Travel news: Flooding in Thailand 2011 (update)

The current flooding is having some impact on tourism. Key tourist destinations and attractions across Thailand are not damaged by the floods and most are open. Provinces in the other parts of Thailand including the northeast, east, west and south are not affected by the floods. Major tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Loei, Phuket, Krabi and Samui are experiencing normal weather conditions. 

Flooding in Bangkok - Photo: Reuters

The floods are mainly affecting land in low-lying agricultural areas and adjacent to major waterways such as the Chao Phraya River. Warnings of heavy rains resulting in localized flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas or areas adjacent to waterways have been issued for several provinces.

Certain areas of several provinces in north and central Thailand including Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Kampheang Phet, Khon Kaen, Lamphun, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Mahasarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Prachin Buri, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Ubon Ratchathani, and Uthai Thani have been affected by floods due to heavier-than-usual seasonal rains.

The crest of the floodwaters is currently passing through Bangkok. Most parts of the city have not been affected, while flooding is occurring in some areas adjacent to the Chao Phraya River. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has comprehensive flood control measures in place and is monitoring the situation closely.

All airports throughout Thailand are operating as per normal. Train services from Bangkok to northern destinations beyond Lop Buri are suspended, with only limited services in the areas affected by the flooding.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is offering full refunds on tickets for travelers who want to cancel their trips to destinations where train service is suspended. Travelers can contact the SRT Call Center at 1690 for updates regarding train services. Highway 32, also known as The Asian Highway (AH-2), is partly affected by the floods and closed from Km 21 to Km 39 in Ayutthaya province.

Tourists planning to travel to the provinces affected by the floods are advised to check the latest weather forecasts for their destination and confirm arrangements with the transportation providers with which they will be travelling. Tourists can also call the TAT Information Line at 1672 to check local conditions, or visit the Thailand Meteorological Department web site at http://www.tmd.go.th/en for updated weather forecasts.

Attractions and roads affected by flooding as of 7 October 2011

Ang Thong

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding. Visitors should use alternate routes:

- Pho Thong – Ang Thong Road

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding

- Wat Ang Thong Worawihan

- Wat Chaiyo Worawihan

- Wat Khun Inthapramun

- Wat Pamok Worawihan

Chai Nat

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- The Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge, in front of Wat Thammamun Worawihan - Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao

- Some parts of Highway 3183

- Chai Nat – Manorom Road

- The weir on Chao Phraya Dam Road

- Highway 1 Chai Nat – Tar Klee

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as:

- To Amphoe Muang, Chai Nat: use Highway 340 Bang Bua Thong – Suphan Buri – Chai Nat

- To Nakhon Sawan or other northern provinces: use The Asian Highway (AH-2), also known as Highway 32

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding

- Ton Nam Tha Chin Market

- Wat Khao Tha Phra

- Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao

- Wat Thammamun Worawihan

Chaiyaphum

Attractions affected by flooding but remain open

- Attractions in Amphoe Ban Khwao, Chaiyaphum province

- Tat Ton National Park - water-related activities are temporarily suspended as flash flood warnings have been issued

Kalasin

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Lam Pao Wildlife Conservation Development and Promotion Station or Suan Sa-On

Kampheang Phet

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Khlong Lan National Park

- Wat Phra Borom That Nakhon Chum

Khon Kaen

Attraction temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Nam Phong National Park

Lamphun:

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- Highway 106 Amphoe Li - Amphoe Ban Hong, in Lamphun province

Lop Buri

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding

- Highway 2275 Chai Badan – Bueng Sam Phan Road, Km. 0-4

- Lop Buri Bypass, Km. 8-19

- Lop Buri – Sing Buri Road, Km. 159-166

- Lop Buri – Pho Kao Ton Road, Km. 76-94

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as

- Highway 21 Chai Badan – Si Thep Road

- The Asian Highway Network

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Khao Samo Khon

- Wat Cheng Tha

- Wat Kung Tha Lao

- Wat Lai

- Wat Manee Cholkhan

- Wat Samor Khon

- Wat Thammikaram

- Wat Tong Pu

- Wat Yang Na Rangsi and the Lop Buri Boat Museum

Mae Hong Son

The following road should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- Route to Salawin River, Mae Sa Rieng – Mae Sam Lab Road

Mahasarakham

Attraction temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Kosumphee Forest Park

Nakhon Nayok

Attraction temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Sarika Waterfall

Nakhon Pathom

Attractions affected by flooding but remain open:

- Bang Luang Old Market

- Khlong Maha Sawat

Nakhon Ratchasima

Attractions affected by flooding but remain open:

