Interesting activities
• Make a boat trip to the "sunken wat" ( "wat" means "Temple" in Thai ) in the middle of the lake
(Wat Tilok Aram). Small boats leave from the jetty (Price: 40 baht per person). If you are into
scuba diving, you might discover one of the world's true underwater gems.
• Go fishing on the lake, you can rent or buy fishing gear along the lake shore.
• Take a stroll on the lake shore or do it as the locals and make a picnic in the grass next to the lake.
It is also a great place for taking photos with the reflections on the water (day and night) and the fog
is really pretty in the mornings. Look for fisherman near the shore as well.
• Doi Bussarakham. There are a string of important Buddhist temples (Wat Analayo foremost among
the group), shrines and monuments on the edge of a national forest and on Bussarakham mountain
about 15 km outside of town. You can walk from one to the other. One which is a shrine to Kuan Yim
and the last one on the trail (The villa of the King- vacant most of the year) both provide stunning views
of Phayao city on the lake. The forest is thick and lush. If you are really adventurous, you can visit a
nearby village (a long dirt trail) with a nice waterfall (Tom Dong Village). A nice place for a picnic.
• Rent a bicycle or motorbike and visit the local villages. Fishing is a popular activity here and interesting
to watch. You can do so on the lake or in the rice paddies (during rainy season)
• Wat Khom kam, (along the lake road that heads towards Chiang Rai and right next to the Phayao Cultural Exhibition Hall). The most
important temple in Phayao which houses a very important local Buddha image.
• Wat Analayo, (About 10km out of the city) Beautiful temple with magnificent views of Phayao. Big Khmer entrance followed by some
interesting little temples and a huge stone Buddha.
• Visit the Health Garden between 7-9pm for an open-air foot massage or body massage with the lake breeze blowing. Price ranges
between 50-230 Baht depending on duration and type of massage.
• Night bazaar on Saturday at the same area, closes by 11pm as it's mostly residential nearby.