📝 Written 1 Jul 2026 · ✅ Fact-checked 3 Jul 2026 · prices and schedules can change — check with the operator before booking
If you're in Kanchanaburi and want a nature trip that's a gentle hike mixed with a swim, Erawan Falls is pretty much the first name everyone thinks of. The waterfall sits inside Erawan National Park in Si Sawat district, about an hour and a half from the city center. What sets it apart from an ordinary waterfall is its clear emerald-green pools where you can see straight to the bottom — a result of dissolved limestone in the water — and the way it cascades up through 7 tiers, each one revealing a new view as you climb.
Most full-day tours include a van or hotel pickup from the city, along with an on-board guide who takes you up to see the falls and leaves time to swim before heading back down. On this page we'll review the trip in depth, covering both what makes people fall in love with it and what you should brace for before you go.
Erawan Falls 7-Tier Full-Day Tour (Erawan Falls day tour from Kanchanaburi)
The day usually starts with the team picking you up at your hotel or meeting you at a set point in town in the morning. It's about an hour-and-a-half drive into Erawan National Park, where you pay the park entry fee at the gate, leave a deposit for a plastic water bottle, and start walking up from the lowest tier. The trail climbs alongside the stream for about 1,500 meters, passing all 7 waterfall tiers, each with its own name and shape. The bottom three tiers (1–3) are an easy, flat walk suited to all ages, and they're where most people stop to swim and have lunch.
The tier reviewers praise most is tier 2, where the water pools into a wide, clear emerald basin you can see straight to the bottom of, with the water falling in a broad, postcard-perfect curtain. Then there's tier 7, the topmost level, which takes a real climb to reach but rewards you with a tall curtain of water in a quiet stretch of forest with far fewer people. Meanwhile, the path from tier 6 to 7 is fairly steep and slippery, with some sections requiring you to scramble over rocks and grab onto roots. Anyone with knee trouble or who doesn't want to push too hard usually stops at tier 4–5, which is plenty — the first four tiers are all beautiful and offer several spots to swim.
Based on real reviews on Tripadvisor, Erawan Falls scores around 4.5 out of 5 from several thousand reviews. Most comments praise how much clearer and more beautiful the water is than expected, and note that the higher you climb, the fewer people you meet and the more peaceful the view becomes. Many say that cooling off in the water partway through the hike is the most memorable part. On the downside, the park entrance fee is charged separately from the tour price — foreigners pay around 300 baht, Thai nationals much less — and it's usually paid in cash on the spot. There's also a 20-baht plastic water bottle deposit, refunded when you bring the bottle back down, aimed at keeping the forest litter-free. Another thing to know: the pools have fish that like to nibble at your legs and feet, which startles quite a few people. Weekends get very crowded at the lower tiers, and the topmost tier closes to hikers before the afternoon — staff start clearing people out from around 3:30pm, so arriving late may mean you don't make it to tier 7. Finally, water levels depend on the season — in the dry season the upper tiers may run low.
- Water clearer and more emerald than expected, with plenty of tiers to cool off in, as confirmed by many reviews
- The higher you climb, the fewer people and the more peaceful the view — tier 2 and tier 7 are the most-praised highlights
- Guided tours include pickup/drop-off and lunch, so you don't have to drive or plan the logistics yourself
- The bottom three tiers are an easy, flat walk, great for families and anyone who doesn't want a tough hike
- You'll need to pay the national park entry fee separately in cash on-site (foreigners pay more than Thai nationals), plus a 20-baht plastic water bottle deposit
- The path up to tiers 6–7 is steep and slippery, with some sections requiring rock-scrambling and grabbing roots; fish nibble at your legs; and weekends get very crowded at the lower tiers
- The topmost tier closes to hikers before the afternoon (clearing starts around 3:30pm), so arriving late may mean missing tier 7, and in the dry season the upper tiers can run low on water
💡 Know before you go to Erawan Falls
Head out in the morning so you can reach tier 7 before staff close the upper trail in the afternoon (clearing usually starts around 3:30pm) and you'll meet fewer people — plus it's not too hot yet.
The path up to tiers 6–7 is steep and slippery, with some sections requiring you to scramble over rocks and grab roots. Wear closed-back or non-slip shoes, not flip-flops. Anyone with knee trouble can stop at tier 4–5 and it's still well worth it.
The park entry fee is charged separately from the tour price — around 300 baht for foreigners, less for Thai nationals — paid in cash on-site. There's also a 20-baht plastic water bottle deposit at the gate, refunded when you bring the bottle back down.
Tier 2 is the wide emerald pool most people photograph, while tier 7 at the very top takes a climb to reach but rewards you with a tall curtain of water in a quiet stretch of forest. For the lushest green water at every tier, go after the rainy season.
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