Chan Ta Then Waterfall

Chan Ta Then Waterfall drops through six rocky tiers inside the Khao Khiao–Khao Chomphu Wildlife Sanctuary, a short drive inland from Si Racha in Chonburi. Entry costs around 30 THB for Thai visitors and 100 THB for foreigners, and the sanctuary gate opens daily 08:00–16:00. Locals know the six named sections as Noen Ta Then, Aeng Ta Then, Hup Ta Then and Chan Ta Then itself, working up the hillside.

From the car park it’s about 700 metres to the lower pools, where the water collects deep enough to swim, then a steeper trail continues toward the upper tiers — roughly 1 km round trip if you push to the top. A pickup-truck shuttle runs the flat first stretch for about 10 THB per person, useful if you’re carrying kids or a cooler bag. Forest closes in tight around the cascade, keeping the gorge several degrees cooler than the coast just a few kilometres away, and the canopy filters the light into a green half-shade that makes the water look almost jade in the lower pools.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning. Weekends bring Si Racha and Sriracha-factory-worker families out in force, and the lower pools fill up fast — a 7 AM arrival gets you a near-empty waterfall.

Like most cascades on this side of the Gulf, Chan Ta Then depends entirely on the rains. It runs strongest from around August to November, with all six tiers carrying real volume; by March or April it can shrink to a trickle over bare rock, so anyone chasing a proper swim should time the visit for the wet season.

Watch out: The rocks around the pools get slick with algae after rain. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops, and test footing before wading in.

Facilities inside the sanctuary are basic — pack your own water and snacks, since there’s little for sale beyond the entrance. Combined with Koh Loi, the small temple-topped island a few kilometres away in Si Racha town, it makes for an easy half-day loop away from the beach crowds.