Erawan Falls — Attraction in Kanchanaburi Province

Founded in 1975 as Thailands 12th National Park. The park is located on West Thailand in the Tenasserim Hills of Kanchanaburi Province, it is one of the most famous national parks in Thailand. 81% of the park is mixed deciduous forests and the rest deciduous dipterocarp and dry evergreen forest. The park consists of limestone hills with elevation between 165-996 metres above sea level, plains and number of streams. The hills protects the park from eastern monsoon resulting in less rainfall in average. The major attraction of the park is Erawan Falls with emerald green ponds, named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. The top tier of the falls is said to resemble the elephant's head. Rainy season is from May to October. Winter season with cooler weather is from November to January. Summer season is from February to April.

Due to limited number of trails, wildlife watching possibilities around the waterfalls are very limited, macaques are common, occasionally water monitor lizards can be seen walking around water streams. Deeper into the forest some more exciting animals like Indian muntjac, wild elephants, lar gibbon, Indochinese serow, wild boar, sambar deer can be found. Some of common birds in the park are crested serpent eagle, black-naped monarch, blue whistling thrush, black-crested bulbul, blue-winged leafbird, dark-necked tailorbird, green-billed malkoha, grey peacock-pheasant and kalij pheasant.

Visiting the park Erawan National Park is open for visitors 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m everyday all year round. Although the official close time is 4:30 pm, rangers start cleaning from the top tier around 3 pm and asks visitors to leave as they slowly move down tier by tier. The lower tiers could be open up until 5 pm, depends on how quick/slow the daily cleaning goes. The park is generally very busy during the week-ends and public holidays. During the annual Songkhran Festival 13-15 April, the waterfall tiers turns into a celebration place with water fights. It is not recommended to carry non-waterproof electronic equipment like sensitive cameras or mobile phones during the festivities.

There are restaurants, various facilities, bungalows and a campsite next to the HQ. Bungalows are for 2-50 persons and the price varies from 800 THB to 4000 THB. The entrance fee is 300 THB for foreigners (children 200 THB), 100 THB for locals (children 50 THB), 20 THB for a motorbike and 30 THB for other vehicles. The park is easily accessible by public busses from Kanchanaburi. It is possible to rent bicycles at visitor center area for 20 THB/day. Tents can be rent from 150 Baht a day for 2 people and 250 a day for 3 people, sleeping bag for 25 Baht, pillow for 10 Baht and sleeping mat for 20 Baht.

Bear in mind that food is strictly forbidden beyond the 2nd tier. Visitors must pay a 20 THB fee per bottle of any drinks which can be refunded when the bottles are returned. There is so much to see and do in this park that it is impossible to describe everything. You should not miss a visit to the park when you are in Thailand. Highly...

I tried getting here early to miss the crowds, but only made it around 10am. At this point there was already a few groups around. Though it was a Saturday so there were many Thai people.

It's slightly expensive at 300 baht for a tourist to enter the park. The water is really nice to swim in, especially on a hot day. After the 5th level, the path gets a little difficult but most people should be able to manage it.

The water is filed with fish which like to nibble at your feet. This can be a little unnerving but can be a nice experience. However, if you go to the deep water or keep moving, they leave you alone.

The 7th (and last) level is worth seeing as the waterfalls change into a calcium/limestone (?) type fall which colours the water white.

There is some park security making sure people shouldn't climb where they're not allowed.

To my surprise, any food or drink is banned beyond the 3rd level. They let you take one water bottle (if you pay a deposit of 20 baht) with you. There's no drinks available on the way up, so make sure you're hydrated.

This park is well maintained and for the most part; trash free.

I think I spent at least 4 hours here. It's nice to swim about in, and I had a hammock which was lovely to fall asleep in!

^ Written March 2017

I went a second time in February 2018. This time it was filled with western tourists rather than Thai people. The 7th level was a little bit disappointing as it seemed everyone congregated at the top so there was more of a crowd of people swimming and trying to take pictures.

I was told by one of the tourists that they had to leave by 12:30pm as that's when the bus was going. Perhaps heading there later would help miss the tourists.

The weather was much nicer in February with it not being too hot. The water was refreshingly cold, and the fish not...

Unbelievably beautiful. Start of July, where water flow isn't at its best but still worth the trip. Come early as it does get busier after 11/12.

Hiked all 7 falls, you can swim at them all apart from no6. Hike was pretty easy, some steep stairs and rocky bits but fairly easy if you're young and fit. I have read people saying that shoes are a must, I hiked up and down in watershoes and I was fine. Watch out for bees and mosquitos, they're a real problem after waterfall no5.

The waterfalls are each uniquely beautiful, some with stronger falls than others. My personal favourites were 3 and 4, no3 you can swim right up to and stand underneath the falls, no 4 has a cool rock which you can slide down and into the river. The other waterfalls are really nice too however, 7 was too crowded and I didn't swim in it. The small fish are very nibbly, they love to lightly bite your ankles and your fatty parts, but only if you stop swimming/moving. So keep active and you'll be fine! Don't worry about the bigger fish they just mind their own business.

Spent 5 hours trekking the falls up and down, visited on a Tuesday so it was pretty quiet. Enjoyed plenty of time at each falls and even had a few to ourselves at certain points. You are required to wear a lifejacket so make sure you pay 20bht for one at the bottom. You can also pay 20bht pp to get a golf cart from the entrance to waterfall 1 or vice versa. Not necessary but helpful if you are tired/disabled.

We hired a private driver directly through the national park to take us for 3600 baht from our hotel in bangkok, would recommend over taking a tour as most tours only offer a few hours at the falls.

There are showers with changing rooms so bring a towel and soap if you want to wash after swimming.

Few restaurants outside the entrance, ate at one and the food was...