Our family has been living in Thailand for the past 15+ years, and we love traveling around this beautiful country with our three little girls. We’ve uncovered numerous hidden gems that only the locals know about, so I’d love to share with you a special 10 Day Thailand itinerary that will take your family away from the typical touristy spots. You’ll get to experience the highlights that this beautiful country has to offer including its urban oasis of Bangkok, the stunning mountain scapes in Kanchanaburi, and the pristine beaches of Elephant Island.
Table of Contents
Day 1-2 : The Urban Oasis of Bangkok
BANGKOK: The Capital City with a Rich Cultural Heritage
Since most international flights land in Bangkok, almost every family itinerary to Thailand will include a couple days in this sprawling metropolis.
See the most iconic landmarks and main attractions from the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bangkok River Taxi:
One way to see the best that Bangkok has to offer is on the hop-on-hop-off Chao Praya River Taxi. I’m not usually a fan of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours, but this one being on the river is a game-changer! Not only will your kids love riding the open-aired, double-decker boat, you’ll be glad you didn’t waste half your day in the horrendous Bangkok traffic. Not to mention, most of Bangkok’s iconic landmarks and tourist attractions are within a 10 minute walk from the piers. Plus, if you buy it in advance, it’s only about $4 USD for the Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi All Day Pass. Such a deal!
Where to go on the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bangkok River Taxi:
- Be mesmerized by the stunning architecture at The Grand Palace
- Dress up in traditional Thai costumes at Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn
- Siam Museum — an interactive and engaging museum about Thailand’s history, culture, and monarchy
- See the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
- Eat Pad Thai and Banana Fritters on Khao San Road
- Ride the Ferris wheel at Asiatique to get the best views of the Bangkok skyline
Check out this detailed Hop on Hop off Bangkok One Day Itinerary with a step-by-step guide of how to get there, what to do for fun at each stop, and 8 of the most iconic places to visit right from the pier. I recommend doing this over a 2 day period because it will be quite difficult to see all 8 of these attractions in a one day itinerary. But if you think you’ll tire of being on the river for two days in a row, another great one day in Bangkok itinerary option is Ancient City.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL ON THE RIVER:
SHANGRI-LA BANGKOK
- Get the Family Fun Experience Package that includes airport transfer, a 2 hour sightseeing boat tour on the Chao Praya River, and a family suite.
- Luxurious pool overlooking the Chao Praya River
- Expansive breakfast buffet
- Forbes voted the Shangri-La Bangkok as the ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok for Families’
- Only 220 meters to Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station
- Very easy to take the river taxis
ANCIENT CITY is another great one day in Bangkok itinerary for families.
Ancient City, aka Muang Boran by the locals, is a huge 320 acre outdoor museum and park that is in the shape of Thailand and has life-size replicas of the most famous architectural and cultural landmarks from each region.Since there are more than 100 monuments to see at Ancient City, it’s nearly impossible to visit each one. So these are the ones we recommend to have an epic one day in Bangkok itinerary:
- The Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (aka the Royal Hall from the Grand Palace) that you can walk inside and explore
- The Sanphet Prasat Palace from Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand, that you can also walk into without worry that the kids are being too loud or touching some real relic
- The Floating Market where you can try some homemade Thai treats, Pad Thai noodles, or get some souvenirs from the traditional Thai-style ‘boat vendors’
- Multiple Ancient Ruins — especially the Prasat Phra Wihan or the Phanom Rung Sanctuary where the kids can climb on the ruins and venture through all the short entrance doors and hallways or even play hide and seek
- An Old Market Town where you can buy fresh fruit smoothies, old timey Thai style toys and games, and other traditional souvenirs
- Khun Phaen House – this place is fun to explore the different rooms in a traditional Thai house on stilts and also learn how many Thai people still live up-country today
- ‘The Ghost Museum’ — aka Mondop Phra Chaturaprut — which is a 3 story depiction of the buddhist version of heaven and hell (please note: I don’t recommend taking young kids inside because of the scary ghost statues inside)
There are also replicas of the royal ships, famous waterfalls, the Giant Swing, the reclining Buddha, the royal gardens, pagodas, shrines, etc. The reason this is the best one day in Bangkok itinerary is because you literally get to see a life-size version of the most famous monuments and tourist attractions from all over Thailand — all in this one place!
Where to get the best price on tickets to Ancient City?
I’ve been to Ancient City at least 10 times, so I am always looking for the cheapest price available. In my research, Klook for sure has the best price, and it’s a trusted website like Get Your Guide, and I’ve used it multiple times for travel around many different SouthEast Asian countries.
