The Best 3 Week Thailand Itinerary
After traveling around the world, I truly believe Thailand is one of the best destinations in the world to take a family trip. Thailand is a relatively safe and affordable place to visit. The exquisite beaches in Thailand alone are worth the long international flight with kids! Plus, the rich cultural heritage of the Thai people makes for such an incredible once-in-a-lifetime vacation for families. With Thailand being one of the best places in the world to visit with kids, you’re probably wondering which city is the best place to visit in Thailand and why it’s a must to add it to my Thailand itinerary?
The 4 must-see places to visit in Thailand
- Railay Beach in Krabi with its limestone cliffs jutting out of the emerald green sea
- Koh Lipe island dubbed ‘the Maldives of Thailand’ because of its pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters
- Bangkok offers a glimpse into the rich, cultural heritage of the Thais as well as being a foodie haven
- Chiang Mai is a quintessential Thai village nestled up in the mountains with vibrant markets and ancient temples
These cities are the best of the best places in Thailand to visit that will truly give you a unique experience that we’ve never seen anywhere else in the world.
With this 3 week Thailand itinerary, you’ll get to go island hopping down south, visit the top tourist spots in Bangkok, and visit the must-see attractions in Chiang Mai.
Contents
3 Week Thailand Itinerary Overview
Day 1-3 : Bangkok
Most of the International flights will fly into the capital city. This is actually a good thing and worth adding to any Thailand itinerary because Bangkok has the most popular temples and the best cultural attractions in Thailand. Many of these must-visit tourist attractions in Bangkok are kid-friendly.
Day 4-9 : Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a quaint Thai village nestled up North in the mountains. The vibrant markets, the ancient temples, and the sticky waterfalls make this one of the best places to visit on any Thailand itinerary. Taking an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences worth adding to your family travel bucket list too.
Day 10-14: Railay Beach in Krabi
In my humble opinion, Krabi is one of the best beach destinations in the world. The stunning limestone cliffs jutting up out of the emerald blue sea are stunning. Being only accessible by boat makes it all the more charming.
Day 15-18: Koh Lipe Island
Dubbed the ‘Maldives of Thailand’ for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal blue waters, this place is a must for a 3 week Thailand itinerary!
Day 19-21: Back to Bangkok
Give your family a couple days to relax and unwind before that long international flight back home. Explore the rich Thai heritage by biking or driving a golf cart around Ancient City. Then catch the most beautiful sunset in the tallest building in Thailand before ending the night at a vibrant market and foodie haven!
Keep reading below for a step-by-step Thailand itinerary of the best places to visit with kids in each of these 4 cities, where to stay, how to get there, when to go, etc etc
Day 1-3 : The Capital City of Bangkok
Maybe you’ve heard negative remarks about the sex tourism, which gives the capital a bad rap. But don’t skip this sprawling metropolitan that is full of the best historical and cultural places to visit in Thailand.
Maybe you’re wondering:
Is Bangkok really worth visiting? Is Bangkok safe to visit with kids?
I would humbly say yes to both those questions. Not only do I feel more safe being in Bangkok than I do in New York City, but I actually even feel more safe in Bangkok than I do when I’m in my own hometown of Nashville. And it is for sure worth visiting the capital because Bangkok has some of the best tourist places to visit in Thailand that you won’t want to miss visiting!
Day 1 : Arrival in Bangkok
For the first day on your 3 week Thailand itinerary, be sure to give yourself time to get through immigration and check into your hotel. Thailand has some of the most kid-friendly hotels that I’ve ever seen in all our international travel with family around the world.
After you get checked in, then adventure out to:
- grab some Green Pea Chips or Coconut Water at a 7-11. There is one on nearly every corner!
- Try some local street food like Pad Thai noodles or Satay Chicken skewers
HOTEL TIP: Read why you shouldn’t book an AirBNB in Thailand and 9 other must know tips before booking your stay in Bangkok.
- If you’re not on a specific budget, I’d highly recommend staying at the Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel, which was voted the most kid-friendly hotel in Bangkok.
