Travelling in Thailand with kids
Superficially, it has plenty going for it as a family holiday destination; scratch beneath the surface and there’s even more to appeal to those in Thailand with kids.![]()
Widely known are the increasingly affordable, regular flights, with great weather; friendly, English-speaking locals; and restaurants, tours and accommodation to suit all budgets. On top of that, the beach resorts, elephant sanctuaries and tuk tuks will delight tiny travellers, while older kids will enjoy meeting Thai hill tribes, navigating night markets, voyaging through the jungle and… yes, the beach resorts again.
Basing yourself around either the southern islands or northern highlands helps you avoid long, hot journeys. Families might want to avoid some of the more riotous festivals; children are likely to get doused in water or startled by bangs, and some attractions close.
Basing yourself around either the southern islands or northern highlands helps you avoid long, hot journeys. Families might want to avoid some of the more riotous festivals; children are likely to get doused in water or startled by bangs, and some attractions close.
Our Thailand family Holidays
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
From
£1349
14 days
ex flights
Thailand adventure holiday, self drive Tuk Tuk
A Tuk Tuk Adventure in the stunning mountains of Thailand
From
£1395 to £1595
11 days
ex flights
Thailand family holidays
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Thailand
From
£1750 to £2500
15 days
ex flights
Thailand family volunteering with elephants
Elephant and Karen Hill tribe community volunteering
From
£450
6 days
ex flights
Thailand family holiday, tailor made
Activity packed family holiday in the land of smiles.
From
£7800 to £12500
13 days
ex flights
Activities for families in Thailand
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is well set up for tourism but a much more manageable size than Bangkok. Kids will love the night markets, as well as cycling through the tiny alleyways – known as soi – to explore away from the main roads. Cycling out to the temples on the outskirts also takes them through lesser visited residential areas – it’s great fun.Enjoy the ride
Bumpy bus rides and airport queues often make travelling with kids a bit of a drag – but here the journey becomes part of the adventure. Tuk tuks are delightfully fun, as are the boat rides across the sea to tropical islands. Many attractions can be explored bike – and the safe, comfortable trains will inspire even the tiniest Thomas the Tank Engine fans.Liddy Pleasants, from our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel:
“You can go ziplining in the forest near Chiang Mai. It’s the most spectacular hilly area, and you zip line through the jungle canopy from one tree to the next – sometimes over 100m. I did that with my son when he was five! But kids can do it attached to an instructor. I thought it was the best fun ever – even without the kids!”
“You can go ziplining in the forest near Chiang Mai. It’s the most spectacular hilly area, and you zip line through the jungle canopy from one tree to the next – sometimes over 100m. I did that with my son when he was five! But kids can do it attached to an instructor. I thought it was the best fun ever – even without the kids!”
Our top Thailand family Holiday
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
From
£1349
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip is only for tailor made departures throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip is only for tailor made departures throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Thailand or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Travelling in Thailand with kids
Lesley Schofield, from our supplier All Points East, shares her tips on travelling in Thailand with kids: “Thailand is the most fantastic destination for children. It’s comparatively safe, there are good standards of food hygiene, people absolutely love kids and will interact with them. The standard of English is reasonable – but it’s also good for our kids to discover that everyone doesn’t speak English particularly well. In some villages they have a much more rural existence. They have satellite dishes – but on their huts. They drive round in pickup trucks – but that’s because they haven’t got roads. So they’re not backward by any means, but they are living a much more simple life than we are. And while that still exists in the world, and it exists somewhere that’s safe and pleasant, I think it’s brilliant to get kids out there to discover it.”
Liddy Pleasants, from our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel, cycled round Southeast Asia with her two young children. She shares her advice for travelling in Thailand with kids: “There are lots of great family accommodation options in Thailand. Khao Sok National Park is lovely and near to the west coast beaches, and you can stay in a proper treehouse up in the canopy. It’s lovely, but obviously things like that are not suitable for younger children from a safety point of view – there aren’t very sturdy railings. Likewise, lots of hotels in Thailand have pools – but you still need to keep an eye on the children.”
More about Thailand
The best time to visit Thailand is between November and February, but as you’ll see from our trustworthy weather charts, month by month guide and information on festivals and events, this is pretty much a year-round destination. We outline what we consider the best months to travel to Thailand, as well as the ideal times to go for trekking in hill country or glorious beach breaks.
Our Thailand travel guide reveals the lesser visited aspects of this hugely popular destination.
Whether you want activity or relaxation, culture or nature, sightseeing or adventure, this page is indispensable.
Things to do in Thailand stretch far beyond sipping cocktails on beaches and hanging out at all night raves.
Our responsible hill tribe trekking tours encourage travellers to interact with villagers, on their level.
Self-drive tuk tuk tours in Thailand are actually a lot safer, more comfortable and culturally enlightening than you may think!
If you’re a first-time visitor, get to know some Thai cultural customs to help you travel with more confidence.
From island-hopping cruises to family tours and idyllic yoga retreats, Thailand’s best beaches are ready and waiting.
Here's our low-down on the best Thailand food experiences to satisfy taste buds and travel bugs alike.
Bangkok can be a magical place as well as absolutely mind-blowing if you’re not prepared for the whirlwind that awaits.
First time travellers to Thailand don’t have to spend their time sipping cocktails on beaches and hanging out at all-night raves.
Tips on getting away from it all to choosing a guided tour, visiting ancient cities and how to travel safely in Thailand.
We take a deeper look at subjects from islands to elephants and orphanages to help you travel better.
