Exploring The Tak Province, Thailand
Tak Province is a lesser known, and visited, area on Thailand’s western border. It is one of Thailand’s largest provinces and has a number of excellent sightseeing attractions, including the country’s largest waterfall.
Due it’s remoteness, and rugged terrain, the Tak Province receives significantly less tourists than the rest of Thailand. However, for those who make the effort of going there, you will be rewarded for your efforts with picturesque landscapes, magnificent waterfalls and a number of impressive cave sites.
Getting To The Tak Province
The easiest way to get there is to fly with a local carrier to the provincial capital of MAE SOT. For those who have more time available, a better option is to drive there with your own transportation. Once you arrive in Mae Sot you’ll need your own method of transport to get to the various sightseeing locations in the south of the province.
Click this link for transportation options from Bangkok
Accomodation In The Tak Province
If you arrive in Mae Sot in the afternoon, it’s highly recommended you overnight there before setting out on the arduous drive down to Umphang.
Mae Sot Accommodation
An excellent budget accommodation choice in Mae Sot is the HOP INN. The hotel is right next to the main highway and room rates are approximately 600 THB per night. A basic breakfast is also provided with the room rate.
Click this link for the HOP Inn bookings
Mid-range Accommodation
If you’re looking for something a bit more comfortable, or want to spend more than one night in Mae Sot, a good choice is the IRAWADEE RESORT.
Click this link for the Irawadee Resort bookings
Travelling From Mae Sot To Umphang
As mentioned the road down to Umphang (hwy 1090) has some of the most rugged mountain terrain in all of Thailand. The mountain road is a challenge with a significant number of precipices dropping away to deep, jungle filled valleys below.
The narrow road is hazardous, with many sections recently having had large slips of earth and rocks from the cliffs above. Caution is advised if you’re taking this road because there’s normally a good number of lorries making the journey to, or from, Umphang during daylight hours.
Click here for directions from Mae Sot to Umphang Township
Sightseeing Attractions From Mae Sot To Umphang
If you’ve got time there’s a couple of interesting attractions worth stopping at (before getting into the arduous mountain section of the drive).
The Blue Cave
The first is a site called the BLUE CAVE, situated just a few km off highway 1090. This is a newly developed attraction, located near a Buddhist temple, which has some unusual blue colored rock strata within the cave passages.
The penetration is fairly short, only a couple of hundred meters, but the blue rock strata is an interesting feature worth checking out. As with most Thai caves, on temple grounds, there’s a nice reclining Buddha just inside the entrance.
Click here for directions from Mae Sot
Pha Charoen National Park
A few kilometers further south of the Blue Cave, on highway 1090, is the Pha Charoen National Park. Interestingly there was no entry fee for a visitation here. The main feature of the site is a picturesque waterfall which has a number of steps, all the way up to its highest level. There’s also a nature trail which runs up the left side of the falls, and further on to a giant forest tree.
Click the following link for directions from Mae Sot:
What To Do In Umphang District
Umphang District is in the south of Tak Province and is quite possibly one of the remotest and most difficult places in Thailand to get to. The 120 km of winding mountain roads certainly make it seem that way and the fact it’s the only way in and out, even more so.
The district is characterised by large tracts of jungle covered, karst terrain and more specifically the UMPHANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, in which Thailand’s largest waterfall is situated.
Click here for directions from Mae Sot
Visiting The Umphang Township
This picturesque township, nestled in amongst surrounding peaks, should be used as a base for trips into the surrounding area. There are a number of guesthouses and bungalow style accommodation to choose from.
If you’re keen on doing the rafting trip, then PHU DOI RESORT CAMPSITE is a good option as you can book the tour at the reception desk when you check in. Phu Doi has bungalow rooms for 500 – 600 THB per night.
Click here for booking inquiries at the Phu Doi Resort Campsite
Where To Eat In Umphang
Unfortunately, there’s not much of a choice when it comes to getting something to eat in Umphang Township. Most of what’s available is local food at restaurants along the main street (nearby the only 7/11 shop in town). If you’re after a morning caffeine hit then the 7/11 is the only place where you can get a reasonable latte or cappuccino.
Click this link for the location of the 7/11
Rafting Tours In Umphang
As mentioned, the rafting tour can be booked at the Phu Doi Resort Campsite. The price of the tour is approximately 1500 THB per person, which includes the national park entrance fee and visitation to THI LO SU WATERFALL.
The Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary
The primary sightseeing attraction in Umphang is THI LO SU WATERFALL, which is currently listed as Thailand’s largest. The waterfall site is located approximately 42 km to the southwest of Umphang Township, in a jungle-covered area known as UMPHANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY.
It is possible to drive directly to the waterfall campsite area (if you have a 4 x 4 vehicle). However, caution is advised if you decide on this option as the 27 km access road, from route #1288, is a rugged track with quite a number of steep sections. Additionally, there’s an entrance fee of 2000 THB to take a vehicle down to the camping area.
The Umphang Wildlife Campsite
The camping area is well set-up with showers, toilets, and a covered area if you want to pitch a tent and stay out of the rain.
Note: There’s no restaurant or facilities for cooking.
Click here for directions from Umphang Township to the camping grounds
The Rafting Tour
The best way of seeing the waterfall is to do the rafting tour, which takes you through 18 km of fantastic jungle-covered, karst terrain. The tour departs from Phu Doi Resort Campsite at 08:00, and after a short drive, you are taken to the rafting start point, just outside Umphang Township. While the guides quickly inflate the raft, you’ll have time for some selfies at the riverside HQ.
The Mae Khlong River
This is the river that takes you through some amazing wilderness areas on your way to the waterfall. The flow is quite strong in places and, as such, will see you complete the 18 km journey in around four hours.
