Namtok Pha Charoen

Namtok Pha Charoen is a 97-tiered limestone waterfall in Phop Phra district, close to the Thai-Myanmar border in western Tak province. Rather than one tall single drop, the water spreads down dozens of small continuous steps across a wide limestone shelf — the tier count, not a height in metres, is what the “97” refers to. It sits inside Namtok Pha Charoen National Park, off Highway 1090 near the km 36-37 marker.

A marked nature trail of roughly 1.5km runs alongside the tiers, through mixed deciduous and pine forest that also shelters the rare orange Siam tulip, which flowers here from July to late August. The path is mostly flat and easy compared with the steep hikes at some of Thailand’s other multi-tier falls — the challenge is more about the walking distance than elevation gain. Several of the lower pools hold water year-round and are shallow enough for a quick dip, though depth and flow both depend heavily on recent rain.

Visitor numbers stay low here compared with waterfalls closer to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, partly because of the drive out to Phop Phra and partly because Tak isn’t a well-trodden province for foreign tourists. Expect birdsong and running water rather than crowds on most weekdays. Flow is strongest from around September through November, after the rainy season has topped up the watershed; by the dry months of February through May, several of the upper tiers can slow to a trickle.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning if you want the falls without other visitors — weekends bring day-trippers from nearby Mae Sot and Tak town.

Watch out: The limestone steps get slick when wet. Wear shoes with real grip rather than sandals if you’re planning to walk close to the tiers.

The trailhead is reachable by motorbike or car from Phop Phra town; there’s no public transport directly to the park entrance. Bring water and a hat, since shade is patchy in the more open sections of trail. Namtok Pha Charoen is the centrepiece of Namtok Pha Charoen National Park, which also protects the separate Namtok Pa Wai waterfall further north in the same district.