My Guide to Erawan Falls, Kanchanaburi

I have traveled all around Thailand and visited many waterfalls in the country. Erawan Falls is, in my opinion, one of the best waterfalls in Thailand. This falls has seven distinct tiers, each with unique cascades, emerald pools, natural fish spas, and lush jungle setting.  

In this personal guide to Erawan Falls, I will show you how to get to, opening hours, entrance tickets, what to do, and tips when visiting  Erawan Waterfalls.

Where are the Erawan Waterfalls?

Erawan Waterfalls is a part of Erawan National Park, in central Thailand. It is 70 km north west of Kanchanaburi and 200 km northwest of Bangkok. It is possible to visit Erawan Falls on a day trip from Bangkok, but many visitors choose to stay in nearby town Kanchanaburi then take a trip to the Falls.

You can get to the waterfall from Kanchanaburi by taking a local bus, hiring a private car, or taking a guided tour. The journey typically ranges from 1.5 to 2 hours.

Here are my other articles about Kanchanaburi:

• Where to Stay in Kanchanaburi
• 21 Best Things to Do in Kanchanaburi
• 3-4 Days In Kanchanaburi Itinerary
• Getting to and around Kanchanaburi

I don’t recommend taking a day trip to Erawan Falls from Bangkok by using public transportation. It is best to use a private car or an organised tour. These options will include hotel’s transfers to optimize travel time and spend more time enjoying the Falls. 

How to get to Erawan from Kanchanaburi

I traveled from Kanchanaburi by combination of walking and taking the local bus. There are also other options such as renting a scooter, hiring a private driver or organising tours.

Walking + Local Bus

Walking to Kanchanaburi Bus Station and taking the local bus is one of the most budget-friendly options to get to Erawan Falls from Kanchanaburi. My hotel is located in the town center, so I walked for 30 minutes to reach the bus station. You can also use Grab or motorbike taxi to get to the bus station.

At the bus station, you will buy a ticket at the ticket counter, telling the staff that you want to go to Erawan Falls. No need to buy a return ticket as you can buy them at the bus station inside the National Park.

Here are basic information of bus from Kanchanaburi to Erawan Falls:

Bus Number	8170
Bus Ticket	60 baht
Travel time	Around 2 hours
Bus Schedule	8am, 9am, 10am, 11.15am, 1pm, 2.30am, 4pm, 5.40pm

I recommend taking the earliest bus at 8am to have more time exploring the falls and not need to worry much about the last bus to get back to Kanchanaburi. 

It is possible to wait for the bus on the main road near Kanchanaburi town center then signal the bus driver to stop to pick you, but it is better to get to the bus station to secure your seats.

The bus goes directly to the inside parking area of Erawan National Park. At the entrance, the driver will stop for the park’s staff to get on the bus to sell the ticket for passengers. Be sure to bring enough cash with you.

Private taxi

You can consider hiring a private driver for a few hours to explore the waterfall. These are great options if you are traveling with family or a group of friends. The driver will take you to the falls, wait for you, then drive you back to your hotel. Price can be up to 2000 baht for the private trips.

Scooter

If you are a confident driver, you can rent a scooter for 200-300 baht a day for exploration. This is also a cheap way to explore the waterfalls, and get you lots of freedom than other ways.

Guided Tour

There are lots of guided tours that take you to Erawan Falls. You can take the tours that combine a visit to the fall with other attractions in Kanchanaburi such as Hellfire Pass or the Bridge Over River Kwai. 

For cheap options, you can consider taking the joint transfer to Erawan Falls. It costs around 450 baht/ person. You will share the van with other people. The trip will typically start from 8am and finish at 3.30pm. You can book tickets at a local travel agency or at your hotel.

Getting Back to Kanchanaburi from Erawan Falls

It is easy to get back to Kanchanaburi from Erawan Falls by bus. You just need to check the bus schedule to not miss the last bus to town. Bus from Erawan Falls to Kanchanaburi is at 8.30am, 10am, 12pm, 14pm, 15pm, and 16.30pm.

To buy the ticket, you can just walk to the bus zone at the parking area (in front of the visitor center), and buy it directly from the driver. The ticket is 60 baht, the last stop is at Kanchanaburi Bus Station, but you can tell the driver to stop at any place on the road. He will let you off.

My tip is to keep Google Maps and GPS on hand near Kanchanaburi, then when it is near your hotel, you can ask the driver to stop. This way you don’t have to walk very far from the bus station to get back to your hotel in the town center.

Basic Information: Entrance Fee and Opening Hours

Location	Erawan National Park
Opening hours	8am – 3.30pm
Entrance Fee	300 baht
Duration	4-5 hours to full day
Hiking Difficulty	Moderate

Best time to visit Erawan Falls

Erawan Falls is a year around destination. The falls are at their most powerful in the rainy season, from May to October. It can be slippery hiking up and down different levels. There might be no water in the pool in the main dry season, from February to May.

The most pleasant time to visit perhelp is from November to February. The weather is dry and cool, and there is still lots of water in the pools. I visited the Falls in mid November, the stream was still very strong and beautiful. 

