Namtok Maekae and Namtok Kaofu

Namtok Maekae and Namtok Kaofu are two waterfalls inside Tham Pha Thai National Park in Lampang’s Ngao district, about a kilometre apart. Entry is free — the park itself charges no admission — and it’s open daily 06:00-18:00.

Namtok Maekae is the natural one: a limestone cascade fed by the Huai Mae Kae stream, stepping down through more than ten small tiers for a combined drop of around 10 metres. It’s modest in scale rather than a single dramatic plunge, but the multiple small pools along the way give it more character than the height suggests. Namtok Kaofu, a short walk or drive further into the park, is different — local accounts describe it as partly man-made, built to add a second water feature to the park rather than a fully natural formation. Worth knowing before you go if you’re expecting two equally wild cascades.

Both sit within the forest that gives Tham Pha Thai National Park its name, alongside the limestone cave system the park is better known for. Flow at both falls is strongest during and just after the rainy season, roughly June through November; visiting in the dry months means a noticeably thinner stream, particularly at Kaofu.

Swimming is possible in Maekae’s pools when the water’s high enough, though conditions vary through the year — check with park staff on arrival rather than assuming. Trails between the two falls run through forest and can get slippery after rain, so proper footwear matters more than it looks like it would on a map.

Insider Tip: Don’t skip Maekae to save time for Kaofu — Maekae is the stronger, fully natural waterfall of the two, and Kaofu is more of a bonus stop than a must-see in its own right.

Both falls are inside Tham Pha Thai National Park, where the cave system is the main draw for most visitors — worth combining into one trip rather than a separate outing.