- Ancient City Website Price = 700 baht/adult age 15+ (about $20 USD)
- Klook Ancient City Tickets Here Price = 350 baht / adult (about $10 USD)
- Kids age 6-14 have a special pricing, and kids age 5 and under are FREE (yayyy! just another great reason to take the family)
I recommend getting your Ancient City tickets in advance from Klook to save nearly 50%!
If you’re looking for a private tour with a friendly English speaking guide, this tour takes you to 3 different temples: Ancient City, Erawan the larger-than-life 3-headed elephant monument, and Wat Paknam with the largest buddha statue. It also take you to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants with gulf views called Sailom Bang Pu with very authentic Thai dishes. You’d also get to end your day at Jodd’s Fair, an outdoor market and foodie haven! At only $200, it’s a great deal. But do note that it does not include the temple entrance fees.
DISCOUNT TIP: Klook is a trusted site that I use often in my travels around SouthEast Asia, and they usually have discounted prices for the most popular attractions.
Use this special 10% coupon code ‘APP10TW’ if it’s your first time to use the Klook mobile app.
Where to Stay with Kids in Bangkok
Budget Friendly Hotels in Bangkok with Kids:
Beanstalk Bangkok ~2595 THB/night (about $74 USD) for the Quadruple Room
- Quadruple Room has 2 bunk beds with ensuite bathroom (not like most small hostels)
- Modern, yet a traditional Asian feel with a minimalist style
- Washing Machines on-site
- 15 minute walk to Surasak BTS Station
- Continental Western or Asian Breakfast available
Mid-Range Family Hotel in Bangkok:
Novotel Living Bangkok Sukhumvit ~3400 THB/night (about $97 USD) with 2 kids in a deluxe family studio
- Has a king bed and bunk beds
- Nice swimming pool with a waterfall and slide as well as a children’s wading area that’s only 50cm (about 1.5′) deep. The older kids would have a blast trying out the Zorb Ball!
- Kids Club Room – Playtopia – has a ball pit and small toys for the littles as well as board games and a Nintendo Switch video game area for older kids.
- There’s a cafe, library and co-working space for the parents to hang out or get a little work done right next to the Kids Club
- They also have rooms with bunk beds, which are great for families
- Also baby cot / cribs are available upon request
- Super delish breakfast buffet
Luxury Places to Stay in Bangkok with Kids:
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok~20,268 THB/night (about $580/night USD)
- Luxurious 5 star stay in the heart of the city
- Most rooms have a view of the lush garden and pool area
- The swimming pool is massive with multiple places for the littles to splash and swim around
- A great Kids Club with interactive and educational toys and activities
- They even have child-sized robes and slippers available for the littlest Kempinski guests
- The breakfast buffet here is exquisite — so delish!
BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN BANGKOK:
JASMINE GRAND RESIDENCE
With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites that have a living room, dining area, kitchenette, washing machine, etc. for only about $55-$110 USD!
-
The delicious buffet breakfast, the friendly reception who are ready to help you 24 hours a day in a foreign country, and the epic swimming pool with a slide, fountains, and kiddie area make this a great choice!
These are a good read before traveling to Bangkok with your family:
- Step-by-step guide of how to get there, where to eat, what to do with a one day in Bangkok itinerary visiting the Ancient City
- A detailed travel guide for families of what to do in Bangkok for 3 days
- If you didn’t yet book a place to stay in Bangkok, read these 10 tips first!
- Our recommendations of the Best Hotels in Bangkok for Families
- All you need to know about the updated Thailand Tourist Visa
TRANSPORTATION TIP FOR BANGKOK:
Get a BTS Sky Train Pass called a ‘Rabbit Card‘.
Having this card has multiple benefits:
- Go straight to the BTS gate, tap your card, and it will automatically calculate how much the ride was based on where you exit.
- Save lots of time not needing to queue to buy individual BTS ride tickets
- You can pick up this Rabbit Card from Klook at the Suvarnabhumi Airport or at Central World (a mall in the center of the city). This makes it easy to quickly jump on the BTS Sky Train and make your way around the city with ease.
- This one from Klook is pre-loaded with 200 THB already (about $7 USD).
- If you buy yours from the BTS Station, you should pre-fill it with about 100-200 baht per day that you’ll be in Bangkok. You can top up more later, but it is quite difficult to get a refund on any amount left in the card.
