The best waterfalls in Thailand

Erawan National Park in Thailand is home to the famous Erawan Waterfall, a seven-tier waterfall system. It actually exceeded expectations and felt like a worthwhile visit, even though there are many natural landscapes in China that are arguably even more impressive.

The entrance fee for foreign adults is 300 THB per person (children are about half price). I was curious about what locals pay, but that wasn’t clearly shown.

I didn’t go swimming on this trip because I didn’t want to get wet, but swimming is allowed in designated areas of the waterfalls.

If you've been collecting waterfalls the way some people collect stamps, Thi Lo Su needs to be on your list — but fair warning, this one doesn't come easy.

Tucked deep inside the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in Tak province, Thi Lo Su is one of those "the road is long, but wow, it's worth it" kind of places. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, it's a limestone waterfall standing around 300 meters tall and stretching roughly 500 meters wide — the scale is honestly hard to process until you're standing in front of it. From a distance it doesn't even look like a single waterfall, it looks like the whole mountainside is flowing.

You won't get there by just parking and walking up to it. There's a stretch of mountain road first, then forest, then a hike, and the falls only show up at the end of all that. Nothing along the way is built for tourists. No paved viewing platform, no gift shop halfway through. It's still pretty much what it's always been.

Chiang Mai is absolutely stunning. The first time we saw a waterfall this spectacular was at Wachirathan Waterfall. Standing in the mist at the base of the falls, you can really feel the incredible energy of the place.

We were actually on our way to hike in Doi Inthanon National Park and decided to stop by Wachirathan Waterfall along the way. It completely exceeded our expectations. Seeing such an incredible view made the trip so worthwhile, and because we visited during the low season, there wasn't even an entrance fee—it was completely free!

For this hike, we wore the new Peak Chiye hiking shoes. The external lace design immediately caught our attention, and the black-and-white colourway goes with everything. The full-length rubber outsole provided excellent grip, while the reinforced toe cap offered extra protection when climbing. They felt incredibly comfortable, and the quick-lace system meant we never had to worry about our shoelaces coming undone on the trail.

Chiang Mai’s Most Stunning Waterfall with Transport Guide

Mae Ya Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls you can visit in Chiang Mai. This large, multi-tiered cascade flows powerfully over layers of rock, creating a truly breathtaking view in person. The air feels fresh and cool, and the scenery is perfect for photos, with a lush, almost fairytale-like atmosphere.

Travel guide Opening hours: 08:00 to 16:30. It is best to go early for better lighting and fewer crowds. Entrance fee: 300 THB for adults and 150 THB for children. The ticket is included in Doi Inthanon National Park entry, which allows access to multiple attractions and offers good value. Getting there: The waterfall is about 1.5 to 2 hours by car from Chiang Mai Old City. The mountain roads have many curves, so driving or riding a motorbike can be tiring and requires some confidence.

Everyone calls it Sticky Waterfall. Almost nobody knows the actual name is Bua Tong, and honestly, the nickname does the marketing better than the real one ever could.

I went in expecting a nice photo spot and maybe a paddle. What I got was a full waterfall climb, straight up against the current, holding a rope in the steeper parts, and I liked it so much I turned around and did it a second time the same day. One of my flip-flops didn't make it past the first climb. Here's everything worth knowing before you go.

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