Traveling to Thailand with Children
Complete round trip from jungle to island (18 days)
If you want to travel to Thailand with children (both younger and older), this route is a wonderful mix of culture, nature, adventure, and beach time. You start by “landing” in Bangkok, then dive into peace and nature in Khao Yai, make a cultural stop in Ayutthaya, go full jungle and adventure in Khao Sok, and finish with sun, sea, and sand on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.
This route is ideal for enterprising and adventurous families. Along the way, you truly get the complete Thailand package: city life, temples, wildlife, jungle, water, and beaches. It’s an active trip with multiple overnight stops, but it’s exactly that variety that makes it so fun and memorable.
From cycling through Bangkok to sunset at the bat cave. From jungle treks in search of animals to awe at centuries-old temples. And from kayaking and swimming to snorkeling among fish and coral. Because everything was well organized in advance, once there we could mainly do what it’s all about: enjoying the trip and each other.
This blog was written by Lianne from yourtravel.nl.
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Our Travel Itinerary Through Thailand with Children
Route Overview (18 Days)
Day 1: Flight Brussels → Bangkok (direct)
Day 2–4: Bangkok – 2 nights
Day 4–6: Khao Yai – 2 nights
Day 6–7: Ayutthaya – 1 night
Day 7–10: Khao Sok – 3 nights
Day 10–13: Koh Phangan – 3 nights
Day 13–17: Koh Samui – 4 nights
Day 17–18: Flight Koh Samui → Bangkok → Brussels
Bangkok (3 days)
Arriving, adjusting, and slowly getting into the rhythm
After a long overnight flight, we step into Bangkok: warm, busy, and impressive. That’s exactly why I find Bangkok such a great start to this trip. You arrive here literally and figuratively. No jungle or boat trips right away, but time to acclimatize first. Arriving early? Then really arrange an early check-in. It makes such a difference: freshen up for a bit, take a moment to recover. Preferably choose accommodation with a swimming pool; that’s great for everyone.
Top attractions
My absolute favorite in Bangkok (especially with children) is the cycling tour through Thonburi. You cycle through narrow streets, take a short longtail boat ride through the khlongs, and eat at a local market. You see Bangkok in a way you otherwise never would.
Need a moment of calm amid the hustle and bustle? Lumpini Park is perfect. Green, shady, and—to the children’s great amazement—giant monitor lizards. With the skyline in the background, it’s a wonderful place to unwind. A visit to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho is, in my opinion, not to be missed. Impressive, but let’s be honest: for children it’s best to keep it short and manageable. One or two temples is more than enough.
Length of stay: 2–3 nights
We stayed here for 2 nights, but I could easily have added another one (or even two). Maybe one day I’ll come back for a whole week—there’s so much to see and discover. For now, this was perfect with the children.
Hotel suggestions
Chatrium Residence Sathon – quietly located, spacious rooms, good breakfast, and a lovely swimming pool.
Anantara Riverside Resort & Spa – beautifully situated along the river, for those looking for a bit more luxury.
Eating in Bangkok
During the cycling tour, you pass the Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market, with nice food stalls and small shops. Also great with children: night markets. If that feels a bit overwhelming the first time, start with the modern night market Asiatique Riverfront.
You can read more tips and information about Bangkok with children in our blog: Bangkok with children.
Khao Yai (3 days)
From city to jungle in one drive
After Bangkok, we leave the city behind. In about a 2.5-hour drive, the scenery slowly changes: more greenery, less traffic. We’re on our way to Khao Yai National Park. We arranged this with a pre-booked transfer. Zó fijn: So convenient: get in, get out, done. Completely hassle-free. Bonus: instant contact with locals (as long as they speak a bit of English). Traveling by public transport is also possible; buses run toward Khao Yai, though with children it’s just a bit more of a hassle.
Top attractions
Khao Yai is all about discovering. We visit a refreshing natural spring: Ban Tha Chang Spring. Then we head out with a guide. In caves, bats hang from the ceiling; insects and small animals are everywhere. The guide explains, we listen, and the children watch in awe.
But the absolute highlight comes at sunset: the Bat Cave. Thousands—maybe even hundreds of thousands—of bats fly out of the cave in an endless stream. For half an hour. No music, no spectacle. Just nature. Truly magical.
The next day, we venture into the jungle with a guide who effortlessly spots wildlife: snakes (from a distance), insects, birds, and gibbons. The walk isn’t too long, but just right. And then, just when we’re about to give up hope, there it is—an elephant in the wild by the side of the road. Tip: definitely book a guided tour here. You see and experience so much more.
Length of stay: 2 nights
We stayed in a treehouse at Lala Mukha Tented Resort Khao Yai. Glamping tents and treehouses set in lush greenery, with air conditioning. This accommodation alone is already an adventure for the kids (and honestly: for us too). There is a great restaurant serving both local and international dishes. Another great option is Eco Valley Lodge – small-scale, beautifully located, and with spacious family rooms.
Eating in Khao Yai
Close to our accommodation is 505 Kow Hom Potchana Kitchen: local, cozy, and great food.
Ayutthaya (1 night)
A step back in time
After the jungle, we drive on to Ayutthaya. With a pre-booked transfer, we arrive there in about two hours.
Top attractions
The temples are, of course, the main attraction here. We liked Wat Phra Mahathat the most, with the famous Buddha head entwined in the roots of a bodhi tree. The children let their imaginations run wild about how that head ended up there. Wat Ratchaburana is right next door and often skipped, but it’s actually home to a beautiful prang that you can climb. The view is lovely, although the heat does make it a bit of a mini expedition.
Have more time? Book a cycling or tuk-tuk tour past the temples. Ayutthaya isn’t a place where you need to stay for days with children, but as a stopover it works perfectly: it breaks up the journey and adds culture without feeling overwhelming.
Length of stay: 1 night
We stayed at Krungsri River Hotel. Simple, but perfectly fine for one night and, most importantly: with a swimming pool. In this heat, it’s truly a gift. Other nice options are Baan Thai House (atmospheric and quiet) and Phuttal Residence (a traditional Thai wooden house by the river).
Eating in Ayutthaya
We visited the Ayutthaya Municipality Night Market. Also highly recommended: Baan Mai Rim Nam, an authentic restaurant along the Chao Phraya River.
You can read more tips and information about Ayutthaya with children in our blog: Ayutthaya with children.
Khao Sok National Park (3 nights)
Deep into nature
Via Bangkok, we fly to Surat Thani and then drive on toward Khao Sok National Park. This route can also be done by night train, if you like.
Top attractions
Khao Sok feels completely different from Khao Yai: denser, wilder, and more mysterious. We start with a night safari. With flashlights, we search for snakes, spiders, and even glowing scorpions. Exciting, but so much fun. A few days later, we walk through the same jungle during the day with a different guide. Suddenly everything feels different: different light, different animals, different sounds. The guide shares lots of stories and is incredibly great with the kids: bamboo whistles, leaf hats… all those little things that really bring a tour to life for children.
The absolute highlight is our day on Cheow Lan Lake. We cruise along impressive rock formations and caves in a longtail boat. We have lunch at floating huts, and the kids jump endlessly into the water from the dock. One of those days everyone remembers.
Stay: 3 nights
We stayed at Rock and Treehouse Resort, right in the middle of the jungle. Monkeys at breakfast in the morning, mysterious jungle sounds in the evening. Quite an experience. Other recommendations are Our Jungle Camp and Art’s Riverview Lodge. Would you like to sleep on the lake? Then Panvaree The Greenery is an absolute recommendation. You can find more family-friendly hotels in our blog: Family-friendly hotels in Khao Sok National Park.
Eating in Khao Sok National Park
Along Khao Sok Street, you’ll find several restaurants. We enjoyed delicious pad thai at Bamboo Bistro and Smiley Dome.
You can read more tips and information about Khao Sok with children in our blog: Khao Sok National Park with children.
Koh Phangan (3 nights)
Unwinding, slowing down, and enjoying
After all the greenery, it’s time for sun, sea, and sand. From Khao Sok, we drive to the Don Sak pier in about 2.5 hours. There, we board the ferry that takes us to Koh Phangan in around 1.5 hours.
Top attractions
Koh Phangan immediately feels different: relaxed, laid-back, with the sense that nothing is required. We rent scooters and head out to explore. We climb Paeng Noi Waterfall, visit beaches like Mae Haad Beach, and then the highlight (quite literally) for the kids: ziplining through the jungle. Even I joined in – normally I stay down below “taking photos.” Another day, we board the boat toward Koh Tao to go snorkeling. Turtles, colorful fish, and coral: the kids don’t want to get out of the water.
Stay: 3 nights
We stayed at Seaflowers Bungalows: palm trees right outside, the sea just 20 meters away, a lovely swimming pool, and a good restaurant. We could easily have stayed longer here. Another great option is Cookies Salad Resort.
Eating on Koh Phangan
There are so many great restaurants and night markets. We ate at Mama Market Srithanu (lots of choice and delicious). Other nice spots include Koh Raham, Pantip Market, and Coco Locco.
You can read more tips and information about Koh Phangan with children in our blog: Koh Phangan with children.
Koh Samui (4 nights)
Road-tripping, luxury, and relaxation
Our final stop is Koh Samui. From Koh Phangan, we sail there in about 30 minutes. A little more luxury, a little more comfort.
Top attractions
Here we rented a car and explored the island at our own pace. We visited temples such as Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, and went to Ta Nim Magic Garden: a fairytale-like forest filled with various Buddha statues. Too hot? Then cooling off at Central Samui is perfect. After Muang Waterfall, we weren’t as impressed. It’s undoubtedly beautiful in another season, but when we visited it was crowded and not very clean. Another fun spot: Overlap Stone. It’s a challenging climb, but the view is fantastic.
A special moment was our visit to Elephant Haven Samui. No shows, no washing, no rides—just feeding, learning, and observing. Not only fun for the children, but also truly educational.
Stay: 4 nights
We stayed at Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Lamai: fantastic breakfast, a lovely swimming pool, and plenty of entertainment for the kids. Other nice hotels are Thai House Beach Resort and The Fair House Beach Resort. You can find more family-friendly hotels in our blog: Family-friendly hotels on Koh Samui.
Eating on Koh Samui
Evenings are best spent at night markets and Fisherman’s Village: dining with your feet in the sand while watching fire shows in the background. The night markets in Lamai and Chaweng are also very enjoyable. During your road trip, Armando’s Beach Restaurant is a great lunch stop: a relaxed spot right on Mae Nam Beach.
You can read more tips and information about Koh Samui with children in our blog: Koh Samui with children.
Budget estimate
For our flights, we paid around €1,000 per person. Accommodation (with breakfast), tours, and transfers came to about €375 per day. You can definitely do it cheaper; we often chose comfortable to luxury accommodations. Food and drinks cost us an average of €50–€100 per day, depending on the day. Night markets are very affordable, a great way to save.
We gave the children each a set amount of pocket money. They could buy whatever they wanted, and once it was gone, it was gone. No more “Mom, can I have this? Dad, can I have that?” all vacation long. Perfect.
Best travel time
Our winter months are the most comfortable for Thailand, but unfortunately don’t always align with Dutch school holidays. The May vacation is an excellent period to travel for 2 to 2.5 weeks, as we did. Keep in mind the high temperatures: drink plenty of water and get an early start to the day.
What to bring with children
Almost everything is available in Thailand, like at 7/11. So mainly bring light clothing and not too much. Laundry can be done cheaply almost anywhere. Instead of large bath towels, microfiber towels are ideal: quick-drying and compact. Definitely bring your own sunscreen: it’s often more expensive and less readily available in Thailand. I would leave most toys at home. We kept it simple: each child could bring one small backpack. Whatever fit inside could come along.
Common mistakes / Tips
- Don’t plan too much in one day; this also means making choices. Adjust your travel pace to your family.
- If it’s very hot, choose hotels with swimming pools. Start early and avoid visiting temples during the hottest part of the day (like we did).
- Traveling is fun and adventurous. Be flexible and look for solutions if things don’t go exactly as planned.
- A (direct) flight from an airport farther from home can sometimes save both money and door-to-door travel time.
Wil je je rondreis naar Thailand meteen gaan plannen?
Bij het plannen van je reis naar Thailand zijn er verschillende manieren om je verblijf en activiteiten te boeken. Als je graag zelf alles regelt, kun je via Booking.com eenvoudig accommodaties vinden die passen bij jouw wensen. Voor unieke excursies en tours is GetYourGuide een uitstekende keuze. Wil je deze reis naar Thailand liever op maat samenstellen voor jouw gezin? Via YourTravel helpt persoonlijk reisadviseur Lianne Bloem je graag met een goed doordachte reis, afgestemd op jullie wensen.
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