Pha Toei waterfall and a rose garden

The west of Ratchaburi province, Thailand, is gifted with many waterfalls, some more well known than others.
The past December (2009) I made a visit to Usawadi Rose Garden. This private resort seems a bit peculiar. It contains a larger restaurant with a number of bungalows nearby, but all apparently do not form one resort so it seems. Beyond the restaurant lie a number of obstacles of an obstacle course. The Rose Garden itself is beyond these and seems to be dying out.

Beyond this Rose Garden much effort has been made to make a path along a small stream which gradually gets steeper and steeper. However even though the path and canalization of the stream are quite obtrusive, at the top a large dam holds a nearly 2 m deep pool with cold water and on the opposite side water rains down from an about 20 m higher cliff (see photo above). Again with no one in sight another great skinny dip sight, but even if not skinny, it still is a rewarding place to dust off the accumulated sweat.

The waterfall goes under the name of Pha Toei. Getting here is not too complicated. From Suan Phueng continue along road 3087 until one comes to a turn off 20 km from Suan Phueng. Continue onwards for another km then take the sharp turn right and after another 1 km the Usuwadi Rose Garden is on your right.

The lower levels of the falls have been artificially landscaped, not much charm.

Bo Wi

Bo Wi waterfalls is another Ratchaburi (Thailand) set of waterfalls only recently accessible to the general public. Located quite a bit away from local concentrations of people as well as an extra 30 km from Bangkok, it sees relatively little amounts of visitors. There is a car park though but with only limited space.

The falls themselves continue for 9 steps with varying heights and varying sizes of pools beneath. The half hour path up is well trodden.

Again not really a place for a swim, certainly not in April (2008) but good enough for a cooling down.

Lodging and food is not available nearby, stay near Suan Pheung.

Kao Chon with an o

The area’s west and south of Suan Pheung, Ratchaburi province, Thailand are a relatively undiscovered area not even far from Bangkok. Due to the area being close to Burma much of the area was actually off-limits to outsiders. This has recently changed and since more and more tourists are arriving, mostly looking for ways to enjoy the natural surroundings. Especially the hot spring of Bo Klueng is becoming a must see place. Nearby are a number of smaller resorts such as the nice Scenery Resort and Nagaya, though more were being constructed when I visited there (April 2008).

Just a km upstream from aforementioned hot spring are the falls of Pha Daeng or alternatively named as Kao Chan / Kao Chon / Kao Krachon. They can be reached via the road and there is a big car park being testament to busier times. Otherwise one can take a half hour trail from the hot spring and get to the falls about 2 or 3 stages upwards of the car park.

From Wikitravel's Ratchaburi provincal guide::

'It is a medium-sized waterfall with a height of 7 layers. The water flows from the high cliff in the middle of the valley all year round. The quantity of water increases in the higher levels. Rocks in this area are granites. Previously, this waterfall was known only among Karens; later, foreign companies came and got concessions to operate the mine around 1941. After the concession contract was terminated, the district and local organizations were responsible for maintaining the area'.

It being the end of an exceedingly hot day and no one about, the pools were good enough for a great dip, but with the flow at it’s smallest much more than a dip is not possible.

From Ratchaburi city, take highway no. 3087, just north of Ratchaburi on motorway no. 4. The 3087 bypasses the town of Chombung and after a gradual climb you'll find yourself in the town of Suan Phueng.
Bo Klueng however is a well signposted left turn, 5 km further out of Suan Pheung still on the same highway, 3087. The hot springs are about 10 km from this intersection, on your left. The Pha Daeng / Kao Chan waterfalls are at the end of this road, 1 km beyond the hot springs.

Update: Revisited these falls in December 2009. Despite there being quite a few visitors, there are in all nine levels to enjoy. So if you escape the crowds you can well have a fall to yourself, the ninth level being nearly ninety minutes from level 1.

Having your own skinny dip spot at level nine Kao Chon.

Elsewhere the area upstream of Suan Phueng is rapidly becoming a tourist hot spot, many resorts and coffee shops. No foreign tourists as of yet. More on the local hot spring.

Worth a skip

Kaeng Som Maeo is not really a waterfall more like a series of rapids. Visited on a weekday in March 2009, despite the heat, the place was deserted. Caution though as there were many stalls so life may improve considerably on holidays (or not if solitude is more your cup of tea). Despite other waterfalls close by , these rapids seem much more popular; maybe that is due to the drive trough character of the place, no strenuous walk involved, it's all just a hop from the car.

Located in Ratchaburi and on the Phachi river, Kaeng Som Maeo are part of Queen Sirikit Forest Park:

'The Park covers an area of approximately 3,000 rai of land and was built to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 60th Birthday Anniversary. It is the centre of various kinds of plants which have economic value, and this place is a great nature study centre'

, according to Wikitravel Ratchaburi province guide, an excellent in-depth guide of the total province. It's a fair way away from the provincial capital towards the Burmese border, even the district capital Suan Pheung is not nearby.

Not really a not-to-be-missed attraction. There are better waterfalls nearby.