TH · Phayao Province · 19.17°N 99.90°E

phayao

Lakefront dinners, mountain sunsets and a little shrine reached by rowing boat.

Best time
November to February brings cool evenings and clear views across the lake. March and April are hot and often smoky; the summer rains come as showers rather than washouts.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Chiang Mai (about 2.5 hours from KL), then about 2.5–3 hours by road. Or connect in Bangkok for Chiang Rai, about 1.5 hours' drive away. Thailand is 1 hour behind KL.
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TH · Phayao Provincephayao19.17°N 99.90°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Lakefront dinners, mountain sunsets and a little shrine reached by rowing boat.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPhayaoTH, Phayao Province
KLphayao
≈ 1,793 km from KL, as the crow flies
Tree-lined walkway leading to the north facade of the city pillar (lak mueang) shrine in the city centre of Phayao, northern Thailand.

Photo: BigDom · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A quiet town on the shore of Kwan Phayao, a big lake with mountains behind it and a long promenade along the water. It's a good overnight stop between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, best at sunset.

Makan

  1. Grilled lake fishWhole fish with herbs, sticky rice and chilli dips, at the restaurants along the water.Map ↗
  2. Khao lamSticky rice cooked in bamboo, a snack to carry down to the lake.Map ↗
  3. Khao soiNorthern curry noodles; chicken versions are common.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The lakefront promenadeA long walk along the water, at its best when the heat drops and the mountains catch the evening light.Map ↗
  2. Wat Tilok AramThe ruins of a temple that sank under the lake, reached by rowing boat.Map ↗
  3. Wat Si Khom KhamA lakeside temple with a huge seated Buddha, the town's most revered image.Map ↗
  4. Wat AnalayoA hillside temple outside town, with stairways, statues and a view over the plain.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Take the boat out to Wat Tilok Aram in the afternoon, then walk the shore at sunset.
  • Halal food is scarce. Grilled fish, egg dishes and fruit are the easy fallback, and Chiang Mai's Muslim quarter near Ban Haw Mosque is the nearest place for halal meals.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.