Rayong flood: can you get to Koh Samet now, and where to go instead
Rayong is going through one of its worst floods in decades: four districts are disaster zones and stretches of Highway 3 are closed. Here is what it means for a Koh Samet trip and what to do instead if you are in Pattaya.
The Rayong flood at the end of September 2026 is one of the worst the province has seen in decades: four districts have been declared disaster zones, and water has entered more than 2,300 homes. If you are in Pattaya and were planning a trip to Koh Samet, the short answer is: the island itself is not flooded, but it is better not to go there in the next few days. Below - what is happening, when to go and where to head instead.
After the heavy rain of 23-27 September, rivers and reservoirs in the east of the province overflowed. Klaeng district was hit hardest: water stood 1.5-2 metres deep inside houses, and locals say they have not seen anything like it in 60 years. Mueang Rayong (Taphong subdistrict), Khao Chamao and Wang Chan are also disaster zones.
Now about the dam. The Khlong Ra-ok reservoir, which locals call the Khao Chuk dam, is 117-121% full, and the excess water is flowing out through the spillway. Soil next to the spillway wall has been washed out, which is where the news about a "crack in the dam" came from. On 28 September the Minister of Agriculture said the dam itself is intact, and the Royal Irrigation Department is repairing the spillway. The neighbouring Prasae reservoir is also over capacity, and its releases are what is flooding Klaeng. Residents of the low-lying areas along the Prasae River have been evacuated and asked not to return for now.
Can you get to Koh Samet right now? Ban Phe pier, where boats to the island leave from, is not in the disaster zone, but the roads around it have become harder. As of 28 September, the Department of Highways listed these impassable sections:
1. Highway 3 Rayong - Kached, km 233-235 - east of Rayong city.
2. Highway 3 Kached - Na Yai Am - four sections between km 264 and 278, towards Klaeng and Chanthaburi.
3. Road 3145 Ban Phe - Klaeng Port, km 9.3-9.5 - the coastal road east of the pier.
The second problem is the sea. During the rain, waves in the Gulf of Thailand reached 2-3 metres, and on 25 September Pattaya banned boats from going out to sea. In weather like this, boats to Samet get cancelled at the last minute, and you can drive an hour and a half to the pier only to turn back.
So it makes sense to postpone Samet by a couple of weeks. A good window is the long weekend of 23-25 October, and we have a separate trip plan for it. Once the sea calms down, the easiest option is the Koh Samet day trip: hotel pickup, a speedboat to the island and the national park fee included, adult ticket from 1,049 baht. The day before, you can ask the partner in the chat whether the boats are running.
And if you want to get out of Pattaya right now, with no sea and no boats, go to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. It is one of the largest botanical gardens in Southeast Asia, half an hour south of Pattaya along Sukhumvit Road. It is in Chonburi province, on a highway with no closures, and waves in the gulf make no difference to it.
What to see at Nong Nooch in a day:
1. The French Versailles garden and the English garden with its Stonehenge replica - the park's main photo spots.
2. The cactus garden, the "Garden in the Sky" and the orchid garden in clay pots.
3. Dinosaur Valley - kids usually get stuck here the longest.
4. The elephant show around 11:00 and the Nong Nooch show with Thai folk dances.
5. The vintage car garage and the lake with giant arapaima fish.
The easiest way to go is the Nong Nooch tour: daily, hotel pickup at 8:00, back by 13:30-14:00. The price includes transfer, entrance ticket, a Russian-speaking guide and insurance: adults 1,100 baht, children 1,000 (height 90-120 cm). Elephant rides and feeding are paid on site. A morning trip is a plus in the rainy season: downpours in Pattaya more often come in the afternoon, and by then you are back at the hotel.
Want to stay in the park until evening? On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is the evening Nong Nooch tour: the garden and elephant show during the day, then a cabaret show and a buffet dinner, from 2,100 baht.
If you go on your own, a car is safer than a bike in the rain: a scooter has a low air intake, and water up to the middle of the wheel can stall it. A Toyota Vios rental costs from 1,250 baht a day, insurance included, deposit 5,000-15,000 baht, an international driving licence is required. Nong Nooch is half an hour south along Sukhumvit. But do not drive to Rayong on your own while the water is still there: even in a car, never drive into water deeper than half the wheel.
If it is pouring from the morning, there are places under a roof: the 3D museum Art in Paradise and the aquarium Underwater World Pattaya. Both are in town, so there is no need to go anywhere.
And a tip for those staying in Pattaya for the season. Right now is the best time to choose an apartment: after rains like these you can see at once which sois flood and which stay dry. Browse options in the apartment catalogue and ask the owner whether the building flooded these days. We covered how much a month costs in different areas in our article on renting.
If you are caught in the water or see someone who needs help: the disaster hotline 1784 (free, 24/7), ambulance 1669, tourist police 1155 (they speak English).
Share this article with friends who are in Pattaya now and were planning to go to Samet this week: they will not lose a day on the road to the pier, and they will know where to go instead.
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