 Chiang
Rai travel information and local guide
 Chiang
Rai province is Thailand’s northernmost province
situated between north latitude 14? and east longitude
49?. It covers an area of some 11,678 sq km making it
the twelfth largest province. The provincial capital,
Chiang Rai city, is approximately 785 km north of the
nation’s capital, Bangkok.
Similar to other Thai provinces, Chiang Rai is administratively
divided into Amphoes or districts and King Amphoes or
sub-districts. There are thirteen in total as follows;
Muang, Chiang Kong, Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, Mae Sai,
Mae Suai, Pa Daet, Phan, Thoeng, Wiang Pa pao, Wiang
Chai, Phaya Mengrai, Wiang Kaen and three sub-districts
of Mae Fa Luang, Khun Tan and Mae Lao.
For a long time Chiang Rai province remained isolated
from the rest of Thailand. Such isolation, however,
has afforded the province it’s unique culture,
as well as making it one of the country’s most
rural of areas.
Chiang Rai province is bordered to the north by the
neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Laos. The Myanmar
border is mountainous, cleaving Myanmar from Thailand,
with the Sop Ruak River converging with the Mekong River
at Thailand’s peak. The border with Laos is formed
by the natural boundary that the Mekong River takes,
as it travels south before heading further inland towards
the Laotian town of Luang Prapang. To the west is Chiang
Mai province, with Lampang province to the south and
Phayao province to the south and southeast.
The general landscape consists of a large fertile plain,
set within a midst of crisp and scenic mountain ranges.
These form into a pan shape with elevations at approximately
580 m above sea level.
In 1995, the total land area of Chiang Rai province
was classified as follows:
Forest land - 33.1%
Farm land - 30.8%
Unclassified land – 36.1%
Although over 30% of the land area is officially classed
as farmland, only about 19% is really considered suitable
for cultivation – and most of the cultivatable
area is located along the Phaholyothin highway, which
runs through the districts of Phan, Muang and Mae Chan
and ends in Mae Sai.
Chiang Rai province is also home to the Doi Luang National
Park and the Doi Mae Salong mountains. The most important
waterway and transportation artery is the scenic 130
km long Mae Kok River that flows from neighbouring Chiang
Mai province. The River flows through the town of Tha
Ton (180 km north of Chiang Mai’s provincial capital)
and passes by several hilltribe settlements and elephant
camps, until it reaches and passes through the heart
of Chiang Rai city. Long-tailed boats make the three-hour
plus journey every day.
 Similar
to Chiang Mai and because of its higher elevations,
the climate in Chiang Rai province is generally somewhat
cooler when compared to the rest of the country. However,
there are still three distinct seasons; the hot season,
the rainy season and the cool season. The mean temperature
in 1997 was 24.5? C.
Throughout the winter months, nighttime temperatures
can drop considerably from the average daytime figures.
At other times during the year, day and night temperatures
do not vary significantly.
In Chiang Rai, the monsoon or rainy season starts around
May and ends in October - earlier than in Central Thailand.
Average daytime temperature is 25.5? C. The average
rainfall in Chiang Rai is considerably higher than its
neighbour, Chiang Mai province. So much so that during
the months of August and September, (when rainfall is
heaviest), many of the streets throughout the province
will flood. At most other times the rain will normally
fall sporadically.
Annual rainfall (1997) - 1,645.4 mm
Number of days rain (1997) - 132 days
The Cool Season lasts from late October until the end
of February with temperatures ranging from 13? C to
28? C. Average daytime temperature is 21? C, but cooler
at night - especially in the hills and mountains. The
coldest months are December and January.
The Hot Season begins at the end of March and lasts
until the end of May, with temperatures ranging between
17? C and 36? C. The hottest month is April. Average
daytime temperature is around 29.9? C.
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