Erawan Waterfall and Elephant Care: Private Tour to Kanchanabur
4.8
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Erawan Waterfall and Elephant Care: Private Tour to Kanchanabur

By Idaytrip
Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 3-99
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights

  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Private transportation
  • Professional Guide
  • Lunch
  • Bottled water
  • All Entrance Fees
  • Entry/Admission - Erawan Waterfalls
What's not included
  • Any private expenses
  • Service not mentioned


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • We pick up from any hotel in Bangkok city area. If your hotel is not listed, please kindly advise your hotel name and address. Hotels near airport will have a surcharge.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 100506P19

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 100506P19

        From
        ₹18,185.72
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Idaytrip
          4.8 of 5 bubbles281
          Bangkok, Thailand
          Joined in July 2018
        • ndissington
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Emotional, informative must do trip!!
          Fantastic trip and very informative. Lunch was great and the waterfall good fun. Our guide Snake was great and very chatty. The transport was extremely comfortable, and definitely needed as it was such a long journey from Bangkok. Would highly recommend!!!
          Written 18 March 2025
        • PLivo65
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Long Day but worth it.
          This tour was an all-day tour that went for close to 14 hours. Hotel pick-up was on time at 6:30 am where we met our guide Nan, she was exceptionally knowledgeable about the tour locations, spoke fantastic English and answered all of our questions. Joey, the driver, made sure we got to each place and managed the Bangkok traffic with ease. It was a big day for Joey driving us to each of the locations (Bridge over the River Kwai, Death Railway, Hellfire Pass, and Erawan Waterfalls). The falls were a little bit disappointing but were still a relief from the unrelenting heat.
          Written 8 March 2025
        • Worldtraveler3356
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Blatant disregard for health and safety of clients
          Our tour was Best of Bangkok in a Day, from 8 am until 4:30 pm. Our guide was Vella and our driver Mr P. The driver and vehicle were fine. No complaints. However this tour is predominantly a walking tour not a car tour. We visited all the sights as advertised and they were all worth seeing. The main problem was our tour guide who constantly walked over 20 meters ahead of us. We often lost sight of her and didn’t know where she was. We asked her to tell us where she was going and her response was don’t worry I know where you are. That is unacceptable. We paid for a guided tour not to play hide and seek with a tour guide. The other issue was her lack of concern about the heat. We’ve travelled to over 55 countries many of which are tropical. We know how important it is to hydrate and take frequent breaks. It was 35 degrees Celsius with a 41 degree heat index on the day of our tour. We walked over 7.2 km in that heat. The only water provided to us was one bottle each at the beginning of the day. We had to repeatedly ask for a water break and she only gave us one grudgingly. We even had to ask her to allow us to find some shade as she preferred to give her lecturers standing in the full heat of the sun. Absolutely no consideration was given to our well being. In summary we were rushed through the sights and our tour ending 2 hours earlier than expected. That was not our plan as we had allotted the full day for the tour. Rushing through the sights, not allowing adequate time for photos, or breaks from the heat led us to believe that she shortened the tour so she could go home early. We were very disappointed in how we were treated by this company and would not recommend them. Sorry
          Written 1 March 2025
        • joj45
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic informative day out
          The trip was really interesting and enabled us to see a wide variety of Chiang Rai’s most amazing sights including the black house, the blue and white temples and goddess of mercy. The driver made us feel very safe and our guide was lovely, informative and very knowledgeable, answering all our questions. Lunch was in the most beautiful setting and very tasty. Can’t recommend this trip enough. The best way to get to know Chiang Rai and surroundings.
