In Phuket, you will not find particularly large waterfalls, but they are nonetheless worthy of attention. All waterfalls on the island are located in remote forest areas, among the jungle, where you can escape from the crowds of tourists and enjoy solitude, walk along forest paths and swim in fresh water at the foot of the waterfall.

Bang Pae Waterfall (Bangpae)

Bang Pae Waterfall, located in the Thalang area, is the largest in Phuket, the height of the water fall is approximately 15 meters. At the foot of the waterfall you can swim, which is what many Thais do when whole families come here on weekends.

The waterfall itself is located in the non-tourist part of the island: there are many bypass small roads, rural landscapes, on the way to the waterfall you pass rubber plantations, an elephant farm and pineapple fields. On the territory of the waterfall itself, there is a monkey nursery where orphaned gibbon cubs live. Entrance to the nursery is prohibited, but next to it you can read detailed information about the life of these monkeys, buy souvenirs with their image, and even “adopt” a little gibbon. You will not be allowed to take him home, but they will issue an adoption document and allow you to send 1,500 baht a year for the maintenance and treatment of a ward gibbon.

Entrance to the territory of the waterfall is possible daily from 9 am to 6 pm, and this pleasure costs 200 baht for adults and 100 for children. If you go to Bang Pe from, then on the ring at the Heroines monument you need to turn right, after 9 km you will see a sign to the waterfall, after that you need to drive another 1 km, turning left.

Ton Sai Waterfall (toneSai)

The waterfall is located in the northeast of Phuket in the national park, and it is located on the same mountain as the Bang Pae waterfall, only from the opposite side. They say that you can walk from one waterfall to another, but the area is too wild, and there are even wild and completely unfriendly gibbons. In the rainy season, the waterfall overflows well and flows down in a noisy stream along the terraces, but in the dry season it becomes only a small stream.

The forest on the territory of the waterfall is very well-groomed and picturesque, there are wonderful walking paths, huge trees that are over 1000 years old, rare bird species, and a small restaurant.

You can get to it, as well as to the previous waterfall, only you need to turn right. Entrance to the territory of Ton Sai - 200 baht for adults and 100 for children, you can drive in a car, paying 30 baht, or on a bike - for 20 baht.

Kathu waterfall(Kathu)

Despite the fact that this is one of the smallest waterfalls in Phuket, it has its own charm: steps and benches covered with moss on the territory of the waterfall itself, huge roots of no less huge trees, an old, no longer operating, snake farm, dense jungle.

To get to the waterfall, you need to climb the steps to a height of 130 meters, where you will see three terraces, through which a large amount of water descends in the low season. You can swim in the bowl of the waterfall on the first terrace, which is what the Thais do, arranging picnics right there nearby. In general, this waterfall is more popular with locals than tourists.

Another advantage of the Kathu waterfall is free admission and proximity to the main tourist places - it is a 20-minute drive from the beach. At the crossroads, you must turn left and after 1 km turn at the sign. Not far from the waterfall there is a lake for wakeboarding.

Came to Thailand for a holiday? Heard about beautiful waterfalls in Phuket? Then it remains only to look at them. In almost every guide to this amazing country, the tourist will be able to find a description of these natural wonders of nature. Anyone who wants to see a giant waterfall, like African or American ones, will surely be disappointed. But the rest will be satisfied from visiting and contemplating these beautiful corners of nature, and everyone who wants to can still swim in them. Such an unforgettable experience is unlikely to be experienced anywhere else.

So, what famous waterfalls in Phuket (and not only) can Thailand offer us? Pay attention to the following ones:

Kathu Waterfall

Kathu Falls is located near the highest point of the island in the form of cascades. A few minutes drive from the well-known and you can get to this beautiful waterfall. The area of ​​the island where it is located bears the same name. Getting there is not difficult, as the road passes through the residential area of ​​the island. When you get to the parking lot, you need to leave your vehicle, cross the bridge and climb a little. This is usually a favorite place for local kids to play.

Ton Sai Waterfall

Ton Sai Waterfall located in a national park in the northeast direction of Phuket. The park is named Khao Phra Thaew and is a green area covered with jungle. This waterfall is located in this park on its western side. On the other side is another famous Bang Pae waterfall. And, although the distance between them is not very large, it will be difficult to walk from one to the other, since the area is quite wild with its natural inhabitants.

