Erawan is one of the few places in Thailand that exceeds expectations, we promise you that! Photos don’t do it justice and there’s more to see than just a couple of nice waterfalls. For us, the trail itself was the highlight - a lush rainforest full of little streams, wooden bridges, twisting roots, and scenery that feels like you’ve been transported to the “Garden of Eden”.

Seven cascading waterfalls make up Erawan National Park, all offering something unique, whether it be emerald-green pools ideal for swimming or layers of vertical drops reminiscent of an Avatar movie. The entire hike is awesome and is even suitable for families (with older kids). Some sections are steeper than others, requiring that extra effort, but most of the walk is relaxed - especially if you take it slow and have a break at each waterfall.

We rode our scooters here in the morning and arrived at the entry point at around 10:00 AM. It took us about 90 minutes from Kanchanaburi, which felt quite long in all honesty, but the ride was very scenic - passing dams and rivers as we approached the national park. We parked our bike in the designated parking area, jumped on a golf cart to level 1, and started our hike up all seven tiers. Some of the waterfalls were a bit dry, as we visited in February, however this didn’t take anything away from the experience!

Erawan National Park - Paradise — *Erawan National Park*

Erawan National Park - Garden of Eden — *Thailand’s “Garden of Eden”*

Erawan Falls - Natural Oasis — *Level 5*

Erawan National Park - Boardwalks — *Boardwalks*

The Best Waterfalls of Erawan National Park

This may differ in the rainy season, due to the higher water flow, but we found the most beautiful waterfalls of Erawan to be located at Levels 4, 5 and 6. The 4th level is called Ok Nang Phi Suea, characterised by big smooth boulders with water descending over them into a natural pool. There were a few small fish lurking around and people enjoying a spot of snorkeling as well. Level 5 marks the first real challenging part of the hike, a 600 meter climb up stairways and over boardwalks toward Buea Mai Long.

But your efforts are well rewarded with an oasis of cascading falls and natural pools surrounded by trees. Many visitors take prolonged breaks here, swimming in the water and soaking up the scenery. To our surprise, we noticed lots of families swimming at Level 5 - with kids playing in the shallow waters with lifejackets on and having what looked like the time of their lives! The water at Buea Mai Long is clean and pure, so we decided to take a quick dip before venturing up to Level 6 called Dong Phueksa.

Level 6 (Dong Phueksa) was our favorite waterfall at Erawan National Park - a place that genuinely looks like it belongs on the set of an Avatar film. Trees, moss and ferns are nestled in between the multi-layered cascades, giving it a really aesthetic appeal. Despite the low water levels in February and a few bugs biting our legs, we were still blown away by its beauty.

Erawan National Park - Level 4 — *Level 4*

Erawan National Park - Level 5 — *Level 5*

Erawan National Park - Level 6 — *Level 6*

Erawan National Park - Level 6 Falls — *Level 6*

Is it Worth Hiking to Level 7?

Level 7, otherwise known as Phu Pha Erawan, is located 1.5 km from the starting point and about 250 meters from Level 6. The last leg of the hike is steep, and a bit gnarly in parts with tree roots and rocks to contend with, but it’s still manageable. It didn’t resemble the photos when we visited, due to the reduced water, however the limestone formations were cool and we felt a real sense of accomplishment by completing the full trail.

We think it’s definitely worth hiking to Level 7, no matter which time of year you visit Erawan National Park. It takes about an hour from the very bottom, not including photo and swimming stops, and can be done by anyone with a moderate level of fitness. If you visit in the rainy season, or just after in November or December, you’ll have a better chance of seeing Phu Pha Erawan with a stronger water flow down the limestone rocks.

Erawan National Park - Level 7 — *Level 7*

Level 6 at Erawan Waterfalls — *Level 6*

Erawan Falls - Hiking Trail — *Hiking trail to Level 6 & 7*

How to Get to Erawan National Park

There are three ways of reaching Erawan: bus, scooter or private driver/tour. The local bus (8170) isn’t a bad option, as it takes you directly from the city of Kanchanaburi to the park. That being said, it can take up to two hours due to stopping at other stations along the way. We reached Erawan via scooter, which is our preferred way to travel in Thailand more generally, giving us the freedom to explore as we please. The park entrance has plenty of parking, which makes scooter rental even more practical.

