Kaeng Tana National Park

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 16.30

 

Kaeng Tana National Park in Ubon Ratchathani is one of the key national parks of Northeastern Thailand. Located across Sirindhorn and Khong Chiam districts, it covers about 50,000 rai and was declared Thailand’s 33rd national park on 13 July 1981. The park is defined by the Mun River, sandstone rapids, low hills, dry dipterocarp forest, rock terraces, seasonal waterfalls, and historical traces linked to the ancient Mun River basin. Unlike mountain parks dominated by high peaks, Kaeng Tana has a distinctive riverside identity. Its landscape is shaped by water, sandstone, islands, cliffs, and forest that exist together in a compact but highly meaningful area.

 

The heart of the park is Kaeng Tana, a large rocky rapid in the middle of the Mun River. Massive sandstone outcrops sit within the current, while the river flows through channels, pools, underwater holes, and rock cavities created by long-term erosion. In the past, the rapid was known as a dangerous section of the river because of strong currents and hidden rocks. This history gives the place a strong local identity. Today, the area is a scenic and cultural site where visitors can see the power of the river, the structure of the sandstone bed, and the relationship between local communities and the Mun River.

 

Don Tana is another major highlight. It is a natural island in the Mun River, about 450 meters wide and 700 meters long. The island divides the river into two channels and contains dry evergreen forest, large trees, shaded areas, and a sandy section on the northern side. Don Tana is not an artificial attraction but a real river island formed by water, time, and geology. Walking onto the island gives visitors a quieter experience of forest, river wind, birdsong, and local fishing activity around the river. It is one of the best places in the park to understand how the Mun River shapes both the landscape and local life.

 

The Kaeng Tana Suspension Bridge is the most recognizable landmark of the park. It connects the park office side with Don Tana and allows visitors to cross over the Mun River on foot. The bridge is supported by large steel cables and offers panoramic views of the river, forest, rapids, and island. For many travelers, the bridge is the first point that makes Kaeng Tana memorable. It is not only a crossing route but also a scenic viewpoint. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to walk across, as the light is softer and the riverside atmosphere is calmer.

 

Kaeng Tana also contains historical traces. On the rocky rapid, visitors can observe a rectangular structure once used as a navigation marker during a period when river travel was important in the lower Mekong and Mun River region. This small structure shows that the area was not only a natural feature but also part of historical movement, river transport, and regional control. The combination of sandstone, current, and old navigation traces makes Kaeng Tana a place where nature and history can be read together.

 

Tham Phra, also known as Tham Phu Ma Nai, is located about 1 kilometer from the visitor center. It is a sandstone overhang along the Mun River, about 45 meters wide and 10 meters deep. Inside the cave area, archaeological evidence was found, including an inscription and a Shiva lingam base dating to around the 12th to 13th Buddhist centuries, associated with King Mahendravarman or Prince Chitrasena. The original inscription is preserved at the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. This site adds a strong cultural dimension to the park and connects the natural landscape with ancient religious and political history in the Mun River basin.

 

Lan Pha Phueng is a sandstone terrace and cliff located about 1.5 kilometers from the park office. The cliff faces east and is suitable for sunrise views. On clear days, visitors can see wide landscapes stretching toward Laos. From October to December, small wildflowers appear on the rock terrace, including dusita, soi suwana, kradum ngoen, yard nam khang, waew mayura, and other seasonal rock-terrace plants. Lan Pha Phueng is ideal for visitors who enjoy short nature walks, wildflower photography, and quiet morning scenery.

 

The Rak Sai Waterfall nature trail is a short walking route along the cliff near the Mun River. It is about 1 kilometer long and begins near the visitor center area. The trail passes lichens, mosses, ferns, sandstone features, Tham Phra, and Rak Sai Waterfall. It is suitable for visitors who want a short but informative walk through the park’s small-scale ecosystems. This route helps travelers notice details that are often missed when focusing only on the main bridge and rapids, such as rock-surface plants, moisture-loving ferns, and the way water shapes the cliff environment.

 

Tat Ton Waterfall is one of the park’s important seasonal waterfalls. It is formed by Huai Tat Ton, which flows across rock terraces before dropping into a lower basin. During the rainy season and early post-rainy period, the water is clear and cool, and the surrounding forest becomes fresh and green. The best time to visit Tat Ton Waterfall is from June to October. In the dry season, water volume may decrease, but the rock formations and forest setting remain interesting for visitors who enjoy natural landscapes.

 

Kaeng Tana can be visited throughout the year, but each season offers a different experience. From November to June, the rock formations and rapids are especially good to observe because the water level often reveals more of the sandstone surface. From June to October, Tat Ton Waterfall becomes the main seasonal highlight. From October to December, wildflowers appear on sandstone terraces such as Lan Pha Phueng. This seasonal variation makes the park more than a single viewpoint. It is a place that changes with water level, light, vegetation, and weather.

