Map and Updates on the Coup in Thailand
[Updated 14/June/2014] We went from Martial Law on Tuesday 20 May to a fully fledged military coup on Thursday 22 May. The takeover by the army is being called “bloodless” at the moment but this could change. The Red Shirts who support the government, originally said that they would rise up if the military attempted a coup. No sign of that so far. So, what does a coup mean for the average tourist and expat in Bangkok and Thailand? Well, the main hindrance for them was the nightly curfew. But this was dropped nationwide on 13th June 2014. Follow me on Twitter for latest information.
UPDATE: Curfew has now been dropped in Thailand.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST UPDATES on TWITTER >>>
When people talk about a coup they imagine the streets to be flooded with tanks and soldiers and bloody street by street fighting. Not so here in Bangkok. At least, not so far. At the moment, all of the tourist attractions in Bangkok are open as normal as are the government offices like Immigration. All of the shopping malls and markets are also open as normal. The skytrain, subway and airport rail link operate as normal. The airport and all flights are also operating as normal.
CNN International: Richard Barrow, a full-time travel blogger based in Bangkok, is a top source for those seeking news about the protests as well as travel advice for tourists. He can be followed at Twitter.com/richardbarrow
For the latest news, always check my twitter feed. I am tweeting 24/7 at the moment. Literally.
Please read my latest tweets above before asking questions.
[cetsEmbedGmap src=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210550963008557722983.0004ea041241da07d86cb&msa=0&ll=13.759894,100.532455&spn=0.146226,0.222988 width=450 height=425 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no]
Purple markers are main tourist attractions. Baskets are shopping areas. Red markers are popular protest sites but are empty most of the time. Flags are possible protest sites. This map is updated as and when there is an incident.
TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT: You should take extra care and avoid all protest sites, political gatherings, demonstrations and marches in Bangkok [MORE] TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE US GOVERNMENT: U.S. citizens are advised to stay alert, exercise caution, and monitor media coverage. You are advised to avoid areas where there are protest events, large gatherings, or security operations and follow the instructions of Thai authorities [MORE]
Feel free to post your questions in the comments below. But, don’t ask me to predict the future. No-one knows what tomorrow will bring! I don’t get paid to help tourists on twitter. If you would like to buy me a beer or make a donation, please use the form in the top left. Also, if you book your hotel on agoda by using this link, I get a small commission. It doesn’t affect your price. Thanks.
Hello Richard,
Thank you very much for your information.
I will have a vacation in Phuket next week. I want to check carefully whether everything is OK before I go. Do you know how things are happening in Phuket right now?
Cheers
Quyen from Vietnam
Everything is as normal in Phuket.
I am traveling to Bangkok on thursday 29th may then having 4 days in phuket then 7 in Pattaya will the curfew be lifted by then.
The curfew has just been changed to midnight-4am
My wife and I will be travelling by air to Krabi on 9th June for a short holidays. Is safe to visit the town at the moment? Will my travel from the airport to a hotel in town be affected by the current ruling. Is general situation in Krabi town conducive for eating outs and shopping?. Should I cancel my trip?. Your advise is greatly appreciated.
Krabi and anywhere outside of Bangkok is fine and as normal. Even in Bangkok there hasn’t been any violence despite some small protests.
Hi richard, me and my family will be heading to bangkok on the 8th of June. And we will stay at baiyoke sky bangkok. Is it safe there? And we will be heading to places like dream world, safari park and pattaya. Is it still safe to visit there?
Thanks!
There are not really any danger zones in Bangkok as all protest sites were cleared. but do follow me on twitter for latest news.
Richard,
Any estimates on the monetary damage this coup/***CURFEW*** will do to the Thai tourism sector?
Hi, i will be going to BKK during 8-11 June. from the current situation, do you think it may escalate to the point of closing down the airport(happened few years back)? I have another trip after visiting BKK and definitely need to leave BKK on the 11th.
I am 99.99% sure the airport won’t close.
Hi,
We are 4 girls that would reach bangkok on 31st may night. We would be staying in Bangkok only for a day. After which we have two days stay in krabi and 3 days stay in Phuket. This is our first trip to Thailand and we have no cancelled our tickets now. Could you please advise us if we should continue with our traveling plans or not?
