Namtok Than Thip

Namtok Than Thip drops in three tiers down a limestone escarpment about 13 km west of Sangkhom town, on the Nong Khai side of the Mekong River plain — a genuinely different waterfall from the similarly named falls over the provincial line in Bueng Kan and the unrelated Than Thip in Phetchabun (see FAQs). Entry is free, open daily 06:00-18:00, and the lower two pools sit only about 100 m from the car park.

The lowest tier drops roughly 30 m into a pool that’s the easiest to reach and the busiest on weekends. A stairway climbs to the second tier, which falls around 100 m and is where most visitors end up swimming — the water stays cool year-round even in the hot season. A third tier above that drops about 70 m but is largely screened by the surrounding forest and bamboo stands; reaching it requires permission from the park staff at the entrance, so most day-trippers stop at the first two. The rock underfoot gets slick with spray, so grippy sandals or trail shoes beat flip-flops.

Flow varies a lot by season. June through November — during and just after the rains — both accessible tiers run hardest and the pools are at their fullest. From February through May the cascade thins to a trickle by comparison, though the base pools still hold enough water for a swim; this isn’t the wild, empty-of-tourists waterfall some older write-ups describe, since the short paved approach makes it one of the more accessible falls in this stretch of Nong Khai and it draws a steady stream of local families and day-trippers, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning if you want the lower pool closer to yourself — by midday on a Saturday or Sunday it fills with local groups picnicking on the rocks.

Watch out: Don’t confuse this with the Bueng Kan waterfall of a similar name (Tat Wiman Thip) or the separate Than Thip Waterfall in Phetchabun province — none of the three are the same place, and directions for one won’t get you to another.

The route in follows the main road out of Sangkhom town for about 13 km, well signed in both Thai and English. Another accessible option nearby is Namtok Wang Nam Mok in Si Chiang Mai district, a 30 m waterfall you can drive right up to without a hike, if you want to pair two falls in one Nong Khai day out.