A tier of Erawan Falls with sunlight coming through the trees. Photo above: Nat Mahakkapong via Google
Erawan Falls is in Erawan National Park in Si Sawat district, Kanchanaburi province, about 65 km beyond Kanchanaburi town, which is itself roughly 128 km west of Bangkok. That makes it one of the longer day trips from the city: about 193 km each way if you add the two figures. It works as a day trip, but only with an early start, which is why the Kanchanaburi tours that include it are among the longest day tours.
The facts below come from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), news reports of the park's April 2026 closure and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, read on October 3, 2026. The Department of National Parks website timed out when we tried it, so there is no department page behind the hours; we say where that leaves a gap.
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How far is Erawan Falls from Bangkok?
TAT says the park is 65 km from Kanchanaburi along Route 3199, and it describes Kanchanaburi as only two hours from Bangkok by road or rail. The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre puts Kanchanaburi 128 km west of Bangkok. The sum of about 193 km is our arithmetic, not an official route length, and traffic out of Bangkok and the road to the park decide the real time. Kanchanaburi has its own history sites, covered in our Kanchanaburi day trip guide.
What is Erawan Falls?
TAT describes Erawan Waterfall as the biggest waterfall in Kanchanaburi, running 1,500 meters down from the Huai Mong Lai River in seven tiers, each with swimming areas. It also lists a nature trail of about 30 minutes, a golf cart service for older and disabled visitors, and homestays and tents for those who want to stay in the park.
What does it cost, and when is it open?
TAT's attraction page lists admission of THB 300 for a foreign adult and THB 200 for a foreign child; Thai visitors pay THB 100 and THB 50. The page is undated, so check the price at the gate. We could not confirm opening hours: the Department of National Parks site did not respond on October 3, 2026, and TAT's page does not list them. Third-party guides describe daytime hours ending in the afternoon, so plan to arrive in the morning. The park's phone numbers on TAT's page are 0 3457 4222, 0 3457 4722 and 0 3457 4234, and the department's is 0 2562 0760.
Can Erawan National Park close on the day?
Yes. On April 21, 2026 the park suspended tourism activities and overnight stays because of forest fires and harmful air quality; the park chief, Phiphat Chimpli, said the 24-hour PM2.5 average had reached 42.9 micrograms per cubic metre. Nation Thailand reported the reopening on April 22, 2026. The park chief said updates appear on the park's official Facebook page. TAT's January 15, 2026 note on the national park system adds that parks close some attractions every year for a period, depending on weather and conditions. Before you pay a deposit on a tour, ask what the operator does if the park is closed.
Which Erawan Falls day trip should you choose?
Check the park fee, what is included and when you return to Bangkok. We link one provider per trip and have not compared prices. The first three include the falls; the last two are history days that do not.
| Trip | Built around | Style | Includes Erawan Falls? | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erawan National Park and Bridge over the River Kwai | Erawan Falls plus the Kwai bridge | Small group | Yes | See it on Viator |
| Kanchanaburi full day: River Kwai and Erawan | Kwai bridge plus Erawan Falls | Guided day tour | Yes | See it on Viator |
| Private tour: Erawan Waterfall, Hellfire Pass and elephant care | Erawan, Hellfire Pass and an elephant-care stop | Private | Yes | See it on Viator |
| Bridge on the River Kwai and the Thailand-Burma Railway | War history rather than waterfalls | Guided day tour | No | See it on Viator |
| Kanchanaburi highlights day tour | The Kwai bridge and Death Railway history, with no Erawan stop that we could see | Day tour | No | See it on Klook |
The private trip adds an elephant-care stop. We have not visited it and cannot assess its welfare standards, which vary between venues, so read what visitors actually do with the animals before you book. For more on elephant venues near Bangkok, see our guide to where you can ride an elephant in Bangkok.
Can you visit Erawan Falls without a tour?
You can reach Kanchanaburi town by train or bus, but the 65 km on to the park is the problem. The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre's visitor page, last updated October 31, 2022, describes trains from Bangkok Noi station towards Nam Tok at a third-class fare of B28 and a Southern Terminal bus about two hours long, so check both against current timetables. We could not verify a public service from the town to the park, so for one day a tour or a car with driver is the realistic choice.
Erawan Falls or the River Kwai: which fits one day?
Erawan is a nature day, and the River Kwai bridge and the war cemeteries are a history day. The tours that combine them spend much of the day on the road. If you want Erawan, pick a trip that includes the falls and leave the rest. If your interest is the Death Railway, the last two trips in the table cover it without the long drive to the park. Our Kanchanaburi day trip guide covers the town sights, and things to do outside Bangkok has other ideas.
For another national park day trip, see our guide to Khao Yai and elephant sanctuary day trips; for a guide who plans the route with you, see private guides and custom tours in Bangkok; and for the other big heritage day trip, our Ayutthaya day trips compared.
Sources: TAT, Erawan National Park, TAT, Kanchanaburi, Nation Thailand, April 22, 2026, Khaosod English, April 21, 2026, TAT Newsroom, January 15, 2026, Thailand-Burma Railway Centre. Checked October 3, 2026.
About 193 km each way by our arithmetic: TAT puts the park 65 km from Kanchanaburi town along Route 3199, and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre puts the town 128 km west of Bangkok. That is not an official route length, and traffic decides the time.
TAT lists THB 300 for a foreign adult and THB 200 for a foreign child, and THB 100 and THB 50 for Thai adults and children. The page is undated, so check at the gate, and check whether a tour includes the fee.
We could not confirm current hours. The Department of National Parks site did not respond on October 3, 2026, and TAT does not list them. Plan to arrive in the morning, and call the park on 0 3457 4222, 0 3457 4722 or 0 3457 4234.
Seven. TAT describes the waterfall as 1,500 meters long, running down from the Huai Mong Lai River, with swimming areas on its tiers. Conditions can change what is open, so ask park staff on the day.
Yes. The park closed tourism and overnight stays on April 21, 2026 because of forest fires and air pollution and reopened the next day, according to Nation Thailand. The park chief said updates are posted on the park's official Facebook page, and TAT notes that national parks close some attractions for part of every year.
Yes, but it is a long one: about 128 km to Kanchanaburi and 65 km more to the park. Day tours leave early. TAT also lists homestays and tents in the park if you would rather stay.
We could not verify a public service from Kanchanaburi town to the park. Trains and buses run from Bangkok to the town, but the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre's information on them is from 2022, so check current times.
A tour is simpler for one or two travelers. A car with driver suits a group or anyone who wants to choose the stops, as long as you agree the distance and hours first. Either way, check what happens if the park is closed.