As long as you have valid insurance I see no reason to cancel with that plan of yours. Have fun down south. Wish i was going too.
hou about the situation in phuket island, tensive as in bangkok or loose atmosphere without protestor?
Friends say no problem at all.
Hi richard..
My two friend and i will go to phuket in june 12-14, and in 14 june we will leave phuket to langkawi through satun by bus in the morning
Is it safe trip from phuket to langkawi by bus?we three are woman
I cannot see a problem with that
Hey Richard,
Me n a few frenz r planning a trip to Bkk and Samui in July for 2 weeks, is samui as badly hit as Bkk? Should v cancel the plans? are the trains running between bkk and samui?
No, Samui is fine. Yes, trains are running. I’m told the last train leaving Bangkok is around 10 pm
Hi,I’ll be travelling to bangkok on late June,and I’m wondering will the night market close at 8pm as well?
Curfew now starts at midnight
Me and couple of my friends are planing trip around 13th June but this curfew is the biggest hitch. Is it observed all over thailand from 10-6 or its just Bangkok?
What the trip without thai nightlife. Kindly advise.
Bangkok-Koh Samui- Fuket.
Just been changed to midnight-4am nationwide.
Hello Richard and keep up with this good job! I’m visiting BKK in few weeks with my wife&2 kids. We would like to stay in hotel Prince Palace on Bo Bae tower. There have been some protest in the neighbourhood. Is it safe?
There are no protest sites any more.
Hi Richard,
What is the situation in Phuket? have you heard of any issues there? my husband was planning to go over 11 – 18 June with his brother.
Thanks for your insights.
Friends there say everything as normal. No sign of soldiers.
Hi Richard, thanks for all the info so far, been really helpful.
There was talk of curfews being relaxed in tourist areas eg Phuket, are there any updates on this currently? Is this looking unlikely?
We’re due to fly up from Krabi to DMK airport then head over to Ayuthaya and Kanchanaburi during our visit. Are we likely to encounter any difficulties with travel to/from these places currently, or is it isolated to just Central Bangkok?
Thanks
Samantha
We just heard that from Wednesday the curfew nationwide will be midnight to 4am
Hi Richard.
I am from Sweden and my wife’s from Thailand. We was thinking about going to Thailand for 7 weeks with our 2 small children. First 1 week at her mothers in Bangkok and then a couple of weeks to the resort birds & bees outside pattaya following koh samed and then back to Bangkok again. We have already booked and payed for the flight leaving the 17th of June. Do you think these places are safe or should we rethink our trip?
No problem with the places outside of Bangkok. But do keep up with the news.
Hi,
I’m going to bkk on 07/06. Please advise isn’t safe to go!
Thank you,
Sorry, I cannot really answer that kind of question. I cannot guarantee safety.
Hi Richard,
Your updates are very helpful for me to know what’s going on in Thailand.
I shall travel to kanchanaburi and Sangkhlaburi via Bangkok for few days this weekend. I am considering whether I should cancel the trip given the current situation. So do you think it is still safe to travel in those places? I shall arrive and depart Thailand at Bangkok international airport and take bus/train to/from these 2 places.
Have you heard of any special in those places? Anything I need to know/take care?
Many thanks!
Regards,
Edward
I cannot see any problem with your plan.
Hi Richard I would appreciate your advice. My husbaand and I are now working in China and finishing up here June 7. we have a flight out of HK to Chiang Mai June 11.We had only intended to spend a couple of days there and then cross the border into Laos to spend a month there. We fly out of Chiang mai back to HK again July 8th.We are now in a quandary as our flight is Air Asia non refundable.Do you think we should still go? Is the border with Laos open? or should we cut our losses and just book another flight direct to Laos? We only wanted to be in CM a couple of days… but we can’t get our money back.I really appreciate your help and by the way your blog is Amazing.Thanks again.Ruth
I cannot get accurate information about the borders but I was told all main border checkpoints are now open as normal. You shouldn’t have a problem with Chiang Mai. I have friends living there.
Thanks Richard for keeping us very updated.
Me and my friends (3 guys) are travelling on 5th June – 9th June to Phuket and Krabi via Bangkok as our connecting flights are thru DMK airport. Is phuket, Krabi being affected by coup or is it business as usual? What is your advise? should we proceed with our travel plans or cancel it? We are in Bangkok only for 3hrs to get our connecting flight to phuket but in a big dilema whether we will be able to experience both day and night life there?