Bangpae Waterfall

Bangpe waterfall is located on the opposite side of Ton Sai, close to the famous Gibbon rehabilitation center. You can get to this place along a variety of paths, bypassing agricultural areas with rubber and pineapples. If you want to see the waterfall, you will have to pay 200 baht per person. The Gibbons Rehabilitation Center can be visited free of charge, but it is not forbidden to donate some amount for its development. This waterfall in Phuket on weekends is quite popular with locals. Here you can swim, and then have a bite to eat in one of the restaurants.

Tamnang Waterfall

Tamnang waterfall located in another national park Sri Phang Nga. The park is under the jurisdiction of Phang Nga Province. The road from Phuket passes through the provinces Khao Lak, Takua Pa and Kuraburi. It will be quite far and difficult to get to it, but the reward will exceed all expectations. There are many fish in this waterfall. Having decided to swim in cool water, the tourist will have the opportunity to touch it with his own hands.

Phuket is one of the most famous islands in Thailand. Tourists love it for its chic tropical nature and beautiful sandy beaches. In addition, there are many more attractions in Phuket. In particular, both travelers and locals are attracted by its waterfalls. It cannot be said that there are many of them and they are tall and majestic like Angel or Iguazu. But, nevertheless, they are of interest as great places for relaxation.

The highest and largest waterfall in Phuket is Bang Pae. Its height is only 15 meters. If this is the largest waterfall on the island, then you can imagine the others. But don't underestimate him. Still, it's quite an interesting place.

Bang Pae Waterfall is located in the northeastern part of the island, 2.5 kilometers from its eastern coast.

Bang Pe waterfall on the map

• Geographic coordinates 8.041122, 98.393438
• Distance from the capital of Thailand Bangkok is approximately 680 km in a straight line
• The nearest airport Phuket (Phuket International Airport) in 12 km to the northwest

Bang Pae is a relatively quiet and secluded place, located away from the standard tourist routes.

The difference between Bang Pae and its counterparts in Phuket is that it is a classic waterfall, that is, a stream of water falling from a cliff. While most of the other waterfalls are water flowing over boulders, which is also an equally interesting sight.

Bang Pae is a 10-minute leisurely walk from the parking lot. The path, simple and trodden, goes along the bed of a small river. You should not climb deep into the jungle, as there is a risk of meeting with snakes.

So, walking along the path, you get to the waterfall. It is unlikely that it will amaze you with its size and noise, but you must admit that it is still worthy of attention.

The tropical climate zone in which Phuket is located in general, and Bang Pae in particular, involves a change in dry and wet seasons. So in the rainy season, the waterfall is as beautiful and full of water as possible.

Bang Pae is one of the few waterfalls on the island where you can stand under the jets of falling water. In addition, in a small lake at its foot you can swim with pleasure. But there is not much space here, and the stones located around are quite slippery, so be careful and careful.

Passage to the waterfall is paid (200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children). But the fee is taken from 9 am to 16 pm. If you arrive later, you can enter for free. True, it is worth saying that the sun is already setting and the daytime beauty of the waterfall begins to fade. However, it is better to visit it during the day. And the photos will be more colorful, and swimming at its foot is much more pleasant.

Locals like to have picnics in the area and swim near the waterfall. It is worth considering the fact that there are many Muslims in this part of Thailand, so swimming topless or in too revealing swimsuits is highly undesirable. After all, it is worth respecting the traditions and moral norms of the local population.

Both tourists and locals love this waterfall.

In the vicinity of Bang Pae Falls, there is an elephant farm and a gibbon rehabilitation center in which these primates live, confiscated from smugglers and underground zoos. Sometimes animals can be saved from cruel owners.
Visitors to this center are allowed free of charge, but donations are not refused. You can learn about the life of these animals from the information stands located nearby. You won’t be able to pet a gibbon, but you can become a foster family for him, practically adopt. They will not allow you to take your “stepson” with you, you will only be given a certificate of “guardianship”, which will cost 1,500 baht per year (a little less than 3,000 rubles). The center is open daily from 9:00 to 16:30, on Saturday from 9:00 to 15:00.

How to get there

You can get to the Bang Pae waterfall along road No. 4027. For the starting point of the path, let's take the monument to the sisters of the heroines (Thao Thep Kasattri Thao Sri Sunthon Monument) in the central part of the island.

Brief historical background. The monument was erected in honor of two sisters who participated in the Burmese-Siamese war (1785-1786). According to popular belief, in 1785 they led the defense against the Burmese for 5 weeks and showed themselves so bravely that they united the Siamese troops.

