Are you thinking of going to Thailand for a family holiday but worried there isn't much there for kids?
Thailand is an excellent family destination, with a variety of fun and memorable activities to keep your kids happy. From beautiful islands and natural scenery to its rich diversity of cultures and traditions, Thailand offers something for visitors of any age.
Thailand is also known for being the "land of smiles" and your family will have smiles all around. If you're still wondering what family-friendly experiences you can add to your Thailand holiday, here is your ultimate guide to family-friendly activities in the most popular cities in Thailand for family holidays:
1. Visit James Bond Island and more unique islands
2. Get personal with rescued elephants at an ethical sanctuary
3. Zipline through the Jungle at Hanuman World
4. Seek out some thrills at Dream World Bangkok
5. Get an adrenaline rush at Siam Amazing Park Bangkok
6. Cruise along one or more of Bangkok's floating markets
7. Snorkel or sunbake at Railay Beach and Chicken Island
8. Zip or ride through the forest Thai'd Up Adventures
9. Raft down Mae Taeng River
10. Learn the secrets behind popular Thai food at a cooking class
Phuket
1. Visit James Bond Island and more unique islands
Thailand has a vast number of beautiful islands, each with its own unique qualities. If you're in Phuket, visiting the famous James Bond Island and Phi Phi Islands is usually at the top of every traveler's bucket list. While exploring these stunning islands, your kids can enjoy snorkeling and swimming while you relax on the beach with a coconut or watermelon smoothie in hand!
The easiest way for families to get to James Bond Island or Phi Phi Island from Phuket is through island hopping day tours such as a James Bond Island Day Tour by Longtail Boat or Speedboat or Phi Phi Island Full Day Tour.
2. Get personal with rescued elephants at an ethical sanctuary
Kids can learn about the protection of elephants and interact with them in an ethical way at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the only World Animal Protection-certified elephant sanctuary in Phuket. You can choose either a morning or afternoon visit to the sanctuary and meet the adorable rescued elephants in the jungle! Kids will get the chance to feed them and watch the elephants bathe, forage, and socialize freely in a tropical jungle. Rain boots, snacks, and water will be provided so you won't even need to stress about packing these for your kids.
3. Zipline through the jungle at Hanuman World
Known as Phuket's best zipline park, Hanuman World makes for a great day of adventure with the kids! The park provides a variety of outdoor activities that allow you and your family to explore the island's lush jungle and natural beauty.
The zipline course, which consists of 30 different ziplines varying in length and height, is the park's main attraction. The park's Skywalk, which consists of suspension bridges and platforms with panoramic views of the jungle canopy, is also open to visitors. Other activities at Hanuman World Phuket include waterfall rappelling, ATV quad bike rides through the jungle, and a guided jungle trek. These eco-adventures are suitable for anyone aged 4 to 80 with trained guides and safety equipment provided for all activities.
Bangkok
4. Seek out some thrills at Dream World Bangkok
If your kids are up for an exciting day outside the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, Dream World is the place to go! Dream World is Bangkok's most popular amusement park and is home to a variety of rides, attractions, and shows that visitors of all ages will enjoy.
Dream World Plaza, Adventure Land, Fantasy Land, and Dream Gardens are among the park's themed zones.
The Hurricane roller coaster, the Thunderbird spinning coaster, and the Super Splash log flume are some of Dream World's most popular rides, so make sure to not miss out on those! There are also family-friendly rides and attractions like the Sky Coaster, Bumping Cars, and Antique Car Ride.
If you and your family are visiting during the weekends or holidays, don’t miss out on their extravagant Colors of the World Parade featuring cuddly mascots and their Hollywood Action show — both of which you can watch for free!
5. Get an adrenaline rush at Siam Amazing Park Bangkok
Are your kids complaining about the tropical warmth of Bangkok? Beat the heat at Siam Amazing Park, one of the coolest amusement and water parks in Southeast Asia, and it's also family-friendly!
Feel the rush of adrenaline by hopping on Siam Amazing Park's themed amusement park rides like the Log Flume Water Coaster and Giant Drop. You can splash your day away at the jacuzzi spa, water slides, and wave pool — the latter of which is coined by the Guinness World Records as the largest-ever wave pool.
6. Cruise along one or more of Bangkok's floating markets
If your kids are sick of walking, cruising along a canal to experience any of Bangkok's floating markets is a good option! The Bangkok Floating Markets are a popular tourist attraction in Bangkok that will provide you and your family with insights into Thailand's traditional way of life.
