🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Suan Phueng and Ban Kha are the two westernmost districts of Ratchaburi, leaning against the Tenasserim range — the same line of mountains that forms the Thai–Myanmar border. The area is full of headwaters, which means plenty of waterfalls and hot springs bubbling up naturally. The two spots most people head for are Nine Falls and Bo Khlueng hot spring, which sit only about a kilometre apart, so you can easily do both in one trip.
Nine Falls (the nine-tier waterfall)
Nine Falls — locally called Nam Tok Kao Jone, or simply the nine-tier waterfall — is in Ban Huai Phak, Tanao Si subdistrict, Suan Phueng. It's a mid-sized waterfall that genuinely steps down nine tiers, as the name says. There's water all year, but the rainy season is when it runs hardest and fullest. From the bottom tier up to the very top is about 2 km; if you want to hit every tier, budget around two hours to climb and about 45 minutes back down. But if you just want to swim, the lower tiers have pools you can soak in without much of a climb.
- Entry fee — around 20 THB per person, with a large car park
- Location — Ban Huai Phak, Suan Phueng, about 1 km from Bo Khlueng hot spring
- Distance from Bangkok — around 170 km; your own car is by far the easiest way, as no public buses reach the falls
- Facilities — papaya-salad and grilled-chicken stalls, drinks, toilets, and inner-tube rentals
When the water looks best
The rainy season, roughly June to October, is when the falls run full and at their greenest. But if it has just rained hard, check the colour of the water before you get in — if it's a muddy red, a flash flood is on its way, so stay out of the deep pools for now. In the hot season the water runs clear but thin, better for photos than for swimming.
The honest catch is that long weekends get very crowded, especially the lower tiers near the car park. If you want quiet, try a weekday or climb to the upper tiers where the crowds thin out. The rocks along the trail are slick with algae, so grippy rubber shoes or hiking shoes with real tread help a lot — don't go up in flat-soled flip-flops.
Want more out of Ratchaburi? Book tours & activities
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.
Bo Khlueng hot spring
About a kilometre from Nine Falls is Bo Khlueng, a natural hot spring that wells up on its own from underground, warm to hot — just right for a soak to ease aching muscles. What sets it apart is that it's a flowing hot stream you can walk into, not just a still pool. The setting is shady, with big trees overhead, so it's a great stop after a cool dip at the falls — come warm yourself back up in the steamy water.
- Entry fee — gate ticket around 5 THB per person
- Foot-soaking pools — mostly free; just sit and dangle your feet
- Body-soaking pools — earthen pool around 30 THB, tiled pool around 50 THB
- Opening hours — Mon–Fri around 8:00–17:00, Sat–Sun around 8:00–18:00
Soaking comfortably
Bring clothes you don't mind getting wet, a towel, and non-slip sandals. Some spots in the pools are hotter than they look, so ease your feet in to test before getting all the way in. If you're bringing small kids or older folks, pick a pool that's warm rather than scalding, and don't soak for more than about 15 minutes at a stretch.
More to see in the Tenasserim range
Once you're out in the Suan Phueng–Ban Kha area, there are several more waterfalls and viewpoints along the Tenasserim range worth adding on. Fewer people make it to these than to Nine Falls, so they're quieter and feel more natural.
Khao Krachom
The highest peak of the Tenasserim range on the Ratchaburi side, at around 1,045 m — a popular spot for the sea of mist and sunrise. The road up is very steep, so you have to hire a local 4x4; a round trip runs about 1,700 THB, or around 2,700 THB per vehicle if you stay overnight. There's a campground and toilets at the top.
Bo Wi Waterfall
A seven-tier waterfall that's still very natural, with a paved road to the entrance. Park, then walk about 150 m to reach the first tier — good for anyone after a quiet waterfall without the crowds.
Pha Daeng Waterfall
A mid-sized waterfall fed from the headwaters of Huai Landa on Khao Krachom, where several streams flow together. In the rainy season the water is lovely and refreshingly cool.
A 2-day trip plan
To make the trip worthwhile, we'd suggest staying one night around Suan Phueng so you don't have to rush — and you get a shot at the morning sea of mist too. Here's a two-day plan that comes together nicely.
Waterfall and hot spring
Sea of mist and a quiet waterfall
Prepping for the rainy season
In the rainy season the mountain road and parts of the waterfall access can get slick and flooded. Check the forecast before you head out, and if it's been raining hard for a while, hold off on the Khao Krachom climb for now — the road up can flood deep. Always pack a rain jacket, a waterproof bag for your phone, and drinking water in the car.
Plan a full nature trip around Ratchaburi
See the Ratchaburi travel guide →