- But if you’re like our family, you want a great stay at a reasonable price. Thus, I’d highly recommend staying at the Novotel Living Bangkok Sukhumvit because up to 2 kids aged 16 and under can stay free.
- We also really love the Jasmine Grand Residence because it has our favorite swimming pool in all of Bangkok along with 1-3 bedroom suites for just $75-$150 USD. Such a steal!
IMMIGRATION TIP: Anytime you travel internationally, it’s important to know the visa requirements
Day 2-3: Explore these must-visit family attractions in Thailand via the Hop on Hop off river boat taxi
- Take an unforgettable TukTuk ride from the pier to the famous Grand Palace
- Dress up in traditional Thai costume at Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn
- Stop by the interactive Siam Museum
- Watch the laser water fountain show at Icon Siam
- Ride the 6 story tall ferris wheel at Asiatique
With more than 10 popular tourist attractions located right off the Bangkok Hop on Hop off river taxi, you can easily make this a 2 day affair to not rush or push the kids to exhaustion.
Other benefits of the Hop on Hop off Bangkok river taxi:
- Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day
- The 10 different piers each has its own tourist attraction(s)
- Each within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier
- Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river
- Avoid the horrendous gridlock traffic jams
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!
Note: Please do not take this blog as legal advice or even as fully accurate. These are just my own opinions trying to offer helpful explanations. You can read my full disclosure here.
Day 4-9: Head up North to Chiang Mai
Day 4 : HOW TO GET TO CHIANG MAI FROM BANGKOK:
Overnight Sleeper Train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
- Taking the Overnight Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is my TOP recommendation for having a truly epic experience with your kids in Thailand.
- Your littles will love this unforgettable journey across the north of Thailand.
- If you do decide to take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it’s super important to book your train tickets in advance because the 1st class private sleeper cabins or even the 2nd class bottom bunks sell out fast!
- We tried to book the 1st class cabin from Bangkok to Chiang Mai 3 months in advance, and it was already sold out! Booo!
- So we opted for Train Car 9 seats 9, 10, 11, and 12 (two top bunks and two bottom bunks across from each other).
TIP #1: we took the 18:40-07:15 sleeper train to Chiang Mai, which is the newest of all the overnight trains.
TIP #2: Kids under 150 cm or age 12 can not sleep on the top bunk nor can they have a bunk to themselves for safety reasons. They did however let our 6 and 8 year old bunk together on a bottom bunk.
TIP #3: Pre-book your trains tickets in advance on 12go.com
- The 1st class overnight sleeper cabins sell out fast!
- The 2nd class lower bunks sell out fast!
- Unfortunately, the Thailand Railway System still has no direct way to book train tickets online.
- So the best place to book your train tickets in advance is from the reputable 12go.com site. They send a staff to personally buy your train tickets from the railway station. Do read all their disclaimers before purchasing because the exact berth might already be sold out. If so, they will quickly contact you with another option.
Direct Flight to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
- If you are short on time, then taking a domestic flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is another good option.
- The domestic airline with the best safety record is Air Asia. This is the one our family usually chooses the most often.
- We have also flown with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion, and Vietjet.
- However, no matter how cheap Vietjet tickets are, I don’t recommend flying with them because it was the least amount of legroom I’ve ever experienced.
- I do recommend you book a domestic flight at least 1-3 months in advance because you can score some pretty good deals of just 800-1200 baht (~$22-$35 USD) each way.
- If you already know you will have luggage that weighs more than 7 kilos (~15lbs), then I highly recommend you pre-purchase extra luggage weight for a better deal.
- A blog post with lots more info on how to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
*PLEASE NOTE : the price ranges are up-to-date as of the date of publishing this post. They may vary from season to season.
Day 5: Sticky Waterfalls
- Very top on my list of the best things to do with kids in Chiang Mai is a trip to the Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls.
- The naturally-formed limestone makes this waterfalls area have a non-slip surface.
- Safe for littles to venture around the ‘sticky’ floor surface.
- Both young and old will love hiking up the waterfall amidst the lush tropical rainforest.
