Ratchaprapha Dam (Rajjaprabha Dam) & Pier
A large EGAT hydroelectric dam named by King Bhumibol, whose crest offers a sweeping viewpoint over Cheow Lan Lake and serves as the gateway pier for boat tours.
- Category
- Attractions & Landmarks
- Entrance fee
- Free to view the dam crest and gardens; national-park fee applies only if you continue onto the lake.
- Hours
- Dam viewpoint area open daytime; pier boats daylight only.
- Best time
- Morning, combined with a lake tour; clear-sky days for the reservoir panorama.
- Time needed
- 30-60 minutes as a stop (longer if joining a lake tour)
About Ratchaprapha Dam (Rajjaprabha Dam) & Pier
Be honest with yourself about what this is: mostly a photo stop and the place you catch your boat, not a destination you'd drive out for on its own. Everyone heading onto Cheow Lan Lake passes through here anyway.
That said, the panorama from the dam crest over the reservoir is a genuine free bonus. Walk out, take it in, get your wide shot of the karsts and water before you climb into a longtail. On a clear-sky day it's a proper view.
Budget half an hour or so unless you're joining a lake tour, then it just folds into the day. Come in the morning for the best light and the calmest water.
Highlights
- Sweeping viewpoint over Cheow Lan Lake from the dam crest
- Free to visit the crest and gardens
- Departure pier for all lake boat trips
- EGAT hydroelectric dam named by King Bhumibol
- Best photos on clear-sky mornings
Tips
- Treat it as a quick photo and transit stop, not a standalone destination.
- Come in the morning for the clearest panorama and calm water.
- The crest and gardens are free, you only pay the park fee if you go onto the lake.
- Easy to combine with a Cheow Lan Lake tour departing from the same pier.
How to get there
~60-65 km east of Khlong Sok village via Route 401 then the dam access road (about 1 hr by car/minivan). It's the departure pier for all Cheow Lan Lake boat trips.