          Written 22 February 2025
        • Roam67776811955
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Autstanding!
          You can for sure by a cheaper tripp. But not a better one! We were picked up at our hotel! The hole day was very good organised. And all inkluded. After the tripp we taken to our hotel. No meeting point. Very nice and good guide in Sam!
          Written 19 February 2025
        • Jennifer M
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Must do and see in Thailand
          Such a beautiful part of the world and so much history. Must do and see!! Loved doing it as a private tour as well. Note was an excellent guide.
          Written 14 February 2025
        • L3386BUleef
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Death railway, hellfire pass and waterfalls tour
          Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, he had so much interesting facts and information to do with the history of hellfire pass the death railway and the waterfalls. The tour guide was also extremely nice and helpful. Would highly recommend
          Written 14 February 2025
        • birchy136
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Trip to see Kwai bridge,Erawan Waterfall and Hellfire pass.
          Peter our guide met us in the hotel.lobby at 6.30 am.we took a mini van (very comfortable) to our first stop which was the cemetery of the soldiers who died building the railway. Then in to the bridge itself.Peter was very informative,telling us stories and giving us lots of info and taking photos of us. Next stop was the Erawan Waterfall which we went and swam in. Then on to the Hellfire pass...again peter was very knowledgeable about it all. The trip back to Bangkok was then 3 or so hours.we took this opportunity to have a good rest after an long and enjoyable day.
          Written 4 February 2025
        • Maps59936651291
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An amazing emotional day.
          Wow what an an amazing private tour. Todays tour Was up there with a number 1 tour that we did in Burma 6 years ago. Nan picked up up at the Century Park Hotel in Thailand at 6:30am. She was bang on time time and introduced herself and her driver and then we set off in a luxury 8 seater air con vehicle with just me and the Mrs as it was a private tour. We visited everything that was promised to us on our itinerary and Nan hand us all of the way. Nan was informative, knowledgeable and provided and professional service throughout the tour. She was friendly and we had such great fun in her company. We learnt so much on this tour, not least of of all because it was emotional as my wife’s late father was a war veteran in the Burma war campaign. The water falls were a break so as to admire the beauty and to cool done with a refreshing dip. Just enough time to capture some photos up to level 5. All in all Nan provided us with an extremely well balanced tour, it was not rushed and yet no one stop was to long either. Whilst hot and a long lengthy day, we were well looked after with water, a very comfy air con roomy vehicle and to top it off; a superb lunch finished off with the sticky rice and mango which is a must. Finally, we arrived back at the hotel about 7:30pm. Nan, you get a 10/10 for providing us with an excellant tour today. Well done and we certainly recommend your tour to others. PS: please note this tour does involve some steep inclines so we would warn other that you do need a reasonable level of fitness. i.e a fitness level of around 3/5. And gilts the tour as expected was hot and the journey time there and back were long,
          Written 3 February 2025
        • jlm1021
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Must Do in Chiang Rai
          We had an amazing experience on the Temples of Chiang Rai tour! Our guide was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly accommodating. He made the entire tour so much more enjoyable with his deep understanding of the history and his fun facts about each temple. We also got to try the best local snacks along the way, which was a nice touch. The temples were absolutely breathtaking, each with its own unique beauty, and the museum was definitely worth visiting as well. We learned so much, and the whole experience felt much richer than exploring on our own. This tour is an absolute must-do when you’re in Chiang Rai! Highly recommended!
