From Wikitravel

Tak (ตาก) is a town in Lower Northern Thailand. It has an elevation of around 162 metres.

[edit] Understand

Tak is a town in the lower North of Thailand. Its former name was "Mueang Rahaeng". In the past, Mon (the ethnic group from Myanmar) lived here; evidence of Mon arts still remain. The Mon town was originally located at Amphoe Ban Tak. It was established before the Sukhothai period. The town was an important gateway to the west during the Sukhothai period. Four great kings who had their army stay here are also associated with Tak; namely King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, King Naresuan the Great, King Narai the Great, and King Taksin the Great. During the Rattanakosin era, King Rama II had a royal command to move Tak town from the right to the left bank of the Ping River in Tambon Ban Rahaeng; it has been established there up to the present.

Tak is about 426 km from Bangkok, covering an area of 10,254,156 rai. Its geographical features are mountains and forests. This province has many national parks with pristine forest and nature, such as Taksin Maharat National Park, Mae Moei National Park, Lan Sang National Park, and Namtok Pha Charoen National Park. In addition, there are waterfalls – Namtok Thi Lo Su and Namtok Thi Lo Re – that adventure lovers and those who favour whitewater rafting must come to visit. Besides natural beauty, this province is famous for its produce, both flowers and fruits. Its large Thapthim fruit (pomegranate) is now very popular.

[edit] Get in

Getting to Tak is relatively easy as long as you don't mind travelling by bus. There is no airport and the nearest train station is in Phitsanulok, about 80 km from Tak. Buses leave Bangkok's Mo Chit or northern terminal regularly and shouldn't cost more than 300 baht for an airconditioned bus. It will take about 7 hours but allow for those unforseen 'Thai' hiccups and expect lots of stops at shops etc. Once you get there if you want to walk to the town centre its about a 10 minute walk, about 20 minutes to the Viang Tak, get a samlaw so as to avoid Tak's horrendously aggressive (at night) feral dog population.

[edit] By car

From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and switch to Highway No. 32 (Asian Highway). Drive through Pratu Nam Phra-in, Phra Nakhon S.i Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, and Chai Nat. After arriving in Nakhon Sawan, turn left to Highway No. 1. Travel through Kamphaeng Phet and head for Tak. The total distance of 426 kilometres takes around 5 hours.

[edit] By bus

The Transport Company Limited offers a daily bus service between Bangkok and Tak during 05.30 – 13.00 hrs. and 16.30 – 22.00 hrs., and between Bangkok and Mae Sot during 08.00 – 19.00 hrs. For further information, contact the Bangkok (Northern) Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) or Mo Chit Mai, Tel. 0 2936 2852 – 66, or visit the website www.transport.co.th. For a private bus between Bangkok and Tak during 09.30 – 22.00 hrs., and between Bangkok and Mae Sot at 22.00 hrs., contact Than Chit Tour, Tel. 0 5551 1307 or Bangkok office Tel. 0 2936 3210 – 13. For the service between Bangkok and Tak during 12.30 – 22.00 hrs., and between Bangkok and Mae Sot at 22.15 hrs., contact Choet Chai Tour, Tel. 0 5551 1054, 0 5551 1057 or Bangkok office Tel. 0 2936 0199.

[edit] By plane

There is no direct flight to Tak. Thai Airways offers a flight between Bangkok and Phitsanulok. From Phitsanulok, take a bus trip to Tak. For more information, contact THAI, Tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060 and 0 2628 2000, or visit the website www.thaiairways.com

The Transport Company Limited and private operators offer air-conditioned and ordinary bus services between Amphoe Mae Sot (Tak) to Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Amphoe Lom Sak (Phetchabun), Lampang, Phayao, Chiang Mai, Amphoe Mae Sai (Chiang Rai), Amphoe Chum Phae (Khon Kaen), and Amphoe Bo Rai (Chanthaburi). For further information, contact Tak Provincial Bus Terminal, Tel. 0 5551 1057; Mae Sot Bus Terminal, Tel. 0 5553 2949; and Thai Phatthanakit Khonsong Company on Intharakhiri Road, Amphoe Mae Sot, plying between Mae Sot – Chiang Rai – Mae Sai, Tel. 0 5553 2331.

[edit] Get around

This is a complicated one. Rental vehicles, including motorbikes, are nonexistent in Tak. Tak town centre is not very big and you can easily walk around it in less than an hour. There are some samlaw's which hang out at the various 711's and I'm sure wherever your staying will be able to advise you. When travelling at night, other than along the Riverside, refer to the above dog situation.

When arriving at the bus station,there are Tuktuks,which can take you wherever at a reasonable price.

[edit][add listing] See

There are reputedly some beautiful waterfalls scattered throughout Tak and there is a pretty cool Hill Tribe market on the way to Mae Sot. Other than that, there's plenty of temples and the other run of the mill kind of Thai stuff, but it is unlikely that Tak will be the highlight of a holiday.

Within the town its much of the same, temples and 711s. Tak's saving grace however is the riverside which is quite nice at sunset with the evening stalls also quite good shopping.

[edit][add listing] Do

If you don't like shopping or eating or conversing with the locals stay inside. Probably the best(maybe the only) place to hang out during the day is Wat See Tarra Rahm. You can have an amazing Thai massage for 100 baht, but do tip generously, and a hot herbal body scrub for 50 baht. They also have yoga classes every weeknight from 5PM for an amazing 5 baht. Mondays and Tuesdays are taken by Kru Apple, probably the world's best yoga teacher, and definitely the world's most relaxing voice. You can also find Kru's Nid and Dang there. They run the town and Nid speaks good English if you're in desperate need of some translation or just a familiar language.

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are many morning, afternoon, evening and night markets the pick of which would be the Thursday night market. It's slightly out of town past Phadungpanya school and your best bet is a samlaw.

[edit][add listing] Eat

As you will see Tak is full of street vendors and it's hit and miss as to whether you get a good one. The Gai Tawt opposite Video Ezy is a good bet as well as some of the stalls in the afternoon market which can be found one two streets back from the river. Otherwise just have a walk around. Vendors are notorious for not showing up, changing fare and generally just causing confusion.

[edit][add listing] Drink

There's the Viang Tak and the other big hotel but they're dark, loud and severely lacking in any character or charm. The other thing is that dark and loud in the west don't necessarily mean bad, but for those who know about Thai culture, especially in the conservative backwaters like Tak, then you will understand that Tak is not the place to come if your looking to party. Best thing if you've come in a group is head to 711 and find yourself a nice spot by the river.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

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