Business as usual down south. Don’t worry. But do check your insurance is valid.
Stay safe Richard. Your updates are priceless nuggets of information.
Have been closely following your twitter feed for the past few days as it’s the most comprehensive updates I’ve found but still slightly unsure. My friend and I arrive in Bangkok next Tuesday (we are two 18 year old girls) and despite having both visited Thailand and being well travelled, we remain unsure what to do. We’ve booked no hotels yet so aren’t too committed. Is it worth us still heading to Thailand or do you recommend we just transit in Bangkok and go somewhere else? Apart from our safety, the curfew is also quite an “issue” for us
Yes, don’t spend so long in Bangkok. About curfew, it has been shortened. Its now midnight to 4am.
Hi Richard,
I will be in Bangkok from the 29th may till 1st Jun. Is it safe to stay at a hotel near to pratunam market?And is it safe to visit places like Asiatique, MBK, Terminal 21, Siam Paragon, Central World, Chinatown, Phahurat, Grand Palace and Chatuchak using taxi from pratunam area?
Thanx a lot 🙂
No problem at all but do keep up with news on twitter
Hi Richard,
How’s the situation in Pattaya?
As normal apart from the curfew. But at least that is now midnight to 4am
Hi, First of all your twitter feed is amazing its been help us follow on whats going on in Thailand alot. my partner and i almost canceled our trip to Thailand.
just want to know is phuket safe place to be? and in Bangkok is the Pratunam Market area and platinum mall areas affected by this or would we be still be able to shop within the area and what are the times that these protest start so that we can avoid. we will be there 7th of june.
No problem at all with Phuket. I hope to be down there in June. None of the shopping areas are affected but do keep up with the news just in case that changes.
I’m visiting BKK & Pataya on holiday trip in mid June it was long awaited for Night life…Pls suggest if I shud postpone it.
Curfew now starts at midnight and it could be lifted altogether by the time you come/
Hi Richard, still considering to go to Chiang Mai on Sunday? Is it safe? Any reported problems? Thanks!!! You’re really helpful these days!
There is an army presence there with some protests. But they have apparently been small in number. I am hoping to get up there in a few weeks. This weekend I will be in Chiang Rai.
Its very helpfull report.
Thank u Richard.My flight will arrive at suvarbnahmi airport around 10pm May 28. I thought i can ride air rail until Makkasan station. And at there transfer to taxi for hotel. My reserved hotel is choaphya park hotel. but I d better to take taxi from airport.
Thank you so much.
Last train is at 9pm so you cannot. They have put on extra taxis so don’t worry.
Hi Richard,
Planning on travelling from Ireland to Thailand on the 5th of July. Flying into Phuket with two of my friends and we’ve our heart set and seeing Thailand over 3 weeks so basically we want to see a bit of everywhere. However we are now looking at travelling somewhere else. Would you recommend still travelling to Thailand? We were still going up until we heard of the bombs in the south
Bombs are only in the deep south where an insurgency has been going on for a number of years. Phuket is not affected.
Hi Richard,
Your website and tweats have been really helpful in getting the inside news on thailand-Thanks for that,appreciate your help and effort alot.
Question:
We have planned a holiday from june 9 until june 15 and we will be staying in patayya for a couple of days and then head to samui and then to koh phangam for the full moon party.
We will be a group of three.Can you share some details on the situation in patayya and Koh phangam…and any probable dates for lifting of the curfew.
Cheers.
Everyone has been telling me those places are fine. However, you might find the full moon party will be cancelled because of the curfew.
No questions…just a huge word of thanks for being so dedicated to providing such in depth, and up to date info…on the ground as it were. Much appreciated!
Hi Richard
Are cruise ships continuing to visit places like Bangkok and Kho Samui?
I haven’t heard, but I cannot see why Samui would be affected. Far from worries.
Hi Richard,
Is there any problems or delays travelling to and from Bangkok airport to hotels outside curfew time? Do we need to set aside more hours than usual? Travelling to bkk on 31 May.
Thanks in advance!
Some people have told me they got to the airport quickly. But with Bangkok traffic you never know. I would personally allow for extra travel time.
Hi, Is it safe to travel from Thonburi to MBK during the protests?? Would you say it is safer in a taxi or BTS?? Thanks.