Hey there, we're Brittany and Witt!
Day 6: Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
- Elephant Sanctuaries are a very controversial topic. But after living in Thailand for 16+ years and seeing how well these majestic creatures are now being taken care of in these elephant sanctuaries, it makes me want to highly recommend them to everyone who visits Thailand!
- When I first moved to Thailand back in 2004, baby elephants were paraded on the streets of Bangkok like malnourished dogs on a leash. It was very sad to witness!
- Nowadays, there are quite a few ‘ethical’ elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, and I believe The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is one of them.
- In the past, elephants were used as ‘work animals’ whether for agriculture, the logging industry, or in war. But in recent times, a decline in their natural habitat has led these majestic animals to find refuge in these elephant sanctuaries.
- Here, they have a relatively safe and natural habitat, free from the worries of being killed for meat or used in the workforce. Also, I have come to learn that each elephant’s care giver is usually with them for their entire lifetime. I truly believe that visiting these elephant sanctuaries actually helps ensure their survival.
- Can you imagine the cost of feeding these elephants? I would imagine its like trying to feed 60 growing teenage boys! Whoa — That would be expensive!
- Visiting these majestic creatures at least once on your family Thailand itinerary is a must!
- This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get to observe how these majestic mammals live, eat, sleep, and bathe.
- The kids will love giving the elephants a mud bath in the river!
- I also liked how the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary provided lunch and roundtrip transportation from our family-friendly hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 7: Reach Thailand’s Highest Peak
One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai with kids is to take a day trip up into the mountains in the Doi Inthanon National Park.
- Get an epic view of the national park overlooking the twin pagodas that were dedicated to the late king and queen of Thailand at the Grand Pagoda Nabhapolbhumisiri
- Get a family photo next to the Summit Sign at Thailand’s highest peak!
- Then take a leisurely stroll along the Ang Ka Nature Trail.
- Have lunch at the Hmong Market to help support the local Karen Hill Tribe and get a glimpse at village life
- Stop at Ban Mae Klang Luang for a locally sourced cup of coffee — nestled near the terraced rice fields
- If time, visit the towering 80 meter tall Wachirathon Waterfalls in Chiang Mai
Day 8: Go Souvenir Shopping at One of the Vibrant Markets
Another one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai with kids is to visit one of the famous and colorful markets.
Depending on which night of the week you can go, these are the best Chiang Mai markets to go with kids:
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- Open Nightly from 6pm
- Spans across multiple streets in the center of Chiang Mai
- Mostly geared for tourists
- lots of hand-crafted souvenirs, candles, paintings, clothing, etc
- a foodie haven
- Negotiating the price with the vendors is pretty normal
Sunday Night Walking Street
- From 5pm-11pm on Sundays
- Located off Ratchadamoen Road
- From Wat Phra Singh temple to the end at the Tha Pae Gate
- geared toward both tourists and Thais
- A foodie haven with many food and drink options
- Lots of handicrafts, post cards, clothing, candles, paintings, and souvenir items
- You can bargain and negotiate with these stalls
Saturday Night Walking Street
- Also called Wualai Walking Street Market
- Saturdays from 6pm-11pm
- Located on Wualai Road
- Geared more towards Thai style but a few shops geared toward tourists
- Less crowded
- Less overwhelming than the very large Night Bazaar and Sunday Night Walking Street Market
- Has tons of food vendors and many souvenir stalls also
Worarot Market
- Indoor section and local shophouses nearby are Open Daily until 5pm
- After 5pm, a whole new set of street stall vendors pop up
- Mostly selling snack foods, dehydrated food items, clothing, etc.
- Be adventurous and try silk worms, fermented sour sausage, and some durian fruit. These are local Thai favorites!
- Note: many shops close on Sunday
Day 9: Explore the Chiang Mai Old City in a Tuk Tuk
Delve into the rich history of this ancient city with its prominent temples and stunning Lanna architecture. The kids will surely love getting to visit these 3 famous Chiang Mai tourist spots from the thrill of a tuk tuk ride!
