🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Uthai Thani and Tak aren't linked by a straight shortcut the way big cities are. You have to head north through Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet first. The total distance from Uthai Thani town to Tak town is about 230–240 km, roughly three and a half hours of unhurried driving. If you want to continue to Mae Sot, you climb Highway 105 for another hour and a half or so. Umphang is the toughest stretch: Highway 1090 out of Mae Sot is the famous "sky road" of 1,219 curves. If you get carsick easily, pack medicine before you go.
This trip suits anyone with their own car or a rental, because the sights are spread out and public transport between districts is infrequent. If you'd rather not drive yourself, you can join a local tour for the Umphang leg out of Mae Sot, which is safer than tackling the mountain roads on your own.
The 3-day route at a glance
- Day 1 — Half a day in Uthai Thani (the old riverside town along the Sakae Krang + Khao Sakae Krang), then drive up to Tak town and stay overnight.
- Day 2 — Explore Tak town in the morning (Trok Ban Chin, Wat Phra Borommathat), then climb over to Mae Sot for Rim Moei Market and Wat Thai Wattanaram, and stay in Mae Sot.
- Day 3 — Choose between going all-in on Umphang–Thi Lo Su (which needs one extra night) or a single day finishing at Doi Musoe–the Friendship Bridge before heading back.
- Note — If you're set on Thi Lo Su, allow 4 days / 3 nights, because Umphang is far and the roads eat up time. A same-day there-and-back is more exhausting than it's worth.
Day 1
Slow Uthai Thani, then drive up to Tak
07:30
Wake up early by the Sakae Krang River, give alms or wander the municipal morning marketUthai Thani's morning market has boat noodles, fried Chinese chives, and pa thong ko, starting at ฿15–40 — a good light bite before you set off.
08:30
Walk Trok Rong Ya, the old town's row of wooden shophouses, and photograph the street art and tiny cafesMornings are cooler and easy to walk. Most shops open around 8–9 am.
10:00
Head up Khao Sakae Krang to pay respects and take in the view of Uthai Thani from the Buddha Footprint pavilionYou can drive all the way to the top. The view takes in the river and the floating houses across the whole town — great for wide shots.
12:00
Lunch at a riverside river-fish restaurant on the Sakae Krang before leaving townUthai Thani is known for giant gourami and river fish. Try the gourami fried with garlic or in tom yum, around ฿150–300 per person.
13:30
Set off north toward Tak, passing through Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng PhetAbout 230 km, around 3.5 hours. A petrol-station rest stop in Kamphaeng Phet falls neatly at the halfway point.
17:30
Arrive in Tak, check in to your hotel in town, and rest upTak town has options from guesthouses along the Ping River to chain hotels, starting at ฿500–1,200 per night.
18:30
Evening stroll along the Ping River, with a stop at the Tak Sabai-nga walking street (if it's a Saturday)The walking street only runs on certain days, so check ahead. If your timing's off, you'll still find plenty of places to eat dinner in town.
Day-one tip
Uthai Thani works as a relaxed half-day. If you also want to add Wat Tha Sung (the giant glass temple), budget an extra hour since it's outside town. You could swap things around and visit Wat Tha Sung in the morning, then do the old town afterward.
Day 2
Tak town in the morning, then climb to Mae Sot
07:00
Breakfast in Tak town — try local bites around Trok Ban ChinTrok Ban Chin is an old overseas-Chinese quarter with miang tao yai, Tak-style rice porridge, and old-fashioned bean sausage that's hard to find elsewhere.
08:30
Pay respects at Wat Phra Borommathat in Ban Tak, with its replica Shwedagon-style chediIt's about 28 km from Tak, out toward Ban Tak district. Open 05:00–18:00; the round trip plus your visit takes about an hour and a half.
10:30
Head back into Tak, fill up the tank, pack up, and get ready for the mountain climbBefore heading up to Mae Sot, fill the tank completely — petrol stations on the Highway 105 climb are scarce.
11:30
Leave Tak on Highway 105 toward Mae Sot, passing Doi MusoeAbout 85 km, 1.5–2 hours. It's a winding mountain climb with truck speed-control points, so allow extra time.
12:30
Stop at Doi Musoe Market for highland vegetables, fruit, coffee, and hill-tribe snacks, and have lunch up on the mountainDoi Musoe Market has both an old market and a newer roadside one. Highlights are strawberries, avocados, pumpkins, and boiled corn — cheaper than in town.
14:30
Arrive in Mae Sot and check in to your hotel in the district centerMae Sot has several chain and boutique hotels in the center, within walking distance of the market and restaurants.