What protests? There are no rally sites. Only a few hundred are protesting for an hour or so and then go home. Bangkok is a big city. Follow me on twitter for live updates and you will know where to avoid each day. I will tweet as soon as I hear something.
Are the nighttrains affected in any way by the curfew or is there just regular schedule?
Thank you very much.
The last train leaves at about 10pm. No trains arrive in Bangkok after that due to curfew.
Hi richard, me and my friends will be heading to bangkok on the 12th of june. And staying at hotel de bangkok. Is it safe there? And we will be heading to places like rod fai train market siam square and those places that operate from evening onwards. Is it still safe to go? Thank you do much.
There are no protest sites in Bangkok any more. But there are small protests for set periods of times. Like an hour or so. Lately they have been at Victory Monument at about 5pm daily. Follow my tweets for live updates.
With the Military Coup and Curfew, I wonder if you help me with some important information:
1) I (my wife and 2 kids) will take the Bus to Koh Tao (Lomprayah High Speed Ferries Co.) that leaves Bangkok at 06:00 AM (June 21st) and they requires a check-in at least 30 minutes before departure time. So, I will have to leave the hotel by taxi before 05:00AM. How can I manage it?
2) I (my wife and 2 kids) will take the Flight to Yangon (AirAsia – FD-251) that leaves Bangkok (DMK) at 07:15 AM (June 26th) and they requires an check-in at least 2 hours before departure time. So, I will have to leave the hotel by taxi before 05:00AM. How can I manage it?
Best,
Márcio Antônio Estrela
There are people on the streets before 5am. I live on Sukhumwit and can hear the traffic. There are also taxis all night. As long as you have travel tickets and passport you will have no problem. The same goes for your second problem. No worries.
Tks.
Hi Richard,
Thanks so much for all your updates.
I’m just wondering if you know whether the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is affected by the curfew? I think it departs at 8pm.
Many thanks!
No problem
Hi Richard,
A group of around 20 of us aged 19-22 will be flying into Bangkok on the Friday 12th June for a six week voluntary project based in Pakkred (about an hour north of Bangkok) and Manorom (about 3 hours north of Bangkok). However, we plan to stay in Bangkok from the Friday until the Sunday in a hostel – is this safe if we stay on the tourist trails? And is it safe in general for us to continue with the trip? We will be volunteering Monday-Friday but plan to travel on the weekends. Is it still okay to visit Chiang Mai/Koh Samet on a weekend? We also want to travel for two weeks after the end of six weeks and plan to go down to Phuket and the islands, again will this be problem?
Thanks!
That is all safe. But make sure your insurance covers you for visiting a country with a coup. Plus bring a smartphone to keep up with news on twitter.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the reply for my question regarding our six week voluntary project. However, we are finding it very difficult to find insurance that covers coup? Most standard ones do not seem too?
Thanks
Sorry, I cannot answer that.
Hi Richard.
Your updates are proofing to be very helpful with nothing now being on the news?
Does the curfew still apply within hotel resorts? Staying at anantara Bangkok riverside for a couple of days.
Thanks again
Hi Richard.
Your updates are proofing to be very helpful with nothing now being on the news?
Does the curfew still apply within hotel resorts? Staying at anantara Bangkok riverside for a couple of days.
Thanks
No problem inside hotel resorts. Just stay off the streets.
Just read on the Nation twitter section that the father of the 2 children killed by a grenade has been summoned. True? Why? Hasn’t he suffered enough? Sorry, not on twitter.
We will find out today.
We live in BKK suburbs. Supposed to have family coming to visit us June 10-24 here, plus Chiang Mai to and Koh Samui. They are hesitant to come. They are not bothered by the curfew, just worried about safety and unrest. Would you say that there’s less safety issues now than before the coup – or are they just different? It seems like it could be fine/safe if we stay informed and stay out of problem areas (and maybe out of the city altogether)?
Also, I keep reading about airport curfew for travelers coming and going, but I am their ride, so can I go and pick them up at 11 pm as long as I take their itinerary? Just want to make sure it’s not limited to taxis. 🙂
Thanks a ton for all you are doing!
My cousin is coming to stay next month and so i am in the same boat. I am not worried at all. About the airport. If the curfew is still on, you need to pick up a form at the help desk as you are a private car and not a taxi. Going there should be no problem.
