Chet Sao Noi Waterfall

Chet Sao Noi means seven little girls, and the name refers to the seven tiers the stream falls over - none of them high, each about four metres, dropping over travertine ledges into shallow pools that are safe to stand and sit in. That combination of easy access from Bangkok, no serious climbing and water shallow enough for children makes it one of the busiest waterfalls in central Thailand at weekends and on public holidays, when the pools fill with families. A path runs up alongside the tiers with the lower ones reachable in minutes and the seventh a short walk further. Flow depends entirely on the season: strongest from July into November after the rains, and by March or April in a dry year the falls reduce to a trickle over bare rock. The forest park became Thailand's 129th national park in December 2016, covering about 42 square kilometres, and it charges the standard two-tier national park fee, with foreign visitors paying considerably more than Thai nationals.

The landscape

• The seven tiers - low travertine steps with shallow pools between them.
• The bathing - pools shallow enough to sit in, which drives the crowds.
• The short walk - the lower tiers minutes from the car park.
• The seasonal flow - strong after the rains, thin by the hot season.

When to go

July to November for water. Weekdays are far quieter - weekends and Thai public holidays fill the pools completely. Dry-season visits can find very little flow.

Things to know

Very crowded at weekends and holidays. In the dry season the falls can be nearly empty of water. Foreign visitors pay a higher entry fee than Thais, which is standard national park policy. Rocks are slippery.

Nearby

Muak Lek and the Saraburi sunflower fields are close; Khao Yai National Park is east.

Key facts