A family vacation to Thailand is sure to provide unforgettable experiences, no matter your travel preferences. Glistening temples, vibrant towns, picture-perfect beaches, and mouth-watering Thai cuisine will overwhelm your senses in the greatest manner imaginable. Thanks to the exceptional service, guests of all ages depart feeling calm and cared for. Our guide to family holidays in Thailand explains it all for you. Please keep reading for a rundown of the top attractions and activities for families looking to make the most of their time in Thailand. Contact us for more details!
Why is Thailand famous for family holidays?
People often refer to Thailand as the “land of smiles” and the “land of the free.” Both descriptions will become clear as you relax on a beautiful beach and watch the youngsters play. The picturesque beauty of a varied landscape, along with the kingdom’s embrace of a vast mix of customs and civilizations, makes it an ideal vacation spot.
Its rich history, tropical environment, and well-known hospitality are an unending source of intrigue and enjoyment for families. This applies to daring adventurers and vacationers who want relaxing days and warm evenings. Thailand offers much more than the well-traveled road to vibrant Bangkok, with its mayhem of contemporary urban life and old culture. Keep reading our guide to family vacations in Thailand for more tips.
What is the best time to visit Thailand with Kids?
Thailand does not have the same four seasons as Europe. This is true for many Asian countries as well. The months of November through April are ideal for a multi-stop Thai vacation due to the pleasant weather. The summer in Britain is when the rainy season begins and continues for a few months in Thailand. July and August are great months to visit the East Coast, especially if you have children. Plus, Bangkok is one of those world-class metropolises that is worth seeing in any season. Based on your desired location, Thailand really is a fantastic vacation year-round.
Keep in mind that April and May may become rather hot if you have little kids. We suggest separating your activities to avoid children being overwhelmed or hot. Thailand celebrates its New Year, or Songkran, in April when the weather is warm.
Guide to family holidays in Thailand: Monsoon rain
The western region of Thailand, which includes popular destinations like Phuket and Krabi, is known to experience monsoon rains from May to October. As a result, this region is ideal for winter vacations from the UK.
We suggest going to the eastern coast of Thailand if you’re planning a trip during the summer break for British schools. After a brief respite in February, the rainy season returns in full force in September. So, suppose you’re planning a family vacation to Thailand in July or August. In that case, you’ll have the ideal weather for East Coast beach days, wildlife park exploration, and all sorts of other exciting, genuine Thai adventures.
What are the best places to visit in Thailand with kids?
In our guide to family vacations in Thailand, we are about to reach the most thrilling part. We know the top locations to go in Thailand with kids that are suitable for every family, whether you’re looking for a laid-back beach vacation or something a little more exciting.
Bangkok
Bangkok is a busy cosmopolitan metropolis that has much more to offer than fantastic street cuisine and countless shimmering temples (although both are a pleasure to see). Your journey may begin with a flight to Bangkok, Thailand’s cultural center.
Luxurious hotels, vibrant floating markets, historic Chinatown, exciting tuk-tuk excursions, riverboat cruises, and more are all part of the city’s rich cultural heritage. Older, more extroverted youngsters who thrive on adrenaline-pumping adventures are the best ones to experience Bangkok.
Golden Triangle
Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand form what is known as the Golden Triangle, a region characterized by misty mountains and the flowing Mekong River. The picturesque countryside, with its verdant hills and charming towns, is sure to enchant families.
Besides the breathtaking landscapes, there are many educational and entertaining things to do along the river. These include learning about the Mahouts and their connection with elephants, trekking through bamboo woods and tea plantations, or touring the beautiful temples of Chiang Rai.
Phuket
Over thirty distinct, picture-perfect coves and beaches dot the island of Phuket. Phuket is home to some of Thailand’s finest family resorts, so picking a location mostly comes down to your hotel expectations. While sunbathing, swimming, and beachcombing are the main draws of Phuket, the island also offers plenty of other things to do.
The beaches on Thailand’s western coast are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Also, older children will like the vivacity of Phuket Old Town, and there are excursions to sanctuaries for elephants and turtles.
Krabi
A stunning and pristine region of Thailand, Krabi is located on the mainland, just across from Phuket. Krabi, with its tropical forests and limestone karsts, is less developed than Phuket and more about barefoot luxury. Visitors may enjoy mountain treks or kayaking while seeing the vivid and thriving vegetation, animals, and wildlife, thanks to its placement inside a marine reserve.
The beautiful, gently shelving beaches in Krabi are perfect for toddlers and make the island a great alternative for families traveling from other regions of Thailand.
Chiang Mai
In the middle of ancient temples and verdant scenery, Chiang Mai provides a peaceful getaway that is both culturally rich and beautiful. National parks offering activities like kayaking, trekking to hill tribes, plunging into waterfalls, and visiting elephant sanctuaries are easily accessible from this location.