Hi Richard, I’m an American teacher determined to still spend part of my summer break in Thailand. Thank you so much for giving a much more realistic and timely impression of the changing situation there. My question is, you keep mentioning for travelers to make sure they have insurance. I cannot find any traveler’s insurance policy that doesn’t EXCLUDE civil unrest. One company said they wouldn’t sell me any insurance at all. Do you have any more specific suggestions? I am under the assumption that any delay or cancellation I have to make due to traffic, airports shutting down, etc due to the coup will NOT be covered.
You should be fine. I just say that to cover myself as I was told that some insurance is invalid if there is a coup.
I see. Yes, I think it pretty much all is invalidated, unfortunately. Right now I am not terribly concerned. I am scheduled to spend a few days in Bangkok in each direction on my way to Laos from Chicago, and heading down to Samui for a week. My contingency plan so far is to book hotels that are refundable and if things get a little dicey in the city, to change hotels to stay outside the city (perhaps using your daytrips guide) or try to rebook to leave for Vientiane a little earlier. Right now Bangkok Airways is allowing changes and refunds without the usual fees for tickets up until May 31, we’ll see if they extend that. What else can you do? Thanks again.
Not so much a question, but more of an observation. The main hindrance to tourists is obviously the curfew. But we should not forget that thousands of Thai citizens depend on nighttime business for their income. Restaurant owners, waiters, bar employees, etc, etc… are undoubtedly severely affected by the curfew. I am just wondering how long the junta can afford to enforce the curfew without genuinely upsetting a large part of the Bangkok work force.
As far as Bangkok is concerned, a “large” part might be an overstatement. This could well apply to other places such as Pattaya, though, which does generate quite a lot of income.
However besides the nightlife business, this curfew also affects a lot of other businesses taking place at night such as fresh food markets and e.g. the wholesale clothing market at Pratunam (quite a big thing).
Curfew is now from midnight. Might be dropped in a week or two if nothing happens.
As usual in Thailand, there seem to be many “exceptions” to this curfew. Just talked to friends who sell clothes on markets upcountry. They have resumed their weekly night trips to the Pratunam wholesale clothes market in BKK. Bus leaves at midnight from KPT as they say. “Mai pen rai”, it’s allowed. Go wonder 🙂
Really grateful for your updates.
I plan to head over to BKK for shopping in September and reading all these coup updates are making me think twice but somehow I feel the tension would die down by then but well, I don’t know. What is your input on this?
I really do hope so. I don’t want a year of this!
Hello Richard,
I just want to know if you were I, you would go to Thailand in 20 days or you would cancel my trip?
Our intention is to stay two days in BKK, Sukummbit Road 5 and stay around Central and MBK, and then we are going to Samui for ten days.
You would do or you cancel those days in BKK?. I love BKK, but if you tell me it will be dangerous, I cancel this part of the trip. Because I assume Samui is OK, isn’t it?
Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!!!
Kind Regards
I just told my cousin not to cancel his trip next month. Bangkok is unpredictable but Samui is fine. Just make sure your insurance covers you for the coup.
Thank you really much!!!!… I really appreciate it!!!!
I am going to make a screen capture and show to mother and father in law!!!!
Congrats for your work!!!
Hi Richard, thank you so much for the updates! I’ll be heading to Bangkok on thursday. Is Chatuchak area safe? What about Central world? Are the ferries on Chao Phraya river still in operation?
Thanks!
No problem, don’t worry. But do keep up with news.
Thank you very much for your detailed updates!
Is it possible to shop around the Khao San Road area right now?
Thank you!
Of course, no problem. But not after curfew starts at 10pm.
Thank you!!
Hi Richard,
I have heard a rumour that some of the bars in nana plaza have stayed open late. Is that true?
it is possible. Like you can enter before 10pm and then you can not leave. However, I did hear about some bars being raided and people fined.
I WhatsApp a bar girl daily (yeah I know I shouldn’t) and she told me her bar in Nana is open until midnight. Not as many customers as usual but they are trying to make the most out of a difficult situation.
Hi, Richard!
Is it safe to travel from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang airport during the curfew?
no problem if you take the shuttle bus or taxi.
Hi thanks for all the info so far, do you think the full moon party will go ahead in June? Thanks!
If the curfew is lifted then yes. If not i think it won’t be. Can’t say more than that