Packing Guide

What to Bring to Erawan Falls — 2026 Packing List

The basics are simple: water shoes, towel, cash. But there's more nuance than most guides admit — especially around what to wear, how to protect your phone near the water, and what food is available inside the park.

Essential items

These are the things that will make or break your experience. If you forget everything else on this list, don't forget these.

Water shoes or old sandals with grip

This is the single most important item. The rocks are extremely slippery — people get hurt here every week. Flip-flops are a genuine hazard. "Water shoes" means something with a closed toe, a heel strap, and rubber soles that grip wet rock. You can buy cheap water shoes in Bangkok (sports markets, Decathlon, online) — do it before you go. Old sandals with heel straps and good grip work in a pinch. Going barefoot is not safe on the wet limestone.

Towel

You'll be swimming at multiple tiers and moving between water and sun. A standard beach towel is fine. A large microfibre travel towel works well too — lighter to carry, faster to dry. Bring enough towel to dry off properly after your final swim before the drive back to Bangkok. 3 hours in a wet towel is miserable.

Dry bag or waterproof phone pouch

You will get splashed near the falls. The mist from tier 1 alone is enough to concern you. A simple 10-litre dry bag (available from outdoor stores or online for a few hundred baht) keeps your phone, wallet, and car keys dry. Alternatively, a waterproof phone pouch that clips around your neck works — but dry bags are more versatile. Whatever you bring, test it with a sink of water before you go.

Swimsuit and change of clothes

Wear your swimsuit under your clothes so you can change quickly at tier 1. Bring a full dry set for the drive home — including underwear and socks. The tour van or bus on the way back will be cold with AC, and you'll want dry everything.

Cash in baht

300 baht park entry for foreign adults (2026 rate). Motorcycles approximately 30 baht, cars approximately 50 baht. There are food stalls inside the park that also only take cash. Card payment at the gate is not consistently available — do not rely on it. ATM access before the park is not guaranteed either. Come with enough baht for park entry, food, and any extras.

Sunscreen (applied before entering the park)

Spray sunscreen is not allowed inside Erawan National Park — it's a water quality regulation to protect the ecosystem. Apply your sunscreen at the entrance area before you go in, or apply it before you leave your accommodation. Use a cream or lotion SPF 50+. Reapply if you're staying more than 2–3 hours and it's a sunny day.

Insect repellent

Mosquitoes are more prevalent near the lower tiers, especially in the morning hours and during green season. DEET-based repellent is effective. Apply it before you enter the park — don't apply inside, and avoid getting it in the swimming pools. If you're sensitive to DEET, a picaridin-based repellent is a gentler alternative.

Nice to have

Not essential, but these items come highly recommended based on what visitors consistently say they wished they'd brought.

Water bottle

You can refill at tier 1 — there's a clean water tap near the main swimming area. A reusable water bottle means you don't have to buy plastic bottles inside the park. Hydration matters on a hot day when you're hiking between tiers and swimming. 1–1.5 litres is a reasonable target.

Snacks

Food options inside the park are limited to a few stalls near tiers 1 and 4. Prices are tourist-priced. Bringing a small packet of nuts, granola bars, or fruit means you don't have to queue for food or pay park prices if you're hungry between tiers. Keep wrappers and any packaging — don't leave anything in the park.

Waterproof camera or GoPro

The views underwater — looking up at the falls from the pool — are genuinely striking. A GoPro or a phone in a waterproof case captures this well. Standard cameras are fine for the tier views from the path but won't survive being in the water.

Small daypack or dry bag backpack

You'll be carrying your towel, water, snacks, phone, and sunscreen for 2–4 hours of hiking and swimming. A small backpack or a dry bag with a strap works well. Leave large bags in the tour van — you don't need much.

Hat

The trail between tiers 1–4 has shade. Above tier 4, the path becomes more exposed. A baseball cap or a wide-brim sun hat protects your face on the exposed sections. It also helps identify you as a tourist to other visitors — which sounds trivial but makes it easier to communicate on a crowded path.

What NOT to bring

Flip-flops — Genuinely dangerous on wet limestone. They offer no ankle support, no grip, and they float away in the pools. Every week park rangers and fellow visitors help someone who has slipped or lost a flip-flop to the current. Water shoes are not optional.

Spray sunscreen — Not permitted inside the park. Apply cream/lotion sunscreen before you enter. If you've only brought spray, apply it before arrival or at the entrance gate, then leave the canister in your bag.

Valuables — No need for much beyond your phone, some cash, and your park entry ticket. Leave watches, expensive jewellery, and most of your cash in the tour van's locked compartment or your accommodation.

Cotton clothing — Jeans, cotton t-shirts, cotton socks — these stay wet and uncomfortable after swimming. Quick-dry fabrics, sports swimwear, and synthetic blends dry much faster and are more comfortable for the hike.

A drone — Not permitted without a specific national park permit. Rangers enforce this. If you want aerial footage, arrange a permit in advance through the Thai National Parks division — don't assume you'll be allowed to fly on arrival.

What's available inside the park

There are small food stalls near tier 1 and tier 4 selling basic Thai food — fried rice, som tam, grilled chicken, drinks, snacks. Prices are 1.5–2x what you'd pay in Kanchanaburi town. The food is fine for what it is, but if you have specific dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free), don't rely on the stalls having options for you. Bring backup snacks.

There are no convenience stores or proper restaurants inside the park. Water refills are available at tier 1. Beyond that, you're on your own for the hike to the top.

More Kanchanaburi guides:

Is Kanchanaburi worth it? → What to bring →
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is food available inside Erawan National Park?

Yes — but limited and tourist-priced. Small stalls near tier 1 and tier 4 sell basic Thai food: fried rice, som tam, grilled chicken, drinks, snacks. If you have dietary restrictions or specific preferences, bring your own food. There are no convenience stores or proper restaurants inside the park.

Can I bring a drone to Erawan Falls?

No — drones are not permitted inside Erawan National Park without a specific permit from the Thai National Parks division. Rangers enforce this restriction and have turned away visitors with drones. If you want aerial footage, you'll need to arrange a permit in advance through the national parks website. Don't assume you'll be allowed to fly on arrival.

What should I wear for the hike to the top tier?

Light, quick-dry clothing that can get wet. Avoid cotton — it stays wet and uncomfortable. Sports-style swim shorts or quick-dry hiking pants work well. Footwear is the critical piece: water shoes or old sandals with a heel strap and good grip are mandatory. A baseball cap or wide-brim hat helps on the exposed sections of the trail above tier 4. Leave the flip-flops at home.

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