Waterfall Tours from Phuket: Where Our Days Stop to Swim

Which tours stop at a waterfall?

Both rafting days, at 16:00, with a swim in the mountain water to rinse off the river and the mud. The Avatar world day at 16:50, swimming in cool water before the hot springs. The Khao Lak safari at 15:00. Both Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe days at 16:00. And Secrets of Krabi at 10:50 — the hot waterfall and thermal springs. Several of these days include elephants too, and which one gives you a bath rather than a ride is on elephant bathing on the rafting and ATV tour. On the Phang Nga days that waterfall comes after a morning at Samet Nangshe; the other viewpoint times are on Samet Nangshe at sunrise or in the afternoon. For what the Cheow Lan lake day gives you and what it costs in driving time, see is the Cheow Lan lake day trip from Phuket worth it. The Phang Nga day with the waterfall stop is set against the James Bond boat day on Samet Nangshe or James Bond island.

All of them are included in the tour price.

On most days the waterfall is the last stop before the drive back, so plan dry clothes for the minibus. The Khao Lak day's waterfall comes at 15:00; the whole day is on Khao Lak from Phuket: what to expect.

Can I swim at the waterfalls?

On the rafting days and the Avatar world day the cards say so outright: swimming in the mountain water, swimming in cool water. On the Krabi day the hot waterfall comes with natural thermal baths. The Khao Lak and Phang Nga stops are listed as waterfall stops; bring swimwear and ask the guide on the day. With kids, is the Avatar world tour suitable for children walks through the Avatar day stop by stop. If the sea isn't for you, our land tours from Phuket gathers the jungle, Phang Nga, Cheow Lan and Krabi days in one place. The hot waterfall in Krabi's forest is part of a longer day, reviewed on is the Secrets of Krabi day trip worth it.

Wear sandals with a strap — rocks at waterfalls are slippery.

Bring a towel of your own; only the Krabi day lists towels. Five kilometres of rafting plus an ATV track: the rafting and ATV day says who it suits.

Which waterfall day suits me?

For action, rafting: five kilometres of river, then elephants, then the waterfall — or add 250cc quads with the ATV version. For variety, the Khao Lak safari: cave temple, zoo, elephant spa, bamboo raft, turtle farm, waterfall, fruit market. For warm water, Secrets of Krabi. For a view, the Phang Nga days, which start at the Samet Nangshe viewpoint over the bay. Don't confuse it with Beyond Skywalk; Samet Nangshe or Beyond Skywalk explains. Choosing between the two long jungle days? Khao Lak safari or Avatar world compares the elephants, the rafting and how each day ends. For the safari on its own, with the ride, the raft and the turtle farm, see is the Khao Lak safari worth it.

Our jungle tours page compares them in more detail. If the hot springs at Natai are tempting, is the Avatar world tour worth it says who the long day suits and who it doesn't.

Do the waterfalls change with the season?

The rivers do: in the wet months the water runs brisker, in the dry months slower. The land days themselves run in any weather, which makes them the backup when the sea is closed.

The programme can still shift with heavy rain; times on every card are a guide.

What should I bring?

Swimwear under your clothes, a towel, a change of clothes for the drive home, sandals with a strap, and a rain jacket on the rafting and safari days — the cards list it as not included. Temples on these days need covered shoulders and knees.

What does each waterfall day cost?

See the table below, straight from our booking system. As a guide, rafting and the elephant spa and the Khao Lak safari are the lowest-priced full days here; the Avatar world day, with its small group and hot springs, is higher. Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price on all of them.

How early do these days start?

Most pick up between 06:30 and 07:00: 06:50 on the rafting days and the Khao Lak safari, 06:30 on the Phang Nga days, 07:00 on the Avatar world day. Secrets of Krabi is earliest, between 05:00 and 06:00. The waterfall is usually the last stop before the drive home. On a three-day stay, three days in Phuket helps you avoid stacking early starts.

Which waterfall stop comes with the most swimming?

The rafting days and the Avatar world day, where the cards list swimming at the waterfall itself. On the Krabi day you swim twice — in the warm Emerald lake in the morning and in the thermal baths by the hot waterfall. The Phang Nga and Khao Lak waterfall stops are shorter breaks within busy programmes.

Are waterfall days good for children?

Yes, with care on the rocks. The Khao Lak safari suits families with its zoo, turtles and bamboo raft; the rafting days need children to be six for the river. Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price, and under-fours travel free on the Avatar world day and rafting with ATV.

What else is included on these days?

Hotel transfer both ways, a guide, insurance and lunch on every one of them. The rafting days include the rafting equipment with helmets and jackets and one elephant programme; the Phang Nga days, the full elephant spa with a ride, a longtail through the mangroves and a seafood lunch in the floating village; the Khao Lak safari, the full elephant programme and national park fees. Swimming with elephants in the sea, with no riding, is the heart of the day reviewed on elephant beach and Mantra Spa: is it worth it.

Current prices are in the table below, from our booking system. Hotel pickup is part of these days; how the time is arranged is on how booking works.

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