Bangkok has several floating markets, each with its own distinct personality and offerings. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Amphawa Floating Market, and Taling Chan Floating Market are among the most popular. You'll find a variety of goods at the markets, including fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, souvenirs, and handicrafts. Many of the vendors also sell freshly-prepared foods like noodles, seafood, and grilled meats! Joining a floating market day tour is the most family-friendly way to explore the canals.
Krabi
7. Snorkel or sunbake at Railay Beach and Chicken Island
Credits: @mela__aniie on Instagram
Chicken Island, named for its distinctive shape which looks like the head and neck of a chicken, is one of the most family-friendly snorkeling spots in Krabi. While snorkeling at Chicken Island, you can expect to see a variety of tropical fish, such as angelfish, butterflyfish, and clownfish, as well as colorful coral formations and other underwater creatures! The waters surrounding Chicken Island are relatively shallow, making it an ideal spot for kids.
If you're wondering how to get to Chicken Island, join a 4 Islands Tour. This tour will take you and your family to Railay Beach, Ko Thap, Ko Kai (Chicken Island), and Ko Poda.
If you're planning a trip to Krabi, you probably have already heard of the famous Railay Beach! Railay Beach is a beautiful peninsula that can only be reached by boat. The beach is well-known for its crystal-clear waters, towering limestone cliffs, and picturesque Andaman Sea views. West Railay Beach is the most popular section of Railay Beach, offering a variety of family-friendly water sports and activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, and snorkeling.
8. Zip or ride through the forest at Thai'd Up Adventures
Credits: @oneillalert
This one-of-a-kind nature park has thrilling activities for both kids and adults including canopy zip line adventures, rope climbing, abseiling, and ATV riding through the lush forests of Krabi. Thai'd Up Adventures will also provide you with professional guides to look after you during your visit, as well as safety equipment so you have a peace of mind while your kids zip through the lush tree tops.
Chiang Mai
9. Raft down Mae Taeng River
Flowing through Chiang Mai, Mae Taeng River is a must-visit for any families taking a trip to the region. In addition to its white water rapids, the Mae Taeng River is also famous for its beautiful scenery including lush forests, picturesque hills, and stunning waterfalls that both kids and adults will appreciate!
However, if you wanna take things up a notch and add some extra adrenaline, go white-water rafting down Mae Taeng River. There will be a professional instructor who will guide your family through this exhilarating adventure! Please note that this activity is only suitable for kids aged 7+.
10. Learn the secrets behind popular Thai food at a cooking class
Credits: @grandmascookingschool
Your family lunches and dinners will be next-level delicious after you learn the secrets behind popular Thai dishes such as hot and sour soup, Pad Thai, Kao Soi curry, and mango sticky rice at this Thai Cooking Classes by Grandma's Home Cooking School! Get ready to learn how to cook authentic Thai dishes with an English-speaking instructor.
Your family will get to choose what Thai dish you wanna learn how to cook. Plus, you'll even get to visit a local market to choose the ingredients for yourself, then go on a tour at an organic farm full of fresh fruits and vegetables! After that, you'll return to the classroom to set up your individual cooking stations for the lesson. Cook a variety of authentic Thai dishes including mango sticky rice, Pad Thai, and curry — you'll even get to make curry paste with your own hands!
Pattaya
11. Take a splash at Ramayana Water Park
Credits: @ramayanawaterpark
Another great spot for family fun is Ramayana Water Park, Thailand's largest water park! This 100,000-meter-squared water park has over 50 different water slides and attractions, including a lazy river, wave pool, and several thrilling water slides. The Boomerango, a high-speed water slide that sends riders up a steep wall before dropping them into a pool below, is one of the park's most popular attractions, as is the Aqua Loop, a 150-meter-long looping water slide that reaches speeds of up to 45 km per hour!
12. Wander through beautiful flowers at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
Another family-friendly attraction in Pattaya is the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden! The garden is over 500 acres in size and features an impressive collection of exotic plants, flowers, and trees from all over the world that your kids will fawn over.
You can wander the acres of intricately-landscaped grounds with a mix of European and Thai styles. Discover the unique areas of orchids, fountains, topiary, waterfalls, cacti, ferns, bonsai, and even a mini Stonehenge! Don't miss the Thai culture shows while you're there (dancers and actors re-create historical events and Muay Thai boxing).
