Khuen Si - Mae Khamin A long while ago we took a trip to Huai Mae Khamin, one of Kanchanaburi's most beautiful waterfalls, via Si Sawat. Today we'll visit Huai Mae Khamin again but this time we're going to take a different route. Let's use Ban Tha Thung Na, around 45 kilometres northwest of Kanchanaburi downtown on Highway 3199, as our starting point. From there drive on along the 3199 for 21 kilometres and you'll find a smaller road on your left with signs telling you that it leads to Si Nakharin Dam and Erawan Waterfall. Both places are just a kilometre or so from that point. (Visit the dam first because Erawan will be on the way as you continue along the rest of the route.) To move from Erawan to Tham Phra That, take Rural Highway 6043, a dirt road that runs along the western edge of Si Nakharin reservoir. About seven kilometres up this dusty road, a little further from Wat Tham Phra That, you'll find a small lane that leads to a forest protection unit and the trailhead to the cave. From the cave about 32 kilometres further up the 6043 you'll reach the headquarters of Khuen Si Nakharin National Park where Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall is located. Nope, our journey this week doesn't end here. From Huai Mae Khamin, continue northward along the dirt trail. After six kilometres you'll find yourself at a T-intersection. Here, if you turn left and drive for just one kilometre, you'll reach the ferry which can take you across the Si Nakharin reservoir to Si Sawat. (Yes, we took this ferry to Mae Khamin the previous time.) But today we'll go left. About 14 kilometres through the woods after turning left from the T-intersection, you'll run into Dong Yai forest checkpoint. A kilometre and a half from the checkpoint, the road will fork. Here you have two options: go left or go right. For those with limited time, take the road to the left. It will lead you past a forest community called Ban Saphan Lao and then on to Pha Sawan Waterfall (spare a few hours for this fall though). Eventually, the road will emerge at Km109 of Highway 323, at Ban Sahakorn Nikhom. On your way back to Kanchanaburi along the 323, if you wish, you can drop by at Hin Dat Hotspring and Pha Tat Waterfall. |