Geography & Climate

Phetchaburi is a province of the central region, situated on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand and having an overall area of 6,225.138 sq km. It is about 123 km from Bangkok. The province borders Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi to the north, Prachuab Khiri Khan to the south, the Gulf of Thailand to the east and Myanmar to the west.

The total length of the shoreline from the northern-most point of the province to the southern-most is approximately 80 km while the total length of the border separating Phetchaburi from Myanmar is about 120 km. Phetchaburi has three important rivers: “Phetchaburi River”, with an overall length of 227 km, “Bang Kloy River” with a length of 44 km and the “Bang Taboon River”, with a length of 18 km. The province’s main artery, the Phetchaburi River, is regarded as having miraculous powers and its water is often used in royal ceremonies. ‘Nam Phet’ water from the Phetchaburi River was taken as a beverage by a former monarch, King Rama V, and is used as holy water in the coronation of kings.

Phetchaburi is characterized by dense jungles and mountainous terrain, leading up to the Tanaosi range along the western border with Myanmar. A narrow coastal plain defines the shoreline in the east.

As with the other central provinces, Phetchaburi has three seasons—rainy, cool and hot, with average temperatures around 28.2º C. Most of the rain falls during July to October (annual rainfall 994.6 mm in 1997) with the occasional tropical storm which may bring flooding. The best time to visit the province is from December to April when it is relatively cool with clear skies.

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