- Get 1 Rabbit Card per person above 90cm (about 3 feet). Kids under 90 cm ride for free.
If you’ll be stopping at multiple BTS Sky Train stations all in one single day, it would save you money to have a BTS One Day Pass. With this card, you can go to an unlimited number of stations in one day, saving you time buying individual tickets at the long queues. This is most helpful if you’ll stop at 3+ stations in a single day. But this pass is only good for one single day and can not be ‘topped up’ like the above Rabbit Card.
Days 3-5 : Kanchanaburi Mountains
Next take an adventure into the Kanchanaburi Mountains.
When the locals here think of an ideal mountain escape, Kanchanaburi Province is high on that list. This is one of our family’s favorite places to vacation also. This is why I added it to this 10 Day Thailand Itinerary for families. It’s one of those rare hidden gems where not many expat tourists go, so it still has an authentic Thai feel.
Day 3: take a historic train ride on the Death Railway and walk the River Kwai Bridge.
- This railway is infamous for many POWs dying under the extremely harsh living conditions. The POWs were under the Japanese occupation of that area during World War II while building this railroad track. You can even ride this train all the way from Bangkok. See more info about that in the ‘How to get to Kanchanaburi’ below.
- Walk across the historic River Kwai Bridge. You can even stand on the side as the train passes by.
- Enjoy a meal at the Goodway Restaurant under the shade of a bamboo thatched roof. It is located right on the river and by the bridge.
DAY 4: Walk the Saphan Tham Krasae Railway Bridge and Check out the Sai Yok Noi Sticky Waterfalls
- Our family enjoyed walking along the top of the elevated railroad tracks. It was quite sobering to remember how this part of the wooden railway bridge was the most dangerous part for the POWs during World War II.
- We took the train from the Nam Tok train station to the Lumsum Station. Then, we walked on the elevated railroad tracks back towards the Saphan Tham Krasae train station. Whichever way you are coming from, be sure to ride across the bridge while still on the train.
- While waiting for our return train back, we explored inside a small cave called the Krasae cave. It’s not very deep and has high ceilings.
- Afterwards, we took the train back to the Nam Tok train station and got a ‘Song Taew pick-up truck taxi’ to take us to Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls, which is just about a 5 minute drive away. You could walk in about 30-40 minutes.
- Exploring around the Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls was a lot of fun with therare non-slippery surface, which was great for our kids
On Day 5: Hike up and swim in the 7 levels of the Erawan Waterfalls
- If you like hiking, I’d recommend exploring all the way up to the top, level 7, where there is a nice view and a cave. The hike up is actually not too strenuous, but there are a few steep parts and a couple slippery areas after Level 4. We did take our 2 year old all the way up one year.
- If you don’t like hiking, then I’d recommend just going up to Level 4 of the Erawan Waterfalls, which levels 1-4 are pretty close to each other.
- You can swim up to and stand on a rock right under the falls at level 3.
- Bring a life jacket or swim floaties for the little kids. Adults are also required to wear a life jacket if swimming, so don’t forget to rent one for 20 baht (about $.50 cents) at Level 1.
Other Highlights of our Trip to Kanchanaburi:
- Riding ATVs in the jungles of Thailand
- Riding a bamboo boat along the river
- Feeding the elephants a sugarcane snack
HOW TO GET TO KANCHANABURI:
- RENT A CAR – If you’re brave enough to drive in a foreign country, then I’d recommend renting a car to get to Kanchanaburi. A rental car would give you the most flexibility. It’s about $60 USD/day plus gas.
- BY TRAIN – If you’re up for an adventure, and you’re flexible on time, then I’d recommend taking the open-air train from Bangkok’s Thonburi Train Station to Kanchanaburi. The cost is only about $3 USD per person, but there are only 2 departure times. The train ride is about 3 hours to Kanchanburi (where the River Kwai Bridge is) or 5 hours to Nam Tok (where the Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls is). Here’s the timetables.
- BY BUS – If you’re on a tight budget, but you prefer to have an air-conditioned ride and more departure times, then a bus is a good fit.
- By PRIVATE VAN HIRE – If budget is not a factor, then I would highly recommend booking a private taxi or van. This Private Car or Van Hire from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi includes the driver for 12 hours each day at about $115/day. What a great deal!
