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🇹🇭 Kanchanaburi · Attraction Guide

Erawan Waterfall
Seven tiers of emerald water — Kanchanaburi's signature nature trip

A limestone waterfall the colour of jade, set deep in Erawan National Park about 65 km from town — you climb it tier by tier from 1 to 7, swimming in the clear pools along the way while small fish nibble at your feet.

What it is

Why Erawan Waterfall is the trip people refuse to skip in Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi has plenty of waterfalls, but ask anyone which one to visit if you only have time for a single trip and the answer comes back almost every time: Erawan. The reason is the colour of the water. The pools run a luminous emerald-green — an effect of the dissolved limestone in the river — set against pale rock and dense forest. One look and it becomes obvious why people keep talking about it.

Erawan Waterfall sits inside Erawan National Park in Si Sawat district, around 65 km from Kanchanaburi town. It tumbles down the hillside in seven tiers, with roughly 1.5–2 km of trail between tier 1 and tier 7. The lower tiers are an easy, level walk; the upper tiers get steadily steeper, the path turning to rock and tree roots with a little scrambling here and there. That is exactly why water shoes — or trainers you don't mind getting wet — matter so much here. Leave the flip-flops in the car.

The name "Erawan" comes from the three-headed elephant of legend, because the topmost tier is said to resemble its shape. What sets the place apart from most waterfalls is simple: you can actually get in the water. Several tiers have natural pools you can wade and swim in, with small fish that drift over to nibble at your skin like a free natural fish spa. First-timers usually startle when the fish swarm in, then settle into enjoying it.

Erawan Waterfall, Kanchanaburi — emerald limestone water cascading into a clear forest pool
Erawan Waterfall — the limestone gives the water its emerald colour, falling into clear pools you can swim in
🎫
Park admission
Foreigner ~฿300 · Thai ~฿60
Car ~฿30, motorbike ~฿20 · bring cash
🕗
Opening hours
~08:00–16:30
Open daily, year-round
⛰️
Tiers
7 tiers
~1.5–2 km of trail, tier 1 to 7
⏰
Upper-tier cutoff
~15:30
Rangers clear tier 7 down from around 3pm
🏊
Swimming
Several tiers · nibbling fish
Life jacket required in some pools
📍
Distance
~65 km from town
Self-drive / songthaew / tour ~1.5 hr
Tier by tier

Climbing from tier 1 to 7 — how each level differs

The lower tiers are easy and made for swimming; the upper ones get steeper and prettier as you go. Knowing this lets you plan your energy.

⏰ The rule most people miss: the upper tiers (roughly 5–7) stop admitting climbers at around 15:30, and rangers begin clearing people down from tier 7 from about 3pm for safety and cleaning. Arrive late in the afternoon and you may only see the lower levels — so an Erawan trip really should be a morning start. Leaving town around 7–8am works well.
What to bring & park rules

What to pack and what to know before you get in the water

🎒 What to bring

The essentials are swimwear (wear it under your clothes from the start — changing facilities are limited), water shoes or strapped sandals you can wade in for the wet rock and the pools, drinking water (it gets harder to buy the higher you climb), a towel, and a waterproof pouch for your phone. A small bag for the essentials is much easier than hauling a lot of kit uphill.

On money — the ticket booth and the shops inside the park generally take cash only. Bring enough for admission, parking and food.

♻️ The plastic-bottle deposit — a good rule at Erawan

To cut down on litter along the trail, the park runs a refundable deposit of around 20 baht per plastic bottle. If you want to carry a plastic water bottle above tier 2, you leave a deposit with the ranger at the kiosk near the entrance and get it back when you bring the empty bottle back down. It is a smart system that keeps the forest and the falls clean — worth playing along with. Glass, polystyrene foam and alcohol are also not allowed in the waterfall area (with fines).

🐟 The nibbling fish & swimming safely

One of Erawan's quirks is the fish in the pools that swim over and nibble at your skin, mostly around your feet and legs. It feels like a sharp tickle rather than anything painful — a free natural fish spa. You might flinch the first time, but most people end up enjoying it. That said, do not feed the fish or any wildlife: it breaks park rules and harms the ecosystem. Some of the deeper pools require a life jacket, available to borrow at the spot, and children should not swim unsupervised.

Tip: for the prettiest pools without the crowds, head straight up to tiers 4–5 to swim first thing in the morning, then work your way back down to the lower levels later — most people cluster at tiers 1–2, which are the easiest to reach.
When to go

When is Erawan at its best

There is something worth being honest about with the timing, because each season gives a genuinely different experience — and it is a trade-off between "fullest, greenest water" and "easiest, safest walking."

