Erawan Waterfalls and River Kwai Day Tour from Bangkok
Highlights
- Seven tiers of turquoise pools at Erawan National Park
- Swim in the waterfall pools, with over three hours at the falls
- The bridge on the River Kwai and the Death Railway story
- Local guide who joins the group in Kanchanaburi
- Thai lunch included, vegetarian or halal on request
Description
Erawan is a run of seven waterfall tiers on a forested hillside in a national park west of Kanchanaburi, and the water picks up limestone on the way down, which is what turns the pools that milky blue-green you see in every photograph. People come for the swimming. This tour adds the bridge on the River Kwai at 09:30, since the bridge is more or less on the way, and that leaves the falls for the warm half of the day. For more background and practical advice, see our Kanchanaburi & River Kwai guide.
Pricing
Person
THB 2,495per person
- Step 1
06:15 to 07:00 Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in the central Bangkok area, then on to the meeting point at Khaosan Road.
Leave Khaosan Road and drive west to Kanchanaburi, about two hours.
Arrive in Kanchanaburi and walk the bridge over the River Kwai, part of the Burma Railway built by prisoners of war.
Thai lunch at a local restaurant. Vegetarian and halal options on request.
Three and a half hours at the seven-tier falls, with time to climb and to swim in the pools.
Depart Erawan for the drive back.
Drop-off at Khaosan Road, or Sam Yot MRT station on request.
Included
- Return trip by air-conditioned minivan
- English-speaking local guide in Kanchanaburi
- River Kwai Bridge
- Erawan Waterfalls entrance fee
- Thai lunch, with vegetarian or halal food on request
Not included
- Drinking water
- Travel insurance
- Hotel drop-off (150 THB per person, minimum 2 people)
- Life jacket for swimming at Erawan (20 to 30 THB per person)
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sandals with a grip for wet rock
- Sun protection and a hat
Prefer to make your own way there? You can skip the pickup and meet us directly at the start point.
Khaosan Road, Chana Songkhram Police Station
Meet in front of the Chana Songkhram police station at the western end of Khaosan Road, opposite Wat Chana Songkhram, by 07:15. Staying near Sukhumvit? You can join at Korea Town instead, at the fountain by Sukhumvit Plaza between Soi 10 and 12, at 06:30; tell us which when you book. Hotel pickup between 06:15 and 07:00 is included for hotels in the central pickup area.
There are no lockers at the falls, and nothing at the upper tiers is secure. Anything you would mind losing stays in the van or comes up with you in a dry bag. Footwear is worth a thought too, because the limestone is slick wherever the water runs over it, and sandals without a heel strap are the standard mistake on the wet sections. The time is on you as well, since the hours at the falls are unguided and the van leaves for Bangkok at 16:00, and the walk down from the upper tiers always takes longer than you think it will.
FAQs
Yes, swimming is allowed in most of the pools and is the main reason to go. Life jackets can be hired at the falls for 20 to 30 THB if you want one. Bring swimwear and a towel, as there is nowhere to buy them there.
All seven, if you are reasonably fit and start straight away. Tiers one to three are an easy made path, four and five need some scrambling, and six and seven are a real climb. With three and a half hours most people comfortably reach four or five and swim on the way back down.
Yes. Vegetarian food is available on request on every full-day tour, and halal food can be arranged on the Kanchanaburi tours. Tell us when you book so the restaurant can prepare it.
Yes, if your hotel is in the central pickup area. Pickup times are set by area: Khaosan Road and the old town 06:50 to 07:15, Chinatown and Hua Lamphong 06:40 to 06:50, Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn and Pratunam 06:30 to 06:40, and Siam 06:30 to 06:45. If you are staying outside that area you make your own way to the meeting point on Khaosan Road, in front of the Chana Songkhram police station, for 07:15, or to Korea Town at Sukhumvit Plaza for 06:30.
Back in Bangkok at Khaosan Road, or at Sam Yot MRT station if you ask the guide on the day. Drop-off at your own hotel can be added for 150 THB per person, with a minimum of two people.
Yes, this tour needs at least two people to run. Group sizes vary with the season, from about two to nine people on a quiet day up to twenty or more in high season.
You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the tour starts and get a full refund. Inside 24 hours the tour is non-refundable, because the seat and the guide are already committed.
