Thailand's Best?

Ti Lo Su, Umphang, Tak province. By spannar00oi

The Thai language Places and Prices coffee table magazine published an issue 2 years back with top Thailand destinations. These were their choice of best waterfalls, without ranking:

• Klong Thom Ron waterfall (being a waterfall as well), Krabi, Southern Thailand
• Huai Khamin waterfall, Kanchanaburi, Central Thailand
• Thi Lo Su, Tak, Northern Thailand
• Thi Lo Re, Tak, Northern Thailand
• Khlong Lan, Kampaeng Phet, Central Thailand
• Tat Mok, Phetchabun, Central Thailand
• Saeng Chan, Ubon Ratchathani, North-Eastern Thailand

Saeng Chan waterfall makes the list because it goes through a hole in the rock. Photo source.

• Mae Surin, Mae Hong Son, Northern Thailand
• Heo Narok, Nakhon Nayak, Central Thailand
• Phraiwan, Phattalung, Southern Thailand
• Krung Ching, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand
• Ton Nga Chang, Songkhla, Southern Thailand
  
• Mae Ya, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

There are probably many more that could of made the list. It's not mine. They may have tried to include all regions and be politically correct ....

Uncertain

To be honest, I don’t remember how we got here, I do know it is in Wang Chao National Park, Thailand. Direct access was poor, one needed to park on the main road and walk down hoping to find the falls. As you can see at the moment we visited (November 2008) there was not too much flow from the 5 m high fall. Beware though most of the flow comes from the opposite side Probably at the height of the rainy season it would be a good view. An au-naturel was called for.

Actually while looking for more pointers on the net I am now unsure whether it is the Wang Chao waterfall, certainly it is in the Wang Chao National Park. My reference adds it is 100 m high, ... not!

Wang Chao National Park is located to the northwest of Kamphaeng Phet town, though access may be just as good from Tak to the north. Don't get too confused the town of Wang Chao is in Tak province, the national park is in Kamphaeng Phet. Access roads are highways 1109 or 1116 from the main A2 highway north.

Staying is good in recommended Scenic Riverside Resort in Kamphaeng Phet.

Anyone for ice-cream?

Khlong Nam Lai waterfall is located in the same national park as the aforementioned, Khlong Lan waterfall. Located about 20 km closer to provincial capital of Kamphaeng Phet it sees a lot less tourists. On a late November afternoon in 2008 the large car park was deserted save for an ice-cream seller. There is though a big car park evidence of megalomania or an indication of visitors during more days. Around the car park and the lower reaches of the falls is a huge park area.

The waterfall (which translates as waterfall with much water or very beautiful!) counts no less than 9 levels, each between 15 and 30 m. Somehow someone has decided that only the first three levels can be visited, the others are off limits due to safety reasons…. Between the three levels are large pools with very cold water (visit was in November 2008), good for a momentary freeze …. As with the Khlong Lan waterfall, more facilities are available in Kamphaeng Phet.

Sunny Blur does not recommend this place:

'Klong Nam Lai is nice, but not worth the trip'.

Getting here requires following the 1117 out of Kamphaeng Phet uptil the market village of Khlong Nam Lai where a right turn and another 8 km gets you to above mentioned car park.

Atmospheric

Khlong Lan, Kamphaeng Phet province, is another of Thailand’s drive in waterfalls. Visited in November 2008 the falls were huge (40 m across, 100m high) and freezing. Wind was wipping a mist which certainly added to the atmosphere but not to the desire to take to the waters. The falls are located smackbang next to the National Park headquarters, with a car park having ample space for even coaches. A few stalls nearby are selling and serving.

Kampheang Phet, the name of the provincial capital as well, is itself about 45 minutes drive away. Take the main highway south to km 346 and then follow road number 1117 for 40 km. From here an entrance road continues to the falls over a distance of 6 km.

The town has a wide variety of accommodation styles as well as sufficient restaurants. One of the best places I have stayed in Thailand is also to be found,the Scenic Riverside Resort. The town has some ruins quite near the center.