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🏞️ Nature trip plan

Kamphaeng Phet Nature Trip
Khlong Lan–Mae Wong–Phra Ruang Hot Springs

Kamphaeng Phet is more than its historical park. Drive about an hour west of town and you hit a big watershed forest covering both Khlong Lan and Mae Wong, with wide cliff-face waterfalls and a windy mountain pass over 1,300 metres up. Then you close the trip soaking in mineral water at Phra Ruang hot springs near the city. This is a 3-day, 2-night plan we mapped so you never have to double back on the road.

💦 Watershed-forest waterfalls🌫️ The cool Chong Yen pass♨️ Mineral hot-spring soak
Kamphaeng Phet Nature Trip Khlong Lan–Mae Wong–Phra Ruang Hot Springs

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Kamphaeng Phet's nature is clustered on the western side of the province, around Khlong Lan and Pang Sila Thong districts, up against the mountains bordering Tak. This forest is the source of the Khlong Khlung and Khlong Suan Mak streams, so there are plenty of waterfalls and the air is noticeably cooler than in town. We built this trip to start with the spots closest to the city, then move deeper into the forest on day two, so you don't end up driving back and forth.

This trip works best if you have your own car, because the nature spots are tens of kilometres apart and public transport barely reaches them. If you don't have a car, rent one in Kamphaeng Phet town, or fly into Phitsanulok and rent from there.

The 3-day route at a glance

  • Day 1 — Phra Ruang hot springs (near the city) + head into the Khlong Lan zone, settle in for the night
  • Day 2 — Khlong Lan waterfall + up to Chong Yen / Khun Nam Yen in Mae Wong National Park
  • Day 3 — Khlong Nam Lai waterfall (Kaeng Roi Koh) then loop back to town

Check before you set off

Both Khlong Lan and Mae Wong are watershed forests, so the waterfalls look their best from late rainy season into early winter (July–January). In the dry season the water can run low, and Chong Yen sometimes closes for parts of the rainy season to let the forest recover. Always phone the park or check their Facebook page before you go.

Day 1

Phra Ruang hot springs + into the Khlong Lan zone

10:00
Leave Kamphaeng Phet town and head for Phra Ruang hot springs in Lan Dok Mai sub-districtAbout 13 km from town on Highway 101, the Kamphaeng Phet–Phran Kratai road, then turn off for another 12 km or so.
10:45
Foot soak / mineral soak at Phra Ruang hot springsA natural hot spring at around 58°C. The foot-soak area is free; a private mineral-bath room is about 50 THB per room + 30 THB per person, and the communal pool is about 30 THB/person. Run by the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organisation.
12:30
Lunch around Lan Dok Mai, or head back into town to eat before the long driveFor the local stuff, stop for chicken noodles or grab some egg bananas (kluai khai) as a sweet snack for the road.
14:00
Drive into Khlong Lan district and check in at a place near the waterfallIt's about 50–60 km from town to Khlong Lan. There are several resorts near the park — the cluster close to Khlong Lan waterfall is only 2–6 km from the falls.
16:00
Stroll around your accommodation, enjoy the cool evening air, and rest up for the forest dayRestaurants in Khlong Lan close early, so buy water and snacks for the car before nightfall.
🎟️

Book the activities in your Kamphaeng Phet trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

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Day 2 — the heart of the trip: Khlong Lan waterfall + Mae Wong

This is the fullest day. Start early at Khlong Lan waterfall inside Khlong Lan National Park, then drive up to Chong Yen in Mae Wong National Park. The mountain road is winding, so set off early and leave yourself plenty of driving time.

Day 2

Khlong Lan waterfall + Chong Yen / Khun Nam Yen, Mae Wong

08:30
Enter Khlong Lan waterfall, Khlong Lan National ParkThe park is open 08:30–16:30. Entry for Thai adults is about 50 THB. The waterfall is only around 500 metres from the headquarters, an easy walk.
09:00
Take in Khlong Lan waterfall, a wide cliff-face falls about 95 metres highIn the rainy season the water pours down as a big curtain, with a pool below you can wade into. Watch out for slippery rocks.
11:00
Leave Khlong Lan and head for Mae Wong National Park via Pang Sila Thong districtFollow the Khlong Lan–Umphang road and allow extra time, since it climbs into the mountains and roadside restaurants are few.
13:00
Reach the Mae Wong zone and drive up to Chong Yen (km 93), the road's highest point at over 1,340 metresThe average temperature stays below 20°C year-round, with cool wind and mist. It's a lovely spot to watch the sunset.
15:00
Walk up to Phu Sawan, a 360-degree viewpoint, about 400 metres upIt's a short walk with views of the mountain ranges stretching off into the distance. Sneakers make it more comfortable.
17:30
Camp overnight at the Chong Yen or Khun Nam Yen camping groundChong Yen takes 30 online bookings/day + 30 walk-ins/day; Khun Nam Yen holds more. The Khun Nam Yen ground is about 24 km from the headquarters. Book ahead at nps.dnp.go.th.