But in truth, you can easily walk to all 3 of these Chiang Mai ancient ruins and temples. They are all located within a 15 minute walk of each other. But do give yourself at least an hour to explore the area at each Chiang Mai temple or ancient ruin.
Wat Phra Singh Temple
- One of the most famous ancient ruins and temple in Chiang Mai
- This temple was built in 1345
- It houses the most revered buddhist statue, the Phra Phuttha Sihing aka the Lion Buddha.
- Best to visit in late afternoon
- Wat Phra Singh Temple is open daily from 9am-6pm
Wat Chedi Luang
- A must-visit ancient ruin and temple found in Chiang Mai Old Town
- Stunning Lanna architecture dating back to the 14th century
- 50 baht entrance fee at the gate
- If you visit in the evening, not only is it cooler but you’d probably get to see the buddhist monks in their orange wardrobes performing their duties
TIP #1: For every visit to a Thai temple, be sure your clothing covers your shoulders and knees.
Tha Phae Gate
- A historical landmark that dates back to the 13th century
- When the city was founded by King Mangrai, these gates protected the old city.
- Tha Phae Gate is usually a focal point for many of the local cultural events and festivals like Loygratong, Song Kran, etc.
- The kids will like chasing off the 100s of pigeons that call this place home!
- Open daily and can visit anytime
- Entrance is free
Day 10-14 : Explore Down South in Krabi
One of the best destinations in Thailand to add to your bucket list is Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand.
I would even say Krabi is one of the best places to visit in the world right along side Milos, Greece and Cinque Terre, Italy.
Seriously friends, skip Phuket.
Why? Phuket is overly touristy now. It has lost most of its quintessential Thai charm. Although Phuket has some very beautiful beaches and lots of kid-friendly resorts, which still make Phuket an incredible place to take a family vacation to Thailand. it is just nothing as exceptional compared to Krabi, Thailand. Railay Beach is truly magical!
Day 10 : Travel Day to Krabi Province
HOW TO GET TO KRABI FROM CHIANG MAI:
Domestic Flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi :
- The only way I recommend going from way up north in Chiang Mai to way down south in Krabi is by a domestic flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi.
- The direct flight would probably be about 5,000-6,000 baht per person (~$130-$170 USD). So not a cheap option per se, but a great time saver.
- The direct flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi is only around 2+ hours.
- Be sure to book this flight at least 6-12 weeks in advance for the best prices!
- Again, the domestic airline with the best safety record is currently Air Asia.
- Our family always personally chooses Air Asia Airlines because they usually have an affordable option and multiple flights per day.
- Our other two favorite domestic airlines are Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, but they are usually more pricey and offer less flights per day.
- However, they do usually include a checked-in luggage and a carry-on suitcase.
- On the other low-cost airlines such as Nok Air, Thai Lion, or Vietjet, the extra weight or check-in luggage could easily run you between 500-1200 baht (~$15-35 USD).
- Our most recent family trip to Chiang Mai with kids was on Nok Airways. We had a great experience overall.
By Overnight Bus from Chiang Mai to Krabi
- I don’t personally recommend this option to anyone because it would be about a 28 hour journey.
- However, if you’re on a tight budget, then you could take a 1st Class Overnight Bus from Chiang Mai to the Bangkok Mo Chit Bus Terminal for about 600 baht (~$18 USD).
- Then you would need to take a taxi to the Southern Bus Terminal (for about $12-$15 USD) to be able to take another overnight bus from Bangkok to Krabi with van transfer included. This is about 800-1,000 baht (~$23-$29 USD).
- This would probably be the cheapest option available. Again, I don’t recommend this with kids though because it’s just such a long journey.
Rent a Car from Chiang Mai to Krabi
- I personally wouldn’t recommend this option either. It would be a monster of a road trip, but doable in about 30 hours. You can book a reputable Car Rental in Thailand with the cost being about $28-$65 USD).
Do Note: There are no trains from Chiang Mai to Krabi. But if you love riding the train, you could take the overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, and then follow the options below to get from Bangkok to Krabi.