          Written 20 January 2025
        • amytK5671QM
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Excellent experience.
          This tour was a great way to get into some of the sad histories of Thailand as well as some beautiful views. Coming from the US and Germany, my partner and I had a pretty limited view about WWII in the Pacific. (It helped that the two of us had just been to Australia and visited the war museum in Canberra, so the Aussie losses in the war were fresh in our minds.) Our tour guide, Preecha, was super knowledgable and did his best to make an enjoyable day out of a brutal story. And, once we said that we enjoy local food and to support local businesses, he made sure we got to try the most important snacks (melon, rice cakes, coconut ice cream, you name it, we had a bite.) The Death Railway is still in use today, with a few trains a day on the weekends. We booked during the week so we missed this, but it was still so interesting to walk along the bridge. The waterfall was an excellent palate cleanser between the two other activities; the water is even more gorgeous than in the pictures, and it is one of the few waterfalls where you are allowed to swim if you desire! we didn't do more than stick our feet in to say hello to the carp that live there. We hiked up a few extra levels instead. We had an awesome time there. The final stop was to see the Hellfire Pass, which included a walk through an information centre with first hand accounts in video of the POW experience for Aussie captives. We had a short walk to the memorial on site after that, and the knowledge that we were walking through what had once been solid rock was harrowing, to say the least... especially considering January is the dry, cold season in Thailand, and at 32° C, my partner and I worked up a heck of a sweat just walking. All in all we had a very good time, and I could not recommend this tour enough if you are interested in this part of Thailand's history.
          Written 18 January 2025
        • tonylewis689
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Hell fire pass tour
          Spectacular, emotional and very highly rated. The tour was amazing, long day but well worth it. Very knowledgeable guide and very friendly
          Written 2 January 2025
        • T9181RBfrancescal
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Must do tour with incredible views
          Incredible tour with the most beautiful views. Our tour guide and driver were super accommodating and our guide was great! The van was very luxurious with reclining seats.
          Written 9 December 2024
        • 363wojtekw
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Hellfire Pass and Must See
          Seeing the pass and surrounding war sites was very moving and only right to show your respect. The tour itinerary covers all the critical places and the Thai Burma Railway museum well presented and highly informative. It's a long day but we'll well worth it. The tour van is first class and extremely comfortable
          Written 8 December 2024
        • bassclar15
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great tour
          This was a really great tour. We wanted to get out of Bangkok and do something different. It's about a 3 hour drive each direction so bring something to do on the drive. The roads are very bumpy so I wouldn't recommend trying to read. The first couple of stops were about the Death Railway. It is pretty depressing, but an important piece of history. We stopped for lunch at 1430- so bring snacks, because it's a long time between departure and lunch. The lunch was phenomenal and so much better than expected. The waterfalls were a nice spot, but unfortunately we got there a little late and they would not let us go past level 5. We had just enough time to take a quick swim before they closed. The guide was great and made sure everyone was comfortable and had adequate restroom breaks. It was a very long day- 0645 departure and we arrived back at our hotel in Bangkok at 2000.
          Written 7 December 2024
        See all 281 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        4.8
        4.8 of 5 bubbles144 reviews
        Excellent
        126
        Very good
        14
        Average
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        Poor
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        Terrible
        2

