in the park, taking you past dense forest, vast tree roots, and large moss-covered rocks.

Level 7: Phu Pha Erawan
Phu Pha Erawan (The Erawan Cliff) is the culmination of the hike, but it does involve climbing over some rocks to get there. Take time here to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature before embarking on the trail back down to the visitor centre.

Wildlife
Along the route, you should notice a variety of wildlife. While Erawan National Park is home to several species of venomous snakes, the chances of spotting one are rare. More common are harmless tree snakes. You may also see lizards, squirrels, tree shrews and macaques.

How to get to Erawan Waterfall

Although some travellers do visit Erawan National Park as part of a day trip from Bangkok, it’s more relaxing to visit the falls from Kanchanaburi. Hotels and tour offices in Kanchanaburi town can make arrangements for you. A joint tour costs around 450 Baht per person, while a private trip is approximately 2,000 Baht.

Local buses run at hourly intervals from Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to the park entrance, with the fare around 50 Baht. Journey time to the park is approximately 1.5 hours. The last return bus usually leaves the park in the late afternoon, so be sure to check the schedule in advance to avoid getting stranded. If you do opt to take the bus and want to hike to the top level of the falls, it’s advisable to leave earlier in the morning to allow enough time.

Good to know

Erawan National Park is open 08:00-16:30. However, park rangers ask people to leave from the upper levels of the falls from around 3 PM.

On arrival at the Erawan National Park visitor centre, you are required to pay an entrance fee. For non-Thais, the ticket costs 300 Baht for adults (150 Baht for children). There are shops and stalls near the visitor centre selling food, drink and souvenirs.

As part of anti-littering measures, no food or drink is permitted beyond level two of the falls. However, you can take a water bottle with you if you pay a refundable 20 Baht deposit. The money is refunded when you return via the checkpoint and show that you still have the bottle.

The waterfall is at its busiest at weekends and public holidays. If you’d like to avoid the crowds, arrive early on a weekday morning.

The trail can be slippery, especially beyond level three. Footwear with a good grip is needed, but being able to easily slip your shoes on or off is also practical when wading through water.

Swimming is allowed in many of the pools, but you may be asked to wear a life jacket in certain areas for safety.

Erawan Waterfall may occasionally be off limits at times when the park is closed for safety or environmental reasons (e.g. localised wildfires in March/April and the annual closure of Erawan National Park in September).

The cool season months (November to February) offer the best conditions for hiking and clearer water in the pools. The hot season months (March to May) can be a great time to cool off in the pools, but the hike to the higher levels becomes sweaty work. The rainy season (May to October) does see the falls in full flow, but the rain introduces more silt to the pools, so they can be a more murky colour.

Accommodation is available at Erawan National Park in the form of park bungalows and tents. Contact the park for full details. There are also several resorts nearby, but outside the park boundaries.

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Location map

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