We visited Erawan Falls and hiked all seven levels. Despite how demanding that may sound, we actually found the hike less tiring than expected. Whether you want to reach every level, however, is entirely up to you. Each tier offers its own rewarding experience, and for some visitors, spending time around the lower levels may already be enough.
This guide takes you through all seven levels of Erawan Falls, but more importantly, we hope it gives you enough information to decide how far you want to go based on the kind of visit you are looking for.
Erawan Waterfall at a Glance
Location: Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi
Number of levels: 7
Best for: Short hiking, Swimming, and a Half-day Trip
Time we spent: Around 2 hours (without playing in the water)
Time to reach Level 7: Around one hour to get there and one hour back down (Level 7 closes at 3:30 PM)
Difficulty: Easy at the beginning; takes a little longer toward the top
We visited: August (rainy season)
Is Erawan Waterfall Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially if you are looking for a walk in nature and the chance to swim in one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. The water is incredibly clear, and we found the walk enjoyable and relatively easy, making it quite manageable even for those visiting with family. If you are already planning a trip to Kanchanaburi, we would definitely recommend adding Erawan Falls to your itinerary.
The one thing that may disappoint some visitors, however, is the number of people you may have to share the experience with. Even during the low season on a weekday, when we visited, there were still a considerable number of both Thai and international visitors around. It was not crowded enough to bother us, but during weekends, public holidays, or the high season, the area may feel much more overcrowded.
What to Wear to Erawan
This may be one of the first things you are wondering: do you need full hiking gear to reach all seven levels of Erawan Falls? And what should you wear if you are planning to swim?
We will divide this into two parts—one for those who mainly want to swim, and another for those who are visiting more for the hike and the views.
What to Wear for Swimming
If swimming is your main goal, your usual swimwear will work perfectly well. One-piece swimsuits, bikinis, and whatever you would normally wear to a pool are generally adequate.
However, we would personally avoid anything that leaves too much skin exposed. Not because the locals would necessarily find it inappropriate, but simply because Erawan Falls is still a natural environment. Scratches from rocks, branches, or rough surfaces may not be what you want to bring home from your vacation.
A life jacket is also required for swimming and is available to rent at the falls, so there is no need to bring your own. Personally, we also find that having a life jacket directly against bare skin is not the most comfortable feeling.
What you will often see Thai visitors wearing: For both men and women, it is quite common to wear a T-shirt over your swimwear, together with swim shorts or lightweight sportswear.
Personally, this is what we would recommend. It also makes moving between the lower levels more comfortable, especially if you plan to combine swimming with a little hiking.
What to Wear for Hiking
Full hiking gear is not very necessary for Erawan Falls. Everyday casual clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in should be enough. The route to the seventh level does not require technical climbing or difficult descents, and stairs are provided in the steeper sections.
We saw plenty of visitors wearing hiking trousers with a sport top, which is suitable. We also saw many people hike the whole route in swimwear, which is doable.
Shoes: Any pair with a decent amount of grip should work, including casual sneakers. If you already own hiking shoes, even better.
We did see people making it all the way to the seventh level in sandals, including casual women’s sandals, but we would not recommend it. We actually tried the hike in casual sandals ourselves and ended up with a rather painful blister on the way back down.
Note: A raincoat is also worth carrying, particularly if you are visiting during the rainy season.
How Far Up Erawan Waterfall Should You Go?
If Your Main Goal Is to Swim: Levels 1–4
If swimming is your main goal, Levels 1–4 are probably the best choice. In our opinion, these lower levels offer the most spacious areas for swimming while still being very beautiful. Level 2 is especially popular, with parts of the pool reaching around 2.5 metres deep.
The walk to Level 4 is only around 300–400 metres, making it a relatively short and easy section. Beyond this point, the distance between each waterfall becomes noticeably longer.
We would especially recommend Levels 1–4 for families with young children, visitors with limited mobility, and anyone looking for a more relaxed experience at Erawan Falls.
If You Want the Best Balance of Waterfalls and Casual Hiking: Level 5
For us, Level 5 offers a good balance between seeing more of Erawan Falls and still keeping the walk fairly casual.
The route between Levels 4 and 5 is enjoyable in itself, with a bridge crossing over the water, clear blue pools, and plenty of fish visible along the way.
Once you pass Level 5, however, you start to feel that the walk is turning into a more proper hike. This is probably the point where you begin asking yourself whether you really want to continue all the way to the top.