Monument to the Heroine Sisters

At the monument, you need to turn towards the east coast and drive for about 9 kilometers. Then turn left into an inconspicuous alley (follow the signs, there will be a Bangpae Waterfall sign on the left side of the road). You drive along it for about 1200 meters and end up right at the ticket office and parking lot. If you drive a little to the right, you will find yourself in the same shelter of gibbons.

Here is a short video so that you can roughly understand what we are talking about.

There are not so many waterfalls in Phuket, in principle, not to mention some large-scale sights that amaze the eye and ears. Therefore, initially it makes sense to consider Phuket waterfalls rather simply as a place for walking through the forest, but with the bonus of swimming in fresh water. Definitely don't expect an unusual sight from Bangpae. If you need really high waterfalls and impressive views, then you should go to the north of Thailand, where there are kilometer-long mountains and hundred-meter waterfalls. However, with all that said, the Bangpe waterfall in Phuket is considered one of the largest.

The height of the Bang Pae Waterfall is only 15 meters, but this is not just a number, but fifteen meters of vertically falling water, unlike most waterfalls in Phuket, which look like a cascade murmuring over large stones. In simple terms, the Bangpe waterfall is a classic of the genre, which looks very beautiful in the photo and live, it has a bathable backwater, and in general, in terms of its advantages, it deserves a separate visit. From the parking lot, walk along the path along the riverbed for literally ten minutes, at a leisurely pace.

I note that the trail is not difficult, periodically with uphill climbs, partially covered, so a person with any physical fitness will cope with trekking. As I said, it makes sense to consider a visit just like a walk through the jungle, although if you have already been to a similar place before, for example, or, then everything will be the same. The same jungle and river. That is, if this 15-meter waterfall is the largest here in Phuket, then you need to understand what kind of waterfalls are here on the island.

Since the trail goes along the riverbed, along the way you will come across fonts of different depths and you will see for yourself which of them are bathable and which are not. I'll give you a hint - everything around the swimmers is trampled down. By the way, while I remembered - the road to the sights passes through the valley, which is densely planted with rubber plantations. Keep in mind that if you go wild, then you should not once again wander into the hevea plantings - snakes love to hang out there. And yet, on the way to the Bang Pae waterfall there is an elephant farm where you can feed and ride elephants. Considering the nuances of the upbringing and training of elephants, as well as their torn ears and hundreds of small scars on the head from the mahout's hook, these rides are an amateur, to which I do not consider myself.

At the end of the path you will run into a waterfall, it is alone here, and there is a font near it. Moreover, in the place where the water falls, the depth is more than two meters (not in the dry season, of course). Around this place - to the waist. And the font is quite narrow, you can’t jump there in a large crowd, and since tourists are found here in large numbers, you yourself understand that you are not threatened to swim in splendid isolation. There are more pleasant and comfortable places along the way in terms of swimming. But it is in this, and only in one place, that there is a waterfall where you can partially stand under the falling water.

Separately, I want to note that if you purposefully came here to swim and spend time culturally, do not forget about decency. This is the south of Thailand, there are many Muslims for whom swimming topless or in overly revealing swimsuits can be a shock, up to calling the police. This place is popular not only among tourists. Thais come to Bangpe in large numbers, and they usually spend picnics with their families and children. Despite stupid prejudices, they should be reckoned with, because we are tourists here, not they.

There is a gibbon rehabilitation center in front of the entrance to the territory of the waterfall, I didn’t get there, but judging by the reviews there’s nothing special to see there, at best you will see gibbons from afar, they don’t let anyone close. Gibbons are confiscated from smugglers, illegal zoos, and simply from owners who mistreat animals. Of the sixteen species on the planet, four species of gibbons occur naturally in Thailand.

The rehab center does not charge an entrance fee, but accepts donations and offers a guardianship service that will cost you 1,500 baht per year.

Visiting Information

Entrance to the territory with Bang Pae waterfall costs 200 baht. But I arrived at 4:45 p.m. and didn’t pay anything to anyone anymore - there was no usher in the booth, and not only I was so lucky. Consider this a life hack for the thrifty. Moreover, at five in the evening there are already few people here, the sun is almost invisible - it is behind the mountain. Well, in general - cool, good, refreshing.

The Gibbon Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Saturday, and the waterfall is open for entry from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but in fact I went out at 6 p.m., and people were still coming forward, that is, nothing closes there and you can even come early in the morning .

On the map

Bangpae Waterfall in Phuket is located in the northeastern part of the island. If you come here from all the beaches, then moving towards the airport, before reaching the monument to the sisters-heroines, you need to turn right towards the east coast. Google knows this place, and the navigator will bring you. Well, along the way you will come across signs, past which it is difficult to slip.

