In 2018 the survivors of the Tham Luang cave rescue were brought to Chiang Rai , the nearest large city for hospital care . Route 1 runs from Bangkok through Chiang Rai to Mae Sai on the Burma border . Chiang Rai is 839 kilometers from Bangkok , about 14 hours by car or by bus . According to official bus schedules , the bus ride to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes , All of these times should take into account the rainy season which lasts from about June to late October , this can severely inhibit travel with road sections often completely flooded and even washed out
Tham Luang cave rescue
Tham Luang cave rescue
Chiang Rai