NaMuang Waterfall is by far not the most beautiful waterfall you will ever see in your lifetime, but it does serve as a nice distraction when you are looking for a place to cool off in the hot Thailand sun when in Ko Samui. By now, you might be thinking, “If the waterfall is not that beautiful, why bother visiting?” Well, my friends, I’m here to address the elephant in the room. The answer is simple… The elephants! This place offers a chance to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures.
WHAT TO DO AT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
There are about three things that you can do at NaMuang Waterfall when you visit. Option one is to take a nice swim at the falls. Option two is going elephant trekking. Option three would be feeding the elephants. All of which are really good activities, but I found feeding the elephants more interesting and entertaining.
TAKING A DIP AT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
There are actually two waterfalls at NaMuang Waterfall. The first one is the most visited waterfall. It’s about 30 meters high and nice to look at. If you are a bit more nimble, you can hike up to the upper falls which is higher and a more spectacular sight to see. As far as swimming goes, NaMuang offers a nice swimming hole to take a dip, but if you are looking for a romantic spot to swim with your honey, the first waterfall is not the place unless you like swimming with hundreds of tourist watching. In case you want to kick it up a notch, I’ve seen some people scale the rocks of the falls and make a cliff jump out of it, although I wouldn’t recommend it. This waterhole really serves the purpose of cooling you off from the sun as you rope around Koh Samui island on your scooter.
ELEPHANT TREKKING AT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
Elephant trekking seems to be the main attraction at NaMuang Waterfall. This place has several elephants that are eager to take you around the falls. However, I must warn you that this trek is less than a trek and more of an elephant nature walk around the waterfall. It certainly offers a nice distraction as you are lead up the creek to the waterfall and back, but that’s about it. I think kids would find this thrilling as the feel the power of a mighty animal beneath their feet, but the ride is not that long. In fact, depending on the time of day you go, you may find yourself waiting longer to mount your elephant than the ride actually takes. If you decide to go elephant trekking, I would recommend that you go early and beat the crowds.
FEED THE ELEPHANTS AT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
This by far was the highlight of my visit to NaMuang Waterfall. This attraction offers you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals. While you wait for your trek, I recommend that you buy some bananas and feed the elephants. They go nuts over the tasty treat. The animals have no qualms extending their trunks out for the food. Doing so affords you the opportunity to see just how powerful their trunks really are. A word of caution. The elephants seem to sometimes make no distinction between a mobile phone and a banana so pay attention to what’s going on while you are around the animal. Feeding the elephants will serve as a nice distraction while you wait. At the time I went to NaMuang Waterfall, they had a new born that was only one month old. The little guy was adorable and everyone enjoyed watching him romp around with his little pink trunk.
GETTING AROUND AT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
You can certainly book a tour to take you to the NaMuang Waterfall, but I personally wouldn’t go with that option. I personally don’t think an organized tour offers value for the money unless of course it take you to visit many attractions on the island of Ko Samui, which I’m sure they do. Tours have time schedules to maintain and many times I found myself feeling short changed because I didn’t quite spend enough time at the sight I was visiting. My personal recommendation would be to rent your own motorized vehicle. I would recommend a scooter or motorcycle. Ko Samui is small enough that you should have no problem maneuvering on a bike. Now having said that, I did encounter several people who had spills on their motor bike and the end results were not pretty. Another option is to rent a car. I would certainly go with those options if ever in Ko Samui again. It offers you a chance to see the island at your own pace and enjoy it.
HOW TO GET TO NAMUANG WATERFALL:
NaMuang Waterfall is easy to get to. Really, there’s only one main road and the signage is more than adequate. The only way you would miss the waterfall is if you couldn’t read! The sign for the attraction is big enough that it’s impossible to miss. NaMuang Waterfall is off Route 4169 south of Koh Samui’s inland mountains between Nathon and Hua Thanon. From Nathon, drive along the main road for about 11 kilometres until reaching the signed entrance road to NaMuang Waterfall. The park entrance is about one kilometre up this road. NaMuang 1 is reached by a 100 meter walk from the parking lot, while NaMuang 2 is a further 100 meters away along a more challenging path.
IN CONCLUSION ABOUT NAMUANG WATERFALL:
NaMuang Waterfall is the perfect option when you are ready to leave your resort and venture out and see what else the island has to offer. It’s a perfect place to stop, cool off and rejuvenate while riding around. Make sure you bring swimwear, sun block, towel, and sturdy shoes as you will need them there. There is no entry charge to the NaMuang Waterfall, so be aware that some local ‘guides’ try to ask for money for access or assistance. It is not necessary since the route is easy to travel on your own. The best time to go is in the wetter months of September through November when the waterfalls are in their full flowing glory. If you go, please leave a comment sharing what you thought of the place. I would love to hear your opinion.
LINKS:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/ko-samui/attractions/nam-tok-na-muang/a/poi-sig/1243057/357722
http://www.kosamui.com/around-the-island/fullday-samui-island.htm
