Erawan Waterfall
Few places can compete with the Erawan Falls, a seven-tiered waterfall near Kanchanaburi. Each of the tiers is accessible via an exciting jungle trail. At the bottom is a pool of crystal clear water in which visitors can see fish with their own eyes and take a refreshing dip!
The waterfall has seven tiers; the first few are pretty easy to get to, but the upper tiers require a bit more of a hike. You can swim in most of them and if you arrive early, you can basically choose the type of pool you’d like to hang out in and have it almost to yourself - deep pool, shallow pool, large waterfall, small waterfall, and even one with a natural rock slide. Pretty soon it became evident that the Erawan Falls wasn't just any waterfall. As moving through the lush, green jungle, you will notice streams of clear water flowing into various rock outcroppings and streams where it is possible to see the leaves that were lying on the bottom and schools of fish swimming by.
There is a way to avoid dealing with large sections of the crowd: climb to the top. The highest tier, the seventh level, is 1.5 kilometers high and takes about an hour to reach. The trail's beginning is properly paved, so visitors in slippers and high heels can reach the third tier. The trail then ends, and the climb, which includes small bridges, rocks, small waterfalls, and small steps, becomes more difficult. Make sure you're wearing good hiking boots! People will continue to leave after each tier, making it less and less crowded.
And also more and more lovely! You'll come across waterfalls that were basically natural slides, so slide as much as you can. There were also waterfalls with stunning white calcified rocks and trees that gave the flowing water a milky, blue, and white hue.
Then there was the final waterfall on the seventh tier: a large waterfall with water clattering down large, white rocks. A pool of water at the bottom contains fish that nibble at your feet. There's also a small cave opening where you can swim. True daredevils can scale even higher. They'll have to negotiate some slick rocks before taking a refreshing "shower" beneath the cascading water.
The Erawan Falls are a must-see attraction when you're in the Kanchanaburi region, regardless of whether you're a backpacker or traveling with kids. You can have a great day up there if you bring enough snacks, drinks, and swimming gear. Do, however, pay attention to the monkeys. When the owners are swimming, they have been known to steal items from bags.
The Erawan Falls are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you want to have the park all to yourself, get there early. Because it gets dark early in Thailand, a park ranger will go to the seventh tier around 3:30 PM to remind and assist visitors in descending. The entrance fee is 300 Thai Baht per person, plus an additional 20 Thai Baht if you arrive by motorcycle. On weekends, many locals visit the waterfalls, so it can get quite crowded. During the rainy season, the waterfalls are at their most beautiful.
Erawan National Park is about 65 kilometers away from Kanchanaburi. Between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, a bus departs from the bus station every 90 minutes to take you directly there. The trip there costs 50 Thai Baht per person and takes about an hour and a half. At 4:00 PM, the last bus departs for Kanchanaburi. Another option is to sign up for a guided tour, which runs about 600 Thai Baht per person (entrance included). Or you can rent a motorcycle for about 150 Thai Baht per day, not including gas.
Location: Erawan National Park, Tenasserim Hills range of Kanchanaburi Province, West Thailand
