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Tak 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary
Old Town + Bhumibol Dam

Tak is an easy town to enjoy at a slow pace. Day one is for walking the old riverside quarter along the Ping River, eating pad thai in Trok Ban Chin, and sitting at a café to catch the sunset from the suspension bridge, before driving up to sleep near Bhumibol Dam. Day two you wake to the wide reservoir, take a boat out, then walk across the largest concrete arch dam crest in Thailand. This plan is built to actually follow, with timings, routes, and a budget ready to go.

🏯 Riverside old town🚣 Bhumibol Dam boat ride🌅 Suspension bridge sunset
Tak 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary Old Town + Bhumibol Dam

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This trip is set up for people driving themselves, because the town of Tak and Bhumibol Dam are about 61 kilometers apart and there's very little public transport out to the dam. Day one covers the old town and town cafés, you stay one night, then day two is given fully to Bhumibol Dam before you drive back. The nice part is there's no rush, the distances aren't far, and you get two completely different moods in one trip.

Trip overview and route

  • Day one — Tak old town: Trok Ban Chin, the 200th Anniversary of Rattanakosin Bridge, riverside cafés on the Ping River, and the King Taksin the Great Shrine
  • Overnight — choose to sleep in town (relaxed wake-up, drive up to the dam in the morning) or stay at the dam's guest house / a houseboat on the reservoir so you wake up to the view
  • Day two — Bhumibol Dam: cruise the reservoir, walk the dam crest, catch the viewpoints, then drive back
  • Main route — from Tak town take Highway 1 (Phahonyothin) north to around km. 463, turn left onto the dam road for about another 17 km. Total drive is roughly 1 to 1.5 hours

Plan before you go

If you want a boat ride or a houseboat trip at the dam, call ahead to book the raft or boat, especially on weekends and long holidays, because spots fill up fast. For the Bhumibol Dam guest house (EGAT), book through Khun Saichon Villa or call 0 5554 9509.

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Book the activities in your Tak trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

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Day 1 — walking Tak old town along the Ping River

Day 1

Old town, cafés, and sunset

09:00
Arrive in Tak town, start at Thiang Na Coffee and Bakery Farm (Phahonyothin Rd., Mai Ngam subdistrict)A shady wooden-house café, open roughly 08:00–17:00. Kick off the morning with coffee and a croissant before you start exploring.
10:30
Walk Trok Ban Chin, an old trading community by the Ping River on Taksin RoadThe old wooden houses keep their original architecture well, and it's an easy hour or so of strolling and photos.
12:00
Lunch: Trok Ban Chin pad thai, or one of the local shops in the communitySmall plates of pad thai are cheap, starting around 20–25 THB, easy to eat and the signature dish of this neighborhood.
13:30
Stop at the King Taksin the Great Shrine, a sacred site the town is built aroundLocals hold it in high regard. Pay your respects, then carry on to nearby Wat Bot Mani Si Bunruang with its Mon-style chedi.
15:00
Relax at a Ping River café, such as Riverbar Café or Chafin CaféSip something cold by the river. There are plenty of photo spots while you wait for the light to soften.
17:30
Watch the sunset at the 200th Anniversary of Rattanakosin Bridge, a wooden cable suspension bridge about 460 meters longIt's the town's landmark. Walking across for the evening view over the Ping River has a great atmosphere.
19:00
Dinner in town, then check inIf you're heading up to sleep near the dam, check in before dark since the last stretch is a mountain road.

Tak is small and easy to walk; day one's stops sit close together along the Ping River, so there's no long driving. If you have spare time in the morning before starting, the Chaloem Phra Kiat City Museum (free entry, open around 09:00–17:00) makes a good extra stop.

Where to sleep — in town or by the dam

Convenient

Sleep in Tak town

Handy for finding dinner, with hotels and stays across several price ranges. Good if you want a full first day in town, then an early start driving up to the dam.

Dam view

Bhumibol Dam guest house (EGAT)

Inside the dam grounds; wake up to views of the reservoir and mountains. Starting prices are reasonable. Book ahead through Khun Saichon Villa or by calling the dam office.

Sleep on a raft

Houseboat / raft resort on the reservoir

Sleep on a raft out on the water, often with meal and boat-trip packages. Great for groups of friends or families. Always book in advance.