15:30
Visit Wat Thai Wattanaram, a Burmese-style temple with a replica of the Mahamuni Buddha from MandalayOpen around 08:00–17:00. The Shan–Burmese artistry is striking and looks especially good in the late-afternoon light, when the gold throws long shadows.
16:30
Head to Rim Moei Market and the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge to see the border along the Moei RiverRim Moei Market sells Burmese goods — dried bamboo shoots, dried fish, spices, jade and gems — and prices are negotiable. Come in the late afternoon before stalls pack up.
18:30
Dinner of Burmese–Shan food in Mae Sot — try Burmese khao soi, khanom jeen nam ngiao, or tea-leaf saladMae Sot is a multi-ethnic town, so Burmese and Shan food is easy to find and genuinely bold in flavor, around ฿80–200 per person.
Day 3
Pick your route — push to Umphang or take it easy
Option A
Go all-in on Umphang–Thi Lo Su Waterfall (best with one extra night)Highway 1090 from Mae Sot to Umphang is the sky road of 1,219 curves — 4–5 hours of driving. Thi Lo Su also requires a transfer into the wildlife sanctuary plus some walking, so it's best done with a local tour and an overnight in Umphang.
Option B
An easy there-and-back day — cover the spots around Mae Sot and loop homeGood for limited time, with no need to tackle Highway 1090.
08:00
(Option B) Morning cafe in Mae Sot, with a cup of doi coffee before you set offMae Sot has a new wave of cafes using beans from the mountains around town, with a relaxed atmosphere.
09:30
(Option B) Stop for photos at Doi Musoe again on the way back and pick up highland souvenirsOn the way down the mountain it's easy to stop at the market again — grab fruit and coffee as gifts before heading back to Tak.
12:00
(Option B) Arrive back in Tak and have lunch by the Ping RiverClose out the trip with a river-fish meal on the Ping before driving home.
13:30
Set off home toward Kamphaeng Phet–Nakhon Sawan–Uthai Thani/BangkokIf you're returning to Bangkok, take Highway 1 down. It's about 420 km from Tak, so allow 5–6 hours of driving.
🎟️Book the activities in your Uthai Thani 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.
🎟️ See all Uthai Thani tours & activities (Klook) Food along the way you shouldn't miss
1
Giant gourami / Sakae Krang river fish (Uthai Thani)
Riverside restaurants in Uthai Thani town · ฿150–300/person
Uthai Thani raises fish in cages along the Sakae Krang. The gourami has firm, clean-tasting flesh — fried with garlic or in tom yum, both stand out. It makes a great opening meal worth trying on day one.
River fishTrip opener
2
Miang tao yai – Trok Ban Chin (Tak town)
Trok Ban Chin, Tak town · from ฿20–60
An old-fashioned snack from Tak's former Chinese quarter, eaten alongside the stories of the old town. A good stop on the morning of day two before the mountain climb.
Old-school snacksOld town
3
Doi Musoe highland produce
Doi Musoe Market, Highway 105 · seasonal
Strawberries, avocados, pumpkins, boiled corn, and hill-tribe coffee sold roadside on the mountain, cheaper than in town. A handy stop on the way up to and down from Mae Sot.
SouvenirsHighlands
4
Burmese–Shan food (Mae Sot)
Restaurants in Mae Sot town · ฿80–200/person
Burmese khao soi, khanom jeen nam ngiao, tea-leaf salad, hang lay curry — easy to find and genuinely bold in this border town. It's the meal that tells you you've reached Mae Sot.
Border foodMust try
5
Burmese goods at Rim Moei Market
Rim Moei Market, along the Moei River · prices negotiable
Not a main dish, but you can take home dried goods, spices, tea, and Burmese sweets. Haggling is part of the fun, and these make souvenirs you won't easily find elsewhere.
SouvenirsBorder
What to sort out before you leave
- Check your car — Highways 105 and 1090 are winding mountain roads, so make sure your brakes and tires are in good shape, and always fill the tank before each climb.
- Motion-sickness medicine — the Umphang sky road's 1,219 curves are where you're most likely to feel queasy, so bring medicine and bags for anyone prone to carsickness.
- Warm clothes — Doi Musoe and Umphang are much cooler than the lowlands, especially in the mornings and in the cool season.
- Cash — many border-market and mountain-top stalls deal mainly in cash, so carry small bills for haggling.
- Border documents — crossing to the Myawaddy side always requires checking the current border situation. For now, it's best to stick to the Thai side along the Moei River.
Adjust the plan to your time
With only 2 days, drop Umphang and finish with Mae Sot–Doi Musoe. With 4 days, add Umphang–Thi Lo Su without rushing, so you can actually enjoy the scenery instead of sitting in the car all day.