Hiring a private driver or joining a tour from Kanchanaburi is the ultimate in convenience. We stayed at Inchantreedoopool, not too far from the River Kwai Bridge, and rented our scooter through the reception. This boutique hotel can also arrange a driver or tour out to Erawan National Park - a great choice for those who want to be looked after for the day.

Erawan National Park - Scooter — *Filling up in Kanchanaburi*

Scooter Rides in Kanchanaburi — *Landscapes of Kanchanaburi*

When to Visit the National Park

We visited Erawan in February and found it to be a magical experience, even with the lower water levels. Kanchanaburi felt about 5°C hotter than Bangkok, so it’s safe to say we were sweating buckets under the canopy of trees. But this just gave us an excuse to jump in the turquoise pools to cool down. We spoke to park rangers, and asked them when’s the best time to visit Erawan National Park, and they said November or December is ideal - in order to see strong water flow with comfortable weather conditions.

If you’re planning on visiting during the rainy season, between May and October, just know that there’s a risk of flash flooding. Try to wait for a clear weather window and don’t go out during a downpour. Park rangers do a good job of keeping the trail safe for visitors, and will even close higher hiking areas when safety becomes a concern. Plus, let’s be honest, there’s nothing worse than trudging through inches of mud and slippery rock!

Erawan National Park - Level 2 — *Level 2*

Erawan National Park - Level 3 — *Level 3*

Erawan National Park - Hiking Trail — *Hiking trail*

FAQs About Visiting Erawan National Park

How much does it cost to enter Erawan National Park?

It costs 300 THB for adults and 200 THB for children, but that’s if you’re a foreigner. On our visit, Kat took advantage of the dual pricing and only had to pay 100 THB. There’s also a few other small costs that make up the visitor experience: a parking fee of 20 THB for scooters, another 30 THB for the golf cart ride to Level 1 of the falls (if you choose to take it), and 20 THB for the lifejackets which are compulsory if you want to go swimming.

What are the visitor hours at the waterfalls?

Erawan Falls are open from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM every day throughout the year. It’s one of those places that you’ll want to arrive early, no later than 10:00 AM, to ensure you have enough time to reach Level 7. The hiking itself only takes an hour but you’ll want to plan for around 3-4 hours, so you can enjoy relaxing and swimming at the different waterfalls and natural pools.

Erawan National Park - Stairways — *Stairways*

What should I pack and wear for the waterfalls?

You’ll want to bring two sets of clothing: one for hiking and the other for swimming. We recommend wearing a decent pair of walking shoes to tackle the trails, and then something comfortable to slip on for the waterfalls such as water shoes or crocs. We saw a handful of tourists trying to walk the trail in their Birkenstocks which, to be frank, looked like a nightmare. The trail can be slippery, even in the dry season. Other items like a daybag, swimwear, towel, and bug spray are also essential.

Is the hiking trail family-friendly?

We saw a bunch of different families at Erawan Falls, some with young children (5-8) and others with older children (8-12), and they seemed to be having a ball together. However, this was mainly at Level 5 (Buea Mai Long) which isn’t as challenging to reach as Level 6 & 7. We would recommend sticking to the lower levels if your kids aren’t confident hikers. Level 1 & 2 can be accessed via the golf cart and even Level 3 is just a 5-10 minute walk away - these are areas which are more suitable for a family adventure.

Erawan National Park - Family Friendly — *Shallow pools*

Erawan National Park - Bridge — *Erawan National Park*

Can you visit Erawan Falls on a day trip from Bangkok?

If you can handle long days (12-14 hours), then visiting Erawan is entirely possible from Bangkok. The easiest option is to join a small group tour or book a private tour which also includes stops at Kanchanaburi, such as the River Kwai Bridge. However, nothing quite beats staying in Kanchanaburi for a few nights and exploring Western Thailand at your own pace.

Final Thoughts

Erawan National Park turned out to be the highlight of our Kanchanaburi trip: it was so special hiking through a jungle oasis, with majestic waterfalls following us the entire way. Originally, we just came to Kanchanaburi for some sobering WWII history but what we got instead was a real mixture of activities - from the waterfalls of Erawan to the charm of Mallika City to the peacefulness of Wat Tham Suea. It left us with amazing memories, and the feeling that more travelers should venture to this underrated province.

Erawan National Park - Mallika City — *Mallika City*

Erawan National Park - Wat Tham Suea — *Wat Tham Suea*

Erawan National Park: A Guide to the 7-Tier Waterfall Hike