Tai Rom Yen National Park

Open Days: Open Daily In Areas Not Affected By Seasonal Recovery Closures

Opening Hours: 08.30 – 16.30

 

Tai Rom Yen National Park in Surat Thani Province is one of southern Thailand’s important inland forest destinations. The park covers parts of Ban Na San, Kanchanadit, and Wiang Sa districts and spans about 265,625 rai, or 425 square kilometres. It is known for tropical evergreen forest, high mountain ridges, waterfalls, limestone caves, nature trails, watershed forest, and historic sites connected with former Communist Party of Thailand camps. For travelers who want to experience Surat Thani beyond beaches and islands, Tai Rom Yen offers a deeper view of rainforest, mountains, caves, streams, and conservation history.

 

The park’s main attractions include Dat Fa Waterfall, Mueang Tuat Waterfall, Khao Nong, San Yen Ridge, Khamin Cave, Namtok 357, Khlong Nam Thao Waterfall, Khlong Khan Bet Waterfall, Phet Phanomwat Waterfall, Camp 180, Camp 357, and the Khao Nam Toei Nature Trail. These sites make Tai Rom Yen more than a single waterfall destination. It is a broad protected landscape with natural, geological, ecological, and historical value.

 

Most of the park is fertile tropical evergreen forest. Important tree species include yang, takhian, lumpho, siad cho, khiam, and sato. These large rainforest trees create a dense canopy, retain forest humidity, feed wildlife, and help protect natural streams. On the mist-covered upper ridges, montane evergreen forest appears, with species such as mueat, kamyan, and bangtan, as well as mosses and lichens growing thickly on tree trunks. This cool and moist highland environment gives Tai Rom Yen a very different atmosphere from the lowland areas around Ban Na San.

 

The park’s landscape is strongly influenced by igneous rock formed through ancient volcanic activity and geological uplift. The result is a complex mountain system with ridges, cliffs, valleys, streams, and waterfalls. The climate is influenced by the monsoon, with a hot season from about January to April and a rainy season from about May to December. Travelers should therefore plan around the season, current park announcements, and weather conditions, especially for waterfalls and long-distance hiking trails where heavy rain can create slippery paths, strong currents, and flash-flood risk.

 

Tai Rom Yen is also an important wildlife habitat. Species associated with the park include serow, muntjac, mouse deer, wild boar, elephants, tapirs, and tigers, along with birds and smaller forest animals. The presence of these species reflects the ecological quality of the evergreen forest and natural water sources. Visitors should travel quietly, avoid feeding animals, stay on designated trails, and take all rubbish out of the park.

 

Dat Fa Waterfall is the park’s most famous natural landmark and one of Surat Thani’s major waterfalls. The waterfall has many levels, and tourism information identifies it as having 22 tiers. The highest cliff is about 80 metres high. During periods of strong water flow, the water spreads across the cliff face and seems to fall from the sky, which explains the name Dat Fa. The surrounding forest is shaded and lush, making the area suitable for relaxing, photographing the waterfall, and enjoying the cool rainforest setting in safe areas.

 

The Dat Fa area is also connected with a long-distance nature trail of about 15 kilometres. This route starts from Khao Nam Toei and leads toward Dat Fa Waterfall. It normally takes about 2 days and requires an overnight stay in the forest. The trail is suitable for experienced hikers with proper equipment and advance coordination with park staff. It offers a deeper experience of the tropical rainforest, including stream crossings, dense canopy, moist forest floor, and changing plant communities along the elevation gradient.

 

Mueang Tuat Waterfall is another scenic waterfall in the park. It has 7 tiers and is surrounded by large trees and shaded forest. Access from Ban Na San District follows the Na San-Ban Song road for about 12 kilometres, then continues along the Ban Chong Chang-Mueang Tuat road for about 8 kilometres. The route is paved. This site is suitable for visitors who want a quieter waterfall surrounded by rainforest.

 

Khao Nong is the highest mountain in Surat Thani Province, rising about 1,530 metres above sea level. Its summit area is often covered by cloud and mist, with cool and moist weather throughout much of the year. The vegetation is montane evergreen forest, with moss and lichen growing thickly on tree trunks. Khao Nong is important for visitors interested in high-elevation forest ecology and serious hiking. The Khao Nong-San Yen route should always be checked with park staff before travel.

 

San Yen is a long mountain ridge about 1,000-1,300 metres high. From a distance, the ridge appears smooth and continuous. Its cool, humid environment supports plants and wildlife that are different from those in the lower forest. The Khao Nong-San Yen trail is valuable for nature study, but it requires careful planning, proper equipment, and updated information from park officers.

 

Khamin Cave, also known locally as Tham Men, is a large limestone cave and one of the park’s major attractions. The cave is about 2 kilometres long and contains stalactites, stalagmites, large chambers, and beautiful limestone formations. At the cave entrance is the Shrine of Than Khun, respected by local people. Inside the cave are several notable points, including Lan Rot Jeep, Lan Than Khun, Sao Ek, Lak Chai, Chong Fa, Man Si Chomphu, and Man Fa. These features give the cave both geological and cultural interest.

 

Lan Rot Jeep is a large chamber linked to the former bat-guano concession era. Lan Than Khun contains large limestone formations known as Sao Ek and Lak Chai. Chong Fa is an opening through the cave ceiling. Man Si Chomphu is a pinkish limestone curtain that appears like a meditating Buddha image, while Man Fa is a large hanging curtain formation, with some parts resembling an elephant’s head. Visitors should stay on the marked route, avoid touching formations, and move carefully because some areas may be dark or damp.

