Namtok Sunantha

Namtok Sunantha marks the entrance to Khao Nan National Park in Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat - the waterfall sits right at park headquarters, making it the easiest of the park’s attractions to reach without a long trek. Water drops in multiple tiers down a steep rock face into a pool that feeds Khlong Klai, the main stream running through Tha Sala district.

Local accounts put the fall at three main tiers, with the tallest drop reportedly around 70 metres, though no official park measurement is published - treat that figure as a reasonable estimate rather than a confirmed statistic. What’s certain is that it runs strongly year-round, fed by the rainforest slopes of Khao Nan, and swells further during the rainy season, when the park opens the stream below the falls to rafting trips. Surrounding forest keeps the pool shaded through most of the day, and the sound of the water carries well before you reach it.

The park charges a standard gate fee here since the waterfall doubles as the park entrance: 200 THB for foreign adults, 100 THB for foreign children, and 40/20 THB for Thai adults and children, with the gate open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. Deeper into the park, marked trails lead to two further falls, Khlong Kan and Khlong Yot Nam, plus Hong Cave and a steep multi-hour hike up Khao Nan peak itself - but for most visitors Sunantha’s roadside pool is destination enough for a half-day trip.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning in the cool season (November-February) for the clearest water and the fewest other visitors - weekends draw family groups from Nakhon Si Thammarat town for the same easy access that makes this spot popular.

Getting here means driving Highway 401 to around the km110 marker near Ban Sa Kaeo, turning off toward Ban Pak Chao, then following the access road about 15km to park headquarters. There’s no public transport on this route, so a car, rented motorbike, or arranged driver is essential. Phone signal drops off past the car park, and there’s no restaurant on-site, so bring water and snacks for the day.

Watch out: Trails and rocks around the pool turn slick fast after rain - check current conditions with park staff before swimming, particularly outside the drier cool-season months.