About Tak Province
Tak is a large, forested province in western Thailand along the Myanmar border, bisected by the Ping River and containing some of the country's most significant historical and natural sites. Mae Sot, the border town across from Myawaddy in Myanmar, is a fascinating multicultural hub of Burmese, Karen, and Chinese communities and one of Southeast Asia's busiest informal trade crossings. Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in the south of the province contains Thi Lo Su — Thailand's largest and arguably most spectacular waterfall. The province is also the birthplace of King Taksin. Doi Inthanon National Park straddles the border with Chiang Mai province.
Top Highlights
Mae Sot border town
multicultural Burmese-Karen-Chinese hub on the Myanmar border
Thi Lo Su Waterfall in Umphang
Thailand's largest waterfall, in a remote jungle sanctuary
Mae Sot Gems Market
one of Thailand's most active ruby and jade trading centres
Bhumibol Dam
one of Southeast Asia's largest dams with boat tours on the reservoir
Getting There
Mae Sot Airport (MAQ) has daily flights from Bangkok with Nok Air and Bangkok Airways. Buses to Mae Sot from Bangkok take 8–9 hours. Umphang (for Thi Lo Su Waterfall) is 165 km south of Mae Sot by a mountain road that takes 3–4 hours. Organised tours to Umphang typically depart from Mae Sot.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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