Parks — Kanchanaburi

A national park in Kanchanaburi province: waterfalls, caves (including Lava Cave) and floating houses on the River Kwai.

Riding elephants is prohibited here as well, and there is the opportunity to help care for the animals and bathe with them. The park is home to 20 elephants. Visit prices are 1500 baht for a half day, 2500 baht for a full day, and 5800 baht for a two‑day program with an overnight stay at the nursery. It's easy to reach by train — the sanctuary is 1.5 kilometres from Wang Pho station.

Erawan is a natural reserve centred on a seven-tiered waterfall named after the three-headed Hindu elephant Erawan — locals say the top tier resembles its shape. The falls stretch about 1.5 km. You can reach the top tier in roughly an hour via a trail along the river; the path gets more difficult the higher you go. Each of the seven levels has natural pools. Many fish live in the water and will swim around people — if you move gently they’ll nibble and tickle you. Some pools are quite deep. Life jackets are available to rent at the park entrance for 20 baht. Visit on weekdays if you can, as weekends are popular with locals. Entrance for foreigners is 300 baht. Getting there: a bus runs from Kanchanaburi bus terminal every hour from 08:00 to 17:00; the last bus from the park to town departs at 16:00.

The farm was founded by a Thai veterinarian and his wife, originally to rescue elderly animals from abuse and care for them. It was later opened to visitors. About 30 elephants live here; some are over 60 years old and there are also young calves. You can visit Elephants World for a full day or half a day (morning or afternoon). The half‑day program costs 1800 baht, the full‑day 2500 baht. The program includes transfer from and back to Kanchanaburi, lunch, feeding the elephants with watermelon and corn — including preparing a soft banana treat for the oldest 79‑year‑old animal — grass cutting, washing the elephants, and bathing with them in a mud bath and in the river.