THAILAND
20 DAYS ITINERARY
A far trip with kids? Go to Thailand! Thailand is not only super family friendly, it also offers an enormous diversity and is easy to travel with kids. Do you prefer to travel by public transport, take a domestic flight or be driven around in a taxi with driver, that's up to you! For finding the best activities and accommodations, We’ve created this itinerary suggestion with our favorite hotels, all over Thailand. Because in Thailand we once lost our heart and it's still there.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
Booking your family trip often starts with finding the right flight. In fact, we often decide the destination depending on where the flights are cheapest that month. Traveling to Bangkok is a good option because sometimes the prices drop drastically. Click here to check out the best flights. Booked? All right! Then the countdown can start!
Family trip DAy 1
Today your journey is about to begin! You finally arrive in Bangkok, probably after a long flight... The heat and humidity will overwhelm you, but I promise you: it's a fantastic city! From Suvarnabhumi airport you take a taxi or the train to your hotel. Because you are tired and have a jetlag to overcome, you will spend your first day by the pool. Relax and enjoy the thought of having a fantastic time. Scroll down to see the hotels we selected.
family trip DAy 2
You'll probably wake up a little later than you would at home. That's where the damn time difference kicks in. No problem! First breakfast and then you can explore the city. The sights of interest are the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. You can visit these places yourself, or you can call on a local guide who always knows where to go and what to see. We recommend such tours if you don't feel like planning everything yourself in advance. A guide will not only take you to the sights, but can also tell you where to go for delicious street food, a quiet walk or the best shopping mall.
No need for a guide, but an easy way to get around the city? Then this day pass might be something for you. Unlimited use of tuktuk and boat to get to your desired destinations!
family trip DAy 3
Explore Bangkok by bike! After breakfast you go to the meeting point where your guide will pick you up. You will cycle through both the chaotic and quieter neighborhoods of this steaming city. What makes Thailand even more fun is the fresh fruit tat is available everywhere, delicious spicy food and all that on the streets. You will stop several times to try some local snacks or dishes. Children are also more than welcome and will certainly appreciate the Thai delicacies. More info can be found here. Also if you want to change the theme of the tour, they offer different rides.
If you prefer to relax at the edge of that fantastic swimming pool today, you can also book a bike tour in the evening.
family trip DAy 4
Today you're going to the market, and we picked two special ones for you. How about a floating market or a market on an old train track where the train passes at a few centimetres from the goods. Ideal for delivery, but above all; spectacular to experience the hectic pace as the train approaches.
Sail through Damnoen Saduak in a canoe, buy fresh fruit or a coconut and enjoy the bustle of the Thai sellers. Be sure to take some extra baht with you to buy some fruit. You won’t regret!
Damnoen Saduak attracts a lot of tourism these days, but we find it a nice trip because it gives a good impression of how trade used to be conducted.
This tour starts at 7AM and takes about 6 hours, private or with a small group. Ideal to round off your stay in Bangkok in peace and quiet with an afternoon of cocktails at the bar or swimming in the pool. If you are in Bangkok on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can visit the Amphawa market. This is a bit less touristic and certainly just as much fun (also in combination with the Railway Market!).
book your HOTELS IN BANGKOK
book your activities IN BANGKOK
family trip DAy 5
Today you leave Bangkok for Chiang Mai. How you take this trip is up to you. You can easily take a domestic flight (careful! It’s probably a different airport than the one you landed from Europe!) or you can opt for the night train. A domestic flight can be arranged via this link. If you choose for a domestic flight, we would go for an evening flight. This way you can still enjoy Bangkok for a whole day. In the city or at the pool.