Two Stops
- The First Stop: A beautiful section of the river where small waterfalls drop down the cliff faces. This location is called THI LO CHO WATERFALL.
- The Second Stop: The HOT WATER SPRINGS. In this location, you’ll be given the opportunity to disembark from the raft and walk around for thirty minutes, or so. The primary attraction here is the hot water, flowing from subterranean sources, which has been dammed to form small pools where you can take a soak.
Thi Lo Su Waterfall
As mentioned, this is the primary sightseeing attraction in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. The waterfall is spectacular in size and flow (even in the dry season) and is currently listed as Thailand’s largest. The waterfall site is located approximately 42 km to the southwest of Umphang Township, and is accessed over another winding mountainous road.
The best way of seeing the waterfall is to do the rafting tour, which takes you through 18 km of fantastic jungle-covered, karst terrain. The rafting tour starts just outside Umphang Township and terminates at a forest park HQ, some 14 km from the waterfall.
From there, a 4×4 pick-up transports you to the camping area, which serves as the access point to the falls. From the camping ground, there’s an easy 1.5 km walk, along a well-constructed pathway, to a sightseeing platform at the base of the falls.
Unfortunately, there’s currently a ban on swimming and climbing up to the higher levels of the falls. After you’ve completed viewing the falls, the pick-up truck will transport you all the way back to your guesthouse in Umphang Township.
Click this link to see the YouTube video of the Thi Lor Su Falls
The Takhobi Cave
Another interesting sightseeing attraction, nearby Umphang Township, is Takhobi Cave. The site is located very near route #1167 and is on the grounds of the TAKHOBI FOREST PARK.
Click this link for directions from Umphang Township
What To Expect At The Takhobi Cave Site
The site is easy to access as the cave entrance is only 300 meters from the highway. There is currently no entry fee for this site. The cave is a typical Thai river cave, meaning penetration is only recommended during the dry season.
The cave interior has a reasonably sized volume and is filled with a nice array of concretions (stalactites and stalagmites). The authorized penetration distance without a guide is 500 metres. However, if you’re a keen spelunker and would like to do the full 7 km cave distance, then a guide can be hired from the forest park HQ.
Note: It is possible to stop at this site on the way back from your outing to Thi Lo Su Waterfall. You just need to make arrangements with the booking office when paying for the trip.
The Northern Tak Province
If you have the time and the budget, the area in the north of Tak Province (above Mae Sot) is well worth checking out. Once again, it’s recommended you have your own vehicle to travel through this area, as there’s very little in the way of public transport available. Additionally, most of the sightseeing attractions are some distance off the highway.
Cruising The Highway 105
This magnificent scenic stretch of road, between Mae Sot and Mae Sariang, is quite possibly the best kept secret in Thai Tourism right now. It’s off the beaten track and doesn’t see a high flow of traffic simply because the majority of people going to Mae Sariang come from Chiang Mai or Mae Hong Son, on highway 108.
There’s also an absence of lorries along this picturesque 233 km stretch of road. Along the way, there are some notable sightseeing locations which include:
- MAE USU CAVE
- MAE MOEI NATIONAL PARK
- MAE TAWO PIER
- TWO COLOURS RIVER VIEWPOINT
Exploring The Mae USU Cave
This excellent large volume cave is located approximately 98 km NORTH of Mae Sot, just off route 105.
Click this link for directions to the Mae USU Cave
This cave is quite possibly one of the best of its type in Thailand, with three massive internal rooms filled with a fantastic array of large concretions (stalactites and stalagmites). The cave is on developed forest park grounds and, as such, there’s an entry fee of 200 THB for foreigners.
For those who may feel indignant about the entry fee, it’s definitely worth the price.
Hiring A Local Guide For The Mae USU Cave
Additionally, it’s recommended to make use of one of the guides who are normally standing around the ticket office. The cave is seriously large and the guides can keep you on the correct trail through the three cave rooms.
There’s no set fee for the guide, but a payment of 200 THB is normally sufficient.
Doing the Mae USU Cave Tour
The entry point into the cave has a small river flowing from it, and sightseers are required to do a bit of wading (calf-deep water) before eventually arriving at a stairway leading up into the cave.
The best time to visit the cave is in the late afternoon. At around 4 pm, the sun streams through the skylight in the second cave room. The shafts of light illuminate the cave room and create an orange glow on the concretions.
Click this link to see the YouTube video of the Mae USU Cave
The Road To Mae Sariang
This is also an excellent option for doing an extended tour up into Mae Hong Son Province, as Tak Province is at the southern border of Mae Hong Son.
Mae Tawo Pier
An interesting aspect of travel along certain sections of highway 105 is how close you are to Myanmar. In places, the road hugs the MOEI RIVER, and in a number of spots, you can see across the river to Myanmar.
At a location called MAE TAWO PIER, you can drive right down to the river’s edge for a splendid view across to Myanmar. It’s a beautifully scenic location with rugged, jungle-covered peaks on the Myanmar side and a good number of small, white pagodas along the river’s edge. It’s only a short diversion off highway 105 and a great spot to take a rest from the drive.
Two Colours River
At the provincial border of Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces, there’s an interesting viewpoint worth checking out. This is the junction of two rivers, the Yuam and Ngao, where the mixing of the two water flows occurs.
From a viewing platform, you can observe the muddy waters of the Yuam River mixing with the green of the Ngao.
Summary
The Tak Province is an amazing trip to take if you’re feeling adventurous. There’s some jaw dropping sights to be seen and even some enjoyable roads to travel down, which is uncommon in Thailand!
