Like almost everywhere in Thailand (the country is home to 127 national parks), Chanthaburi is no exception and has at least 3 national parks and sanctuaries spread throughout the province.
The largest in area (134 km²) and the best known is Namtok Phlio National Park, followed by Khao Sip Ha Chan (118 km²) and finally the smallest, Khao Khitchakut National Park (58 km²).
During our visit to the region, of all the sites I mention, we only went to the waterfall in Namtok Phlio National Park. Since most of our time was spent exploring the coast, we didn't have enough time to see everything, with only four days in total (including travel time from Bangkok, that left roughly three full days, which is too short). But here's a general overview of what I thought were worth seeing in the area if you enjoy nature.
Namtok Phlio National Park
Namtok Phlio National Park is located 14 kilometers from Chanthaburi, which is mainly visited for its waterfall of the same name, Namtok Phlio (namtok meaning waterfall in Thai).
They also changed the name in 1982, because when it was created in 1975, the national park was named after the mountain where the site is located, Khao Sa Bap.
Located 14 km southeast of the city, it is a favorite outing spot for Thais, especially on weekends, to seek relief from the heat by swimming in one of the natural pools along the river.
You can quickly see its popularity when you arrive at the entrance to the park, where shops line up offering buoys, water games, and of course something to eat. If you have a car, you will have a car park there (currently unpaved) where access is payable: 20 Baht.
The stream and its main waterfall (which is divided into 3 levels) are normally supplied all year round, although a lower flow will be expected in summer (March-April).
You shouldn't be ticklish or "fearful" to get wet here, because the pools are full of carp which are generally curious and will come and eat the bits of dead skin on your toes (free fish spa in short).
Besides swimming, you can take the hiking trail around the waterfall. This short walk takes you up the hill to the upper level of the waterfall and returns to the level of the chedi, the park's other attraction, after taking an old stone staircase.
Allow about an hour to go around. Which I did alone that day because Jitima was not in the mood…
The chedi in question is named Along Khon, built in 1876 at the request of Rama V, following his visit to the waterfall. Completely covered in moss, the chedi is photogenic, standing out quite a bit in this area of vegetation, and its location on a promontory makes it a superb vantage point for admiring the waterfall.
Not far from there is a kind of pyramid (Phra Nang Ruar Lom stupa), added in 1881 to house the ashes of Queen Consort Sunandha Kumariratana, also known as Phra Nang Chao Sunanthakumarirat.
The queen, who was the first wife of Rama V, tragically drowned after her boat capsized during an outing on the Chao Phraya (I talk about this in my article on the royal summer palace of Bang Pa In).
In total, we spent about 2 hours there, without swimming for our part but that normally leaves plenty of time for the rest of the day. Access is easy, barely 10 minutes walk from the park entrance to the waterfall and there are even golf carts for the laziest (but given the price, you really have to be lazy, otherwise you'll have difficulty walking...).
If you want to complete the visit of the park, you also have to the East of the mountain, the Trok Nong Water Fall, Khlong Narai Waterfall to the North-West and finally Marok Waterfall (only spotted in Thai on Google Maps: น้ำตกมะกอก) to the North-East.
Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park
Another national park home to a waterfall, or rather a series of waterfalls, is called " Sip Ha Chan literally meaning " 15 floors"It's not the height of the waterfall but the number of small, successive waterfalls that give the park its name. While the first one is easily accessible and serves as a place to relax and cool off, it doesn't have much to offer."
Another national park boasts a waterfall, or rather a series of waterfalls, named "Sip Ha Chan," which literally means "15 stages." This refers not to the height of the falls but to the number of small, successive cascades that give the park its name. While the first waterfall is easily accessible and serves as a relaxing place to cool off, it doesn't offer much in the way of spectacular scenery.
If on the other hand you are keen on trekking, a real challenge awaits you to reach the 15th floor, shortly before the summit of the mountain (800 m).
