The Khao Chamao Loop: Waterfall, Cave Temple & the Black Naga
What is the Khao Chamao loop from Pattaya?
A self-drive day trip about two hours east of Pattaya linking three stops a few kilometres apart: a swim at Khao Chamao waterfall, the cave shrines and underground river of Wat Tham Khao Prathun, and the giant Naga statues of Wat Wang Ri. Listed in route order — do the waterfall first while the day is cool.
Most day trips out of Pattaya go to the same handful of places. This one drives east into Rayong and the Chonburi hills instead, and the three stops sit within a few kilometres of each other, so once you have done the two-hour drive out the day is full of stops rather than driving. Start at Khao Chamao waterfall and give it the morning — the falls come down the mountain in tiers and the lower pools are deep enough to swim in, so bring a swimsuit and a towel. Wat Tham Khao Prathun is the stop nobody expects: shrines built into a cave network with an underground river running through it, crossed on foot most of the year and by boat when the rainy season raises the water. Finish at Wat Wang Ri, the Black Naga temple, a working meditation temple with a Buddha footprint shrine at the top of the hill — shoulders and knees covered, as ever. It is a proper full day: leave by eight, carry cash for the park's foreigner entry rate, and expect to be back around dinner.
| Place | Rating | Price | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park | ★ 4.5 | — | Rayong | Layered waterfalls and cool swimming pools, still flowing even in the dry season |
| Wat Tham Khao Prathun | ★ 4.7 | — | Khao Noi | Impressive rock formations and caves filled with statues — plenty to explore |
| Wat Wang Ri Khiri Wanwanaram | ★ 4.8 | — | Bo Thong | Naga statues are the standout — majestic and worth the trip |
-
“The nearest of the waterfall parks worth the drive, and doable in a day at just over two hours out. The climb past the tiers is steeper and rockier than the photographs suggest, so wear proper shoes and take one of the walking sticks left at the trailhead. Water still runs in the dry season, and the pools are cold enough to justify the effort. Gates shut mid-afternoon.”
Common questions
- How many stops on the Khao Chamao loop are covered in this guide?
- Three, chosen and written up individually rather than scraped from listings. Ratings and opening hours come from Google and are refreshed periodically; the verdicts are Rob's own.
- Which is closest to Pattaya?
- Wat Tham Khao Prathun, about 112 km from central Pattaya by road. Distances are driving distances, not straight lines.
- Where in Pattaya are they?
- Across Bo Thong (1), Khao Noi (1) and Rayong (1). Pattaya here means the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri province, which stretches from Naklua in the north to Bang Saray in the south.
- When was this list last updated?
- September 2026. It is maintained by Rob, who lives in Pattaya, and revisited as places open, close or change.
Top of our list: Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park, rated 4.5★.
Curated in Pattaya · Last updated September 2026