Wachirathan Waterfall (Namtok Vachirathan)

The Wachirathan Waterfall (pronounced "wah-chee-rah-TAHN"; also spelled Vachirathan) was the second major waterfall on the way up to the summit of Doi Inthanon. Of all the waterfalls we saw in Doi Inthanon National Park, we thought this one had the most power and spray, and it was probably the most popular of the lot on the mountain's slopes (probably due to its ease of access).

Even though our guide told us that this was 80m in cumulative height, I'm thinking it was more like 40m or so. The falls was also wide, but it was segmented when we saw it during our trip, where the far right section of the falls were stringier than the left. I reckon during the wet season, this would be both wide and raging (with all the segments we saw consolidated into a monster).

But even though we visited during the start of the Dry Season, the falls had enough volume to produce plenty of mist. And from this mist, we did see rainbows though it made photography a bit of a challenge. There were also parts of the loop walk around the waterfall (especially just downstream of it in its lower reaches) that was quite muddy and slippery as the path was drenched in its mist. So I have no doubt that this was a year-round waterfall though I'd imagine the flow becomes lighter as the Dry Season progresses.

Directions: Since we were escorted, we can't give exact directions. However, we can say that it took us about 25 minutes to drive downhill from the Siriphum Waterfall or about 20 minutes uphill from the Wachirathan Waterfall.

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Approaching the falls from the car park. Notice the big group further up ahead, which made for a pretty crowded experience.

Focusing on the bottom of the falls where there was a rainbow

Profile view of the falls

Trying to get both the rainbow and most of the Wachiranthan Waterfall

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Sweep from rainbow downstream to a direct view of the falls from bottom to top


Nearly 360 degree sweep from the parking structure to the rainbow downstream of the falls to the falls' profile itself

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TRIP REPORTS

For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.

• December 29, 2008

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Mae Klang Waterfall
• Siriphum Waterfall
• Mae Ya Waterfall

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