Ultimate Guide to Erawan Waterfalls in Kanchanaburi

One of my favourite trips out of the concrete jungle of Bangkok is a trip to Erawan Waterfalls.

Located in Erawan National Park, this seven-tiered waterfall is one of the more popular short trips from Bangkok, a must-visit from Kanchanaburi town, and is famous for its multi-layered cascading waterfalls and clear green pools.

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my experience hiking through the seven tiers of Erawan waterfalls and what I encountered along the way.

Getting to Erawan Waterfalls

Erawan Waterfalls is located about 65 km from Kanchanaburi, making it a short 1-drive from the nearby town. However, if you're coming from Bangkok, it's about a 3 hour journey by car.

For this trip, we decided to take a mini-van from Mo Chit bus stationin Bangkok directly to Kanchanaburi town, and then transfer to Erawan National Park, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best choice. The ride was long, taking over 3 hours.

If I were to go again, I’d definitely choose to rent a car or book a private transfer for a faster and more comfortable journey.

Also, another (better) alternative would be to stay overnight in Kanchanaburi first. Then make a day trip to Erawan in the next morning. I also heard that many hotels in town also offer guided tours to Erawan.

Hiking the Seven Tiers of Erawan Waterfalls

After arriving at Erawan National Park, we were greeted by a giant sign welcoming us. There was nothing much here besides some drinks sellers.

The hike started off quite gentle and shaded, with lush forest surroundings and well-defined pathways. For the first few minutes, it didn't feel much like hiking— I felt it was more of a peaceful nature walk because of clear footpaths and gentle slopes.

Tiers 1–3: An Easy Start

It took us just 10 minutes to reach the first set of waterfalls, and we were immediately greeted by mini waterfalls flowing over smooth limestone into greenish-blue pools. The color of the water was so clear, almost unreal.

The first three tiers were easy to access, with well-maintained paths and even wooden walkways in some areas. The pools were calm and shallow, perfect for families and casual swimmers.

Tiers 4–5

As we continued, the trail became more rugged. The smooth wooden paths disappeared, replaced by tree roots and dirt trails weaving through the forest. We started sweating here but the route is still overall very doable.

At one of the middle tiers, I decided to dip my feet into the cool water—and that’s when I felt tiny fish nibbling at my toes! It was like a natural fish spa, ticklish at first, but oddly relaxing.

Tiers 6–7: The Final Stretch

The last two tiers were the most challenging. The trail got steeper and rockier, requiring a bit of climbing. By this point, we were sweating.

At the seventh and final tier, the largest waterfall came into view. It's a big waterfall, crashing down into a deeper pool where people were swimming.

To be honest, i felt the 7th tier waterfall was overrated. Somehow, I didn't find it as beautiful as the other smaller waterfalls, and I think to most people, the draw of the 7th waterfall is mostly the size and the fact that people would properly swim in the waterfall pool.

We spent some time cooling off in the water after the long hike. The water was cold but invigorating. We rested a while here before hiking back down.

Afterwards, we made the hike back down to the foot of the Erawan National park, which took 1+ hour, and headed to our hotel in Kanchanaburi.

✅ Swimsuit & towel – You’ll want to go for a swim, or at least dip your toes in the pools.
✅ Hiking sandals or shoes – I made the mistake of wearing slippers to the hike! The paths can get slippery.
✅ Water & snacks
✅ Dry bag – To keep your valuables safe if you plan to swim.

Entrance Fee & Park Rules

• Entry fee: 300 THB for foreigners, 100 THB for Thai locals.
• Opening hours: Park is open from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
• Rules: No single-use plastics are allowed, swimming is permitted until 4 PM, and the last entry is at 3 PM.

Best Time to Visit

🌿 Cool season (Nov–Feb) – Best weather, comfortable for hiking.
🔥 Hot season (Mar–May) – Heat is more insense, but great for swimming.
🌧 Rainy season (Jun–Oct) – Greenery is lusher here from the sun and rain, but trails can be more muddy and slippery at times.

Also if possible, I highly recommend visiting the park in the morning to beat the crowds. We made the mistake of visiting in the late morning / early afternoon because we came directly from Bangkok.

Personal Thoughts

Although the beginning of the hike started out easily, it progressively became more challenging. But, with each tier we climbed, the waterfalls grew larger and more spectacular, providing fresh motivation. If you’re looking for nature things to do outside of Bangkok, you cannot go wrong with Erawan Waterfalls.

If I were to do this trip again, I’d rent a car or stay overnight in Kanchanaburi first before heading to Erawan the next morning, instead of taking public transport from BKK and reaching in the afternoon.

Other Kanchanaburi Attractions

A trip to Erawan Waterfalls is usually combined with a stay in the Kanchananburi area. Here are a few other places in or near Kanchanaburi that I feel are definitely worth visiting:

• Bridge Over the River Kwai: A historic landmark from World War II and what most people visit when in Kanchanaburi. Go for a guided tour for this so that you'll learn about the history
• Safari Park Kanchanaburi: A drive-through safari where we got up close with like giraffes, zebras, lions, and tigers, and including feeding them carrots from our vehicles.
• Venture northwest to Sangkhlaburi: A village bordering Myanmar, and it's home to underwater temples and Thailand’s longest wooden bridge. One of my favourite trips in Thailand.