Closest
Inside or beside the park
Early mornings
See the day tripLook up your stop
Erawan National Park bungalows, camping and hotels near the park
Find out about 20 stops
Erawan National Park on the map
Pick a route and tap a pin or a stop: you get its note and a Google Maps link.
The falls and the start of the trail, in the east of the park near the headquarters.
Google MapsA hotel near the falls on the map, shown only to place lodging near the entrance.
Google MapsA small lodging north of the falls, on the way to the dam.
Google MapsA raft-room resort on the Kwae Yai river listed by the Department of Tourism, with breakfast and activities included.
Google MapsA camping ground beside the River Kwai in Chong Sadao, listed by the Department of Tourism.
Google Maps
MBK Center in Bangkok, where the day trip lists its meeting point on the ground floor.
Google MapsThe JEATH War Museum in Kanchanaburi town, the first stop of the day trip after the drive from Bangkok.
Google MapsThe Bridge on the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi town, one stop of the home tour on the way to the park.
Google MapsThe falls and the start of the trail, in the east of the park near the headquarters.
Google Maps
The lowest pool of the staircase, nearest to the start of the path.
Google MapsThe park authority picks this tier for its water sliding down a rock slope; the nature trail starts here.
Google MapsA pool on the way up, where the path begins to leave the busiest water behind.
Google MapsA middle pool of the staircase, in forest shade.
Google MapsDescribed by the authority as a big, cool pool with rocks polished over a long time.
Google MapsA pool below the summit, a place to rest before the last climb.
Google MapsThe top: a rock here looks like the head of the elephant Erawan.
Google Maps
The map point named Erawan National Park, north of the falls; the park office answers on 034-574-222.
Google MapsThe falls and the start of the trail, in the east of the park near the headquarters.
Google MapsPhra That Cave, which the park authority shows with curtains of stalactites.
Google MapsThe Srinagarind Dam, on the same road as the park.
Google Maps
Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sleeping near the falls is possible, but the options are scattered: overnight stays in the park itself, camping grounds on the river, raft rooms and resorts, or a base in Kanchanaburi town. The official sources cover some of these well and others barely, and this page says which.
Editorial team, erawanwaterfalltour.quest · Updated November 12, 2026 · Quick read: 7 min
Summary view
- In the parkThe park has offered overnight stays; phone 034-574-222 to ask about them.1,2
- On the riverA raft-room resort in Erawan sits on the Kwae Yai river.3
- CampingA river camping ground in Chong Sadao is listed by the tourism department.4
- In townKanchanaburi is 66 to 70 kilometres from the park.5,6
- AlternativeA tour with a night on a floating bamboo hotel exists.
Erawan National Park bungalows: what we can say about staying inside
Searches for Erawan National Park bungalows reveal an awkward gap between demand and official information. What the sources do show is that overnight stays inside the park exist. When Erawan shut on 21 April 2026 over forest fires and haze, the notice covered tourism and overnight stays,1 and both came back from 22 April 2026.7 That wording tells us the park offers accommodation or camping, even if it does not describe the rooms.
We found no official page that lists the park's bungalow types, their prices or how to book them, and the department's own site did not answer our requests, so we will not repeat figures from blogs or booking sites. The dependable contacts are the park office, on 034-574-222, and the Facebook page the notice describes as updated around the clock.2 Ask what is available for your dates, what you need to bring and what the check-in rules are.
A night inside the park changes the experience. You can reach the pools before most day visitors and stay later, subject to the opening hours the tourism directory lists, from 7.30 to 16.00.8 You also fall under the park's rules about cooking and food discipline, described below. For travellers who value an early start and a quiet evening, it is the closest thing to a front-row seat, if you can secure a place.
Where to sleep
The options in the sources, side by side
| Option | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the park | Overnight stays have been offered1 | Park authority |
| Raft room | Rooms on the Kwae Yai river, breakfast included3 | Tourism directory |
| Camping ground | Beside the River Kwai in Chong Sadao4 | Tourism directory |
| Log cabins | A resort with cabins or camping on the riverbank14 | TAT |
| Town hotel | Spacious rooms near the city attractions16 | TAT |
| Night on a tour | A floating bamboo hotel on the River Kwai | Tour listing |
None of these rows gives a room price; ask each place for its own rate.3
Camping Erawan National Park: rules and nearby grounds
People who search for camping Erawan National Park find two kinds of answer: the park's own camping and grounds outside it. Inside any national park, an order dated 2 July 2021 forbids smoky or smelly cooking by tents and lodging, with only a few hot-drink and noodle exceptions.11 The order's stated aims are to spare other campers and to stop food smells from drawing wild animals in to damage property or hurt people.12
TAT's wildlife guidance adds a few habits for anyone who camps in a park: stay quiet, keep food sealed away from animals, and pitch only in designated areas.10 Take these seriously, since a tiger footprint was found on the boundary of the park on 6 September 2026, along a route wild elephants use to feed.13 That is a long way from your tent, but it is a good reason to keep food inside a closed vehicle or sealed container.
