Penang, Malaysia Vientiane, Laos

Ubolratana Dam, near to Khon Kaen, Thailand, is a Spectacular Body of Water that you Might Mistake for a Sea!

A visit to a dam might not be top of your list of 'things to do in Thailand'. But Ubolratana Dam is huge, so much so that at its shores, it resembles an ocean!

It really is a pleasant days outing, not just for the dam but for the surrounding villages, the picturesque Isaan landscape, the birdlife around the dam and 'Hin Ching Si', a group of large, unusually shaped rocks perched on a cliff overlooking the dam.

View of the dam from 'Hin Ching Si' Rocks

The view from here is truly spellbounding, looking across the dam from a height of a few hundred meters. If you're lucky, you might spot wild elephants who come to feed on the 'salt licks' at the rocks.

Fisherman at sunset

Have a look at a rough map I made of the region. Once you're off the main roads, there's very little traffic and you're sure to feel you've 'arrived' at Isaan's countryside. You'll likely get a warm welcome from farmers and villagers. The area is particularly quiet along the stretch of road close to the dam. Along here is a good place to spot birds.

One of the many interesting rocks at, 'Hin Ching Si'.

On the map, you'll notice the quiet town of Ubolratana. Just on the edge of the town is a large park - a nice place to stop for a picnic or to eat in a restaurant here. There are good views across the dam and the chance to go boating (I didn't get any price info about this though!).

Cattle graze by the dam's shore

Many enjoy the golf course, where a round of 18 will cost a reasonable 500 baht ( not including club hire).

Accommodation in the park starts at 500 baht a night for a decent room with chairs and TV. Other prices range from 1,200 baht up to 3,500 baht a night where you'll get your own small house! It will probably be fine to just turn up rather than booking (might get busy on weekends...) To sort out all types of accommodation, you'll need to head to the main accommodation block. It will become clear to you once you're in the park where you'll need to go. You could telephone on +66 (0)43 446 231 but you'll need someone who can speak Thai as the staff I met didn't speak any English. Their website is www.urdam.egat.com

View of dam from the park near to the town of Ubolratana

GETTING THERE AND COST

Public transport was non-existent when I visited. It's best to hire your own car or motorbike in Khon Kaen (visit one of the car/motorbike rental places highlighted close to Srichan Road on my Khon Kaen Map page) for about 200 baht and 1,000 baht respectively.

Cattle herded on the quiet road along the road by the lake

Either: Head west on Highway 12. After about 30 kilometers, you'll see a sign for Nam Phong National Park. You'll need to do a U-turn a bit further down the road and head back the way you came for a few hundred meters (it's clearly signposted so no need to worry...)

OR....Head north on Highway 2, turning left after about 45 kilometers.

View from the road - the area was so quiet as the sun was setting

There was a national park checkpoint, about 8 kilometers before you reach the dead end of Hin Ching si. However, when I visited, there was no one there (the whole area is very empty of tourists...) So....there's a chance you'll have to pay the standard national park entrance fee of 200 baht (adult), 100 baht (under 12's), 30 baht (Thai).

Looking down at the shores of the dam

Bridge connecting 2 of the large rocks at 'Hin Ching Si'

Return From Ubolratana Dam to Khon Kaen, Thailand