We haven't been to the falls in a long time. On the map of Phuket, we found several waterfalls and decided to go to the nearest one - Kathu Waterfall. The most memorable so far was. In Kathu, we expected to see something similar. Since Phuket is so picturesque and generous with natural beauty, then with a waterfall, I hope we will not lose. As usual, we decided to get to the Kathu waterfall without a bike. It is only 2 km from the songteo stop to the waterfall - we will reach it in half an hour. On this day, the weather favored hiking and gave us a cold snap of up to +31C and cloudiness. So the walk was a pleasure.

Waterfalls! We are coming to you!

Kathu Falls in Phuket: our impressions

The first thing that caught our eye was an inscription in Russian with a notification about the number of steps. Slava read on some site that there are about 200 steps. But some responsible tourist calculated that there are 410 of them.

Not this, I thought, but there is no going back. Still, 400 steps, in comparison, is just laughter.

First cascade

Having risen quite a bit, 50-70 steps, we were met by waterfall No. 1.

Basically cute. There are few people. There are no tourists, only locals and a couple of independent Europeans. Near the waterfall there are two niches with water, where anyone can swim. Only Thai children are splashing here, because not one sane person will climb into this dirty water.

We got closer to the waterfall and became spectators. The children climbed the wet and slippery rocks without fear, and then happily flopped into the water. This is probably how they spend their days while their parents sell food at the entrance.

Kathu Waterfall video

This whistle in the video is emitted by blue water pipes that are laid everywhere there. Probably the nearest village is pumping water from a waterfall.

The audience at all the waterfalls, to put it mildly, is dubious. In addition to children, there are a lot of older boys, 12-16 years old, who drink alcohol, scream and smoke something, more often than not cigarettes. Almost all of these gop-boys smell strongly of fumes when they run past on the stairs. In the evening, we would not recommend walking in these places.

Second cascade

Having passed a few dozen more steps along the stairs, we came to waterfall No. 2. He was already fuller and more like a real seething waterfall. It is inconvenient to swim in it, because children are also running around here and there is not enough space. After a couple of minutes, we move on.

The road is thought out, whoever gets tired can sit on a bench in one of the pavilions. This is very useful, as climbing up the steep stairs in the heat and high humidity in the wilds of the forest makes the heart beat faster than usual.

And while you are climbing, you meet with a variety of living creatures. A very beautiful animal.

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience In this article.

Hi guys! Did you come to see the waterfalls or me?

And not very beautiful. What do you think is hanging on the tree? We think it's a hornet's nest, but are there nests that big?

Maybe a big termite mound? Or maybe some birds live there?

Third cascade

And now, the third platform is already visible. This waterfall, as it were, hints to you that soon you will see the largest and most exotic of all waterfalls and plunge into the clear waters with awe and a smile that you still have reached.

Climbing to the topmost waterfall and the road through the jungle

It remains quite a bit, we soon see that the normal staircase ends. This is what normal looks like:

Next, we will have to go through the real jungle, stepping on narrow old makeshift steps, overgrown with moss and mold. And on the left side there is a cliff and a mountain stream. We walked carefully and slowly, trying not to pay attention to insects, big ants, and trying not to think about who else might live in this jungle.

Jungle Phuket

A few minutes later we came to the topmost waterfall, to which we climbed 400 steps. Logically, it should be the largest and most beautiful of all!

Surprise!

What is this?

So we asked each other: What is this? And this is the main waterfall? The most distant and inaccessible. It's some kind of puddle! Somewhere behind the stones, a thin trickle of water is barely visible, resembling a faucet that they forgot to turn all the way.

Video: top of the waterfall

Kathu Waterfall Summary

Kathu Falls is a controversial pleasure. The attraction is weak, it should not be included in the list of must-sees. But in principle, you can come here for a change, well, or to neigh. Especially when you do not know what awaits you there, and you are full of anticipation. We were not upset that we came to see the Phuket waterfalls, we enjoyed walking through the forest, tropical nature and mini-cascades.

• Entrance: free
• Opening hours: daily

How to get on your own

We got here without any problems by public transport. From Phuket town there are buses "Phuket town - Kathu". The fare is 25 baht. Drive to Kathu from the town for about 20 minutes. Songteo passes the road leading to the waterfalls. From the bus, stomp on foot exactly 2 km in a straight line without going uphill. The walking route will take 30 minutes. The road is very convenient for pedestrians, as there are sidewalks on the sides.