Our Thailand Itinerary with Kids (Through North & South)
Thailand is a fantastic destination with kids as it offers absolutely everything – from the sunny beaches in the south to the lush mountains up north and bustling cities in between. It’s incredibly affordable for foreigners and with an abundance of tourists, it’s easy to navigate your trip.
Here’s our Thailand itinerary to inspire your next adventure. Our kids were 5 and 3 years old at the time of that trip. For toddler and baby specific tips check out this post.
Thailand Itinerary with Kids
Day 1: arrive In Chiang Rai
We flew to Chiang Rai with a short layover in Bangkok. Traveling directly into Chiang Rai instead of Chiang Mai saved us hours of driving, which with kids makes a huge difference.
Hotel: Riverie by Katathani
We spent two nights at Riverie which was a perfect choice. The hotel was overlooking the river and quiet, yet very close to all the attractions in Chiang Rai we wanted to see.
I must say that I booked his hotel for the kids to have fun at their mini waterpark (we were coming to Chiang Rai after an intense India trip), but the water wasn’t heated and nobody wanted to get in, which was a bummer. However, Riverie also had set up a giant inflatable bouncy castle and offered a drop-off kids club that looked like a big playspot and the kids were more than content. They also had various restaurants on site making things convenient.
That said, we spent the first afternoon after arriving at midday just relaxing at the hotel.
Day 2: Chiang Rai
The hotel offered to arrange a driver for us for the day, but we opted against it – not because of the price, the price was actually reasonable, but because then we would have a set time limit at each place and we wanted to be flexible. We just asked for a tuk-tuk to take us to the Blue Temple and decided to figure it out from there – which was a great decision!
After visiting the Blue Temple we just found a tuk-tuk at the gate to the temple (there were many waiting) and asked the driver to take us to Lalita Cafe. The kids adored Lalita Cafe, even though the food isn’t great, but you go there for the experience. The tuktuk driver decided to wait for us without an additional cost and we visited more temples with him, before dropping us at our hotel in the afternoon.
Day 3: to Chiang Mai
We checked out of our hotel and arranged a car to Chiang Mai, which takes approximately 3 hours depending on traffic. We specifically left visiting the White Temple for that day as it’s 25 minutes from Chiang Rai, but on the way to Chiang Mai we asked the driver to stop for half an hour, which was plenty of time.
After arriving in Chiang Mai we ventured for dinner at the Night Market located nearby. English is well-spoken in Thailand, so we had no trouble communicating and explaining that we don’t want anything spicy for the kids.
Hotel: Imm Hotel Tha Phae
We stayed at this hotel due to two factors: big rooms and location, but it’s also very affordable and clean. Most families opt to stay at Shangri-La, because it has beautiful pools for kids, but we didn’t need to use it due to the intense schedule so it made no sense for us to spend more and not use the facilities.
The hotel is conveniently located by the Tha Phae gate with lots of vendors, famous pigeons, and food options. In fact, the hotel is in the same building as McDonalds, which makes it easy to find.
NOTE: We stayed there because Arch 39 was fully booked, but if it’s not during your trip I highly recommend their family rooms.
Day 4-5: Chiang Mai with Kids
The next day, we were picked up early to spend the day at the elephant sanctuary. There are various elephant sanctuaries around the area, but not all of them are ethical – beware that any that offer elephant rides aren’t ethical.
Chai Lai Orchid was our pick and it didn’t disappoint. You can absolutely spend the night and I highly recommend you do, but in our case, we couldn’t as it was fully booked (it usually does a few months in advance). We opted for a private day trip, which was a hit with kids and we could do things at our own pace.
After an hour-long bus ride, we got matched with our local Karen tribe guide who spent the day showing us around. We did a short hike to visit a waterfall, then drove to the river to hop on a bamboo raft, followed by a visit to one elephant group. While we came for the elephants the kids enjoyed cooking our lunch with the guide the most – we set up by the river and cooked a soup in a bamboo on a fire. Before leaving back to Chiang Mai we visited another group of elephants and saw them bathe in the river.
In the evening, after returning back to Chiang Mai we went out for dinner.
The next day, we woke up in the morning to hit the Carp Cafe on the other side of Chiang Mai. It’s one of the most unique cafes with koi fish you can eat and even feed them a baby bottle (with special fish food inside, of course).
If you have more time you can add another day in Chiang Mai as there’s plenty to do there.
Day 6-8: To Bangkok
Your next stop should be Bangkok. It’s a big chaotic city, but can entertain the kids easily. I’ve visited Bangkok a bunch of times, so here’s what I recommend in Bangkok with kids.
The iconic things to do:
Don’t skip the main attractions. You can’t go to Bangkok and not see The Grand Palace. It’s ridiculously beautiful, with golden temples and intricate details. The same goes for Wat Arun temple. Nearby you’ll also find the Reclining Buddha and a 50m long is jaw-dropping golden statue isn’t something your kids will be expecting.
Don’t skip Khao San Road, especially in the evening. While the street used to be the place where all backpackers would hang out (that’s the one from The Beach), but over the years it’s changed and since then you can see many other families enjoying their evenings there sipping on noodles.
Floating market is another must-do in Bangkok. You have an option to visit the touristy market, or ask the driver to take you to the more authentic one called Tha Kha.
Kids things to do in Bangkok:
Other options include Children’s Discovery Museum in Bangkok, a child-focused and interactive museum, and Pororo Waterpark which is located on the roof of a building giving iconic views of the city.
If you get too hot or need a break, malls will come to the rescue. Icon Siam is the biggest and most famous for shopping and strolling. It also has a huge playspot called Harborland.
Another fun spot, right next to Icon Siam, is Lumpini Park due to the presence of Bangkok’s giant lizards that can entertain the kids.
Numerous themed cafes around the cities can entertain both kids and adults. After the Rain Coffee and Bubble in the Forest Cafe are both near Wat Sam Phran temple with the dragon wrapped around it.
Where to Stay in Bangkok with Kids
I recommend either The Salil Hotel Riverside Bangkok if you’re willing to splurge, or Nouvo City Hotel.
Both are in fantastic locations and have pretty swimming pools. Even though you’re in a busy area, you’re tucked away in a quiet location. Plus, Salil Hotel even offers free boat rides.
Day 9: Fly to Phuket
Which island to choose in Thailand will depend on you. Some might prefer the quiet and calm atmosphere of Koh Lanta, while others love the luxury feel of Koh Samui.
I personally recommend starting in Phuket. While Patong Road is known for partying, and it’s not for kids, the island is big and you can find plenty of activities for kids.
Alternatively, you can opt to stay at Ko Yao Noi, where things are less crazy and hotels cater more to families. It’s just a short boat away.
Santhiya is the most picturesque hotel to stay with hilltop villas made of wood. However, here’s my trick:
If you want to relax for a few more days, split your stay on the island among two properties: Santhiya and Yao Yai Beach Resort. The second one is a few times cheaper, but right on the pier and beach. Book any day trips and boat transfers from Yao Yai Beach Resort instead – you will pay significantly less for the same exact thing 😉
Days 10-13: beach time
Depending on the islands you choose you can spend some relaxing time on the beach or enjoy day trips to other islands. From Phuket or Ko Yao Noi you have options to visit Koh Phi Phi on a day trip – take a boat tour, or snorkel in the unreal blue water.
You can also take a trip to Krabi to see Railay Beach and smaller picturesque islands on the way. If you have even more time, you can take a one-way boat to Krabi and spend some nights there before flying back to Bangkok from Krabi.
