Na Muang Waterfalls – Trekking With Kids Along Koh Samui’s Majestic Waterfalls

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Trekking to the most beautiful waterfalls on Koh Samui, Na Muang Waterfalls, is one of the things that made us fall in love with Koh Samui. The trail is quite demanding, but the stunning views and experiences at the top of the waterfall (where you can swim in small pools) make it all worth it. How to organize such a trek with children? We have prepared a ready-made trip plan for you.

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Na Muang Waterfalls – actually two different waterfalls

Na Muang Waterfalls, as the name suggests, are actually two separate waterfalls, about a 10-minute drive apart. On Google Maps, you’ll find them listed as Na Muang Waterfalls and Na Muang 2 Waterfall.

We first went to the first one (Na Muang Waterfalls). You can park your car in a fairly large parking area, and it’s only about a 3-minute walk to the waterfall. You can easily push a stroller there.

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This is a good option for those who don’t want to go on a longer trek but would like to see a very beautiful place. Take a look at the pictures – the waterfall is truly impressive. There’s also plenty of space for kids to play. You can also get some food there and… see elephants in captivity, on which you can take a ride. However, we strongly advise against such types of entertainment. Why? You can read about it in our article about ethical travel and elephant tourism in Thailand.

A much better option would be to visit a truly ethical elephant sanctuary on Koh Samui, like Samui Elephant Haven – we know from people who have lived on Samui for several years (Lisia Matka – we hug you tightly!) that this place is run by people with a true passion and calling.

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Na Muang 2 Waterfall – trekking to the top of the waterfall

Na Muang 2 Waterfall (as indicated on Google Maps) is an impressive waterfall formed by the water falling from a high cliff into a natural pool. Here, we have two options to choose from. You can either take a short asphalt road from the parking area to the waterfall, see it, have a shake at the café, and go back to your car, or you can opt for a longer, slightly more challenging trek to the top of the waterfall.

Of course, we recommend the latter option.

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Is trekking to the top of Na Muang 2 Waterfall very demanding?

It depends. On your fitness level, on whether you are accustomed to hiking in the mountains. I would describe it as moderately demanding. You can do it in two ways. Either, like us, take a loop along the river – start on the right side, reach the viewpoint (marked on Google Maps as Na Muang 2 Waterfall IG spot – it’s a precise pin), and come down on the left side, or go up and down the left side.

Do these two paths differ? Both lead through a rocky and muddy path that climbs steadily uphill. In some places, ropes are installed to facilitate the climb (and yes, we did use them). The difference lies in the lack of a well-marked descent from the right side of the waterfall to the viewpoint. We, not knowing about its existence, simply walked past it, continuing along the river, upstream. At some point, the trail just ended for us. That’s when we started googling and found out that we had passed it long ago. That’s why I’m describing this route in such detail, so you won’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 – viewpoint at the top of the waterfall

Upon reaching the top of the waterfall, a wonderful experience awaits you. You’ll have not only a fantastic view of the entire area but also the opportunity to bathe in small pools – hollows in the rocks where water collects from the waterfall. Depending on the season, there may be more or less water. We were there in July, and there was quite a bit of it. Our friend was there in June and could barely dip her hand in the place where the water reached our waists.

We spent just under an hour at the top. We swam, took some photos, had some snacks, and gazed into the distance. And for half an hour, we were completely alone. Far from the sounds of people, cars, and scooters.

Just us, the sounds of the jungle, and the roar of the waterfall.

A truly amazing experience.

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How long does the trek to the top of Na Muang 2 Waterfall take?

The hike uphill took about an hour with the kids; the return journey was about 30 minutes. We spent just under an hour at the top. As you can see, it’s not an exceptionally long or strenuous trek. The kids managed it without any major problems. Our 4-year-old Basia spent only part of the way in the carrier (we have a Polish Tula carrier – we highly recommend it! We’ve been carrying our children in Tula carriers for over 7 years now).

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How to prepare for the trek to the top of Na Muang Waterfalls?

Preparations for trekking to Na Muang Waterfalls are similar to preparations for any other mountain hike. You need to remember a few things:

• Set out early in the morning – ideally, be on the trail shortly after 8:00 AM. This way, you’ll avoid two things: crowds (the busiest time on the trails is from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM) and the heat. This is crucial in the tropics.
• Make sure to wear proper hiking shoes (we recommend approach shoes with a treaded sole), breathable clothing, and a hat.
• Bring water and something to eat (especially if you’re hiking with kids – ours are always hungry!).
• Be sure to use mosquito repellent spray and bring it with you if you plan to swim at the top, just in case.
• For little ones, be sure to bring a baby carrier (a stroller won’t work) – even though the trail is relatively short, it’s intense due to the elevation gain.
• And most importantly: Leave No Trace – we’ve written about this many times (including here: Leave No Trace – these 7 principles we teach our children), but we’ll say it again. Treat the outdoors like your second home. Leave the trail in the same condition (or better) than you found it.

I hope our tips will help you organize your own trek to Na Muang Waterfalls. We were missing such a detailed description ourselves when we were looking for information online.

Please let us know how your waterfall adventure goes. We’d love to hear about your experiences!

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