Tak Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Tak is one of the largest provinces in Thailand, and most of it is forest and mountains along the border with Myanmar. Its most famous name belongs to history: King Taksin, who served as governor here before Ayutthaya fell, took the province's name into his own.
This guide follows Tak from that governorship to the Bhumibol Dam and the border town of Mae Sot, visits its main districts and lists the weaving and goods its markets sell. Producers will also find how to sell their work to buyers across Thailand and abroad.
Tak
Waterfalls, a Great Dam and the Border at Mae Sot
A vast, forested western province where a future king once served as governor and where Thailand trades across the Moei River with Myanmar.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Tak
What Tak makes best. Real listings will appear here.
"Known for" means a local speciality, not an item for sale. Listings from Tak will replace these cards.
Why Tak looks west, to the border
Tak stretches from the Ping River valley to the Moei River, which marks the border with Myanmar. Mae Sot, on that river, is one of the busiest land border crossings in the country. The first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge opened there in 1997, and a second bridge followed in 2019.
Much of the province is protected forest. In the south, the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary shelters Thi Lo Su, often called the largest waterfall in Thailand, and it forms part of the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng forests listed by UNESCO in 1991. In the north, the Bhumibol Dam holds back the Ping in a huge reservoir.
King Taksin
He governed Tak before Ayutthaya fell, and took its name.
Bhumibol Dam
A great dam on the Ping River, completed in 1964.
Thi Lo Su
A huge waterfall deep in the Umphang forest.
Mae Sot
A busy border town on the Moei River.
Tak through the centuries
Tak's timeline links an Ayutthaya governor, a national dam project and a border that opened to trade.
- 1760sThe future King Taksin serves as governor of Tak, the source of his name.
- 1964The Bhumibol Dam is completed on the Ping River.
- 1991The Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng forests, reaching into Umphang, are listed by UNESCO.
- 1997The first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge opens at Mae Sot.
- 2019A second Friendship Bridge opens near Mae Sot.
Nine districts between the Ping and the Moei
Tak has 9 districts and about 670,000 residents, spread over one of the largest provinces in Thailand. These are the best known.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Tak | The provincial town on the Ping River and the King Taksin shrine. |
| Mae Sot | The border town, its markets and the Friendship Bridges. |
| Umphang | Remote forests and the Thi Lo Su waterfall. |
| Sam Ngao | The Bhumibol Dam and its reservoir. |
| Tha Song Yang | Karen villages along the northern border. |
Tak's festival calendar
Tak's calendar follows the monsoon, which fills its waterfalls. These are the dates to plan for.
Shopping local in Tak
The OTOP scheme gives every product a home sub-district, and in Tak the Karen villages of the border districts weave cloth on backstrap looms, with patterns and colours that differ from village to village.
Mae Sot's markets sell goods from both sides of the border, and the town is known for its gem and jade traders. The plains around Mueang Tak grow rice and corn.
As Tak producers join SnapSellGo, their products show up in the carousel above. There is no commission to pay, just an annual fee for the shop.
Short on time? Mae Sot and its border market. Love the outdoors? Thi Lo Su, after the rains. Into history? The King Taksin shrine in Mueang Tak. Buying local? A length of Karen hand-woven cloth.
Tak: your questions answered
Why is King Taksin linked to Tak?
Before Ayutthaya fell in 1767, he served as governor of Tak. The name Taksin combines 'Tak' with part of his personal name, Sin.
What is Thi Lo Su?
A very large waterfall in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, often described as the largest in Thailand. It is best seen between October and December.
Where is the Bhumibol Dam?
In Sam Ngao district of Tak, on the Ping River. It was completed in 1964.
What is Mae Sot known for?
It is one of Thailand's main land border crossings with Myanmar, with busy markets and gem traders.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Tak province, Taksin, Bhumibol Dam, Thi Lo Su Waterfall, Mae Sot, the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng. Dates tied to the moon shift a little every year, so confirm them before you book. Cover photo: Thi Lo Su Waterfall by Snobbird, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.