Sridit Waterfall

Sridit Waterfall is a single wide drop of stone in the Khao Kho hills of Phetchabun — over 30 metres high, about 50 metres across, and one of the easier waterfalls in the district to reach. Entry is 20 THB for adults and 10 THB for children, daily 08:00-17:00. Where some Khao Kho cascades demand a real trek, Sridit is a short, paved walk from the car park.

From the parking area, stone steps and a marked path cover roughly 200-300 metres down to the water — 10 to 15 minutes at an easy pace, not the hour-long jungle hike some older guides describe. The single drop feeds a pool at its base wide enough for a dozen or so people to wade and cool off without crowding each other. Flow runs heaviest from around October through December, just after the rainy season, when the sheet of water covers the full width of the rock face. By the hot months of March to May, the volume thins out considerably, though the pool usually still holds enough for a dip.

Khao Kho’s uplands were a stronghold for Communist Party of Thailand fighters through the 1970s and into the early 1980s, and local accounts around Sridit tie the falls to that era — the pools reportedly served fighters sheltering in the surrounding forest for washing and pounding rice. That history sits quietly in the background now; the atmosphere on an ordinary weekend is closer to a family picnic spot, with visitors spreading mats on the flatter rocks near the pool and vendors nearby selling grilled chicken and sticky rice.

Insider Tip: Visit on a weekday morning if you can — Sridit draws a fraction of the crowds of Khao Kho’s bigger-name stops like the sacrificial monument or the royal palace grounds, so you’ll often have the pool close to yourself.

Watch out: The rock shelf around the main pool turns slippery fast once it’s wet, and there’s no lifeguard on duty. Wear shoes with grip rather than flip-flops if you’re planning to get in the water.

There’s no public transport to Sridit — you’ll need your own car or motorbike, following the mountain roads through Khao Kho district. The Nong Mae Na entrance to Thung Salaeng Luang National Park sits in the same corner of the district and pairs naturally with a Sridit visit, while Wang Tum Waterfall, run as a weekends-only abseiling site, is a further drive into Khao Kho for anyone wanting a more active add-on. For an overview of the wider area, Khao Kho and Phetchabun covers the district’s other viewpoints, temples, and cool-season farms.