Outside the park the options include riverside camping grounds. The Thailand Tourism Directory lists Na Non as a camping ground next to the River Kwai in Chong Sadao, with trees and a courtyard.4 TAT also describes the Legacy River Kwai Resort, a 300-rai property with log cabins or camping beneath over 4,600 trees along the riverbank,14 and suggests camping in Khuean Srinagarindra National Park for views of the Milky Way.15
Hotels near Erawan National Park: rafts, resorts and a warning
Hotels near Erawan National Park are mostly small resorts rather than large hotels. The Thailand Tourism Directory lists Chor Ngar Thong Resort in Erawan, Kanchanaburi, offering raft rooms on the Kwae Yai river, with breakfast and activities included.3 Raft rooms are floating rooms, so expect a rustic stay with the sound of the river in place of a swimming pool, and ask about air conditioning and bathrooms before you book.
Further afield TAT points to floating raft houses on the Khwae Noi River at Sai Yok National Park, lit only by lanterns, and to glamping at places such as Hintok River Camp at Hellfire Pass.19,20 Those stays are on a different river from the park and add driving time, but they suit travellers who want the forest at night.
One warning belongs here. On 21 November 2025 officials with a court warrant searched a resort on the Srinagarind reservoir shore that lies inside Erawan National Park,21 and seized 16 rai of encroached forest with 62 structures on it.22 The case is a reminder to check that a lodging is lawful. Before you book, ask the owner for the licence details and check that the property sits outside the park boundary.
Choose where to sleep
Which base suits you
Tell us what you value most.
If I want to be at the pools at opening
Stay inside or beside the park
If I want atmosphere and a river
A raft room or a riverside ground
If I want shops, food and transport
Kanchanaburi town
If I want no accommodation at all
The day trip from Bangkok
It lasts 12 to 14 hours and starts from $53.
If I want a short overnight with a guide
The overnight river tour
One night is spent in a floating bamboo hotel on the river.
Pick a base
Three ways to sleep near the falls
Atmospheric
On the river
Rafts and camping
See the day trip
Convenient
In Kanchanaburi town
Food and transport
See the day tripKanchanaburi town as a base for the falls
The simplest base for most visitors is Kanchanaburi town. By highway 3199 the town lies 66 kilometres from the park headquarters in the park's own reckoning,5 and about 70 in the directory's.6 The directory also lists an hourly minibus between the town and the park, 8.00 to 17.20, taking 1.5 hours.17 Allow for the drive each way when you plan your morning, and add a margin for traffic on the road out of town.
The town has the places most travellers combine with the falls. TAT says the province's name usually brings to mind the River Kwai bridge and the wartime railway,18 and lists Mittapan Kanchanaburi Hotel among its eco-minded hotels, with spacious rooms looking over more than 30 rai of greenery.16 Staying in town gives you food, transport and the bridge in one place, in exchange for a longer morning drive.
From Bangkok, the tourism directory says the drive to Kanchanaburi is 129 kilometres and about 1.5 hours,9 while TAT puts the province roughly an hour and a half by road west of the capital.32 That makes a night in town a realistic alternative to the day trip, especially if you want to reach the falls at opening. The page on getting there compares the buses, the train and the tours in more detail.
An overnight plan
From arrival to the opening gate
Arrival day
Reach Kanchanaburi
From Bangkok the drive is 129 kilometres, about 1.5 hours.9
Evening
Settle in and eat
Choose a raft room, a camping ground or a town hotel.3
Night
Follow the food rules
Store food securely and cook only as the park order allows.10,11
Early morning
Drive to the park
The directory lists about 70 kilometres by highway 3199.6
Opening
Reach the pools
The park opens at 7.30 every day.8
Afternoon
Leave before closing
The gate shuts at 16.00 per the directory.8
Sleep over or take the day trip: how the options compare
The day trip from Bangkok is the cheapest and simplest way to see the falls. The small-group tour sold on this site runs for 12 to 14 hours, with the drive out taking 2.5 hours, a museum and bridge stop in town, lunch, 1 hour at the park plus 1 hour to hike and swim, and prices from $53. Nothing about the day requires a hotel, which suits travellers who stay in Bangkok.
A night near the park gives you more time at the pools and a gentler pace. The private 2-day tour from Bangkok covers hiking and swimming at the Erawan Waterfalls, a floating bamboo hotel for the night and a stroll over the famous bridge, from $415. If you would rather arrange your own stay, the sections above list the camping grounds, raft rooms and town hotels the sources mention.