Straight talk

If you sleep by the dam the first night, you have to accept driving up the mountain in the evening, and the final stretch is dark and quiet. If you don't know the road, staying in town the first night and driving up early on day two is safer, at the cost of losing an hour-plus of morning travel time.

Day 2 — Bhumibol Dam, boat ride and the dam crest

Day 2

The reservoir, a boat ride, and crest views

07:30
Leave your in-town stay and drive up to Bhumibol Dam via Highway 1If you slept by the dam, skip this step and spend the morning over coffee with reservoir views instead.
09:00
Reach Bhumibol Dam, start at the pier for a cruise around the reservoirBoats take you to see the views and stop at spots like Phra Phutthabat Khao Nam. Boat fares start from a few hundred THB per trip and up, depending on distance and group size; ask at the pier.
11:30
Come ashore and walk the concrete arch dam crest, 154 meters high and 486 meters longStanding on the crest you see both the reservoir side and below the dam. It's the largest concrete arch dam in Thailand.
12:30
Lunch at a restaurant within the dam grounds, then a café near the dam-crest pavilionAround the crest there are restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir stalls. The vibe is laid-back with a cool breeze.
14:00
Hit the viewpoints and take photos around the dam before heading backAllow about an hour and a half to drive back down the mountain into Tak town. If you're continuing to another province, plan that onward route afterward.

Bhumibol Dam (formerly Yanhee Dam) sits in Sam Ngao district, damming the Ping River into a wide reservoir among the hills. The favorite part for most people is taking a boat out onto the water and looking at the surrounding mountains, plus standing on the dam crest to grasp its real scale. Late rainy season into early winter, the water is full and the weather is just right.

Rough budget (per person)

  • 1 night's lodging — from about 500–1,200 THB depending on whether you pick a place in town, the dam guest house, or a raft (split per person if you go with a group)
  • Food for 2 days — around 300–500 THB; Tak's food is cheap, with Trok Ban Chin pad thai starting in the tens of baht
  • Dam boat ride — from a few hundred THB per trip, splittable if you go as a group; ask for the real price at the pier
  • Fuel / travel — depends on distance from your starting point; budget for roughly 80 km round trip up and down the dam mountain
  • Rough total — this trip can be cheap if you go with a group and stay in town, starting around 1,200–2,000 THB per person

Best time to go

November to February is cool and comfortable, the reservoir is usually full and the views are good, ideal for a boat ride. In the hot season the sun is harsh and the water is low; in the rainy season the mountain road is slippery, so drive with extra care.

Want a good place to stay in Tak? See options from real reviews

See Top 10 Tak hotels →

FAQ

Is 2 days and 1 night enough for Tak and Bhumibol Dam?

Enough for the relaxed version: day one walking Tak's old riverside town and cafés, day two given fully to Bhumibol Dam with both a boat ride and the dam crest. If you want to stay by the dam for a full day of rafting, or link the trip to other provinces, then stretch it to 3 days and 2 nights.

How far is Bhumibol Dam from Tak town, and how do you get there?

About 61 kilometers, in Sam Ngao district. Take Highway 1 north to around km. 463, then turn left onto the dam road for about another 17 kilometers. Driving yourself is easiest, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours in total. Public transport to the dam is scarce.

Can you stay overnight at Bhumibol Dam?

Yes. There's the EGAT Bhumibol Dam guest house (book through Khun Saichon Villa or call 0 5554 9509), plus several houseboat / raft resorts on the reservoir with meal and boat-trip packages. Book ahead, especially on long holidays.

How much does a boat ride at Bhumibol Dam cost?

The price depends on distance, boat type, and group size, starting from a few hundred THB per trip and up. Some routes take you to spots like Phra Phutthabat Khao Nam. It's best to ask the real price and book at the pier or with the raft operator in advance.

Can you visit Tak on your own without a car?

Around Tak town you can walk and hail a ride in town, but getting up to Bhumibol Dam is hard because public transport is scarce. If you're not driving yourself, you should rent a car or use a car-with-driver service / a raft tour that includes pickup and drop-off.

Related

🗺️ Tak travel guide🏨 Top 10 Tak hotels🚣 The full Bhumibol Dam guide

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