Trekking to the most beautiful waterfalls on Koh Samui, Na Muang Waterfalls, is one of the reasons we fell in love with this island in the Gulf of Thailand. The trail is quite tiring, but the stunning views and the experience at the top of the waterfall (you can swim in small rock pools there) make it all worth it. How do you organize such a trek with kids? We’ve prepared a ready-made trip plan for you. More info about Thai’s islands you find here.
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Na Muang Waterfalls – It’s actually two different waterfalls
Na Muang Waterfalls, as the name suggests, are actually two separate waterfalls located about a 10-minute drive from each other. On Google Maps, you’ll find them under the names Na Muang Waterfall and Na Muang 2 Waterfall.
We went to the first one (Na Muang Waterfall) first. You leave the car in a fairly large parking lot, and from there, it’s about a 3-minute walk to the waterfall. You can easily get there with a stroller.
It’s a great option for people who don’t want to go on a long trek but would simply like to see a very pretty place. Just take a look at the photos—the waterfall is truly impressive. There’s also plenty of space for kids to play. You can grab a bite to eat and also… see elephants in captivity that you can ride. However, we strongly, strongly advise against this kind of entertainment. Why? You can read about it in our post on ethical travel and elephant tourism in Thailand.
A much better alternative is visiting a truly ethical elephant sanctuary on Koh Samui, Samui Elephant Haven. We know from people who lived on Samui for several years (Lisia Matka – big hugs!) that this place is run by people with real passion and a true calling. You can check also instruction how to find ethical elephant sanctuary.
Na Muang 2 Waterfall – Trekking to the top
Na Muang 2 Waterfall (as marked on Google Maps) is an impressive waterfall formed by water falling from a high cliff into a natural pool. Here, we have two options to choose from. We can walk up a short asphalt road from the parking lot to see the waterfall, have a shake at a café, and head back to the car, or we can opt for a longer, slightly more demanding trek to the top of the waterfall.
Naturally, we recommend the second option.
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Is the trek to the top of Na Muang 2 Waterfall very demanding?
It depends. On your fitness level and whether you’re used to hiking. I’d describe it as moderately demanding. You can do it in two ways. Either, like we did, make a loop along the river—start on the right side, hike up to the viewpoint (marked on Google Maps as: Na Muang 2 Waterfall IG spot—it’s a precise pin), and come down the left side, or go up and down the left side.
Do these two trails differ? Both lead up a rather rocky and muddy path that climbs steadily. In some places, ropes are installed to make the climb easier (and seriously, we used them). What sets them apart is the lack of a well-marked turn from the right side of the waterfall to the viewpoint. Not knowing about it beforehand, we simply walked past it, continuing up along the river. At one point, the trail just ended. That’s when we started googling and realized we had passed it long ago. That’s why I’m describing this route in such detail—so you don’t make the same mistake.
If you choose to go up and down the left side of the waterfall, there’s no chance of getting lost—the trail leads straight to the viewpoint.
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Na Muang 2 Waterfall IG spot – The viewpoint at the top
Once you reach the top, a wonderful experience awaits. You’ll not only have a fantastic view of the entire area but also the chance to bathe in small pools—hollows in the rocks where the waterfall water collects. Depending on the time of year, there might be more or less water. We were there in July, and there was quite a bit. A friend of ours was there in June and could barely dip her hand in where the water reached our waists.
We spent nearly an hour at the top. We swam, took some photos, had snacks, and just stared into the distance. And for half an hour, we were completely alone there. Far from the sounds of people, cars, and scooters.
Just us, the sounds of the jungle, and the roar of the falling water.
A truly awesome experience.
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How long does the trek to the top of Na Muang 2 Waterfall take?
The hike up took us about an hour with the kids, and the way back was around 30 minutes. We spent nearly an hour at the top. As you can see, it’s not an exceptionally long or exhausting trek. The kids handled it without much trouble. 4-year-old Basia only spent part of the route in a carrier (we have a Polish Tula baby carrier—we highly recommend them! We’ve been carrying our kids only in Tulas for over 7 years now).
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How to prepare for the trek to the top of Na Muang Waterfalls?
Preparing for the Na Muang Waterfall trek is no different from preparing for any other mountain trip. There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Set off early in the morning – it’s best to be on the trail right after 8:00 AM. This way, you’ll avoid two things: the crowds (it’s busiest between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM) and the heat. This is very important in the tropics.
- Remember proper trekking shoes (we recommend approach shoes with a good grip), breathable clothing, and a hat.
- Bring water and something to eat (especially if you’re going with kids—ours are always hungry!).
- Be sure to use mosquito repellent and bring it with you if you plan on swimming at the top.
- For toddlers, definitely bring a carrier (a stroller won’t make it)—even though the route is quite short, it’s intense due to the elevation gain.
- And most importantly: Leave No Trace – we’ve written about this many times, but we’ll say it again. Treat the outdoors like your second home. Let’s leave the trail in the same state (or better) than we found it.
I hope our tips help you organize your own trek to Na Muang Waterfalls. We really missed having a detailed description like this when we were searching for info online ourselves.
Be sure to let us know how your trip to the waterfall goes. We’d love to read about your experiences!
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