Khao Yai Tiang

Khao Yai Tiang is a wind-turbine ridge above the Lam Takhong Reservoir in Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio district — not, despite the name, part of Khao Yai National Park. Entry is free, the site is open daily 06:00-18:00, and a row of EGAT wind turbines lines the ridge above the reservoir that feeds the Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana pumped-storage power plant.

What’s actually here

The hill sits on the upper reservoir of a pumped-storage hydro scheme: water is pumped up here overnight when electricity is cheap, then released downhill through turbines at peak demand to generate power. EGAT built the wind turbines along the same ridge to add generation capacity, and opened the whole area to visitors as a side benefit — it’s an unusual pairing of industrial energy infrastructure and a genuine viewpoint. At the base you can rent a bicycle for around 40 THB and pedal up toward the turbines, or catch a shared songthaew (about 30 THB per person) if you’d rather save the legs for the climb.

Atmosphere and timing

The reward for the climb is the Pha Yai Tiang viewpoint, a stone plateau at roughly 650 metres elevation with a 360-degree outlook over the Lam Takhong Reservoir, the wind turbines themselves, and — on a clear day — the M6 motorway threading across the Khorat plateau in the distance. Cool season mornings (November to February) are when this place earns its reputation: a sea of mist fills the valley below the ridge before burning off by mid-morning, and the air is cool enough that the bike ride up doesn’t leave you drenched. Sunset is the other good window, with the turbines silhouetted against the reservoir. By afternoon in the hot season the haze rolls in and the view flattens out considerably.

Insider Tip: Arrive by 6:30 AM in cool season for the mist — it usually clears by 9 or 10 AM, and the site gets noticeably hazier and more crowded with local day-trippers by midday on weekends.

Watch out: There’s no public bus service to Khlong Phai — you need your own car or motorbike to reach the base, and the roads up the ridge itself are steep enough that a rented bicycle is genuinely more work than it looks from the bottom.

Practical details

The site is roughly 35km from Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) city via Route 2 toward Sikhio. There’s no admission gate or fee. Bring water and sun protection — shade is limited once you’re up on the open ridge, and there are few facilities beyond the bicycle-rental point at the base. Pair the visit with the neighbouring Lamtakong Learning Center, EGAT’s small visitor centre on the same power-plant grounds, or the Sikhio Stone Quarry Site if you’re touring the district. View on Google Maps.