7 Things to do on your Thailand family holiday
From the vibrant and colourful sights of Bangkok, to the beautiful beaches of the many islands and National Parks. Thailand is laid back and welcoming, making it a great place to explore with children.
As we told people about our trip in January we were met with comments of “that’s a very adult place” or isn’t it a bit too busy in Bangkok. If you know the places to go and you plan an itinerary well, Thailand makes for the perfect family holiday destination.
With year round sunshine, it is always a good time to visit Thailand. The weather differs across the regions so visit the islands at the right time to be certain of the best weather.
Here we explore just some of the great things to experience with your children in this beautiful country.
1. Ride a Tuk Tuk through the streets of Bangkok
With 2 little boys (albeit very young) this was always going to be a highlight on the holiday for them. As you zip round the busy streets it is always amazing just how much you can fit into one of these tiny vehicles. If you are travelling to some of the islands in Thailand you will notice that they also feature in other areas but in different guises. In Krabi they were more like motorbikes and a big side car, compared with the little minivans in Phuket. Either way, the excitement for the boys of trying each one (several times) never wore off. They’re cheap, convenient, great fun and a constant source of imagination to discover the best looking one.
2. Visit the Golden Palace
This is a must see for anyone visiting Bangkok. Whilst this may not seem top of the list of things to see with a young family we found it surprisingly easy. We did visit just before lockdown, so were helped by the lack of crowds. However, something that we hadn’t been acutely aware of when we first visited a few years ago (without little ones in tow) was the amount of animal statues that feature in many of the temples.
This provided entertainment for both the boys as they could hunt down and count the statues. The changing of the guard in the main Palace also happens once an hour and provides a break and different entertainment for them.
Our top tip: have footwear for you and the kids that are slip on slip off. You’ll not regret it if you want to pop in and out of temples.
3. Sleep in a Floating House
A unique experience for adults and children alike. You can spend the night sleeping on the fast flowing River Kwai. Getting to the hotel is an experience in itself as you arrive on your boat through the lush green rainforest.
A couple of nights here are enough to explore the Saiyoke Yai Waterfall, the National Park and explore the Kanachanaburi regions largest cave - the Lawa Cave. Take a historic ride on WW II Burma Railway and pass over the original wooden viaduct constructed by Allied POWs.
There is also plenty to keep your family entertained on site at the hotel, from bird watching, canoeing, mountain biking or taking a trip on a long-tail boat, similar to the one you arrived on.
4. Visit an elephant sanctuary
We really strongly advocate responsible tourism and will therefore only recommend things which have the welfare of animals at the forefront of the tourist operation. Much of Thailand has come under scrutiny in recent times for the treatment of animals under the banner of tourism.
However, The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is working to change the treatment of these glorious beasts and invites you to see them in their purpose built sanctuary. The sanctuary was founded to rescue and integrate female elephants back into the wild. Each with their own dedicated keeper, the elephants are safe to roam around their surroundings as they wish. As part of a visit you are invited to feed them and walk around their habitat to learn more about the work of the sanctuary. It’s a really uplifting experience and what child doesn’t love an elephant.
5. See the limestone formations of Phi Phi island
As famous as the Ha Long Bay area of Vietnam, the waters of Phang Nga Bay feature amazing limestone karsts which rise majestically out of the bay including the famous James Bond Island of Koh Ta Pu.
Charter a private junk boat to really make a memorable day out. The Koh Phi Phi islands can be crowded and its advisable to watch out for the monkeys that will happily steal your food in front of you, but they are certainly lively and fun. Chartering a family speedboat trip makes for an exciting day out and will certainly keep the little ones entertained as you stop to snorkel in the beautiful clear waters around some of the many coves.
6. Zip line through Chang Mai
If you want to add some real adventure to your trip, the tall trees and dense jungle of Chang Mai make for some of the best zip lining adventures in the world. Safe for children from 1m (3ft) tall, you and your little daredevils can spend a day or half day zipping through the forests.
7. Visit the National Park at Khao Sok
Located in Southern Thailand, Khao Sok is covered in some of the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world , Surrounding the man-made Cheow Lan Lake. it’s home to rare species such as the giant parasitic Rafflesia flower, hornbill birds, gibbons and tigers. The park can be explored by a safe hiking trail, and raft, canoe or kayak via the Sok river.
If after all of this adventure you are looking for relaxation and downtime with the children Thailand boasts some of the best beaches in the world. We would be only too pleased to recommend the best ones for you. Some of the most amazing palm fringed beaches are to be found at Patong on Phuket, whilst Railay beach on Krabi, only accessed by boat, has great rock climbing and bouldering. It is so easy to move around between the islands, that on just one trip you can experience so much of Thailand’s beautiful landscapes.
If you would like to start planning your next family adventure we’d be delighted to help. Contact us on 0118 336 0363 or leave your details here and we will come back to you.