Phuket Waterfalls by Car

Three waterfalls and when to visit

Bang Pae and Ton Sai both sit inside the Khao Phra Thaeo reserve in the north-east of the island, a short drive apart. Bang Pae is the larger and the easier walk; Ton Sai is smaller, closer to the entrance and quieter.

Kathu

The third is Kathu, above the town of the same name and the closest one to Patong. It takes the least driving and it is the one to pick if you only want a short trip into the forest rather than a whole day.

The timing advice matters more than the choice. In the dry months these are trickles. After heavy rain they are genuinely impressive, and the forest around them is at its best. Go after a wet week, not before one.

A useful rule of thumb: if it has rained hard in the last few days, go. If the last week has been dry and bright, choose a different day out. The falls are entirely weather-dependent in a way that most of the island's attractions are not.

What it means for the car

Getting to the reserve is all sealed road. It is the final approach, in every case, that is worth a moment's thought.

Clay after a downpour

The last stretch to the car parks is unsealed, and the soil here turns to slick clay after heavy rain. A low car will manage it slowly and carefully; a car driven fast will slide. Keep to the middle, avoid the soft edges, and if you can see deep ruts, park earlier and walk.

The road to Kathu

The approach to Kathu waterfall climbs, narrows and has a rough surface in places. It is short, and any ordinary car does it in a low gear, but it is not a road to hurry on and there is not much room for two vehicles to pass.

Where to park

Bang Pae has a car park at the entrance with space and some shade, and it is the most organised of the three. From there it is a walk to the falls themselves.

Ton Sai

Ton Sai has a smaller area near the reserve entrance and it is rarely full. Both sit inside the reserve, which has opening hours, so check them before making the drive rather than after.

At Kathu the parking is informal: a widening in the track near the bottom of the falls. Park considerately, because turning around up there is awkward if someone blocks the space.

Leave nothing visible in any of them. These are quiet forest car parks with nobody watching.

• Go after heavy rain, not in the dry months
• Check the reserve's opening hours before driving out
• Park before deep ruts and walk the last stretch
• Turn around before you need to, on the narrow approaches

Combining with the rest of the island

The waterfalls are in the north-east, which is on the way to almost nothing else people visit, so they work best paired deliberately.

With the temples

The Thalang temples are close to the reserve, and a morning at the falls followed by an afternoon among the older temples is one of the better inland days on the island. Add the northern beaches and you have a full day that never touches the west coast.

Time in the forest

Allow more than you think. The walks are short but slow in the humidity, and the point of the trip is being in the forest rather than looking at the water for five minutes. Take repellent, decent footwear and more water than seems necessary.

Cars that suit this

An ordinary car reaches all three, taken slowly on the last stretch. A crossover makes the wet-season approaches noticeably easier and is the sensible choice if you are going specifically after heavy rain.

What to bring

A towel for the seats, because everyone comes back damp. Repellent. Shoes with grip, since the rocks near the water are slippery. And a bag for wet things so the car interior survives the trip.

Tell us when you plan to go and we will match the car to the conditions rather than the season on the calendar. Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram.