Chiang Mai with kids

The best activities in Chiang Mai with kids

Art in Paradise Chiang Mai – 3D art museum

Are you traveling through Thailand during the rainy season, just like we did? Then a rainy day might disrupt your plans. But don’t let that discourage you! We visited the 3D Art Museum and laughed so much. You walk through different rooms full of optical illusions and can take funny photos and videos—having a soda with a polar bear, walking through lava, and getting a kiss from a snake. The museum is suitable for all ages, and you can easily explore it in about two hours.

Poo Poo Paper Park – Elephant poop museum

Poop and young children? Always a hit! Eline and Jesse were instantly excited when we told them we were going to the elephant poop museum. During a guided tour, you learn how paper is made from elephant poop. Kids get to stir, knead, and craft with the paper themselves. And it doesn’t smell like poop at all! Interactive and educational for young and old alike. Afterwards, for a small fee, you can do some crafting with the paper yourself. We made a photo frame and a card to take home.

Wat Chedi Luang – Temple in the old city

A visit to a temple is, of course, a must. We chose to visit several temples in the old city, but Wat Chedi Luang impressed us the most.
There are multiple temples on the grounds, but the large stupa is the real eye-catcher. This impressive structure survived a major earthquake in the 16th century and is an important landmark in Chiang Mai. Our kids turned it into a game: how many elephants can we spot on the stupa? In the meantime, they marveled at the golden dragons. The temple is very accessible with young children, stroller-friendly, and requires a small entrance fee.

Jungle experience with Jacky – Daro Tours

We knew one thing for sure: we wanted to head into the jungle with the kids, but preferably not on a large, touristy tour visiting the standard highlights. After some searching, we came across Daro Tours, which immediately appealed to us. We booked a private trip and would be staying with Jacky’s family in the jungle. This was without a doubt the highlight of our entire trip through Thailand.

Jacky picked us up from our hotel in Chiang Mai. Our bags were loaded, and we set off toward his family home in the jungle, close to the border with Myanmar. It was a three-hour drive, but thanks to the fun stops along the way, it didn’t feel long at all.

We started at a sticky waterfall—not the well-known one near Chiang Mai, but a hidden spot where there was literally no one else around. Swimsuits on and climbing away! After that, we swam in hot springs, visited several viewpoints, and stopped by a remote mountain school where the kids were allowed to play in the classroom.

At the end of the day, we arrived at Jacky’s family home. What a place! Don’t expect luxury: you sleep in your own hut with beds, and there’s a bathroom without hot water. After freshening up, Jacky came to get us and we headed into the jungle with his family to pick pineapples. Afterwards, we helped prepare various dishes and learned how to fold banana spring rolls. The kids were allowed to help with everything, which made it extra special.

Day 2 Jungle experience

The next morning, the chickens and pigs were fed and a ceremony was held in which we were blessed by the village elder. After that, we went to the village to see the entire process from harvesting rice to edible rice. The children even helped with their bare feet in the water, planting rice seedlings in the mud.

Then we headed back into the jungle. Along the way, the children played with the village kids, and at the top of the mountain Jacky’s grandparents were waiting with a fire already lit. We cooked on the mountain using nothing but a knife and made bamboo cups and sticky rice in bamboo. After two intense days, we returned to civilization with hearts full of experiences. You can choose to do a longer tour for a more relaxed pace. Together with Daro Tours, you can discuss which activities are suitable for your family. This tour is recommended for children aged four and up.