Krung Ching Waterfall

Krung Ching falls in several stages down the flank of Khao Luang, the highest mountain in southern Thailand, and the main drop is around a hundred metres into a pool. Reaching it means walking about four kilometres each way on a made trail through genuine lowland rainforest - this is one of the better-preserved patches in the south, dense, wet and dark, with tree ferns, giant Angiopteris ferns with fronds several metres long, hornbills and leeches. The walk down is gentle enough; the return climb is the hard part, with several thousand steps in total and a good deal of it in humidity that makes it feel worse than the distance suggests. Allow four to five hours. The southern rainy season here runs from roughly October into December, unlike most of Thailand, so the driest months are January to April. Leeches are numerous after rain and socks help.

What you actually see

• The main drop - around a hundred metres at the end of the trail.
• The rainforest - one of the better-preserved lowland patches in the south.
• The giant ferns - Angiopteris with fronds several metres long.
• The trail - four kilometres each way, with a hard climb back.

When to go

January to April - the southern wet season runs October to December here, unlike the rest of Thailand. Start early; the return climb in afternoon heat is punishing.

Honest expectations

Eight kilometres return with several thousand steps and a hard uphill finish in humidity - people underestimate it badly. Leeches after rain. The trail closes at times in the wet season. Foreign entry fees are higher than Thai.

Nearby

Nakhon Si Thammarat city is south-east; Khao Luang's summit trails start elsewhere in the park.