Thailand’s third-largest lake at about 20 square kilometers, Kwan Phayao is in fact a man-made lake, having been constructed in 1939 to improve irrigation in the area.
It sits at an elevation of 380 meters above sea level, but isn’t very deep—less than 2 meters for the most part.
Interestingly, a spin-off of the lake’s creation has been a boost in tourism, as there are few inland towns in Thailand that offer an attractive waterfront promenade such as Phayao. The riverside road, Chaykwan Road, is lined with restaurants and bars that do a good trade each evening as locals and visitors stroll the promenade, which is attractively landscaped with lush plants.
To get a bit more up-close-and-personal with Kwan Phayao, take a boat trip across to the small shrine above the submerged Wat Tilokaram, at the cost of just 20B round trip. The jetty is easy to find, towards the southeast end of Chaykwan Road, and there are always rowers on hand to take groups of up to 5 or 6 on the short crossing. If no-one else is around, you can charter an entire boat for 100B. Fortunately no motor boats are allowed on the lake, which helps to preserve its tranquil atmosphere.
Getting There
Just walk down to the lakeside from any hotel.
Need to Know
- What is it? A tranquil, man-made lake.
- Opening hours: Boats run from dawn to dusk
- Entrance fee: Boat fee to Wat Tilokaram 20B.
- Address: Chaykwan Road
- Where: To the west of Phayao