Lumtakong Dam

Lam Takhong Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam that EGAT built across the Lam Takhong River in 1974, between Pak Chong and Sikhio districts in Nakhon Ratchasima — commonly cited as Thailand’s largest dam of its type. The reservoir it holds back stretches out toward the hills on the Khao Yai side of the province, and the dam crest itself is open for walking, with views over the water on one side and the river valley on the other. Entry is free, and the site is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00.

Thao Suranaree Park sits at the base of the dam, planted with native trees and shaded rest areas, and is the usual starting point for a visit — toilets and basic seating are on site, along with swings that make it workable for families with small kids. Fishing from the shoreline and dam walkways is a common local pastime, and kayaking is available on the reservoir itself, with basic paddling instruction offered for first-timers. Herons and other waterside birds work the reservoir’s edges, and mist over the water in the early morning is the best window for photos before the heat and midday crowds arrive.

Insider Tip: come at opening time. Mist often sits over the reservoir in the first hour after 06:00, and the light and temperature both work better for walking the dam crest before 9am.

Watch out: don’t confuse this with the separate EGAT Lam Takhong Learning Center a short drive up the same ridge — that’s an energy museum with its own seven-zone exhibit and a small entrance formality, distinct from the free, open dam and park described here.

The dam sits on the old Mittraphap (Friendship) Highway route between Korat and Bangkok, in the same general corridor as Khao Yai’s Pak Chong entrance, roughly 20-30km away — close enough to fold into a day that also covers Khao Yai National Park without being next door to it. From central Nakhon Ratchasima, the dam is a straightforward drive; there’s no public transport laid on specifically for it, so a car or motorbike is the practical way in. Pair it with the EGAT Lam Takhong Learning Center on the same ridge, or the wind-farm viewpoint at Khao Yai Thiang, for a fuller half-day out.