If You Want the Full Erawan Falls Hike: All 7 Levels
Personally, we think reaching the seventh level is worth it. There is a satisfying feeling of having completed the whole Erawan Falls trail, and we did not find the hike overly tiring.
That said, some visitors may feel that the final waterfall itself is not dramatic enough to justify the extra walk. In reality, Level 7 may not be the most spectacular waterfall you have ever seen. For us, though, the experience was less about reaching one grand final view and more about enjoying the walk, taking our time, and gradually making our way to the top.
It is a pleasant and relatively easy nature hike rather than a major all-day challenge. Compared with something like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand, which we have also hiked, Erawan is a much more relaxed experience.
Note: The appearance of each waterfall can change considerably depending on the water flow. The falls are usually fuller during the rainy season, although this still depends on recent rainfall. Even when we visited during the rainy season, the water level was not particularly high, as you may notice in our photos.
Our Hike Through All 7 Levels of Erawan Waterfall
Level 1-3 Lai Kuen Rang, Wang Macha, Pha Num Tok
- Effort: Easiest
- Best for: Swimming, short Visit
If you are looking for a short swim and an easy trip to Erawan, the first three falls are the best place. If you are not here for swimming and just want to come for a short stop at Erawan for a short walk around, staying around here is also enough to get the experience.
Level 1 and level 2 of the waterfalls are basically right at the start if you take the golf cart service from the entrance. Level 3 is very well worth the short walk.
Level 4 & 5 Ok Nang Phi Sue & Buea Mai Long
- Effort: Feels like the start of the walk
- Best for: Swimming and those who want a little adventure
The fourth waterfall has quite an iconic shape, often said to resemble a pair of breasts—something reflected in its Thai name, which translates roughly to “The Sea Ogress’s Breast.” Visitors often climb onto the smooth rock and use it almost like a natural slide. Visually, however, the waterfall can feel a little underwhelming when the water level is low.
From Level 4 to Level 5 is where the route begins to feel more like a proper hike. By the time we reached Level 5, we started hearing people discussing whether they wanted to continue on to Levels 6 and 7.
To put the distance into perspective, Levels 1–4 make up only around one-fifth of the overall hike, while the remaining four-fifths is between Levels 4 and 7.
This is also the point where you can decide whether you really want to continue. We noticed many visitors asking people coming back down whether there was much water at the higher levels. The reason is simple: when the water flow is low, the upper waterfalls can look less impressive, and the extra hike may not feel worth it if you are mainly there for the waterfalls rather than the walk itself.
Level 6 & 7 Dong Phueksa & Phu Pha Erawan
- Effort: Medium (a little push)
- Best for: A short hike
Personally, it does not feel that tiring, and we actually like the short section at the 6th waterfall where you walk past a bridge crossing the top of the falls; it felt very relaxing if not many people are around.
The 7th floor is where you feel like you have made it. You can play in the water there, although it is quite shallow; there are quite a lot of fish there. Once you take in the scenery for a bit, it is time to face the real challenge of all hikes: walking back down the same way. Honestly, though, this hike is not too long, and the way down is less tiring than the way up; before long, we were already back down.
The whole duration took less than 2 hours for us.
Note: For those who worry about safety, there is a life guard/military personnel stationed along the way at each major point in the hike, all the way to the 7th floor.
Tips for Visiting Erawan
- Take the golf cart service: It only costs 20 baht (around 50–60 cents) and takes you directly to the start of the falls. Especially if you are on a more relaxed trip, it certainly helps the experience feel that way.
- There are monkeys along the hike: We encountered a few along the trail. At one point, a monkey sat right in the middle of the path and caused a small traffic jam for a brief moment.
Our experience is that they are generally harmless if left alone. You can usually walk past them, and they will move out of the way. Do not try to pet or tease them, and avoid staring at them from too close for too long, as they can bite or become aggressive. Simply mind your own business, and they will usually do the same. Pay attention to their behaviour, and if one appears threatening, take a step back and wait.
Walking alongside monkeys on the trail actually reminded us of our time in Kamikochi, Japan, where monkeys would casually walk along the same paths as visitors.
Note: Be careful with loose belongings, as monkeys are notorious for grabbing things.
- There is a place inside the park where you can buy drinks. If you are worried about food, there is also a line of local food and drink stalls just outside the entrance.