        Charlotte D
        3 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2025 • Couples
        The day was very fun with a lot of different stops. Having a private tour is well worth it as you can stay as long or as little as you want with any pressure.
        Our guide was great, came prepared with various snacks for us to try. Kind of like your fun older aunt.

        One thing that really needs to be looked into by tour operator is whether the elephant “sanctuary” that is visited is actually a sanctuary where the elephants are free roaming, cared for and not made to perform for tourists. I was uncomfortable with the one I was taken to as the elephants are constantly being told to spray water, lay on their side and say “thank you” by doing a curtsy. Sure no chains, rides of bull hooks but they go from bathing, to a feeding station back into their very small pen with concrete pad. I saw elephants swaying in their pens and the whole situation made me very uncomfortable.
        I looked up the name of the “sanctuary” after the visit as I didn’t know which one I was being taken to and I wouldn’t want to support it if I’d known before. Even trip advisor refuses to straight up book trips there as it doesn’t conform to its ethics policy. Reviews saying it’s an ethical “sanctuary” need to rethink their visit.
        Written 14 January 2025
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Brian N
        24 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jul 2024 • Family
        The trip was outstanding and better than expected. Our guide “Guitar” was great. Not only did he handle all tour matters but took photos and video for us and sent them to us after the trip. He was very knowledgeable of all areas visited and the areas we drove through in the trip. We were picked up in a luxury modified van with air conditioning and reclining leather seats. In addition to our guide Guitar, we also had a driver. We visited all of the sites mentioned in the trip decription and we were very pleased with the entire tour and would highly recommend it to those visiting Bangkok!!
        Written 3 July 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        PeterMorris13
        St. Ives, Australia29 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2025 • Couples
        Could not fault this trip, although on the pricey side, we were immediately greeted with a smile and a luxurious air conditioned vehicle. Every step of the way the tour guides extensive knowledge kept us enthralled and he had a wonderful entertaining way of explaining. We started on the river Kwai bridge which was a sombre affair, and you could still feel the “souls” around. Then off to Erawan falls, this was spectacular with beautiful streams and cascading water. Then the elephant sanctuary, this was the absolute highlight of the day, those creatures are so wonderful and special, we fed them, bathed them and we even had a shower with them. Lastly the real death railway was our last stop. You could really just soak up the atmosphere, which again was emotional and thought provoking. 5 stars out of 5 for me
        Written 13 January 2025
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        bezupancic
        Portland, OR4 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        What an amazing day! Our guide, Ya, and our driver picked us up at our hotel promptly at 6:30. We rode in a comfortable air-conditioned van. We were fortunate that it was just the three of us! (Pro-tip: We went on a Monday, and Ya shared with us that it’s least crowded during the weekdays because people from Bangkok flock to Kanchanaburi Province to hike to the Erawan Falls and raft on the River Khwae (River Kwai) on weekends). It’s a fairly long ride, about 100 miles / 2.5 hours plus about 20 minutes for a brief stop on the way to the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai. Then it’s another hour to Erawan National Park (Erawan = elephant) to hike to the different levels of the waterfalls. The trail is well maintained, but it is a bit of a workout going up and down. Swimming in the falls at level 2 and level 5 was really cool, figuratively and literally. You are required to wear a life jacket to swim in any of the waterfall pools, and you must rent them for 20 Bhat each (this is an out-of pocket extra). Lunch (included) was at a little restaurant featuring traditional Thai foods. The elephant reserve was awesome. We cut and mixed fruit and rice balls, fed the elephants, and bathed them in the River Kwai. The staff provides blue cotton shorts and tops (included) to wear while bathing the elephants. A tip of 200 Bhat (about $5.60) is suggested for each of the elephant handlers. The final stop was the Buddha Cave on the River Kwai near the location of the former POW camp where Australian POWs and local civilians were forced to build the railway bridge along the precarious cliffs. The final journey back to Bangkok took another roughly 3 hours due to evening traffic, and we arrived back at our hotel at promptly 7:00 pm. Ya was such an informative and friendly guide and we had a great time. A tip of 1000 Bhat (approximately $28) per party is a much appreciated, but not required tip for your guide and another 500 Bhat for the driver (our driver was very much surprised and deeply appreciative). Highly recommended excursion!!!
        Written 21 June 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Icee F
        Tanza, Philippines4 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        It was a great experience! Surely a must-do when visiting Bangkok. Our driver got into a minor traffic accident so the company had to send another vehicle for us which delayed our departure about 1 hr. With city traffic, this compromised our Erawan Falls Tour so we were only allowed to climb and swim up until Level 3, personally, I would still want to climb up but due to our scheduled itinerary, we must flee the place on time. The rest of the tour was amazing.
        Written 6 January 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Brandy S
        15 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2024 • Friends
        We had an absolutely unforgettable experience on the Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall tour! From the moment our guide picked us up, every detail was thoughtfully planned. They even brought breakfast and snacks to start our adventure off right!

        The Erawan Waterfalls were breathtaking — the water was a shade of turquoise so stunning it almost didn’t seem real. It was a bit crowded due to a local holiday, but that didn’t take away from the magic of the scenery. We also visited some historical bridges along the way, which added a nice cultural touch to the day.