More info about the trains can be found here. If you take the train at half past 8, you will arrive in Chiang Mai just before 9 o'clock the next morning. The trains are equipped with comfortable sleeping compartments. We would recommend - especially with children - not to go for less than second class. Preferably you travel in first class where you have a private compartment at your disposal, but you choose! Long live freedom of choice, right?
family trip DAy 6
You are in Chiang Mai where the green jungle smiles at you. When you arrive in here, it is best to take a taxi to your hotel where you can freshen up and recover from the (long) journey. The first day you will spend as you wish. You enjoy the new surroundings and let yourself be pampered in the hotel. We chose the Veranda High Resort and to this day it remains one of our best stays! But we've also found some other highlights in the area (see below)! In the evening you can visit the night market in the center. Loose atmosphere, colorful setting and fresh street food! Something you can perfectly arrange yourself. Ask at the reception of your hotel if they don't have a shuttle or take a taxi. If you still want to be shown around, you can always book this tour.
family trip DAy 7
It’s adventure day! Always wanted to fly through the jungle? This is your chance! Deep in the rainforest, where the gibbons live, you can fin dan altitude trail. The kids won't know what's happening to them! It’s a whole lot different from the temples you've visited so far! You explore the jungle from the trees, dangling from a zipline between the monkeys! It’s about to turn out to be an unforgettable experience! The trail is suitable for anyone taller than 100 cm. If you ask us, this is a real must-do! Early birds have extra luck: in the morning the gibbons are the most active. The earliest picking up time is at 6:30AM and actually recommended if you want to make the most of your jungle experience.
If this is a bit too adventurous for you and you're more in the mood for an extra day of culture, we recommend a trip to Doi Inthanon. Ask at your hotel desk for a taxi that will take you to Doi Inthanon national park and you decide how much time you want to spend there. The beautiful views from the top of the mountain are one of the reasons why the place is immensely popular. If you prefer an arranged excursion, we can recommend this excursion.
family trip DAy 8
Hotel check out! To get to know the region from the inside, you go on a hike. Guide Kalu was born and raised in the region and will take you to the hidden gems. He will pick you up in the morning at your hotel and start a two-day trek while clearing your mind. Before noon a refreshing dip at the waterfalls of Mork Fa and then continue to the hot spring of Pong Duead where you stop for lunch. After lunch you will continue your journey to a traditional mountain village where you will spend the evening and night. You will cook together and eat at the campfire. You will spend the night with a local family. You don't need a new hotel for this night.
You can book this trip via this link.
family trip DAy 9
In the morning you wake up early (breakfast at 7.30) because you start a hike of about an hour and a half to the river. A bamboo raft is waiting for you to follow the river to an elephant camp where you learn about these beautiful animals. The time you spend here is rather limited because after lunch in the village, you jump on the raft and start moving again. End point is Shan Village. Here you will be picked up again and dropped off at a hotel of your choice. It is advisable to choose a hotel close to the airport, because day 10 is a travel day.
The organization of Kalu is very accessible and will be happy to answer all your questions. They can also guarantee a safe place to store your luggage during the trip.
BOok your HOTELS IN Chiang Mai
book your activities IN CHIANG MAI
family trip DAy 10
Today is a travel day. You go from the north to the south of the country. The journey heads to Krabi. You'll do this with a domestic flight (more information here. We recommend to take a morning flight so you have some spare time at the hotel in Krabi.
We stayed in Phulay Bay-what a fantastic place! We had a room for 2, but the bed was big enough to sleep even with 4. We added some more top hotels to the list below.
family trip DAy 11
Time to relax! You have a fantastic hotel, in an even more fantastic place to relax. Children will certainly appreciate the presence of the beach, the sea and the peace and quiet and also as parents we can enjoy a day sit back, relax and enjoy the view.
book your HOTELS IN KRABI
family trip DAy 12
Take a taxi to Khao Sok. All possibilities can be found here. Khao Sok is known for its natural beauty. A national park where lakes, rock formations and jungle meet. The ride takes about 3 hours.
