Erawan National Park is a beautiful rainforest national park to the east Thailand near Kanchanaburi. Contained within the national park is a stunning 7 tier water fall, 2 sets of caves and numerous challenging walks. The 550 sq km national park incorporates the jagged limestone Tenasserim hills and the surrounding dense forests that is crossed by wide rivers.

The park’s main draw is the beautiful 7 tier waterfalls after which the park is named after. There is a short hike to the top of the waterfalls and visitors can bath in the waters. Most visitors spend around 2 hours at the water falls. The appeal of the reminder of the park is heavily dependent if you are a keen nature lover or hiker.

 

The national park is open between 8:00 and 16:30 every day and the entrance fee is 400THB. The park is 65km north west from Kanchanaburi on Route 3199 that heads to the Myanmar border.

The bus journey from Kanchanaburi takes approximately 2 hours and costs 50THB. The first bus of the day from Kanchanaburi is at 8:00 while the last return bus leaves early at 16:00. Bikes can be hired at the park for 30THB per day.

 

Expect to spend 2-3 hours exploring the waterfalls and 3-4 hours along the designated hike routes. The best months to visit are between November through to January when humidity levels are at their lowest.

There is accommodation in the national park in wooden bungalows close to the visitor centre and visitors with tents are allowed to pitch on this site. Camping within the national park is not allowed.

Erawan National Park is covered by lush deciduous forest and patches of extremely dense bamboo forest, with over 80% of the park is classified as forest. The national park is dissected by numerous rivers flowing from the high ground which massively swell during the monsoon rains. These monsoon rains have carved the limestone bedrock to form deep valleys and extensive cave networks.

 

The Erawan National Park is popular with tourist and tour groups which are drawn to the seven tiered waterfalls which provides the name of the national park. These waterfalls are very beautiful as the chalk bed rock gives the plunge pools either an intense blue or emerald green colour.

 

There is also a popular and highly recommended walk/climb to the uppermost waterfall, to read further information about the Erawan Waterfalls please click here. There is abundant wild life in Erawan National Park with both elephants and gibbons in their natural environments but much of the other protected wild life is too nervous of noisy tourists. During a trek through the quieter areas of the forest do expect to spot exotic birds and gibbons.

A popular trek is the 12km trail to the Phrathat Cave, this route heads northwest from the visitor centre and follows a clearly defined path. The Phrathat Cave contains impressive stalactites and stalagmites formed from the constant seeping water through the limestone. The Phrathat Cave is also home to a large population of bats which rest during the day but swarm out of the caves entrance at dusk.

 

The other cave complex of the Erawan National Park is Wang Badan (or Sawan Wang Badan Cave) which lies to the west of the national park. The entrance to Wang Badan caves is via small chambers with very narrow entrances. The lower caverns contain an underground river that is home to albino cave dwelling fish. Many of these fish are only found in this one cave complex.