Kanchanaburi – Jungle hiking and Erawan waterfalls

Just a few hours west of Bangkok is the small town of Kanchanaburi which was recommended to us for its nearby waterfalls. We followed this suggestion and were rewarded with turquoise pools, jungle hiking, and cool waterfalls. A perfect way to waste away a hot day in Thailand.

An hour or two bus ride from Kanchanaburi brings you to Erawan Falls which consists of a seven tiered waterfall that is spread out over two and a half kilometers. Each tier was unique in its shape of pool and size of waterfall, but each one consisted of cool clear water for swimming and fish that nibbled your toes. Even as a lover of all things aquatic I did not enjoy the toe nibbling. Some fish were small and tickled when they bit, but others were much larger and scraped you with their little fishy teeth which made me squeal and karate kick the surrounding water. As usual Alistair braved the experience and remained still for long enough to get a photo of the smaller fish feasting on his feet.

Between each gorgeous pool and waterfall was a short hike through jungle over large rocks and up unmaintained wooden stairs. Along the way we spotted monkeys eating in the trees and a large lizard scurrying along the ground. It was a lush paradise as we made our way up to the top tier and back down with frequent swim breaks in the wonderfully cooling water.

I love hiking and I love waterfalls, but Kanchanaburi was able to provide us with the best of both worlds at Erawan Falls. Although I could have done without the toe nipping I thoroughly enjoyed our day trip and would return in a heartbeat.