The choice of hotel goes from luxurious to adventurous, although we can also consider 'experience' as a luxury. We picked out some accommodations that can't be missed in that area. (Look below)
family trip DAy 13
Explore Thailand's oldest jungle, Khao Sok! This day excursion is very varied: you will swim in the crystal clear waters of Lake Chiew Lago de Larn, travel through the jungle to experience the fantastic fauna and even go animal spotting in their natural habitat. The natural spectacles you will see, hear and experience here will stay with you for a long time to come! You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel.
To be complete, we would like to point out that you can also arrange things on the spot. With internet, a phone and above all a mouth to ask questions you will get very far. However, the excursions we propose are ready to go, so you don't have to worry about this during your holiday.
family trip DAy 14
The ideal mix between action and culture! You can fully enjoy the green surroundings while bamboo rafting down the river Sok, visit a local market and the monkey temple (great fun for the kids!). Accompanied by your guide, you can feed bananas to elephants while they get their daily bath in the river.
book your HOTELS IN Khao Sok
book your activities IN KHAO SOK
family trip DAy 15
Your journey ends on one of the many islands in Thailand. From Khao Sok you leave in the direction of Koh Samui. You will be on the road all day. Your transport can easily be arranged in advance again, but in the hotel they will be pleased to assist you too. You will leave the hotel around 8 o'clock by taxi (a 3 hour drive) and you will be dropped off at the pier from where the ferry departs. The exact name is Tapee Pier Lomprayah. There are 3 boats leaving a day (9am, 11.30am and 3.30pm) you take the 11.30am. Tickets can be bought on the spot or online (be sure to check a few days in advance if the hours have not changed). Once you arrive on the island, look for a taxi to take you to your hotel (we wouldn't book this in advance, as your arrival time may vary).
family trip DAy 16
You're on an island in the Gulf of Thailand. We speak bountybeaches, palm trees and a sea so clear that you can see the fish sniffing at your toes. We would say: enjoy the luxury of doing nothing at all. Look for snorkel gear (one of our all time favorite activities!), slide your feet under the table or be served by the poolside. The kids will be happy to slide floaties around their tanned arms.
If you can't wait to discover the fifty shades of blue though, we definitely recommend this excursion. Visit the surrounding islands, snorkel in the clearest waters and study life under the sea. Take the speedboat as well as the traditional longtail boat and get back to your hotel tired but satisfied after a whole day of water fun.
family trip Day 17
Plenty of action today! You’ll explore the island in a variety of ways. You can rent a quad bike, go out by jeep or bike. Below are some examples of tours you can book (if you really want to be sure of everything in advance). But honestly? We would check it out and arrange it on the spot. Anyway, they can tell you at the reception of the hotel where you need to be for which activities. They will probably even help you find the ideal trip. Go! Go! Enjoy!
family trip DAy 18
How long you enjoy that island life depends, of course, on how much you can enjoy the beach life. We would say: take a day off and relax before you plunge back into the chaos of western life. For us, travelling with children also means taking the time to be there for them. Playing games, diving into the pool or building sand castles... Whatever they like. Giving your children lots of stimuli, which helps to give them an unforgettable time. But they will also love to be able to draw the attention of their parents without too much hassle. Today is all about the kids.
BOEk ZELF JE HOTELS IN Koh Samui
BOEK ZELF JE ACTIVITEITEN IN KOH SAMUI
family trip DAy 19
Time to head in the direction of Bangkok to return home. You can book a direct flight to Bangkok from Koh Samui. All information can be found here again. Attention! Flying directly from Koh Samui is a lot more expensive than when you first take the ferry to Surat Thani and from there take the plane. The ferry can be arranged via this link, but you will be on the road much longer. The choice is personal, so we prefer to give both options. The last night on Thai soil will be spent in Bangkok.
BOEk ZELF JE HOTELS IN Bangkok
family trip DAy 20
You definitely return home with a cartload of new experiences and a family feeling that can’t be wrecked. The effect is real: this trip will last a long time. You leave from Bangkok's international airport, Suvarnabhumi. We hope to see you soon for the next withkidsontheroad-trip!