Erawan National Park

Bright and early on New Year's morning, my friend James and I boarded our hired songtaew for the two-hour journey northwest of Kanchanaburi to one of Thailand's most famous and beautiful national parks: Erawan.

welcome to Erawan

The highlight of Erawan National Park is the world-famous Erawan Falls, a seven-tiered waterfall named after the holy three-headed white elephant from Hindu mythology. Last time I came to Erawan National Park, I made it up to the fourth tier, the final stop before the trail becomes trickier and harder on the way to the top.

view point in Erawan National Park

This year, James and I arrived at the park early, long before the crowds, determined to climb through the jungle to the legendary seventh tier.

Tier 1: Lai Khuen Rang 

We started at the first tier, the beginning of the trail, where families were picnicking and swimming in the cool, clear blue water at the base of the waterfall.

Tier 2: Wang Macha

Just a short walk up the mountain brought us to the second tier, an impressive stepped fall. Tier 2 was actually probably the most impressive of the falls we saw. It's winter (cool, dry season) in Thailand, and the water was running low as we got higher up.

Tier 3: Pha Nam Tok

The third tier was also easy to get to; a fairly quick and easy step up from the second. As we climbed, we passed several sacred trees, said to hold the spirit of a ghost who will grant a wish. Legend says that if your wish comes true, you must bring her beautiful dresses and scarves to wear. There were lots of dresses and silk cloth tied around these trees.

Tier 4: Oke Nang Phi Su

Past the fourth tier, the trail became more challenging. It was about a kilometer up after that, and the trail closes from here at half past four in the afternoon. Leaving the fourth tier, the trail became a lot rougher.

Tier 5: Bua Mai Lang

I was feeling a little tired and sweaty by the fifth tier. We kept going up through the jungle. At parts, we had to wade through pools of water, and at one point we had to cross over a fallen log to get by.

Tier 6: Dong Prouck Sa

And then we were nearly there! The sixth tier seemed to be really deep in the jungle. It was a lot darker and more heavily forested there.

Tier 7: Phu Pah Erawan

To be honest, for the amount of work it took to get from the sixth to the seventh tier- climbing boulders and scrambling through pools of water, hopping over stones, and climbing over logs- the seventh tier was a bit disappointing. The eponymous Erawan Fall was really dry this season, and barely running. Still, we felt a great sense of achievement when we reached the top and looked back out over the jungle we had climbed through for the past hour and a half.

My favorite spot was a small fall just past the sixth tier! As we got further up, there were fewer and fewer people. Even though the seventh fall wasn't much to look at, we reveled in our victory at the top!

I think I've matched these pictures up with the right tier! It's kind of hard to remember which was which. Anyway, we made it to the top, saw all seven levels, and that's what matters!

deep in the jungle

It was a huge victory at Erawan, and I got a second stamp for my Thai National Passport stamp book!

smudged :(

Stamp Quest tally: 2