        But the highlight of this tour — and honestly my entire 3-week, 5-city trip — was the elephant sanctuary experience. It was deeply moving and truly soul-stirring. We were provided traditional clothing to wear during our visit and learned how to make "elephant balls," nutritious treats for the elephants. Feeding them by hand, sharing watermelon, and seeing their gentle eyes light up with joy was incredible.

        The most touching part? We got to bathe the elephants in the river! This up-close interaction left me speechless. Being in the water with these majestic creatures and seeing their playful nature firsthand was something I’ll cherish forever.

        This tour is a must for anyone visiting Thailand. It was more than just a sightseeing tour — it was an experience that touched my heart and left me with memories I’ll carry for a lifetime. I cannot recommend it enough! 💙🐘🌿
        Written 11 January 2025
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Amanda S
        11 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        What a fantastic day! We had a private tour that left out of Bangkok and went to Kanchanaburi where we saw the Bridge on the River Kwai, Erawan Waterfalls, the Death Railway, a cave (now memorial) where POWs were kept while building the railway, and visited an elephant sanctuary. We were picked up at our hotel and had a driver and a guide. Our driver was kind and drove safely. Our guide was Ying and she was absolutely amazing! Her English is great and she knows so much history of the area and we learned so much from this tour. We are so grateful to have had such a knowledgeable guide to educate us on everything. Ying was so accommodating throughout with taking pictures of us and sharing cultural information. During lunch, she ordered for us and showed us how to eat the dishes we weren’t sure of and it really made the experience great. This was a long day…12+ hours, but so worth it and Ying made everything so special. We will definitely request Ying again for future tours! Thank you for a fantastic tour!!
        Written 23 November 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        James L
        3 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2023 • Family
        Didn’t go. Received two confirmation emails advising us of pick up time of 6.30am. Woke up early and excited and waiting for car. After 30mins, contacted company to be advised they had cancelled our booking. No reasons given, just told to check the website. When asked if they had anyone available they said they were booked out. I guess that was the reason. Double checked and never received an email to advise they cancelled the booking the day before. Now I have to chase the bank to get a refund of over $500usd for a 3 person booking. Will also be leaving BKK in 2 days so won’t get a chance to see it. Absolutely shocking. Don’t bother with these people.
        Written 23 December 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by the tour cancellation. We confirm the cancellation was made 21 hours before the scheduled tour. A full-refund was initiated at the time of cancellation. For last-minute bookings, there is a rare chance that we may be unable to accommodate the reservation. Canceled bookings will receive email confirmations from TripAdvisor. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have further concerns, please contact us directly. We appreciate your feedback and strive to improve our processes.
        Written 25 December 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Antonio R
        Charlotte, NC1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Awesome tour. No hassle and berry accommodating. Prakob was our tour guide and he was amazing. Great communication and patience and knows all the awesome spots for memories that last forever. This tour was definitely worth it and allowed us to maximize our experience with no worries about finding reliable rides or being taken advantage of. I definitely recommend this tour and if you are lucky you will get Prakob. The waterfalls were a sight out of this world and feeding and bathing the elephants was priceless. You can tell that they are well taken care of and are living happy lives. A+!
        Written 12 September 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Mary P
        Alexandria, VA6 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2023 • Solo
        Prakob was a wonderful guide and the highlight of the day was definitely the hike up erawan falls. Bring a towel bc they have shower rooms at the bottom to change after a swim. The trip to/from Bangkok took about 3 hours each way so be prepared for that. The elephant park was my least favorite bc the elephants are clearly trained to cater to tourists for photo opportunities. They seemed to be more interested in the business of tourism there than providing a sanctuary for animals. It was more like a zoo with trained elephants to do tricks. But the cave temple at Burma railway was very cool. Overall it was a fantastic outing and customer service with my guide and chauffeur was top notch.
        Written 26 October 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Erawan Waterfall and Elephant Care: Private Tour to Kanchanabur provided by Idaytrip

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