HOW TO GET TO KRABI FROM BANGKOK:
Domestic Flight from Bangkok to Krabi
- you can easily book a domestic flight from Bangkok to Krabi. This is my TOP recommendation for your family travel within Thailand.
- It’s just a little over an hour for a flight from Bangkok to Krabi.
- They have a few flights per day. Since there are 2 airports in Bangkok, be sure to go to the correct airport because they are about 1-1.5 hours away from each other.
By Overnight Bus from Bangkok to Krabi
- If you’re on a tight budget, then the overnight bus from Bangkok to Krabi is the cheapest option.
- For family travel in Thailand, I don’t recommend this option if you have babies or toddlers because it’s about a 15 hour journey.
- But if you have elementary aged kids or teenagers, then this could be a cheap option for your family travel in Thailand. It would cost around 800 baht (~$23 USD) per seat on the 1st class overnight bus.
- Unlike in the USA, the overnight bus tours are safe and comfortable. Riding it feels kind of like an international flight with even more legroom and more seat recline!
- The VIP or 1st class overnight bus options are always air-conditioned, take about 15 hours to get to Krabi, includes a snack and drink, and it will have a stop-over in the middle of the night to grab some street food. has more departure times than the overnight train to Chiang Mai. You would leave from the Mo Chit Bus Terminal near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train Station or Chatuchak MRT Subway Station. You’d want to buy the 1st class bus ticket for about 600 baht (~$18 USD) or the VIP bus tickets for about 800 baht (~$23 USD).
***Note: there are no trains to Krabi.
Day 11: Explore Railay Beach
By far the best place to stay in Krabi Thailand is on Railay Beach.
How to get to Railay Beach in Krabi Thailand
- The charm of Railay Beach is that it’s unaccessible by car!
- You must take a boat to get to Railay Beach.
- I highly recommend taking a long-tail boat over a speedboat.
- To get to Railay Beach, first take a taxi to Ao Nam Mao pier or Ao Nang Longtail Boat Service Club. Both these locations will have long-tail boats readily taking passengers to Railay Beach from 8:00am-6:00pm.
- Long-tail Boat Trips to Railay Beach are 100 baht each way.
- The longtail boat ride is only about 20 minutes, but it is one of the highlights of our family trip to Krabi Thailand!
- When we landed at the Krabi International airport, we booked a van for our family of 7 in the Grab app for about 500 baht (~$18 USD). There were also taxi and van drivers waiting for passengers right outside baggage claim too.
- Thankfully, our super family-friendly hotel on Railay beach had a special promotion with a free long-tail boat transfer from Ao Nam Mao pier to the Railay East pier.
- Then the hotel staff carried our luggage from the pier to the hotel.
TIP: check to see which of the 3 piers on Railay Beach is closer to your hotel’s check-in desk
After you finally make it to your hotel, I recommend you explore around your hotel, take a swim in the pool, then check out Railay Walking Street (in Google maps) to get some yummy Cashew Nut Chicken or Pineapple Fried Rice!
BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN RAILAY:
SAND SEA RESORT
Imagine having breakfast with these gorgeous views! The swimming pool also has these same stunning views!
A huge plus was that kids age 0-11 stay free
4 reasons to skip staying on Ao Nang Beach in Krabi:
- Overly touristy and has lost the quintessential Thai charm
- The sand is quite rocky
- When the tide is up, there is almost no where to sit or even walk.
- Most of the hotels are located a bit far from the actual beach. That alone makes it not worth it to me.
However, Ao Nang Beach has some very awesome family-friendly hotels with incredible facilities for kids. If that is your thing, I’d for sure check out Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort or the Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort. Both of these resorts are super kid-friendly resorts in Ao Nang and actually right on the beach, which is rare in the Ao Nang area!
Day 12: Island Hopping to Phi Phi Islands
Highly recommend a Long-tail Boat Tour Island Hopping around Phi Phi islands
- Book a private long-tail boat versus a speedboat with strangers
- The long-tail boat is a quintessential way to get around the islands in Thailand
- Our family found a quiet cove with shallow waters to snorkel in the Phi Phi Leh Lagoon area. It was magical!
