While you won’t find many good places to swim inside the national park, the Ban Tha Chang Spring provides a refreshing dip within a 10-minute drive of the northern gate.
Part of the Lam Takong River, the spring boasts crystalline light-blue water with human-made waterfalls pouring into a few different pools. Some are shallow enough for young kids while others reach a depth of around two metres. The water is less muddy than stretches of the Lam Takong found inside the park, and the daily presence of people means that you don’t have to worry too much about monitor lizards and other creepy crawlers.
Shaded by towering trees and with plenty of good spots for a picnic, the spring is located just below a narrow road and is relatively easy to find. Locals flock here on weekends and holidays but few travellers know about it. Food stalls around the car park dish out som tam, grilled chicken and cold drinks on busy days.
What next?
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