- Lockers are available to rent for storing valuables, and there are changing facilities as well. Personally, we recommend simply wearing your swimsuit underneath your clothes if you are planning to swim.
- Erawan also has a camping ground near the waterfall. On the way there, we met a guy whom our golf cart driver picked up; he said he was here twice: the first time for around a week and the second time he was here for a month and still counting.
How Difficult Is the Full Erawan Waterfall Hike?
- The trail is generally in good condition, with many sections having proper walkways.
- There are not too many stairs—just enough for you to start feeling your legs as you make your way higher.
- Rocks are generally not a problem, and there is nothing that requires proper climbing. In the few rockier sections, the stones are usually arranged almost like natural steps.
- Some parts can feel slippery, especially on wet dirt surfaces. Even when it is not raining, the trail can become damp from people walking up after swimming. Still, we did not find it slippery enough to require proper hiking shoes.
- The heat and humidity may actually be your greatest challenge at Erawan Falls. Even on a cloudy day, you may still be sweating by the time you reach the top. On a sunny day or during the hotter months, expect the hike to feel considerably warmer and more humid.
- Any steeper sections generally have proper staircases, so there is no technical climbing involved.
- Overall, we would say an average level of fitness is enough to reach Level 7. For older travellers, making it all the way to the top may be more challenging, but the lower levels are still very manageable. The most important thing is simply knowing your own limits and when it may be better to turn back.
- For families travelling with children, we saw quite a few young kids at Level 7. Based on what we observed, children around 7–10 years old should generally be able to complete the hike with their family, depending, of course, on their fitness and comfort with walking.
- For us, still blessed with youth and a fairly average level of fitness, the hike was very manageable. We still had enough energy afterwards to stop by a café and go out for dinner later that same day.
Visiting Erawan Waterfall During the Rainy Season
Visiting during the rainy season has its own advantages:
- Less people
- Cloudy weather makes it a little cooler
- Better chance to see Erawan when there is a lot of water (around May to October, but also depends on the rainfall)
- Cheaper hotel if you are staying in Kanchanaburi
The downside, of course, is the chance of rain. During heavy rainfall, swimming may be restricted, and certain sections of Erawan Falls may occasionally be closed for safety reasons.
In general, however, rain does not necessarily have to ruin your visit. We recommend spending a night nearby if your itinerary allows, as this gives you another opportunity to visit once the weather clears rather than relying on a single day. For more, visit our recommended hotels in Kanchanaburi.
How to Get to Erawan Waterfall
We personally drove to Erawan Falls in our own car, and we would recommend renting a car if you can, as it makes the trip much more convenient. There are plenty of parking spaces right in front of the entrance.
For a visit to Erawan Falls, we also recommend staying in Kanchanaburi for at least one or two nights. Floating hotels are available around the Srinakarin Dam area if you want to stay closer to nature; we stayed at one called Z9 Resort, while staying in Mueang Kanchanaburi, the town centre, also works well.
From Kanchanaburi town centre, the drive to Erawan Falls takes around an hour and a half. The road conditions are good, and we found the drive straightforward.
For more information about driving in Kanchanaburi and other places to visit in the province, we recommend our 6-day road trip itinerary in Kanchanaburi.
Public Transport / Tour
For those without a rental car, there are regular public buses from Kanchanaburi Bus Station; otherwise, there are also taxis and van rental services that will take you there. Some can bring you all the way from Bangkok, or you can take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, then take the public bus or car hire from there.
For more information about public transportation, we recommend checking with Thai National Parks
Would We Visit Erawan Waterfall Again?
Personally, after visiting Erawan Falls once, we would still say it is somewhere we would happily return to in the future—whether for a trip with friends or, one day, to bring our kids. We enjoyed the walk itself, which is shaded by trees for much of the route. The water is remarkably clear, and you can often see fish moving through the streams along the way.
The waterfalls are beautiful in their own way. They may not be the largest or most dramatic falls you have ever seen, but the way each level connects along the trail, combined with the fact that you can actually swim in the water, gives Erawan a character of its own.
For us, that balance is what makes it worth visiting. It works equally well for casual travellers looking for a relaxing day in nature and for those who want a little more adventure.
For another spot we recommend visiting when in Kanchanaburi, check out our guide to Baan Tao Than.
Note: We recommend visiting Erawan during the low season and on a weekday if you want to avoid the biggest crowds.
We hope you enjoy a relaxing trip to Erawan,
Travel Tegami