Erawan Falls parking area and Visitor Center

The parking area and bus stop are located right in front of the visitor center. There are toilets,  restaurants and shaded areas in the area around the parking area. You can have a meal before or after the waterfall.  

From the visitor center, you can walk to the trail to the waterfalls, or take the golf card ride to level 1. The Golf Cart Service station is located just a few meters from the visitor center. The ticket is 20 baht for adults and 10 baht for children.

I didn’t use a Golf Cart, and walked to level 1 for around 20 minutes. It is around 500 meters to reach the first level and the road was mostly flat and easy to walk. There are lots of shades along the way.

The 7 Levels of Erawan Falls

Level 1: Hlai Khuen Rung

Level 1 is located 500m from the visitors center and easily reachable for most visitors. Most parts of the trail is a flat, paved road. If you don’t like walking, you can use golf card services for 20 baht per person.

There is a life jacket rental shop around level 1. It is 20 baht for the first two hours, and extra 10 baht for each hour, after the first two hours. I didnt rent the life jacket. It is your choice to use it or not.

There are tables under the big trees overlooking the waterfalls and pool. You can sit here to have a picnic and enjoy the views of the falls.

Level 2: Wang Macha  

Level 2 is just 100m from level 1, a few minutes walk away. Level 2 is quite deep, 2.5 m deep. Most people swim here with life jackets. This is one of the large pools and best places to swim in Erawan Falls.

There is a checkpoint around level 2, you can not bring food, drinks, alcohol, drugs, and weapons beyond this level. They have a locker to keep your belongings at this station. If you bring a bottle with you, you need to pay a deposit to be able to do it and get it back when you come back. 

Level 3: Pha Namtok

Level 3 is 100 meters from Level 2. You need to walk across the bridge then turn right to go to level 3. If you continue going straight after the bridge, you will get to level 4. 

The trail after the bridge to level 3 was quite slippery with lots of root trees along the way. There are lifeguards at the pool area. In my opinion, this is one of the most picturesque spots to take photos.

Level 4: Oke Nang Phee Suae

The upper levels of Erawan Falls, from level 3 onward, are more challenging to reach. It is 350m from level 3 to level 4, evolving a long steep staircase and paved trails. It took me around a 5 minute walk to level 4. There is a nice viewing platform with mountain views along the trails.

It is another beautiful place to swim, with clean turquoise water, big rocks, and lots of shades from the big trees. Lots of children were swimming at this part.

Level 5: Buea Mai Long

Level 5 is 400m from level 4. There is a sign at the starting point to level 5 that says “Do not go to level 5-7 after 3.30pm”. So make sure to go early to have plenty of time for exploration.

The trail starts with a circular narrow staircase, then the paved parts, several other stairs, and a wooden bridge. I reached level 5 after 15 minutes hiking from level 4 with some stops along the way for taking photos.

Level 5 is stunning, featuring several pools cascading beside one another. There are lifeguards at the pool. It was less crowded than the lower levels with just a few people swimming.

Level 6: Dong Pruk Sa

Climbing to level 6 and 7 getting harder with dirt ascend trails, and some ropes along the way to support hikers. It is 200 m from level 5 to level 6 and it took me around 10 minutes to reach it. 

You will climb on the rocks, the root of the trees, cross the river, the bamboo area, and some wooden stairs. There is a wooden boardwalk and viewing platform at the end of level 6. Great spot for taking photos.

Level 7: Phu Pha

Level 7 is 250m from level 6 and it took me 10-15 minutes to reach the top. You will need to climb the last staircase to get to level 7. There are benches at the waterfall where you can rest and take off your shoes. The welcoming sign “You are the conquer” made me feel very rewarded.

You can swim at level 7 as well as having a free fish massage with beautiful natural landscape. Spend as much time as you want to level 7 and prepare for the way down.

What to Bring to the Waterfalls

I recommend bringing enough cash with you. Most services require cash. The entrance is 300 baht then cash for food, drinks, and rental services such as golf carts, bottle deposit, and life jackets.

Also bring good walking shoes with you because some trails can be slippery or rocky. Other essential things are swim wear, towels, Insect repellents, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and waterproof bags.

Where to stay near Erawan Falls

I recommend staying in Kanchanaburi town center. The town is a great base for exploring not only the waterfalls but also other attractions such as Hellfire Pass, the Bridge Over River Kwai, and many beautiful temples such as Dragon Temple and Tiger Cave Temple.

I stayed in Siam Guesthouse and Thai Guesthouse in Kanchanaburi and recommend it. They are located very close to the train station, which is convenient for those who are traveling by train. When I arrived from Bangkok, I just walked to my hotel.

These guesthouses are also within walking distance from the main road where you can find all tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and ATMs.

Other things to do near Erawan Falls

There are so many other things to do and see around Kanchanaburi and Erawan Falls. You can combine the trip to the Erawan Falls with other historical attractions such as Hellfire Pass, the Bridge Over River Kwai, Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, Death Railway Museum, and many other temples and night markets. 

This is my personal guide to Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi Province. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand and is a great destination for nature lovers who enjoy hiking and swimming in the middle of the jungle.