- We got to go to Viking Cave and Monkey Beach
- our kids opted not to get out at Monkey Beach though
- The highlight of our long-tail boat tour was visiting Maya Bay.
- Although you can no longer swim here due to marine preservation, our kids enjoyed:
- jumping in the clear, turquiose waters
- running away from the shallow waves
- playing in the pristine white sand on Maya Bay in the Phi Phi Island area.
Tips for Island Hopping in Thailand with kids:
TIP #1 : Take a child-size life vest
If you have small kids, take a child-size life vest with you because most of the long-tail boat tours only have adult-sized life jackets. However, my 6 and 8 year old fit in the small size adult ones.
TIP #2 : Go snorkeling while it’s low tide
Go snorkeling while it’s low tide because then your kids can still stand up while they snorkel and swim around the more shallow waters.
TIP #3 : Maya Bay is super crowded all day long!
We chose to go to Maya bay at mid-day because the tide was up, which meant our kids could jump in the beautiful turquoise waters up to their knees. Even though it was the most crowded time of day, we went to the furthest part on the beach (about a 5 minute walk from the end of the sidewalk), and we felt like we had the place to ourselves!
Best Island Hopping Tour
Day 13: Venture to Phra Nang Beach Cave
One of the highlights of our family trip to Krabi was walking over to Phra Nang Beach from Railay East beach.
Phra Nang Beach was just a short 10 minute walk from Sea Sand Resort, our super family-friendly hotel in Krabi.
Seriously, the walk to Phra Nang Beach from Railey East beach, this alone is such a highlight:
- Walk around and even under the beautiful limestone cliffs
- The limestone stalactite formations dripping down to just above your head are stunning.
- You’ll see people rock-climbing along the way. Whether you’re just a beginner or advanced, Railay would be an epic place to go rock climbing with your family.
- Along the walk, you’ll also spot the cute Dusky Leaf Monkeys hanging out on the low branches with their long tails eating leaves. These little guys are my favorite type of monkey in Thailand because they don’t bother you at all!
- We were just inches from a huge Komodo Dragon just strolling along the sidewalk.
- Did I mention the walk from Railay East to Phra Nang Beach is stroller friendly and wheelchair accessible?
- Half way there, you’ll see signs to hike up to the Emerald Lagoon & Viewpoint.
- Do note: the hike up to the viewpoint is very steep and strenuous. Maybe a 5 out of 10. Witt and I did this hike together a few years ago before we had littles with us. I believe older kids or teens could do it.
- However, the ‘hike’ down into the Lagoon is a difficulty level of maybe 9. I would not even consider it ‘hiking’ anymore but rather ‘rock climbing’ over a steep, limestone cliff in which you can not even see the bottom because it’s such a steep incline!
- I would not recommend taking any kids or even teens down into the lagoon. Remember: the closest hospital is probably an hour+ away.
TIP #1: If you do choose to hike up to the Emerald Lagoon Viewpoint, I’d recommend to go at high tide. This will give you the best photos. Otherwise, there is barely any water in the lagoon at low tide.
TIP #2: Wear good hiking shoes and be prepared to get muddy!
Day 14: Go Kayaking around Railay Beach
- The stunning limestone cliffs and the crystal clear waters make Railay Beach an incredible place to go kayaking with kids in Krabi.
- We rented our kayaks right next to our kid-friendly resort on Railay West Beach. Search ‘Kayak Rental’ on Google Maps.
- Kayaks were 200 baht for single and 300 baht for double.
- We rented one single for me, and my husband rented a double with my 8 year old daughter and 5 year old sat in the middle. *Sweet Livvy, our 3 year old, stayed back to take a nap with grandma, but she could have easily come too.
TRAVEL TIP TO THAILAND WITH A TODDLER: Don’t forget to bring child-size life jackets with you to Railay.
- We started kayaking towards Phra Nang Beach because you can go under and around a couple of the limestone cliffs. But my 8 year old started having a panic attack at the water being too deep.
