Ban Tha Ruea

Open Days: Please Contact In Advance

Opening Hours: Please Contact In Advance

 

Ban Tha Ruea is a small lakeside village in Moo 9, Tha Pla Subdistrict, Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province. Located by the vast reservoir above Sirikit Dam, the village is known as a fish landing point, a local lakeside community, and a boarding area for raft trips across the reservoir. For travelers looking for quiet nature, freshwater fish dishes, slow travel, and a local experience away from crowded tourist routes, Ban Tha Ruea is one of the most meaningful destinations in Tha Pla District.

 

The charm of Ban Tha Ruea comes from its close relationship with the water. The village is surrounded by the atmosphere of the reservoir, boats, floating rafts, local fishery activities, and mountain scenery. Visitors can see how local life is connected with fish, boats, the lakeside economy, and tourism. Unlike a conventional viewpoint or city attraction, Ban Tha Ruea offers a direct experience of a working lakeside community.

 

The most popular activity here is taking a raft trip on the reservoir above Sirikit Dam. Visitors can choose between a day trip and an overnight raft stay. A day trip is suitable for travelers with limited time who want to enjoy the scenery and eat local food on the water. An overnight trip offers a deeper experience, with evening views, quiet lake atmosphere, simple meals, and the peaceful feeling of staying on the water after sunset.

 

The scenery changes throughout the day. In the morning, the air is cooler and the light is soft. During the day, the wide water surface and mountain lines create a spacious landscape. In the evening, the reservoir becomes calmer and more atmospheric. Those who stay overnight on a raft can enjoy the quietness of the lake, the sound of the water, and a slow rhythm that is very different from staying in a city hotel.

 

Food is another reason to visit Ban Tha Ruea. Since the village is connected with freshwater fishing and fish landing activities, fish dishes are a major highlight. Depending on availability, visitors may enjoy grilled fish, spicy fish soup, fried fish cakes, fish curry, and other local preparations. Eating fish near the water where it comes from makes the meal feel more connected with the place.

 

Raft services in Ban Tha Ruea should be contacted in advance. Local operators prepare rafts, meals, staff, and safety arrangements based on the number of visitors and the type of trip. Advance booking is especially important for overnight trips, group travel, holidays, or travelers who need specific meal arrangements. Known local operators include Kaseni Phae Tour and Sombun Phrom Raft Service, along with other local providers in the village.

 

Kaseni Phae Tour is one of the operators associated with Ban Tha Ruea, offering raft services, rooms, food, and drinks in the Moo 9 area of Tha Pla Subdistrict. Sombun Phrom is another operator named in local travel information. Travelers should compare services, prices, meal options, trip duration, and safety details before booking. This helps ensure that the selected raft matches the group size and travel style.

 

Ban Tha Ruea is best suited to slow travel. Its main appeal is not extreme activity but the simple pleasure of sitting by the water, watching mountains and boats, eating local fish, and spending time with family or friends. Families can use the trip to introduce children to fishery life and dam reservoir landscapes. Groups of friends may enjoy an overnight raft stay. Couples and photographers may prefer the evening atmosphere and lake views.

 

Tourism here also supports the local economy. Raft operators, cooks, boatmen, fishers, food suppliers, and local residents all take part in the tourism system. When visitors use raft services, eat local food, or buy from community businesses, income circulates within the area. This makes Ban Tha Ruea not only a natural destination but also a community-based tourism area.

 

Ban Tha Ruea also helps visitors understand Sirikit Dam from a community perspective. Many travelers know Sirikit Dam through the dam crest, viewpoints, and restaurants near the dam area. Ban Tha Ruea offers another side: the lives of people who live with the reservoir, fish from it, travel on it, and use it as a tourism resource. The reservoir is therefore not only an engineering structure but also a living landscape.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car or rental car. From the Tha Pla district junction, turn left onto Highway 1146, continue to the left junction toward Highway 1163, drive about 6 km, then turn right onto Highway 1341 for about 4 km. When reaching the junction toward the earth dam area, continue straight to enter Ban Tha Ruea. Driving yourself is recommended because it gives more flexibility for raft trips, meals, and nearby attractions.

 

Before traveling, check the route, fuel level, weather, and booking details. Tha Pla District is farther from Uttaradit city than city attractions, so travelers should allow enough time. It is best to depart in the morning or late morning, especially for first-time visitors. Arriving early allows time for lunch, raft preparation, lake activities, and a relaxed return or overnight check-in.

