Kiu Lom Dam

Kiu Lom Dam is a Royal Irrigation Department reservoir on the Wang River, about 38 km from Lampang city. Built in 1968, the 26.5-metre concrete gravity dam holds back water for irrigation across roughly 240,000 rai of farmland in Mueang, Ko Kha, Mae Tha, and Hang Chat districts, plus part of Lampang’s municipal water supply — a working piece of infrastructure that’s also become one of the province’s more popular weekend escapes.

Rafting is the main draw. Several operators run bamboo or pontoon rafts out from the dam grounds, passing limestone hills, forested banks, and the small fishing settlement of Ban Sa along the way. A private day-trip charter costs around 3,000 THB, an overnight charter around 5,000 THB (both typically for the whole raft, with drinking water and ice included), while resort-style operators sell cheaper per-person packages — from about 450 THB for a day trip up to roughly 800 THB for an overnight stay in a raft-house bungalow. Rock climbing and cave exploring around the surrounding limestone outcrops are also on offer for visitors who want more than a slow float.

Insider Tip: Book a raft through one of the resort operators based near the dam rather than showing up unannounced — availability and exact pricing shift with the season, and calling ahead avoids paying tourist rates for a spot that’s already fully booked on weekends.

Watch out: Weekends bring a lot of local family traffic and can book out raft slots early; a weekday visit gets you a quieter reservoir and more flexibility on timing.

The dam grounds themselves are easy to reach by car or motorbike, with parking near the rafting operators’ kiosks. Bring cash — most of the smaller raft operators and lakeside food stalls don’t take cards — along with sun protection for the open water and a change of clothes if you’re planning to get in the river. If you’d rather skip the rafting crowds, Wang Huea Reservoir and Mae Mok Reservoir are smaller, quieter Lampang reservoirs nearby.