Than Sawan Waterfall

Than Sawan Waterfall is a remote cascade inside Khao Sok National Park, reached only on foot — there’s no temple here, despite some listings confusing it with a shrine site of a similar name elsewhere in the country. Because it sits inside the park boundary, the standard Khao Sok entrance fee applies (roughly 300 THB for foreign adults, 40 THB for Thai nationals), and you’ll need to show your ticket card at the trailhead.

The trail starts at park headquarters and crosses Khlong Bang Len before reaching the closer Bang Hua Raet waterfall around the 3km mark. From there it follows Khlong Sok past Wing Hin waterfall and a pool locally called Wang Yao, climbs a low ridge, crosses Khlong Sok again, and forks left for the final stretch to Than Sawan — roughly 6-7km one way through primary rainforest, with several stream crossings and no vehicle access at any point. Watch out: this isn’t a stroll to a roadside cascade. Budget a full day for the round trip, wear proper trail shoes rather than sandals, and check conditions at the visitor centre before setting out, since the stream crossings rise fast after rain.

The waterfall itself is a single dramatic drop off a steep limestone cliff face, where the water fans and arcs on the way down — locals liken the spray pattern to a rainbow when the afternoon sun hits it. It’s a payoff built on scarcity: because the approach deters casual visitors, the trail sees a fraction of the footfall of Khao Sok’s famous lake and cave circuits, and for long stretches the only sounds are the stream and the rainforest canopy.

Insider Tip: Rangers at the visitor centre generally recommend hiring a local guide for this route — not because it’s technically difficult, but because the trail signage thins out after Wang Yao, phone signal disappears, and the multiple stream crossings are easy to misjudge without local knowledge of current water levels.

Start early. Most of Khao Sok’s park facilities open around 08:00, and reaching Than Sawan and returning before dark leaves little margin if you set off late. Base yourself in the Khao Sok area rather than commuting from Surat Thani town — it cuts real time off both ends of the trek. Pair the day with the more accessible sights near the park entrance: the limestone-karst forest and cave system around headquarters, or Rajjaprabha Dam Reservoir (Chiao Lan), about 40 minutes further into the park, as the easier half-day option if the Than Sawan trek doesn’t suit your group.