Travel – 3-Day Camp at Erawan National Park

Introduction

Some of us exchange students and Thai buddies launched the camping tour. We rented a (double-decked) tourism bus straight departure from TU Rangsit campus to Erawan National Park.

Date: 02 – 04, Sep, 2016 (Fri. – Sun.)

Schedule: D1 0930 / 1300 TU Rangsit – 1600 Erawan National Park – 1700 Campsite – BBQ party – 0100 Bedtime

D2 0830 Set off – 0850 Waterfall trail head -0900 Waterfall Level 1 – 0910 Waterfall Level 2 – Morning Swim – 1010 Waterfall Level 7 – Swimming – 1045 Secret pool (between level 6 -7 ) – Swimming – 1130 Waterfall Level 5 – 1340 Waterfall Level 4 – 1400 Visitor Center Lunch – 1500 Campsite Break time

D3 0730 Campsite – 0750 Waterfall Level 2 – 0810 Waterfall Level 3 – 0835 Waterfall Level 4 (Morning Hike) – 0920 Trail head – 1100 Lunch – 1230 Taweechai Elephant Camp / bamboo rafting – 1600 Setoff Home

Transportation

700 baht / person (Round trip)

We have almost 50 members for this camp tour, renting a double-decked bus straight to our destination. And, some of us had classes in the morning. We rented another mini van to meet everyone at the national park on Friday!

More than renting a private bus, those who don’t drive by themselves can take buses from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Bus Station and transfer to Erawan Waterfalls. First bus from Kanchanaburi departs at 08.00 am, then every 50 minutes comes a bus.

Although it’s said to be one of the nearest National parks from Bangkok, it’s damn far for an islander from Taiwan like me. The distance is measuring almost 200 km from Thammasat to Erawan waterfalls. (Thammasat University – 140 km – Downtown Kanchanaburi – 42km – Erawan Waterfalls)

The day, we left Thammasat University at 13:00, stop over to break and buy some foods and drinks, and arrived at national park parking lot at 18.00.

Erawan National Park

Park entry ticket :　300 baht / foreigner (updated by August,2016)

Erawan National Park is a 550-square-kilometer park in western Thailand located in the Tenasserim Hills, Kanchanaburi Province, Amphoe Si Sawat in the tambon Tha Kradan. Founded in 1975, it is Thailand’s 12th national park.

The major attraction of the park is Erawan Falls, a waterfall named after the erawan, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. The seven-tiered falls are said to resemble the erawan. (Reference – Wikipedia)

Erawan Waterfalls

Erawan Waterfall is 7 tiered (levels) and spans over 1.5 km. Each tier has also number of smaller falls into ponds full of fishes. Flowing with emerald green water is the major attraction of the national park. A series of trails and foot-bridged will lead visitors all way up to 6th tier, last tier is accessible by scrambling up to few cliffs for those who like a bit more challenge. (More info)

Notices

Trail open time – from 07.00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m
Waterfalls beyond 4th tier(included) closes after 03.30 pm.
Foods are not allowed after second level tier of waterfalls.

Here we go!

First Level

Erawan waterfalls surprised me right at beginning of its first trier! Emerald, clean water filled with huge fishes was like a pool in the Heaven. We didn’t stop here for a long time in order to go through the whole hiking trail earlier before too many tourists squeezed in!

2 nd Level

There is a nice square pool at level 2 tier. Under the waterfall is a cave where visitors like to climb in and take pictures for fun. This pool is deeper than the first tier and fishes are even larger!

Beside the pool is facilitated with an bamboo bench. We visited here again in the second morning, having some snacks, watching fishes cozily swimming. This is the last waterfall that food is allowed here, so be ware of that you are well stuffed before heading to the final (7th) level!

3 rd Level

Level 3 tier is so far my favorite place in Erawan waterfalls. We didn’t pass here on the first day because it’s on the branch way from those goes to level 4 and the rest of higher tiers. The second morning, Momo and I were slow in coming and unable to watch Jujee, Maria, and Siera swimming here (they had moved to level 4). But anyway, we stayed here for a while and were almost to take out our clothes, jumping in. Such a beautiful and tranquil place!

