🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Ask anyone in Nong Bua Lamphu where to take the family for a quick swim on a day off, and Thao To Waterfall comes up almost every time. It isn't buried deep in the forest where you'd need to pack for the whole day — it's right off the main road, so you park, walk a few steps, and you're there. Perfect if you want the feel of a waterfall without any of the slog.
Its full name is Thao To Forest Park, in Non Than sub-district, Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu district. The real charm isn't the height of the falls — it's the wide rock shelf the water sheets across, the oddly shaped boulders scattered all over, and the cool forest shade that holds for most of the year.
What kind of place is Thao To Waterfall
Thao To is a low waterfall where the water steps down across a broad rock shelf — not a tall, dramatic cascade, but a sloping run of stone with water spreading over it. The standout feature is the big boulders in all sorts of shapes, set out so you can sit, lean back, or spread a mat and eat by the water. The whole area is shaded by mixed deciduous forest, so it stays noticeably cooler than in town.
From the car park it's about a 150 m walk down to the falls — short and not too steep, easy enough even with kids or older relatives along. The water in the wading spots is shallow, fine for kids to cool off in, but in the rainy season the current can pick up, so keep a close eye on them and always check with the staff first.
- Location — beside Highway 210, the Nong Bua Lamphu–Udon Thani route, about 3 km from the town centre
- Type — rock-shelf waterfall, water running over a wide sloping slab, large boulders scattered throughout
- Good for — families, shallow wading, picnics, photos on the rocks, chilling in the shade
- Entry fee — free (it's a forest park, no admission ticket)
The honest heads-up first
This waterfall is genuinely pretty and actually has water only in the rainy season. In the dry months (roughly December–April) it's usually dry or down to a trickle, and you'll just see bare rock. If you're coming for the water, aim for the heavy-rain stretch and you won't be let down.
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When the water looks its best
The whole point of a Thao To trip comes down to timing. The water is fullest and runs strongest from around July into early October — Isan's rainy season — when it spreads right across the rock shelf in a thin sheet that slides down the steps. It's the view locals wait all year for.
- July–early October — peak flow, water covers the rock shelf and runs strong, full-on swimming (watch the current)
- November — tail end of the rains, still some water, weather turning cool, nice for a walk
- December–April — dry season, low to no water, better for a forest walk and paying respects at Pu Lub Shrine than for swimming
Local tip
If it's just rained hard a couple of days in a row, the morning after the water is at its prettiest and clearest. Try to go before noon for good light and fewer people. On rainy-season weekends a lot of locals head out, so it gets busy.
Getting to Thao To Waterfall
The thing that wins locals over is how close it is. From the town centre you drive out toward Udon Thani along Highway 210 for about 3 km and you're there. The falls sit right by the road with clear signs — drive just past the edge of town and the entrance shows up on your left.
- Car / motorbike — easiest option, about 5–10 min from the town centre, with parking at the falls
- From Udon Thani — drive along Highway 210 toward Nong Bua Lamphu; the falls appear on your right just before town, roughly 45–50 km in total
- No vehicle — it's a small town with little public transport, so renting a motorbike in town or hiring a car round-trip is the way to go
Pu Lub Shrine — a stop before the water
In the same area as the falls is Pu Lub Shrine, a sacred spot that people in Nong Bua Lamphu hold in real reverence. Plenty of drivers on Highway 210 pull over to pray for a safe journey, since Grandfather Pu Lub is believed to watch over travellers. If you're already at the waterfall, a quick stop to pay respects is just what people around here do.
Close by there's also Wat Doi Thep Sombun, where many people drive up to make merit and take in the view. You can string it into a short half-day loop — waterfall, Pu Lub Shrine, temple — and it fits neatly.
Before you go
- Grippy shoes — wet rock is very slippery, so wear water shoes or strapped sandals with good grip; skip the flip-flops
- Mat + food — this place is all about picnics, so bring a mat, drinking water, and your own food; there are few shops in the area
- Rubbish bag — take your trash back out, and help keep the falls as clean as you'd want to find them
- Mosquito repellent — it's forest by the water, and the mosquitoes come out in force toward evening
- Allow time — the forest park is open roughly 08:00–16:30 (hours can vary, so go during the day and don't linger too late)
Where to eat after the water
Done swimming and hungry? You're only a few minutes back into Nong Bua Lamphu town, where there's no shortage of punchy Isan food. A spot locals bring up often is Tam Yam Yua by Manny, known for its som tam and Isan dishes — a good way to cap the day with a fiery papaya salad and hot sticky rice. If you want to dig into the town's food scene properly, check the eating guide below.
Want some fiery Isan food after the waterfall? See the spots locals in Nong Bua Lamphu actually go to.
See Isan food in Nong Bua Lamphu →Who it's for / who it isn't
- Good for — families with kids who want shallow wading, anyone after a picnic near town, people who like photographing rock shelves, a relaxed half-day
- Maybe not your thing — if you're expecting a tall, powerful cascade, or you come in the dry season when it's dry, it may feel ordinary
- Easy trick — check whether the rains have come before you set off; if they haven't, switch the plan to a temple visit or somewhere else in the province first