Where to Stay with Kids in Kanchanaburi
Mid-Range Place to Stay in Kanchanaburi:
The Modeva Hotel Kanchanaburi~2900 THB/night (about $83 USD) with 2 kids in a family suite
- Separate bedroom with a queen, twin, and baby cot as well as a living room area
- Nice swimming pool and garden area with playground
- Just a 15 minute walk from the River Kwai Bridge and Train Station so it’s a good option to stay here if coming by train
- Can book tours here easily
- No breakfast available here but the 7-11 is a 2 minute walk away or Cinnamon Coffee is a great brunch spot that’s just a 10 minute walk away
Luxury Place to Stay in Kanchanaburi:
The Float House River Kwai ~11,770 THB/night (about $336 USD) for a floating villa
- If rustic luxury right in the middle of the mountains and literally right on the river, then this is your perfect escape
- I recommend staying here if you have older kids who are good swimmers since you are literally on top of the river
- A large 89 square meter floating villa (about 1000 sf)
- Private deck with porch swing right on the river
- Both breakfast AND dinner are included in this rate
- Mountain Bikes available
- Can ride down the river in a long tail boat or on a bamboo raft
Budget-friendly Place to Stay in Kanchanaburi:
Petchamaneekan Beach Resort in the Mountains ~1250 THB/night (about $35 USD)
- Beautiful mountain and river views everywhere
- Nice, peaceful getaway
- A large standard room (no frills here) with a king bed and a lounging chair that can easily sleep 1 child
- No extra beds are available here, so if you have more than 1 child, simply book 2 rooms with a connecting door (that’s what we did!)
- It’s called a ‘beach resort’ because it has a nice sandy beach right on the river which is great for building sand castles, dipping your feet in the water, or fishing alongside the banks
- Nice swimming pool overlooking the mountains
- 4 large swings overlooking the river and mountains
- A tennis court (or pickleball court!) and ping pong table
- We rode the bamboo raft down the river which was soooo fun (even with our 1 and 3 year old it still felt safe since we had brought their swimming floaties)!
- Simple Western style breakfast with white bread, fried eggs, ham, hot dogs, and watermelon or Thai rice porridge breakfast
- Small convenience store on-site with snacks, drinks, toothbrushes, etc.
- Near Hellfire Pass and not far from San You Noi Waterfalls
Hey there, we're Brittany and Witt!
Day 6-10 : Elephant Island
The last few days of this 10 Day Thailand Itinerary for families will have you relaxing and exploring Elephant Island.
What we love about Elephant Island, called ‘Koh Chang’ with the locals, is that it is one of the most well-preserved islands in Thailand — with more than 70% still being unspoiled rainforest. Even as you are riding the 30 minute ferry ride over from the mainland, all you will see is the lush and dense jungle amidst the steep peaks of the mountainous terrain while gliding over the pristine blue waters towards the white sandy beaches. However, the locals know that just beyond the tree line are luxurious hotels with infinity pools and incredible family-friendly resorts with waterparks and kids clubs.
Highlights of Elephant Island:
- Many long stretches of white sand beaches — our favorite being Khlong Prao Beach
- Crystal clear, emerald blue waters that are calm and shallow enough for the kids to splash around
- Ban Bang Ban fishing village of interconnected piers that jut out into the gulf of Thailand
- Kayaking through the protected mangrove forest of Ao Salak Kok
- Hiking to the Khlong Chao and Khlong Nonsi Waterfalls
- Swimming with the elephants at Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp
- Watching the sun fade into the horizon at the Kai Bae Viewpoint
HOW TO GET TO KOH CHANG:
- RENT A CAR – I’d highly recommend renting a car to go to Elephant Island. From Bangkok, it’s only about a 4.5 hour ride to the Ao Thammachat Car Ferry. A rental car would also give you the ability to explore all the places around the island. It’s about $60 USD/day plus gas to rent a car or SUV.
- BY PRIVATE VAN TRANSFER – If you only plan to relax and enjoy the pristine beaches and your resort’s infinity pool, then I’d recommend booking a private taxi or van transfer. It would be about $175/one way from Bangkok.
- BY PRIVATE VAN HIRE – If budget is not a factor, then I would highly recommend booking a private van hire to be your driver everyday on the trip (it’s about $90/day plus gas including the driver).
- BY PLANE THEN TAXI – You can fly from Bangkok to Trat Province in less than an hour for about $70 USD per person. Then you could rent a car or hire a taxi to take you to the island for another $50 USD.
- BY BUS – A very budget friendly way to get to Elephant Island is to take a tour bus from the Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal (right near the Ekkamai BTS Sky Train Station). You’ll then need to take a Song Taew (a pick-up truck taxi with two seating rows in the bed of the truck) to the Ao Thammachat pier and ride the ferry over to the island, Then you’ll need to ride another Song Taew truck taxi to the beach that your hotel or resort is located. I’ve done this a couple times, but not with kids in tow. But to each his own!