It was another nice pool for swimming here. The only inconvenience was that the “landing” space was limited. As long as you are not the only swimmers here, it would be cramped not staying in the water. The morning, as time gone by, more and more people reached here. Momo and I set off for level 4 to meet our girls!

So, this is why I love this place. There is an elevated waterfall, surrounded by jungles,forests, cast aside from the main trail where tourists often passed by. It’s even more enjoyable in the early morning when not many people reach here yet↓

4 th Level

Level 4 is a popular spot for tourists to stay and have fun. There is a natural slide that you can go on adventure as many ways as you like. I bet it would have been much more fun and excitement if we came here at a heavy rainy season!

(↓Looks like shell bra behind lol)

By the slide is a nice pool with fishes again. Level 4 tier is a relatively lower location on waterfalls trail, which looks like a big bowl with human flesh swimming inside, ha ha! If you have a swimming tube or stuff, you can enjoy floating in a cozy morning with fishes :>>

5 th Level

This is a tier with some rocks, forests, shadows and sunshine at one site. The pool is deep enough near rocks so why not give a jump from height!

The first day, we spent quite much time fooling around the 5th level tier because nobody shared with other side of this pool. It was so much fun with the “shark dolphin.” We enjoyed great sun on a plat, huge rock. Swimming, tanning, fishing. What a relaxing life!

6 th Level – (skipped)

I even don’t know how the 6th level tier looks like. We passed it while the first trial to reach the waterfall at final level. Then, we passed it again when coming down to grab lunch.

Despite that, the pool and little flows in emerald green between level 6 and 7 are my favorite parts hidden aside from the main trail. If you don’t turn a corner and give a voyage of discovery, you’re gonna miss this place.

We met this man around 6-7th level. It’s proper to say he was the one who found this secret place. While some of us were swimming, he invited me to trace up along the creek. That’s why I was accessible to have a little adventure aside from the main trail. It proved that a beautiful scene was always at the corner as you took a turn. I had a nice talk with this guy and appreciated so much.

More photos taken at this secret zone (1) – several tiers

(2) quiet and peaceful water

(3) Another water tier around this area

Final / 7 th Level

Finally, we reached the 7th level! In fact, it took us only approximate 40 minutes to hike up from the trail head to last tier of waterfalls! It was incredibly a wonderful place to visit. With calcium carbonate in water, the waterfalls and pools were in amazing color. This was my first time knowing that waterfall could be ivory and milky instead of rocky gray.

At lower tier by the waterfall, it was an incredible pool with the best looking color I think. Just like that the God added milk to the river source. From river floor to its water were all like milky drinks. So, this is our trip to discover Erawan waterfalls!

More photos –

Campsite Environment

It’s a well-organized campsite, equipped with toilet, shower room, and pavilion. The rangers also had set up all of the tents before we arrived.

It was an amazing scene when sunshine rained down before sunset.I love how those tents were arranged by the riverside.

This is the river right by our campsite. There were a few huts and residents along this river, which was like the scenery portrayed in a fairy tale.

Other than camping activity, visitors can barbecue (only) with the cookers provided by the national park. Here we go! Nice camping party with nice meal!

Now I am going to introduce a “luxury double bed room of riverside view” in Erawan National Park! 2 to 3 people shared a large tent and we got only two in a tent. How gorgeous, commodious, and luxury!

Camping Fee – about 200 baht/person (everything included)
To be honest, I have no idea how much to charge. The sleeping stuff including pillow, mattress, blanket is 50 baht. There are also different type of tents for rent. We paid 400 baht including everything like tent, foods, beverage, etc.
NEW! Smaller tent for 2 ppl 150 Baht a day, and slightly bigger for 3ppl 250 Baht a day. 20 Baht for mat, 10 Baht for pillow and 25 Baht for sleeping bag. (Provided by Erawan National Park consumer service)

I love how our tent was arranged – elevated campsite, facing the river, with sunshine in the morning. That is how you got all the best elements of a good day to begin with.