Chaloem Phrakiat Rama IX Waterfall

Chaloem Phrakiat Rama IX Waterfall drops in five tiers over a cliff face more than 30 metres high, off Highway 410 between Yala and Betong. It was originally called Wang Weng — or Ai Yoe Kem, after a Chinese miner who worked the site in the colonial-era Malayan tin-mining years — and was renamed in 1999 to mark King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 72nd birthday. Entry is free.

From the car park, a roughly 300-metre concrete walkway leads to the base of the falls, an easier approach than most tiered waterfalls in the region — no scramble up loose rock required to reach the main pool. The five tiers step down through evergreen forest, with the upper levels reachable by trail for those who want a longer look at each drop rather than just the base pool. The setting sits at elevation, so the air runs noticeably cooler than lowland Yala, one reason Betong markets itself around its mountain climate.

The waterfall sits within Aiyoe Weng subdistrict, the same area as Aiyoeweng Sea of Mist Viewpoint, making it easy to combine both stops on a morning out of Betong town.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning if you can — the concrete walkway and pools get busy with domestic tour groups on weekends and holidays, especially during the cool season when Betong’s mountain climate draws visitors from across the south.

Watch out: Yala is one of Thailand’s three southernmost provinces (with Pattani and Narathiwat) where a long-running separatist insurgency has led the UK, US, Canadian, and Australian governments to advise increased caution or against non-essential travel. Incidents overwhelmingly target security forces and government sites rather than tourists, and Betong itself draws steady domestic visitor traffic, but check your government’s current travel advisory before booking.