From almost any part of the country you are within an hour's drive (or less) of what is often a multi-tiered water fall. Many of Thailand's national parks house some genuinely spectacular waterfalls. Pa La-U, Erawan, Namnuang, Sai Yok, Mae Surin and Mae Sa are all noted for particular interest to visitors. Although they are sometimes a bit tricky to get to, a visit to a waterfall is well worthwhile. The areas around the falls are ideal for hikes and picnics, and sometimes even mountain climbing. Of course, swimming is permitted in the waterfall pools, and often or not they are packed with locals giving them a genuine 'community' feel. Visit some of Thailand's key waterfalls.

Erawan Waterfalls in Kanchanaburi

Erawan Waterfalls are the focal point of the Erawan National Park. This is an exquisite park, very pretty, and very popular with locals and foreigners alike. The waterfalls are equally exquisite. There are seven tiers of waterfalls, each feeding lovely, freshwater pools that you can swim in. A series of tracks lead you to the various falls across wooden footbridges - quite an experience in their own right! The waterfalls can get a bit crowded as they are so popular, so if you are looking for a more solitary experience, you should perhaps look elsewhere. A number of stalls provide staples like grilled chicken and rice along the way, and there is often very much of a carnival atmosphere about the place, especially in April during the Songkran Festival. A visit here will take the day - you should bear this in mind if you have limited time.

Details - Entrance to the park is 200 baht and it is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00.

How to Reach - Buses leave Kanchanaburi on a regular basis for the waterfalls, but as you will need the whole day there, you will need to catch the early morning bus (currently 08:00).

Sai Yok Waterfalls in Kanchanaburi

The Sai Yok Waterfalls (Sai Yok Yai and Sai Yok Noi) form the focal point of Sai Yok National Park - a 500-square kilometre park offering evergreen, bamboo and teak forest against a mountainous backdrop teaming with wildlife such as bats (the Khun Kitti Bat - the smallest bat in the world), tigers, wild pigs, deers and birds.

Sai Yok Yai

Sai Yok Yai Waterfall flows from cliffs into Kwai Noi Riverand is about 100 Km from Kanchanaburi. It is famed for its beautiful environs and the fact that King Rama V once bathed here. Especially impressive in the rainy season, the waterfall is extremely forceful and rapid.

Details - Admission to the fall is 200 Baht. During national holidays the site is very busy with local visitors.

How to Reach - This is the type of journey that might be better faced as a tour. It is possible to get to the falls by bus; you can get off at the English sign at the entrance to the park, but it is then a reasonable distance to the falls which you can cover by motorcycle taxi or walk.

Sai Yok Noi

Sai Yok Noi waterfall (Khao Pung) is the smaller and less visited of the two waterfalls, but no less impressive. It offers some of the most beautiful landscape and the Death Railway once passed close by.

Details - As with Sai Yok Yai, the best time of the year for a visit is the rainy season (June to July).

How to Reach - Although they sound like close neighbours, there is in fact 40 Km distance between the two sites. Sai Yok Noi is located on the Kanchanaburi - Thong Pha Phum Road and it is 2 Km from Nam Tok Train Station.