Family vacationers interested in culture will also find much to do here, whether it’s taking a cooking lesson or seeing several temples to listen to the calming sounds of monks’ chants.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a better choice for families with older children since it is more secluded than other Thai beaches and because getting there requires a boat trip from Phuket. In return, you may enjoy the island’s beautiful, undeveloped beaches, delicious seafood, thrilling moped rides around the island, and breathtaking sunsets.
It now has a few posh hotels, but the island is still perfect for those who want to get away from it all and experience life in a desert. However, there is still enough to do in this tranquil paradise, such as taking culinary courses or a martial arts class, going island hopping by boat, or exploring caverns.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui, located on the eastern coast of Thailand, is an ideal destination for families traveling to Thailand, especially those with small children. Coexisting with the more (intentionally) rustic beach shacks are some of the finest resorts, spas, and restaurants in the world, some of which have received Michelin stars. The location is ideal for first-time visitors to Thailand and anxious travelers. It offers world-class hotels with childcare, plenty of home comforts (including boots), and the assurance of proper care.
Koh Samui is famous for more than just its turquoise waters; it is also a popular yoga destination, a jumping-off point for excursions to nearby deserted islands, and a snorkeling mecca. The months of February through September provide some of the nicest weather on Koh Samui.
What are the top activities for families in Thailand?
We at Overa Tours are experts in making family vacations to Thailand memorable by providing a wide variety of off-the-beaten-path activities. Picture yourself adventuring through fragrant local markets, indulging in the finest Pad Thai at a secret spot, visiting an elephant sanctuary, or discovering remote tribal villages—the possibilities are limitless. To ensure that your family sees the best of Thailand, we only work with the most reliable private guides.
Shopping at the Local Markets
Your children will have a blast haggling with the shop owners in Bangkok’s lively marketplaces, and there are many shopping malls (perfect for preteens and teenagers) with every kind of store you can imagine. The highlight of every family vacation to Thailand should include a tuk-tuk ride around the city.
Wildlife Encounters
Seeing elephants is an inevitable part of any trip to Thailand. Experience the joy of feeding, washing, and trekking with these majestic creatures at one of the many wonderful conservation camps spread around the nation.
Exciting Outdoor Experiences
A wide variety of exciting activities await adventure-seeking children in the various national parks—from biking through side streets and rice terraces to sampling street cuisine, trekking through rainforests, canoeing through mangroves, and rafting down rivers. For families with active members, life in Thailand is full of adventures.
Explore the stunning coastline
Scuba divers, snorkelers, and water babies will find paradise in Thailand, which is located in three oceans: the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, and the Indian Ocean. Take a glass-bottom boat ride across islands, pausing for lunches on remote beaches. Both the east and west coasts provide beaches with gentle, shallow waves that are ideal for first-timers who are learning to swim.
Phuket and Koh Samui are great destinations for families with small children because of their abundance of world-class children’s clubs, while Koh Lanta, with its less developed infrastructure and exciting desert island atmosphere, is perfect for older children.
Marvel at the Amazing Temples
In addition to breathtaking beaches, the area is home to many stunning temples that have gained international renown, like Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Rong Khun. For kids, there are plenty of places to try their luck at fortune telling, which is a great interactive activity.
Other unique things to do in Thailand with kids
We have more to offer you in this guide to family vacations in Thailand:
Go elephant watching in Thailand
One of the main attractions for families visiting Thailand is the elephant population. The ethical conservation efforts of some programs make them stand out to me. While they do not provide elephant rides, they do provide up-close encounters with these gentle beasts to promote animal care.
A simple day trip from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand will take you to the Elephant Nature Park, one of these organizations. The care and happiness of their animals are paramount, and they make sure that their guests feel the same way.
Spending time with a remote Highland tribe
Spending time with a traditional Thai tribe and learning about rural life in Thailand may be a rewarding adventure for the whole family. Your hosts, the local hill tribe, will put you up in a traditional stilted hut for the night. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, your hosts prepare meals without a menu, asking you to savor what seems like a feast.
Enjoy the surrounding natural beauty and the abundance of outdoor activities, such as mountain biking and rafting on the tranquil river, by spending a night or two here. The tribe’s shaman is available in the evenings to share knowledge about the community’s history, customs, and culture with you and your loved ones.
Learn the basics of cooking
Indulge in a Thai cooking class while learning about a typical Thai family’s routine. You and your host will whip up a tasty home-cooked meal, the specifics of which will change with the seasons and what’s in season at the market. This interactive introduction to the herbs and spices used to flavor northern Thai cuisine allows you to customize the level of heat to your family’s preference.
Getting around Thailand with kids
We need this information in order to finish our guide to family vacations in Thailand. While you have the option to rent a vehicle, we recommend exploring much of Thailand through bus, taxi, or tour groups. Unless you’re planning to travel off the beaten path or take the sleeper trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Surat Thani, you can usually buy your bus, train, or boat tickets on the go. You cannot guarantee sleeper berths without prior reservation.