 

There are two main routes to Kaeng Tana National Park. The first route starts from Ubon Ratchathani city and follows Highway 217 toward Phibun Mangsahan and Chong Mek for about 75 kilometers, then turns left onto Highway 2173 for about 13 kilometers to the park. This route is convenient for travelers coming from Ubon Ratchathani city or Sirindhorn District. The second route uses Highway 2222 through Khong Chiam, then crosses the Mun River and continues to the park area. This route gives good views of the rapids, especially during periods when the sandstone formations are visible above the water.

 

The visitor center and park office are located by the Mun River near the main Kaeng Tana area. This is the best starting point for first-time visitors. Travelers can buy entry tickets, ask about trail conditions, use restrooms, park vehicles, and plan the route before walking to the suspension bridge, Don Tana, Kaeng Tana rapid, Tham Phra, and the Rak Sai nature trail. Visitors with more time can continue to Lan Pha Phueng or Tat Ton Waterfall. Starting from the visitor center makes the trip easier to manage, especially for half-day visits.

 

The park provides basic visitor facilities, accommodation, and camping areas for travelers who want to stay close to nature. Staying inside the park is suitable for visitors who want to wake up early for the river atmosphere, walk across the suspension bridge in soft morning light, or enjoy a quiet evening near the Mun River. Travelers who prefer more restaurants, riverside hotels, and easier access to nearby attractions can stay in Khong Chiam town. This allows them to combine Kaeng Tana with the Two-Color River, Pha Taem National Park, Mekong riverside restaurants, and other attractions in the area.

 

The entrance fee follows Thailand’s national park fee group applied to Kaeng Tana. Thai adults pay 40 baht and Thai children 20 baht. Foreign adults pay 200 baht and foreign children 100 baht. Vehicle fees are charged separately, such as 20 baht for a motorcycle and 30 baht for a four-wheel car. Visitors should keep their tickets while traveling inside the park because some attractions are located in separate zones.

 

For foreign travelers, Kaeng Tana is a rewarding destination because it presents a different side of Ubon Ratchathani. It is not only a forest park but also a Mun River landscape with rapids, a suspension bridge, a river island, archaeological traces, seasonal flowers, and a waterfall. Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, drinking water, and enough time are recommended. Visitors should be careful around wet rocks, fast water, and cliff edges, especially during the rainy season.

 

A short visit can focus on the suspension bridge, Don Tana, Kaeng Tana rapid, and Tham Phra. A half-day visit can include the Rak Sai nature trail and Lan Pha Phueng. A full-day visit can add Tat Ton Waterfall and nearby Khong Chiam attractions. Travelers with more time can connect Kaeng Tana with Pha Taem National Park, Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Prao, Sirindhorn Dam, the Two-Color River, and Mekong riverside routes. This makes Kaeng Tana a strong starting point for exploring the natural and cultural geography of eastern Ubon Ratchathani.

 

What makes Kaeng Tana special is the depth of experience available in one park. Visitors can walk across the bridge, enter a river island, stand beside a large rapid, observe evidence of ancient culture, follow a short nature trail, see seasonal wildflowers, and visit a waterfall within the same protected landscape. The park is not only a photo stop but a complete riverside environment where water, stone, forest, history, and community life come together.

 

Overall, Kaeng Tana National Park is one of the most meaningful destinations in Ubon Ratchathani for travelers interested in nature, history, and river landscapes. Thai visitors can enjoy a classic northeastern national park with accessible routes and varied attractions, while foreign visitors can learn about the Mun River basin, local geology, ancient cultural traces, and the relationship between people and water in southern Isan. With its suspension bridge, Don Tana island, sandstone rapids, cave archaeology, wildflowers, and seasonal waterfall, Kaeng Tana offers a complete and distinctive travel experience.

 

 

A: Kaeng Tana National Park is open daily from 08.00 to 16.30. Morning and late afternoon are good times for walking across the suspension bridge and enjoying the Mun River scenery.

 

A: Thai adults pay 40 baht and Thai children 20 baht. Foreign adults pay 200 baht and foreign children 100 baht. Vehicle fees are charged separately, such as 20 baht for a motorcycle and 30 baht for a four-wheel car.

 

A: The main attractions include the suspension bridge, Don Tana island, Kaeng Tana rapid, Tham Phra or Tham Phu Ma Nai, Lan Pha Phueng, Rak Sai nature trail, and Tat Ton Waterfall.

 

A: Kaeng Tana can be visited year-round. November to June is good for seeing the rapids and sandstone formations, June to October is suitable for Tat Ton Waterfall, and October to December is good for wildflowers on rock terraces.

 

A: The distance from Ubon Ratchathani city to Kaeng Tana National Park is about 88 kilometers via Highway 217 and Highway 2173.

 

A: Yes. The park has accommodation and camping areas. Travelers can also stay in Khong Chiam District for easier access to restaurants and nearby Mekong-side attractions.

 

A: The suspension bridge connects the park office side with Don Tana, a natural island in the Mun River and one of the park’s most important nature areas.

 

A: Yes. The park is suitable for foreign travelers who want to experience the Mun River landscape, sandstone rapids, a river island, a suspension bridge, and archaeological traces in Ubon Ratchathani.