This trek is not really recommended for beginners. It's essential to hire park rangers to accompany you, as the mountain is home to wild elephants (among other animals). They are there to protect you, in addition to guiding you through this lush jungle where leeches and mosquitoes are just waiting to greet you!
It takes at least 6 hours to do the round trip, which involves some sections with sometimes tough climbing and where ropes will help you climb the steep slopes. To give you an idea of this "walk", you have a photo series on this site (in Thai) only.
Khao Khitchakut National Park
This national park is best known to Thais for its "Buddha footprint" located near the mountain summit (which is over 1,000 m). These footprints, sometimes "natural," often artificial, also called Buddhapada in Sanskrit, are a symbol of Buddha's passage on earth.
The site has the distinction of only being accessible for two months a year depending on the year (between mid-January and early April at the very latest), and proves to be a true place of pilgrimage.
During this short period, many pilgrims climb the mountain following the 1 km hiking trail. And since time is limited, the site remains open 24 hours a day for these few weeks, so some people sleep near the summit to enjoy the site in the early morning.
→ See my article on the ascent of Khao Khitchakut
The rest of the national park can be visited year-round and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, and of course, its share of waterfalls. The main one is Krathing Falls, which plunges 13 stories and is located in the western part of the park. To see them all, you'll have to trek through the jungle (with a park ranger), and you'll be in for a minimum of 3-4 hours of fairly strenuous hiking.
Further north, but still west, you have the Khlong Phaibun Waterfall, near a temple of the same name (but with a different transliteration since it is written Wat Khlong Paiboon).
Finally, just in the southeast corner, near the Wat Khao Banchop temple, is the small waterfall. Ang Beng Waterfall, which has little visual interest and remains essentially a place of relaxation for hot summer days.
Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
As I mentioned in the introductory sentence, this is not a national park but a wildlife reserve. It covers the area around Mount Soi Dao, which is part of the Cardamom Mountains extending mainly into neighboring Cambodia.
Khao Soi Dao Nuea and Khao Soi Dao Tai (north and south mountains), form the two highest peaks of the Chanthaburi mountains and eastern Thailand (with altitudes of 1,675 m and 1,556 m respectively).
The shrine is adjacent to Khao Khitchakut to the south and Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park further to the northwest (not far away is another shrine, which is part of the neighboring province of Chachoengsao: Khao Ang Rue Nai).
Le Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary It was created in 1972 and covers precisely 744,96 square kilometers, most of which is mountainous terrain. In 2007, the sanctuary was also designated an Important Bird Area (IBA), thus of global importance for bird conservation.
Among the animals found there are Siamese firebacks (locally known as Siamese pheasants), but mammals are also plentiful. The sanctuary is home to elephants, a few tigers, gaurs (also called gayals), and even wild cats (Temminck's cat or Asian golden cat) as well as bonnet gibbons.
Failing that, the sanctuary is renowned for its large number of insects and butterflies fluttering about all year round.
The mountains are covered in rainforest, where the Chanthaburi River originates (in Khao Soi Dao Tai Mountain). It is also along this stream that one of the park's attractions is located, Khao Soi Dao Water Fall, a waterfall cascading down 16 tiers.
The first is located at the starting point of the trek to the summit, where, again, you need a guide to reach the top level, passing through the jungle. The route to the 6th level remains easy and includes a 1.2 km path through lush vegetation, offering a view of the 9th and 10th levels of the waterfall.
Although there are only 600 meters between the 6th and 9th levels, this is probably the most challenging section, involving a narrow path that goes up and down. Allow 40 minutes for this part, but you will be rewarded by the 9th waterfall, considered the most beautiful on the site. This waterfall and the 10th level also feature natural pools at the base of the falls.
To get to the shrine from Chanthaburi, take a bus to Sa Kaeo and get off at Pa Tong (at the intersection with Wat Sai Khao). From there, it's 3.4 km to the shrine entrance (you'll need to find transport if you don't want to walk).
If you are going to Chanthaburi, you might be interested in these other articles:
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