Camping in Mae Wong

Chong Yen and Khun Nam Yen are popular winter campsites and they fill up fast. If you're going on a long weekend you'll need to book online in advance. If camping isn't your thing, you can sleep at a resort around Khlong Lan and drive up in the morning — but you'll miss the sunrise at Chong Yen.

Day 3

Khlong Nam Lai waterfall, then loop back to town

06:00
Catch the sunrise and sea of mist at Chong Yen / Khun Nam YenIt's bitterly cold at dawn, so pack a warm jacket and something hot to drink.
09:00
Pack up the tent, come down the mountain, and head for Khlong Nam Lai waterfallKhlong Nam Lai is also in Khlong Lan National Park, on the way back down toward Khlong Lan.
11:00
Explore Khlong Nam Lai waterfall (Kaeng Roi Koh), a 9-tier fallsWide dark stone slabs contrast with the running water, and each tier has its own pool — great for an easy walk and photos before you head back.
13:00
Lunch around Khlong Lan, then drive back to Kamphaeng Phet townIt's about an hour from Khlong Lan back to town. If you have time, stop at the historical park or pick up some egg bananas as a gift before heading home.

Costs and what to pack

  • Park entry — Khlong Lan is about 50 THB/person for Thai adults; Mae Wong charges separately again, so carry cash.
  • Phra Ruang hot springs — foot soak free, communal mineral pool about 30 THB, private room 50 THB + 30 THB/person.
  • Camping in Mae Wong — there are grounds with tents to rent and space to pitch your own; book through nps.dnp.go.th in advance.
  • What to pack — a warm jacket (Chong Yen drops below 20°C), non-slip shoes, a flashlight, insect repellent, and drinking water.

Signal and fuel

In the Mae Wong forest the phone signal is weak to non-existent in many spots. Fill the tank before heading up the mountain and tell someone at home when you expect to be back. The nearest petrol station is in the district town.

Can you cut it down to 2 days?

If you only have 2 days, you can drop the Mae Wong day, since Chong Yen involves a long mountain drive and is really for people who love camping. The short version becomes: day one, Phra Ruang hot springs + Khlong Lan waterfall, with one night in Khlong Lan; day two, Khlong Nam Lai waterfall and back to town. You still get both the waterfalls and the mineral soak, just at a more relaxed pace.

Comfortable stay

Easygoing, no forest trekking

Focus on Phra Ruang hot springs and the easy-to-reach Khlong Lan waterfall, stay at a Khlong Lan resort, and skip the climb up to Chong Yen.

Full-on outdoors

Camping crowd

Focus on camping at Chong Yen / Khun Nam Yen for the sea of mist and sunrise — best in winter.

Want a different Kamphaeng Phet plan? See the full province guide

See the Kamphaeng Phet travel guide →

FAQ

When is the best time to visit Khlong Lan and Mae Wong?

Late rainy season into early winter, roughly July to January, is when the waterfalls are fullest and most beautiful and Chong Yen is at its coolest. In the dry season the falls run low, and Chong Yen can close for parts of the rainy season to let the forest recover, so phone the park before you go.

Do you need to book Chong Yen in Mae Wong ahead of time?

If you want to camp overnight, yes. The Chong Yen ground takes 30 online bookings/day plus another 30 walk-ins/day, while Khun Nam Yen holds more. It fills up fast on long weekends, so book ahead via nps.dnp.go.th.

How much is entry to Phra Ruang hot springs?

The foot-soak area is free. The communal mineral pool is about 30 THB per person, and a private mineral-bath room is about 50 THB plus 30 THB per person. It's run by the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organisation, about 13 km from town.

Can you do this nature trip without your own car?

It's pretty tough, because the nature spots are tens of kilometres apart and public transport barely reaches them. The easiest option is to rent a car in Kamphaeng Phet town, or fly into Phitsanulok and rent from there.

What's the difference between Khlong Lan and Khlong Nam Lai waterfalls?

Khlong Lan is a single, wide cliff-face waterfall about 95 metres high and looks dramatic. Khlong Nam Lai is a 9-tier falls cascading over wide stone slabs, easy for walking and photos. Both are in the same Khlong Lan National Park.

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