Tak and Mae Sot Travel Guide

Introduction

Tak: 138km (86 miles) W of Phitsanulok. Mae Sot: 80km (50 miles) W of Tak

Tak Province doesn't get a lot of tourists, possibly because it's considered the hottest province in the kingdom, but it's certainly not lacking in natural beauty. It is home to Bhumibol Dam, the country's largest, and is covered in lush forests once used as hideouts by Thai Communists. Rugged Umphang boasts some of the best trekking and whitewater rafting in the kingdom, and its wildlife sanctuary rewards the patient nature lover. Mae Sot, which sits a few kilometers from the border with Myanmar (Burma), displays all the hallmarks of a small border town, and for decades has played host to refugee camps for Myanmar's fleeing hordes, many of whom are from the persecuted Karen tribe. Since the political unrest in Myanmar in late September 2007, many more ethnic Burmese have fled across this border. In terms of tourism, the province is likely to stay relatively undeveloped, though.