Erawan Falls — A Deep Dive
In the forested hills of Kanchanaburi, in western Thailand, a stream descends through the jungle in seven distinct tiers, each pausing in a pool of astonishing turquoise water before tumbling to the next. This is Erawan Falls, the centrepiece of Erawan National Park and one of the most beloved waterfalls in Thailand, famous for the milky-blue clarity of its pools and the chance to swim beneath the cascades. The topmost tier is said to resemble the three-headed elephant Erawan of Hindu and Buddhist myth. Erawan Falls is plotted on the map.
Seven tiers of turquoise
Erawan is a multi-tiered cascade climbing about two kilometres up a forested valley, with seven named levels rising one above the other. Each tier has its own character — broad pools, narrow chutes, curtain falls and cascades — and the trail links them from the easy lower levels to the steeper, wilder upper ones. The total ascent gains a few hundred metres. The pools are the great draw, their water a vivid turquoise that invites swimming, with small fish that nibble at swimmers' feet.
Why the water is so blue
The extraordinary colour comes from the limestone geology. The stream flows over and through limestone, dissolving calcium carbonate and carrying it in solution. Where the water slows in the pools and tiers, the mineral comes out of solution and is deposited as travertine, building the rounded lips and dams that shape each level. The fine suspended calcite scatters light, giving the water its milky turquoise glow — the same process that colours other limestone falls such as Plitvice and Kuang Si. The travertine also makes the rock smooth and, in places, slippery.
Erawan National Park
The falls lie within Erawan National Park, established to protect the limestone hills, dry and evergreen forest and the rich wildlife of western Thailand near the Myanmar border. The park shelters elephants, gibbons, macaques, hornbills and many other species, and the limestone hills hold caves worth exploring. The forest around the falls is dense and green, and the trail to the upper tiers passes through fine jungle, making the walk as much a forest experience as a waterfall visit.
Visiting Erawan Falls
Erawan National Park is about 65 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town, reached by road in roughly 90 minutes, and is a popular day trip from Kanchanaburi or even Bangkok. From the visitor area, a well-made trail climbs alongside the falls, becoming rougher and steeper toward the seventh tier. The lower tiers are easily reached by all visitors; reaching the top requires a moderate hike of an hour or more each way. Swimming is allowed in designated pools, and the lower tiers can be busy, especially at weekends and holidays.
When to go
The falls are at their fullest and the pools at their bluest after the rainy season, roughly from the end of the rains in October through the cooler months into early in the year. The wet season, May to October, brings the strongest flow but can make the upper trail slippery and the water cloudier. The hot, dry months reduce the flow but keep the pools inviting for swimming. Arriving early in the day helps avoid the crowds at the popular lower tiers and gives the best light on the water.
Practical notes
Visitors should bring water and modest swimwear, wear shoes with grip for the travertine rock, and be prepared for a climb if aiming for the upper tiers. To protect the pools, food is restricted beyond the lower levels, and plastic bottles may be checked in at the entrance. The combination of an accessible lower section and a rewarding hike to the wilder upper tiers makes Erawan suit families, swimmers and hikers alike.
A jewel of western Thailand
Erawan distils much of what makes Thailand's natural landscapes so appealing: jungle, limestone, brilliant water and the simple pleasure of swimming in a forest pool. Its seven turquoise tiers, climbing through green hills toward the elephant-shaped top, make it one of the country's signature natural sights and the heart of a national park that protects a precious corner of the western forests.
Explore on the map
Erawan and the other great cascades of Thailand are pinned on our interactive map — filter to plan a Kanchanaburi trip, compare the kingdom's limestone falls, or trace the forested hills along the western border with Myanmar.