- Sai Ngam in Phimai

- Khao Yai National Park and Tab Lan National Park - water-related activities are temporarily

suspended as flash flood warnings have been issued

Nakhon Sawan

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- In Buri – Tak Fa Road

- Nakhon Sawan – Kam Pheang Phet Bypass

- Road between Amphoe Krok Phra in Nakhon Sawan – Uthai Thani

- Highway 117 Nakhon Sawan – Phichit – Phitsanulok

- Route to Amphoe Chum Saeng, Nakhon Sawan province

- Route to Mae Wong National Park

- Route to Wat Pa Siri Wattana Wisut

- Tar Klee – Ban Mi Road

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as:

- Kam Pheang Phet – Phichit – Phitsanulok Road

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Attractions, restaurants, hotels and lodging along the Chao Phraya River

- Bung Boraphet & Water Bird Park

- Ko Yom

- Thepharak Shrine

- Wat Kei Chai Nua

- Wat Ko Hong

- Wat Pa Siri Wattana Wisut

- Wat Phra Prang Leuang & Retro Weekend Market

- Wat Takien Leuan

Nakhon Sawan’s traditional Long-tailed Boat Competition is postponed from 7-16 October 2011 until 15-24 November 2011.

Phichit

Attractions affected by flooding but remain open:

- Wat Pho Prathap Chang, Amphoe Pho Prathap Chang

- Wat Hirunyaram (Wat Bang Klan), Amphoe Pho Talay

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding. Visitors should use alternate routes:

- Route to Chao Mae Tuptim Shrine and Wat Thalo, Amphoe Thalo

- Route to Nakhon Chai Baworn Forest Park

- Route to Wat Puttha Ket Mongkol

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Chao Mae Tuptim Shrine, Amphoe Thalo

- Nakhon Chai Baworn Forest Park, Amphoe Pho Talay

- Wat Puttha Ket Mongkol (Wat Thewa Prasat), Amphoe Taphan Hin

Phitsanulok

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Night Bazaar

- Suan Chom Nan Park

Prachin Buri

Attraction temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Prachin Buri National Museum

Saraburi

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- Highway 3034 Na Phra Lan – Cement plant at Ban Mor Road, km. 14-16

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as:

- Phra Putthabat – Ban Mo Road

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Ban Ton Tan Floating Market

- Thai Yuan Cultural Study Centre

Sing Buri

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding. Visitors should use

alternate routes:

- Highway 309 Sing Buri – Ang Thong

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- In Buri National Museum

- Pak Bang Market

- Wat Amphawan

- Wat Klang Thanarin

- Wat Kudi Thong

- Wat Muang

- Wat Sutthawas

Sukhothai

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- Highway 1195 to Sukhothai Airport

- Khlong Pho Junction on Route 12 from the center of Sukhothai to Sukhothai Historical Park

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as:

- From Nakhon Sawan to Sukhothai: Use roads that pass through Phichit and Phitsanulok

- To Sukhothai Airport: Use Highway 101

Suphan Buri

The following road should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- Highway 340

Visitors should use alternate routes, such as:

- Highway 321

- Highway 333

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Wat Manao

- Wat Pu Bua

- Wat Pho Charoen

- Wat Phrao

- Wat Sam Pasiu

- Wat Wora Chan

- Kao Hong Market

- Pho Phraya Market

Ubon Ratchathani

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Had Ku Dua

- Had Wat Tai 

Uthai Thani

Attractions and activities that are not affected by flooding:

- The “Tak Bat Thewo,” merit-making event will still be held on the morning of 13 October 2011 as

planned, with monks from Khao Sakae Krang

The following roads should be avoided as some sections are closed due to flooding:

- All roads on Ko The Pho

- Highway 333 to Amphoe Phayuha Kiri

- Road from Amphoe Krok Phra, Nakhon Sawan province to Uthai Thani

- Ferry service between Chai Nat to Uthai Thani are suspended

Visitors should use alternate routes such as:

- From Bangkok to Uthai Thani: use Don Jedi – Dan Chang – Ban Rai – Uthai Thani Road

- From Nakhon Sawan or other northern provinces to Uthai Thani:

use Lad Yao – Sawang Arom – Tab Tun – Uthai Thani

Attractions temporarily closed due to flooding:

- Agricultural tourism attractions

- Biking route on Koh The Pho

- In the city of Uthai Thani and Koh The Pho, most attractions, accommodations and restaurants are

temporarily closed

- Local History and Cultural Museum

- Route for “Visiting 9 Temples a Day”

- The Museum Hok Saetung

- “Trok Rong Ya” Walking Street

- Wat Chan Tharam (Wat Tha Soong)

- Wat U Po Satharam (Wat Bot)

- Uthai Thani’s Traditional Long-tailed Boat Competition 2011 is cancelled 

Tourism Authority of Thailand - News

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