Kathu Waterfall

Kathu Waterfall sits at the base of a hill in Kathu subdistrict, roughly halfway between Patong and Karon in central Phuket — not in Kamala, despite what some listings say. It’s a three-tier cascade with natural pools at the bottom, reached by a 10-minute walk from the car park, and it’s free to enter, open daily from around 08:00 to 18:00.

The lower tier is the one most visitors reach: a shallow pool fed by a modest cascade, shaded by rubber plantation and jungle canopy. Two smaller tiers sit further upstream, reached by scrambling over wet rock rather than a marked path — worthwhile if the flow is running, less so in the dry season. Water volume swings hard with the seasons. During and after the rainy season (roughly June to November) the falls run strong enough for a proper shower under the main cascade; by March or April the upper tiers can slow to a trickle or dry up altogether.

Watch out: Rocks around the pools get slippery once wet, and there are no lifeguards. Water shoes make a real difference on the lower tier, and it’s worth checking recent visitor photos before making a special trip in the hot season, since the falls can look very different depending on rainfall.

This isn’t a headline Phuket attraction — it’s a modest, low-key stop, quieter than the island’s better-known waterfalls in Sri Phang Nga and Khao Phra Thaeo further north. Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning. Weekends bring local families with picnics, and the small parking area fills up fast.

Kathu Waterfall works best paired with other central-Phuket stops — Kathu Heritage Conservation Center covers the district’s tin-mining past, and if the flow here disappoints, Bang Pae Waterfall near Khao Phra Thaeo National Park usually runs stronger. Both are a short drive north. For where to stay nearby, see the Phuket guide.