Lampang city encompasses an area of 22.17 km² with an official population of 65,000 and lies 600 kilometers North of Bangkok at the junction of highways to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The city is by some Thais considered as the last paradise in Thailand. It is here that tourists can still find the horse-drawn carriages in regular use for transportation. This, together with the relative lack of skyscrapers that have contaminated Chiang Mai's skyline of late, make Lampang an increasingly favored setting for period drama.
Although Lampang is a major northern city, well-served by 4-lane highways to both Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as train and air transportation, it is spared from mass tourism which has altered the character of nearby cities such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Tourists typically stop by for lunch and visit the more famous attractions such as Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. Less well-known tourist attractions in Lampang are thus mostly visited by locals. Among these are the Wang Kaeo Waterfall and the Chae Son National Park, a compact yet charming park which combine natural hot springs with large waterfalls.
Lampang lays claim to two unique features: it is the sole Thai town still using horse drawn carriages as a means of everyday urban transport and it claims to have the world's only training school for baby elephants. Both attractions account for the bulk of Lampang's Thai and foreign visitors.
Lampang has a relatively dry climate compared to nearby provinces. Winter typically starts November and lasts until March. Cold airmasses from Siberia sometimes lead to nighttime temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Winter is characterized by dry, sunny, and quite pleasant days, and cool, occasionally foggy nights. Summer typically starts from March until June. The temperature could soar to 40 degrees Celsius in April. Late afternoon thunderstorms and hailstorms are frequent. Rainy season runs from June until November. Lampang receives less precipitation than neighboring provinces and rarely suffers from flooding.
The province is subdivided in 13 districts (amphoe) as seen on the map above: 1. Mueang Lampang; 2. Mae Mo; 3. Koh Kha; 4. Soem Ngam; 5. Ngao; 6. Chae Hom; 7. Wang Nuea; 8. Thoen; 9. Mae Phrik; 10. Mae Tha; 11. Sop Prap; 12. Hang Chat; 13. Mueang Pan.
From Bangkok, go North via Highway 1 passing through Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet and Tak. A total distance of 600 kilometers. From Chiang Mai, go Southeast via Highway 11 passing through Lamphun. A total distance of 105 kilometers.
Regular buses leave the Northern Bus Terminal, Phaholyothin Road. There are regular and air conditioned buses daily. From Chiang Mai, buses to Lampang leave from the Chiang Mai Arcade terminal every half-hour during the day. Buses go to Lampang from Phitsanulok’s main bus terminal. Buses to Phrae leave hourly from 8am to 6pm. There are regular buses to and from Bangkok running from 7.30am to 9pm.
The main railway station of Lampang that connects with 3 of the northern railway routes, is at Tambon Soptui, Amphoe Muang. Six daily trains connect Lampang with Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Daily flights between Lampang and Bangkok (10.45am & 5pm) are offered by PB Air. Thai Airways International, (Domestics) operates one flight daily to Lampang from Bangkok.
