On my recent trip to Northern Thailand I spent a few days in and around Chiang Rai, a city in the far north of the country. It’s a quieter alternative to nearby Chiang Mai and there is heaps to do both in town and as you venture further into Chiang Rai Province. A trip to Khun Korn Waterfall is one of the best ways to spend a few hours in Chiang Rai – join me as I travel there in the back of a tuk tuk!
Getting to Khun Korn Waterfall
Khun Korn Waterfall is around 25 km from downtown Chiang Rai and there are a few transport options. You could rent a motorbike and drive there (and check out a few other places that aren’t walkable from town) or you can negotiate for a tuk tuk or songthaew driver to take you. That’s the option I went for. I cost me 500 baht for the return trip – not a bad price, especially if you’re travelling with other people.
A Walk Through the Forest
From the car park you’ll have to walk through the forest to reach the waterfall — it should take around 30 minutes. It’s a straightforward track but I imagine it’d be slippery after rain (and rainy season is a great time to visit waterfalls!). There’s a little bit of uphill hiking involved but it won’t pose a problem for most people.
There are some bamboo sections of the forest, which is always cool to see, but other than that there isn’t too much else going on. I was there first thing in the morning and had it all to myself, so it was very peaceful.
Khun Korn Waterfall
At around 70 metres, Khun Korn is one of the tallest waterfalls in northern Thailand and (apparently) one of the most beautiful. I haven’t been to all of them so I can’t confirm that, but as you’ll see in the photos below it has to be right up there. You’ll first see the waterfall as you near the end of the track and from there you can walk down to the edge of the river or admire it from several points further up the hill. I was completely alone the whole time and it was a really nice experience – so often places of great natural beauty like this get overrun.
There isn’t much else to say about Khun Korn Waterfall – it’s a stunning spot but there isn’t too much else to explore there. I guess you could swim, but as I was there on a crisp December morning (which is winter in northern Thailand, although it never gets all that cold) I decided against it.
FAQS
- How much does it cost? It’s free! The only thing you’ll have to pay for is your transport there. Tuk tuks should cost around 500 baht or you can rent a car (but that’ll cost you more).
- When is the best time to visit? I’ve heard this waterfall gets busy at times, especially during weekends. I went there on a Saturday but left very early (I organised to get picked up at 8am). There was no one around then, so if you can do it that early I highly recommend it.
- What about the other waterfalls? There are a few other waterfalls in the countryside close to Chiang Rai, although I didn’t visit any of them. The small amount of research I did told me that Khun Korn is the best waterfall in these parts, and I figured I only needed to see one. If you’ve been to any other waterfalls near Chiang Rai, please let me know what they were like in the comments below!
Are you planning a trip to Chiang Rai? Will you take a trip to Khun Korn Waterfall? Let me know in the comments!
Jon Algie
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