Thailand floods: no far-reaching consequences for tourists
Share of Thailand have been affected by flooding. Should tourists be concerned?
The editors of Thailandblog have been inundated since yesterday with e-mails and tweets from concerned tourists who are afraid that an upcoming holiday falls into the water.
We can reassure you. You don't have to worry for now. The floods in Thailand only affect a number of provinces in Central and Northern Thailand.
The provinces in Central Thailand:
- Ang Thong
- Ayutthaya
- Chai Nat
- Chaiyaphum
- Lop buri
- Nakhon Ratchasima
- Nakhon Sawan
- Phitsanulok
- Saraburi
- Sing Buri
- S
- Suphan Buri
- Uthai Thani
The provinces in Northern Thailand:
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Kamphaeng Phet
The floods are the result of persistent stir in the monsoon season. The floods mainly affect low-lying agricultural areas and areas adjacent to major waterways, such as the Chao Phraya River.
Due to heavy rainfall there is a risk of local flooding and landslides in the mountainous areas or areas adjacent to waterways.
The current flooding has little impact on tourism. Thailand's major tourist destinations and landmarks are open and not damaged by the floods. The provinces in the other parts of Thailand, including the northeast, east, west and south, were not affected by the floods. A front with a lot of rain will pass the capital in the coming days. However, there is no widespread flooding in the city, the flooding is limited to some areas adjacent to the Chao Phraya River.
A number of tourist attractions cannot be visited due to the flooding and flooding, including Ayutthaya. A map is available showing the roads that are impassable or difficult to access: Road map flood
What may be important for tourists is that the train does not currently run between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. No idea how long the bus takes at the moment, but we have decided to fly the day after tomorrow from Chiang Mai to BKK. We are now in Chiang Mai and indeed not much going on for tourists here. Even nice weather the last few days!
@ Correct Els. There are buses. Well with some delay. Flying is also possible. In Hia Hin the weather is also nice and dry.
Chiang Mai Transport Office chief Charnchai Kilapaeng confirmed yesterday that the 40-50 private companies running buses on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route would operate as per normal except for buses run by Transport Co and Sombat Tour, which were suspended for the sake of safety.
The family in Bangkok is already experiencing a nuisance of half a meter of water and the police are driving around
and warns the population for more.
A crisis center has been set up in Don Muang.
Frank
@ in this article you can read the most recent news: https://www.thailandblog.nl/?p=22848
does anyone know what the situation is like in ko chang and pattaya?
@ Fine. It just gets a bit busy in Pattaya with all those Bangkokians…. The supermarkets are poorly stocked, that's the only thing.
As the situation is becoming increasingly serious, it may be advisable not to plan routes now, but to adapt them to the circumstances after arrival.
There are still plenty of dry tourist spots. Any advice now, no matter how well-intentioned,
are snapshots.
Frank
here in BKK it is now also starting to get quite wet, here in Ladphrao a lot of small sois are already under water, here about 10 cm at the moment, but there will be more rain later, then I don't know yet
and the floating market in Bangkok, is it possible? does anyone know? My Daughter is now in Huahin and wants to go to Bangkok tomorrow. Can't she stay in Huahin because of the rain that is predicted there, do you think?
Trees, if your daughter has an almost morbid interest in floating markets for this time of year, she can let her hair down.
Good Morning,
We leave tonight for Bangkok and then on to Kanchanburi (River Kwai) and then continue to Chiangmai and Koh Phangan, are there any tips for this planned trip because of the floods? eg
@ Just wrote: https://www.thailandblog.nl/nieuws/overstromingen-en-weersverwachting-thailand/
Thank you guys, I will pass it on to my child.
There are also still problems in Isaan, including Khon Kaen, Buri Ram, Surin, Sakaeo, to name just a few. Pitsanulok, Uttaradit and Lampang are also far from dry
@ read my last post Rene, it lists all provinces: https://www.thailandblog.nl/?p=22848
To what extent is it responsible to fly to Bangkok on October 15, 2011, to stay there until Wednesday. Then fly to Chang Mai for 5 days and then to Ko Chang and back to Bangkok by road. The outlook is rather bleak.
Is there anyone on site who can comment on this?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
@Ingrid - Nobody knows what Bangkok will look like in a week, but it seems to me that the airport is closing. As long as downtown Bangkok doesn't get flooded it should be ok. Chiang Mai is OK. Problem areas are mainly between Bangkok and Sukhothai. From Koh Chang to BKK is OK. You don't mention how to get from CM to Koh Chang; flying no problem, overland that could be more difficult.