 

The best time to visit depends on the travel style. Day visitors should arrive in the morning or around midday for food and raft activities. Overnight visitors should arrive before evening to check raft conditions, luggage, sleeping arrangements, meals, electricity, bathroom facilities, and safety equipment. During the rainy and cool seasons, the surrounding landscape is often greener and more pleasant, but visitors should always check weather conditions before departure.

 

Recommended items for a raft trip include sun protection, drinking water, personal medicine, a waterproof phone bag, suitable clothes, a flashlight for overnight stays, and any personal items needed for children or older travelers. Visitors should follow the raft operator’s safety instructions, avoid standing in risky areas, and not enter the water unless the operator confirms it is safe.

 

For photography, Ban Tha Ruea offers raft scenes, local boats, fish landing activities, lake views, mountains, and sunset light. Visitors should photograph respectfully. If taking pictures of local people, workers, or fishery activities, ask permission first. Do not block the pier area or interfere with boat and raft operations.

 

Nearby attractions can be added depending on time. Travelers can visit the earth dam area near Ban Tha Ruea, continue to Sirikit Dam, stop at Rabiang Nan Restaurant inside the dam area, or plan a longer route toward Huai Ta Bridge. These places help complete the journey by connecting the village, the dam, the reservoir, and the mountain routes of Tha Pla District.

 

A half-day route can include lunch at Ban Tha Ruea, a short raft trip, and a return in the afternoon. A full-day route can add Sirikit Dam and viewpoints around the dam area. An overnight route is best for travelers who want the full lakeside experience, including dinner on the raft, quiet night scenery, and morning atmosphere over the water.

 

Food options near Ban Tha Ruea include Kaseni Phae Tour and local raft restaurants in the village. Travelers who continue to Sirikit Dam can also eat at Rabiang Nan Restaurant. Those returning to Uttaradit city will have more restaurant choices, but it is better to plan food stops based on the actual route to avoid unnecessary backtracking.

 

Accommodation options depend on the style of travel. Visitors who want to stay close to nature can book a raft stay in Ban Tha Ruea. Those who prefer building-based accommodation can consider guest houses or lodging near Sirikit Dam, such as Sirikit Dam guest houses or Khun Saichon Villa. Travelers who want more hotel choices may stay in Uttaradit city and visit Ban Tha Ruea as a day trip.

 

Ban Tha Ruea is suitable for families, friends, couples, photographers, community travelers, and foreign visitors who want to experience a quieter part of Thailand. It offers nature, local food, fishing culture, raft travel, and reservoir scenery in one place. Its value lies in simplicity and authenticity rather than large-scale tourist facilities.

 

Responsible travel is important. Visitors should not throw waste into the water, disturb fishing equipment, make excessive noise at night, or ignore safety instructions. The reservoir is a food source, travel route, tourism space, and community landscape. Keeping it clean protects both the environment and the local way of life.

 

In summary, Ban Tha Ruea in Uttaradit Province is a peaceful lakeside destination above Sirikit Dam. It combines raft travel, local fish dishes, fish landing activities, community life, mountain scenery, and the quiet atmosphere of the reservoir. For travelers who want to slow down and experience the natural and local side of Tha Pla District, Ban Tha Ruea is a destination worth including in an Uttaradit itinerary.

 

 

A: Ban Tha Ruea is located in Moo 9, Tha Pla Subdistrict, Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province, by the reservoir above Sirikit Dam.

 

A: It is known as a lakeside village, a fish landing point, and a boarding area for raft trips on the reservoir above Sirikit Dam.

 

A: Visitors can choose day raft trips or overnight raft stays, depending on time, group size, and booking arrangements.

 

A: Travelers can contact Kaseni Phae Tour at 081-605-6211 or 085-732-0925, and Sombun Phrom at 081-971-2527 or 081-280-9188.

 

A: From the Tha Pla district junction, use Highway 1146, continue onto Highway 1163 for about 6 km, turn right onto Highway 1341 for about 4 km, then continue straight at the earth dam junction to reach Ban Tha Ruea.

 

A: Visitors should prepare sun protection, waterproof bags, personal medicine, suitable clothing, and follow safety instructions from the raft operator.

 

A: Nearby places include Sirikit Dam, Rabiang Nan Restaurant, the earth dam view area, and Huai Ta Bridge, depending on the travel route and available time.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for foreign travelers who want a quiet local experience, raft travel, freshwater fish meals, and natural scenery away from crowded tourist areas.