Weigh the trade-offs honestly. A day trip costs less money and no packing, but you share the pools with the busiest hours. An overnight stay costs more and needs a booking, but it gives you the early morning, which the park's opening time of 7.30 makes the best part of the day.8 Whatever you choose, check the park's status first, because fires and haze closed it in April 2026.1 A plan with a spare day in it is a stronger one.
Video
A day in Kanchanaburi with Erawan Waterfall and a floating hotel
Paddy Doyle on YouTube · The video waits until you tap play to load.
why not set up camp and immerse yourself in the Milky Way at Khuean Srinagarindra National Park
Before you book
A lodging checklist
Ask the park or the host4
Before you book: questions that save trouble
Start with the park, not the hotel. Phone 034-574-222 or check the Facebook page, and ask whether overnight stays are open on your dates.2 Then ask the lodging how far it is from the park gate, whether it provides a shuttle and whether breakfast starts early enough for an opening-time arrival. Our sources do not give these answers, so each one is worth a message, and a clear reply is a good sign that the host runs a careful place.
Think about food and safety. A night in a forest lodging means insects and wildlife. The CDC's advice is long sleeves, long pants, a hat and a suitable repellent,30 and TAT advises storing food securely and camping only in designated areas.10 A good host will tell you what to expect after dark, how to store food and where the nearest help is if you need it. Keep a charged phone, the park office number and a small first-aid kit within reach.
Finally, respect the rules. The plastic and foam ban covers all 155 national parks, and the cooking order applies near tents and lodging.33,11 Bring reusable containers, plan simple meals and keep a bag for your own rubbish. A stay that follows the rules is a better one for you and the forest, and it keeps the option open for the next traveller. When in doubt about a rule, ask a ranger first.
FAQ
Fast, clear answers, short.
Does Erawan National Park have bungalows?
Can you camp in Erawan National Park?
Ask the park office.
We found no official page listing camping details; the cooking order applies near tents and lodging in all national parks.11
Are there hotels near Erawan National Park?
Small resorts and raft rooms.
The tourism directory lists a raft-room resort in Erawan on the Kwae Yai river with breakfast and activities included.3
How far is Kanchanaburi from the park?
Is there a bus from Kanchanaburi to the park?
Yes, a minibus.
The directory lists an hourly minibus, taking about 1.5 hours.17
Can I sleep on a floating raft?
Yes, on the rivers.
Floating raft houses on the Khwae Noi River at Sai Yok National Park appear in a TAT feature.19
Is every lodging near the shore legal?
Is a day trip an alternative to sleeping near the park?
Yes, from Bangkok.
The small-group day trip from Bangkok lasts 12 to 14 hours and starts from $53.
Sources
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Erawan National Park announces temporary closure of tourism and overnight stays (DNP News, 21 April 2026) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Erawan National Park announces reopening of tourism and overnight stays (DNP News, 22 April 2026) ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism, Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism, Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022) ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (thailandtourismdirectory.go.th, Tourism Authority of Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Erawan National Park announces reopening of tourism and overnight stays (DNP News, 22 April 2026) ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (thailandtourismdirectory.go.th, Tourism Authority of Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (thailandtourismdirectory.go.th, Tourism Authority of Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Safety Guidelines for Encountering Wild Elephants ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · DNP bans smoky cooking in tent and lodging areas of national parks (DNP News, 14 July 2021) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · DNP bans smoky cooking in tent and lodging areas of national parks (DNP News, 14 July 2021) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Erawan park finds a tiger footprint near a community (DNP News, September 2026) ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Five low-carbon travel routes with eco-friendly CF-Hotels accommodation ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Five low-carbon travel routes with eco-friendly CF-Hotels accommodation ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Five low-carbon travel routes with eco-friendly CF-Hotels accommodation ↩
- Thailand Tourism Directory (thailandtourismdirectory.go.th, Tourism Authority of Thailand) · Erawan Waterfall (Erawan National Park) ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Revisiting the first-ever travel story of iconic Osotho Magazine ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Revisiting the first-ever travel story of iconic Osotho Magazine ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Revisiting the first-ever travel story of iconic Osotho Magazine ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Ministry task force seizes a resort encroaching on Erawan National Park (DNP News, 22 November 2025) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · Ministry task force seizes a resort encroaching on Erawan National Park (DNP News, 22 November 2025) ↩
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) · The most beautiful national parks: Erawan National Park (DNP News, 24 September 2022)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Kanchanaburi's new shades combine events, Thai local experiences and natural beauty
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Travelers' Health · Thailand: traveler view ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand imposes a ban on single-use plastic in national parks ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Five low-carbon travel routes with eco-friendly CF-Hotels accommodation ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand imposes a ban on single-use plastic in national parks ↩
Further reading