Hallo,
My friend and I are also going to Bangkok on the 22nd and then Kanchanaburi and Sewrattan waterfalls.
Then back to Bangkok and then overland to Koh Chang…
Any idea how it is now Kanchanaburi and Sewrattan?
We are also very worried about Bangkok and the rest of our trip… But your blog is super useful anyway!
Thanks in advance!
Normally around that date you don't have to worry anymore. I expect it to have dropped around October 20, but of course you never know for sure. On Thailandblog.nl you stay informed of the latest state of affairs from day to day. So come and check the forecasts every day.
You don't have to worry about Bangkok, especially the tourist areas normally remain dry. Coincidentally, I spoke to a friend of mine from Kanchanaburi over the weekend and she told me that it doesn't bother them. I can't tell you what it's like now.
Dear All,
We also leave for Bangkok the day after tomorrow. I wasn't so worried, but the reports are now that Bangkok will be hit the most in the coming days. Our original plan was:
– ash. weekend BC
– Week Northern Thailand (Pai/Chaing Mai)
– Week Koh Chang
– Last weekend of October again in BKK.
We wanted to go north by train, but this now seems to be better done by plane.
Would it be wise to change our itinerary and instead of staying in BKK for a few days, fly directly to the north where there are no floods (anymore)? Or is the expectation that there will not be much going on in the tourist/downtown areas in BKK?
Thanks in advance!
@ Bangkok city center: nothing to worry about. The coming days will be a bit more exciting near the Chao Phraya river.
Chiang Mai: no problems
Koh Chang: no problems
Happy Holidays!
That's right, but loyal reader Jan Verkade is going to secure the doors of his house under the smoke of the airport SUV with a brick wall. There may be 3 meters of water on the adjacent golf course. That does not come through the city, but through the back door. Incidentally, the airport would also be flooded. Good advice is expensive, but damage from a flood is much higher. Jan has, among other things, a grand piano on the ground floor and an organ.
Thanks for this update!
I think it is reasonable to conclude that the worst floods have happened (and are happening) where few tourists come, apart from Ayutthaya.
Chainat, Nakhon Prathom, Nakon Sawan and other provinces in the central delta have been worst affected. The Isan is dry, the islands are business as usual, Chiang Mai is not a penny of pain and Banglampuh, where I just came from, is also nothing to worry about. If there are no further rains, then as a flying tourist I would not worry about personal safety, unless you have booked a three-week stay in a home-stay in Ayuthaya.
I just read my post and the word 'yet' is inappropriate in the first line. As much as I wish tourists a great holiday, for which a lot of money has been saved, my heart goes out first and foremost to the unlucky people who have lost their home and income in recent weeks/months. “Yet” gives the impression that the Thais don't matter. That was the last thing I meant.
It seems to go wild in Bangkok between October 15-17.
All the water from the north then passes through Bangkok.
Read on Bangkokpost.com.
Huge sucks of course, since I also fly there around that time.
At least that's the plan.
But wait and see if it doesn't get even worse than it already is, because then the flight may be cancelled.
@ Yes the tourists have a hard time. Fortunately the population is not, they are used to it…
To respond to your sarcastic reaction, YES the population is used to it.
It is an annual problem, but the current flood is the worst in 50 years.
And YES I think it's terrible for everyone involved, that's something you obviously wanted to hear.
Satisfied?
@Anno, you NEVER get used to losing your home, livelihood and worst case scenario.
What a ludicrous thought to think that you get used to something like that.
Of course I didn't mean that at all!
Once again I find it terrible that this is happening again, the Thai are used to flooding and of course I did not mean losing their loved ones!
Last night I saw on TV (I mean NOS Journaal) an interview from a Dutchman who lives in the north of Thailand that the government is accused of being reprehensible.
Experts would have warned the government several months in advance about this disaster.
As a resident of Thailand, are you done with it?
We Dutch are praised worldwide for our knowledge of water management.
Even Prince Willem Alexander graduated from this.
I would say to the Dutch government to offer some help to secure the country against tsunamis and flooding to prevent this as much as possible in the future!
That's good to hear John.
Very good and positive news indeed, but shouldn't the government have done the opposite 2 weeks ago?