Kathu Waterfall

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Kathu Waterfall Is Best Visited From 08.00 – 18.00 / Rama VI Waterfall 08.00 – 17.00

 

Kathu Waterfall And Rama VI Waterfall are 2 small natural waterfall sites in Kathu District, Phuket. Both are known for shaded greenery, tropical trees, and a quieter inland atmosphere compared with Phuket’s beaches and tourist streets. Kathu Waterfall is the better-known and easier-to-visit site, with clearer access, stairs, nearby restaurants, and more visitor information. Rama VI Waterfall is a smaller and lesser-known waterfall in Kathu, mentioned in local tourism information as a shaded natural site about 14 kilometres from Phuket Town.

 

The appeal of these waterfalls lies in their location. Kathu sits between Phuket Town and Patong, making the area practical for visitors who want a short nature break without travelling far. Travellers staying in Phuket Town can reach Kathu easily, while those staying in Patong can cross the hill toward Kathu and stop at the waterfalls before continuing to Phuket Town or other inland attractions. These waterfalls are best treated as short nature stops rather than full-day waterfall destinations.

 

Kathu Waterfall is located in Soi Namtok Kathu, Kathu Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket. It is about 4 kilometres from Kathu District Office and close to Loch Palm Golf Club. The entrance area has local restaurants and limited parking, and the lower waterfall area is easy to reach. From there, visitors can continue up stairs and walking paths to higher levels of the waterfall.

 

Kathu Waterfall is a small multi-level waterfall with shallow pools and cascades. The lower area is the easiest section for sitting, resting, cooling the feet, and allowing children to play under close adult supervision. A stairway of about 130 metres helps visitors climb toward the waterfall levels. The lower levels are the most practical for casual visitors, while upper sections feel quieter and more natural but require more caution because surfaces can be wet and slippery.

 

The best season for Kathu Waterfall is the rainy season and the period just after rain, especially from around July to December. During this time, the water flow is stronger, the forest is greener, and the waterfall looks more alive. In the dry season, the water can be very low, sometimes reduced to a small stream or trickle. Visitors who come mainly to see flowing water should plan their trip during or soon after the rainy season.

 

Rama VI Waterfall is another small waterfall in Kathu. Public tourism information describes it as a small shaded waterfall, about 14 kilometres from Phuket Town. Compared with Kathu Waterfall, it has far less public visitor information, so it is better included as part of a Kathu nature route rather than treated as a large standalone attraction. The most reliable way to experience it is to check local route conditions and visit during daylight hours.

 

A practical way to visit both sites is to use Kathu Waterfall as the main stop, because it has clearer access and better nearby services. Visitors can walk to the lower pool, climb part of the waterfall path, rest at a nearby restaurant, and then continue to Rama VI Waterfall or other Kathu attractions if time allows. This route is suitable for a short half-day trip in Kathu.

 

Activities at Kathu Waterfall include light walking, short nature photography, resting by the stream, wading in shallow pools when the water is safe, and eating at restaurants near the entrance. At Rama VI Waterfall, the visit should be simple and careful because public information about facilities is limited. Visitors should expect a small natural site rather than a developed tourist park.

 

Families can enjoy Kathu Waterfall, especially the lower area. Children should be supervised closely at all times because rocks, stairs, and wet paths can be slippery. Children should not climb wet rocks, walk to upper levels alone, or enter fast-flowing water. Older visitors may prefer to stay near the entrance or lower pool rather than climb the full stairway.

 

Kathu Waterfall is also useful for visitors who want to understand Kathu beyond roads, shops, and residential areas. Kathu has a history connected with tin mining, old Chinese communities, forested hills, local water sources, and routes between Phuket Town and Patong. Kathu Waterfall, Rama VI Waterfall, Bang Wad Reservoir, Kathu Shrine, and the Phuket Mining Museum together show a greener and more local side of central Phuket.

 

There are several restaurants and cafés near Kathu Waterfall. Jungle Cafe sits near the waterfall and offers a casual nature atmosphere. Krua Pai Lin is a well-known local restaurant near the waterfall road. Other nearby options include Baan Suan Ruen Phet, Dim Sum Ahan Chao @ Nam Tok Kathu, and Faktong Kathu Waterfall. This makes Kathu Waterfall easy to combine with breakfast, lunch, coffee, or local Phuket food.

 

Getting There from Phuket Town is straightforward. Drive toward Kathu on the road connecting Phuket Town and Patong, then turn into Soi Namtok Kathu near the Loch Palm Golf Club area. The distance from Phuket Town to Rama VI Waterfall is about 14 kilometres, and to Kathu Waterfall about 15 kilometres. Kathu Waterfall is about 4 kilometres from Kathu District Office. From Patong, drive over the hill toward Kathu and Phuket Town, then turn into the waterfall road. Travel time from Patong is usually around 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Private car, motorbike, taxi, or hired local transport is the most convenient way to visit. Parking is available in some areas near the entrance of Kathu Waterfall, but visitors should park only where it does not block traffic. The road is local and can be narrow in places, with restaurants and homes nearby, so drivers should move slowly and carefully.

 

Good preparation makes the visit safer and more comfortable. Wear shoes with good grip, bring drinking water, use mosquito protection if needed, and carry a small bag for rubbish. If planning to get wet, bring a towel and dry clothes. Do not use soap, shampoo, or cleaning products in the stream because the area is a natural water source.

 

Visitors should avoid climbing wet rocks, entering the water during heavy rain, playing in strong current, damaging plants, making loud noise, or leaving the visible safe path. After rain, the area can be more beautiful but also more slippery. During the dry season, the waterfall may have much less water, so expectations should be adjusted.

 

A half-day Kathu route can begin at Kathu Waterfall in the morning, continue to Rama VI Waterfall or nearby nature spots, then include Phuket Wake Park, Loch Palm Golf Club, Phuket Mining Museum, Bang Wad Reservoir, or Kathu Shrine. The area can also be combined with Phuket Town or Patong because Kathu sits between the 2 zones.

 

Overall, Kathu Waterfall and Rama VI Waterfall are simple, shaded, and accessible inland nature stops in Phuket. Kathu Waterfall is the stronger main destination because of its stairs, lower pool, nearby food, and clear visitor route. Rama VI Waterfall adds another quiet natural point to the Kathu area. Together, they show a green, local, and less commercial side of Phuket, especially during the rainy season when water flow and forest colours are at their best.

 

 

A: Both are located in Kathu District, Phuket. Kathu Waterfall is in Soi Namtok Kathu near Loch Palm Golf Club and about 4 km from Kathu District Office.

 

A: Kathu Waterfall is better known and has clearer visitor access, stairs, nearby restaurants, and more public information. Rama VI Waterfall is a smaller and quieter waterfall in Kathu with less public visitor information.

 

A: No. Kathu Waterfall is free to visit.

 

A: July to December and the period just after rain are the best times because the waterfall has more water and the surrounding forest is greener.

 

A: Yes, especially the lower area, but children should be supervised closely because rocks, stairs, and wet paths can be slippery.

 

A: From Patong, drive over the hill toward Kathu and Phuket Town, then turn into Soi Namtok Kathu. The journey usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.

 

A: Yes. Nearby options include Jungle Cafe, Krua Pai Lin, Baan Suan Ruen Phet, Dim Sum Ahan Chao @ Nam Tok Kathu, and Faktong Kathu Waterfall.

 

A: Nearby places include Phuket Wake Park, Loch Palm Golf Club, Phuket Mining Museum, Kathu Shrine, and Bang Wad Reservoir.