Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park

Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park covers about 120 sq km of dry evergreen and mixed deciduous forest in Kaeng Hang Maeo district, Chanthaburi — entirely within Chanthaburi province, not straddling a Trat border as some older listings claim. Entry costs 100 THB for foreign adults and 20 THB for Thai adults, gates open 08:30-16:30.

The park takes its name from its centrepiece: Namtok Khao Sip Ha Chan, a waterfall that drops through fifteen distinct tiers down the hillside, rather than fifteen separate mountain peaks as the name might suggest. Three smaller waterfalls — Saba, E Kek and Nam Pen — sit within reach on the park’s trail network, with streams and swimming pools that fill out during and just after the rainy season and thin to a trickle by the hot, dry months. Forest cover is dry evergreen mixed with patches of dipterocarp woodland, home to hornbills and gibbons that are more often heard than seen. Trails between the falls are moderate rather than technical, though roots and wet rock near the cascades make sturdy footwear worth the effort.

Visitor numbers stay low compared to Chanthaburi’s better-known Khao Khitchakut and Namtok Phlio parks, which means quieter trails but also fewer facilities — expect basic signage, a ranger station, and a campground rather than a visitor centre with exhibits. Camping is permitted with a permit arranged through the park office, and streamside sites near the main waterfall are the most requested.

Watch out: Some park access roads turn rough after heavy rain during the June-October wet season — a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle is worth arranging if you’re visiting outside the November-February dry season.

The park sits about an hour southeast of Chanthaburi town by car, with no public transport running directly to the entrance. It pairs well with a wider eastern-seaboard waterfall circuit alongside Khao Khitchakut National Park and Namtok Phlio National Park, both closer to town and better set up for day visitors — Chanthaburi’s other national parks. Bring insect repellent and cash, since there’s no card payment at the gate.