🌧️
Rainy · Jun–Oct
Fullest, most emerald water
Lush forest, but slippery upper trail, possible leeches after rain, fewer crowds
❄️
Cool · Nov–Feb
Comfortable, easy walking
The best window for climbing every tier · Dec–Jan is busiest
🔥
Hot · Mar–May
Lower water, but the pools are a relief
Heat of 35–40°C — the cool pools are very welcome · fewer crowds

In short: if you want the postcard image of full emerald pools, come around the end of the rains into the early cool season (roughly Oct–Dec) — the water is still high but the trail is starting to dry out. For an easy climb all the way to tier 7, pick the cool season. In the hot season the water is lower but you can still swim, and the heat makes the cool pools all the more inviting. See the wider seasonal picture in the best time to visit Thailand, or the Kanchanaburi-specific breakdown in the best time to visit Kanchanaburi.

Getting there

How to reach Erawan Waterfall

The falls are about 65 km from Kanchanaburi town, up towards the Srinakarin Dam. There is no public bus running right to the entrance, so it takes a little planning — but you have several options depending on your budget and how much flexibility you want.

🚗
Rental car / self-drive scooter
~1.5 hours · the most flexible
Leave early on your own schedule and combine with other sights. A scooter suits riders comfortable on hill roads — ride carefully
🛻
Songthaew
Town–Erawan route or charter
A scheduled service exists but runs infrequently and slowly; chartering one is easier in a group
🚐
Day tour
From Kanchanaburi or Bangkok
The easiest option — transport included and a guide to lead the climb; some tours bundle other stops
Planning your day: because Erawan eats up half a day to a full day, many people make it a dedicated Erawan day and save the war-history sights (the Bridge over the River Kwai, the cemetery, the Death Railway) for another day. See the full options in trips around Kanchanaburi and getting around Kanchanaburi.
More of Kanchanaburi

Other things to see around Kanchanaburi

Erawan is the nature highlight, but the province also has its wartime history, one of Thailand's great scenic train rides and more waterfalls to reach.

Kanchanaburi Attractions — every highlight
The Bridge over the River Kwai, the Death Railway, the waterfalls, the war cemetery and Prasat Muang Sing in one guide
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The Death Railway & Tham Krasae
Riding the line along the wooden trestle above the river — one of Thailand's most striking and solemn rail journeys
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Trips around Kanchanaburi
Huai Mae Khamin falls, Sai Yok, Sangkhla Buri and the Mon Bridge — getting out beyond the town
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Frequently asked

FAQ · Erawan Waterfall practical

How much does Erawan Waterfall cost to enter?
Entry to Erawan National Park is approximately ฿300 for foreign adults and ฿60 for Thai nationals (children pay less), plus around ฿30 for a car or ฿20 for a motorbike. Prices can change. Bring cash, as the ticket booth generally does not take cards.
What are the opening hours and when do the upper tiers close?
The park opens around 08:00 and closes around 16:30 daily. The key point is that rangers begin clearing climbers down from the top tiers at around 3pm and usually stop letting people up to the upper tiers (5–7) after about 15:30. To climb all the way to tier 7, arrive by late morning or early afternoon.
How do you get to Erawan Waterfall from Kanchanaburi town?
The falls are about 65 km from town and there is no public bus running right to the entrance. The easiest options are driving yourself (rental car or scooter, around 1.5 hours), chartering a songthaew, or joining a day tour. Some scheduled town-to-Erawan songthaews exist but run infrequently and slowly. More in getting around Kanchanaburi.
Can you swim at Erawan Waterfall, and are there really fish that nibble you?
Yes, you can swim in several of the tiered pools, where the water is clear and emerald-green. Small fish in the pools will come and nibble at your skin — it feels like a sharp tickle but does not hurt. Some of the deeper pools require a life jacket, available to borrow. Do not feed the fish or wildlife, which is against park rules. Bring water shoes and swimwear.
When is the best time to visit Erawan Waterfall?
The rainy season into early cool season (roughly Jun–Nov) is when the water is fullest and most emerald and the forest is lush — but the upper trail is slippery and you may meet leeches after rain. The cool season (Nov–Feb) is comfortable and easiest for climbing. The hot season (Mar–May) has lower water, but the cool pools are a real relief from the heat.
Kanchanaburi City Guide
Where to stay, what to see, where to eat, transport and everything practical
Read →
Best Time to Visit Kanchanaburi
Month by month — the waterfall season, the heat and the cool season, matched to your trip
Read →
10 Best Places to Stay in Kanchanaburi
River Kwai raft houses, hillside resorts, town guesthouses — picked by style and budget
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Klook · Kanchanaburi tours

Erawan Waterfall tours, River Kwai trips and Bangkok–Kanchanaburi transfers — book ahead, travel easier

Erawan Waterfall day tours from Bangkok, Death Railway train trips, Bridge over the River Kwai tours and transfers — booking through Klook in advance is more practical than sorting it on the day, especially when you want to reach the falls early.

Browse Kanchanaburi tours on Klook →
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