 

Camp 180 and Camp 357 are historic sites connected with the former Communist Party of Thailand presence in the area. These sites show how the mountain forest landscape once functioned as a strategic base before becoming part of a protected area and nature-learning destination. Visitors should treat these historical areas respectfully, avoid damaging remains, and never remove objects from the site.

 

In the Wiang Sa District side of the park, important attractions include Namtok 357, a waterfall about 25 metres high with water throughout the year; Khlong Nam Thao Waterfall, which has 2 tiers and a second tier where water flows down in 3 beautiful streams about 35 metres high; and Khlong Khan Bet Waterfall, which has 7 tiers. These sites show that Tai Rom Yen is not defined by Dat Fa Waterfall alone, but by a wide network of waterfalls and streams spread across several districts.

 

In Kanchanadit District, Phet Phanomwat Waterfall is another important waterfall, about 30 metres high. It is surrounded by forest and connected with the park’s watershed system. Visitors who want to explore several zones of Tai Rom Yen should plan by district because the park covers a large area and different attractions use different access routes.

 

The Khao Nam Toei Nature Trail is about 1,900 metres long and takes nearly 2 hours to walk. It starts near the royal pavilion of Princess Chulabhorn Walailak within the Chulabhorn project area and ends at the Chulabhorn campsite. This trail is suitable for visitors who want to learn about tropical evergreen forest without committing to a long-distance trek. Along the route, visitors can observe plant diversity, stream systems, and the role of rainforest as a watershed.

 

Getting There from Surat Thani city is straightforward by road. Take Highway 4009 on the Surat Thani-Ban Na San route for about 30-33 kilometres to Ban Chiang Phra, opposite Khuan Suban School. Turn left onto the rural road and continue for about 15 kilometres to the park headquarters and Dat Fa Waterfall area. Another route reaches Na San Market first, then turns at Kriangsak Intersection onto Phichai Decha-Ban Mueang Tuat Road for about 8 kilometres. Travelers should use a well-maintained vehicle and allow extra time for local and mountain roads.

 

The best time to visit depends on the activity. For waterfalls, the period after rainfall can make the water impressive, but visitors should avoid days with continuous heavy rain. For Khao Nong and San Yen hiking, travel should be limited to periods when the trail is open and weather is safe. Khamin Cave is best visited when the cave floor is not too slippery and staff information is available. Checking current park announcements before travel is essential because waterfalls, long-distance trails, and overnight areas may close seasonally for safety and natural recovery.

 

The entrance fee for Tai Rom Yen National Park is 40 baht for Thai adults, 20 baht for Thai children, 200 baht for foreign adults, and 100 baht for foreign children. The park has accommodation and camping areas available seasonally, but travelers should contact the park before planning an overnight stay, especially near the annual closure period or during heavy rain. Recommended personal items include a flashlight, rain protection, non-slip footwear, dry bags, insect repellent, drinking water, and a rubbish bag for carrying waste out of the park.

 

Safety is important around waterfalls and caves. Dat Fa Waterfall, Mueang Tuat Waterfall, and other waterfalls may have strong water during the rainy season. Khamin Cave is large, dark, and damp in some sections. Visitors should follow marked routes, avoid touching cave formations, keep noise low to avoid disturbing bats, and check with staff before entering. Long-distance hiking routes should not be attempted alone, and travelers should inform park officers of their planned route.

 

Tai Rom Yen National Park is suitable for nature travelers, hikers, waterfall lovers, cave enthusiasts, geology learners, and visitors interested in local history. With good planning, the park can be visited as a short trip to Dat Fa Waterfall and Khamin Cave, or as a more serious nature journey to Khao Nong, San Yen, and Khao Nam Toei. The value of Tai Rom Yen lies in the continuity of forest, water, mountains, mist, caves, wildlife, and history that remains visible in the landscape today.

 

 

A: Tai Rom Yen National Park is in Surat Thani Province, covering areas of Ban Na San, Kanchanadit, and Wiang Sa districts. The main headquarters area is in Lamphun Subdistrict, Ban Na San District.

 

A: The park opens in areas not affected by seasonal recovery closures. Tourism and overnight areas close annually from 15 October to 15 December, so visitors should check the latest announcement before traveling.

 

A: The entrance fee is 40 baht for Thai adults, 20 baht for Thai children, 200 baht for foreign adults, and 100 baht for foreign children.

 

A: The main highlights include Dat Fa Waterfall, Khamin Cave, Khao Nong, San Yen Ridge, Mueang Tuat Waterfall, Namtok 357, and historic Camp 180 and Camp 357.

 

A: Dat Fa Waterfall is one of Surat Thani’s major waterfalls. It has many levels, with the highest cliff about 80 metres high, and is especially impressive when water spreads across the cliff during strong flow.

 

A: Visitors should stay on the marked route, be careful in dark and damp areas, avoid touching stalactites and stalagmites, keep noise low to avoid disturbing bats, and check with park staff before entering.

 

A: From Surat Thani city, take Highway 4009 toward Ban Na San for about 30-33 km to Ban Chiang Phra, then turn onto the rural road for about 15 km to the park headquarters and Dat Fa Waterfall area.

 

A: It is suitable for nature travelers, hikers, waterfall lovers, cave visitors, geology learners, and those interested in local history. Proper footwear, rain protection, and updated park information are recommended.