- Note : No trains go to Trat province
Where to Stay with Kids in Koh Chang
Budget Friendly Places to Stay in Koh Chang:
Siam Bay Resort ~2800 THB/night (about $80 USD) with 2 kids in a family bungalow with seaviews
- Dreamy sea views right from your own private bungalow
- Loft area with twin or queen bed for the kids to sleep
- Large balcony to sit outside and enjoy the views
- 2 swimming pools on-site
- Small private beach area with crystal clear water and nice, fine sand
- You can rent kayaks or paddle boards to go to a small, private island nearby and great for snorkeling
- Good breakfast included too
Mid-range Places to Stay with Kids in Koh Chang:
The Splash Koh Chang ~5200 THB/night (about $150 USD) with 2 kids in a ‘Family Room’
- Modern and luxurious rooms and facilities
- The Family Room has bunk beds and a sofa
- an awesome waterpark on-site that is only for hotel guests
- private beach
- a nice spa for the parents
- great buffet breakfast
Luxury Places to Stay with Kids in Bangkok:
Koh Chang Paradise Resort & Spa ~8100 THB/night (about $235 USD)
- Choose between a modern, luxurious beachfront bungalow or your own villa with its own private pool
- Private Waterpark for hotel guests with a splash pad, pirate ship play area and also 7 large slides for the big kids and adults to enjoy
- Great indoor kids club with ball pit, slides, and trampoline
- Awesome international breakfast buffet with so many choices
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy something through them, we may earn a small commission. But at no extra cost to you!
This helps enable us to keep sharing helpful travel content. Thank you for your support!
Best Time to Visit Thailand
According to the locals, Thailand has 3 seasons: hot, hotter, and rainy… haha! Thailand is a tropical climate with high humidity most all-year long.
March-April are by far the hottest months of the year with mostly sunny days, temps usually in the mid-90, and high humidity.
Rainy season is June-September with tropical thunderstorms scattered throughout the day. But don’t let the rainy season scare you from coming to Thailand altogether though. If there is a torrential downpour, then it usually doesn’t last much longer than an hour, and it also helps cool down the heat of day.
May and October are shoulder seasons. May could be hot since its close to the summer season, and October could be rainy. It’s a bit of a gamble.
If your schedule is flexible, I’d highly recommend traveling to Thailand with your family sometime between November to February. The tropical thunderstorms are rare during these months, and the hot weather feels pretty manageable with some ‘cooler’ days in the 70s and 80s.
Phone and Internet Service
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — whether it’s for using GPS, researching the best island hopping tour packages, or letting the kids have some downtime a little Bluey on YouTube.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 a day — it’s a total rip off!
You can get the same exact service for much cheaper and just as easy with our tips below:
E-SIM: I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to have great internet service all over Thailand. They are actually using the same local providers that AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon will use.
I have personally used Airalo many times traveling to multiple countries all over the world, and it works great and is SUPER easy to install.
To use your Airalo eSIM, you simply buy a package then scan the QR code they send in an email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $9.90 for 50 GB of data to $19.95 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING AROUND THAILAND WITH KIDS: If you let your kids watch YouTube, Netflix, etc, then I recommend getting the Unlimited Data. But if you’re not video streaming, then 50 GB of data is enough to browse the internet, use Google Maps, and stay in touch with friends back home.
PHYSICAL SIM CARD: You could also pick up a physical SIM card at the airport upon arrival or at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop. You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 350 baht (~$10 USD), but it usually only comes with 5GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP: If you plan to use a physical SIM card, then be sure to contact your local phone provider (such as AT&T or Verizon) before traveling overseas to check that your phone is already unlocked. They can usually do this for you over the phone.
From the history, the culture, the food, the fun attractions, the awesome kid-centric resorts, and how friendly the locals are, we can’t say enough good things about the reasons why you’ll love visiting Thailand using this itinerary with your family.
Comment below with which of these hidden gems you are most excited to visit next?
Best Beaches in Thailand: Railay Beach, Krabi Travel Guide with
One of the Best Beaches in Thailand is Railay Beach Krabi After traveling to more
The 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok with kids
These are the 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok (plus 1 hidden gem that only the locals know about!).
This list includes the most kid-friendly temples to visit in Bangkok plus other child-friendly activities at each of these must-visit tourist attractions in Thailand.