- So we kayaked back along Railay West to Tonsai Beach.
- Kayaking in Krabi with kids was such an incredible experience!
- At Tonsai Beach, we got to watch rock climbers scaling the limestone cliffs.
- A Komodo Dragon surfaced from the sea and was scavenging the area for food. What a sight!
- We had pre-purchased grilled chicken and sticky rice from Railay Walking Street , so we sat on our life vests and had a little picnic in Railay with our kids on Tonsai Beach.
- Such a dreamy experience! Can I go back now please???
Day 15-18 : Relax on Koh Lipe Island
Day 15: Travel to Koh Lipe Island
Koh Lipe is nicknamed the Maldives of Thailand because of its crystal clear waters and powdery, soft white sand beaches. Koh Lipe Island has often been listed as being the most beautiful beach in the world. The clear turquoise waters are just breathtaking!
How to get to Koh Lipe from Krabi
Koh Lipe from Krabi by ferry:
- My #1 recommendation for how to get from Railay Beach to Koh Lipe Island would be by ferry boat ride.
- No matter what, it’s going to take about 5-7 hours to get from Krabi to Koh Lipe, so why not be on the water, enjoying the beautiful ocean views while getting there!
- The ferry ride from Railay Beach to Koh Lipe is 5-7 hours.
- They have departures daily at 10:30am or 11:15am.
- The cost is about 1200-2750 baht per person (~$40 – $75 USD).
- Tigerline Ferry or Bundhaya Speed Boat company have sailings to Koh Lipe from Railay daily.
- I feel like a ferry ride from Railay to Koh Lipe is the most direct route considering you’re going to an island from a secluded beach.
Koh Lipe from Krabi by plane + taxi + ferry:
- To get to Koh Lipe Island by plane, you would need to fly into Hat Yai International Airport. Then take a 2 hour taxi to Pak Bara Pier and then take a ferry
- You can fly from Krabi to Bangkok to Hat Yai for about 3000 baht (~$90 USD) per person.
- Unfortunately, there are NO direct flights to Hat Yai from Krabi.
- After getting to the airport, you’d need to take a 2 hour taxi ride to Pak Bara Pier and then take a 1.5-2 hour ferry to Koh Lipe.
Koh Lipe from Krabi by Van taxi + ferry:
- The cheapest way to get to Koh Lipe from Railay would be a 4 hour shared van ride from Ao Nang Beach to Pak Bara Pier + a 2 hour ferry to Koh Lipe.
- The cost for both the van and ferry is about 920 baht (~$27 USD) per person. The best place to pre-purchase is at 12go.com
- The van ride from Ao Nang to Pak Bara Pier is about 4 hours.
- The ferry ride from Pak Bara Pier to Koh Lipe is about 1.5-2 hours.
TIP #1: Pak Bara Pier is open year round even during monsoon season when other piers close down.
TIP #2: There is no direct train route from Krabi to Koh Lipe.
- With the above options available, I also don’t recommend taking the bus from Railay to Koh Lipe.
Day 16: Walk Around to Explore Koh Lipe
- Just like Railay Beach, the charm of Koh Lipe is that you can pretty much walk everywhere.
- You can explore this beautiful little island by foot. It’s only 3 kilometers wide.
- Most beaches are within a 10 minute walk of Walking Street:
- North Point Beach – the best beach in Koh Lipe due to the most fine sand and crystal clear waters with less tourists and not many long-tail boats. North Point Beach is also the best place to go snorkeling on Koh Lipe right from the shore. The sandbar that pops up at low tide is probably the most photographed spot on Koh Lipe Island. A great place to see the sunset.
- The downside of North Point Beach: not much shade. If it’s high tide, the sloping sand bar is not great for littles trying to swim in the ocean.
- Pattaya Beach – the best beach for families on Koh Lipe in our opinion. Shallow waters. Powdery soft sand. Also, where we would recommend to stay on Koh Lipe with kids.
- North Point Beach – the best beach in Koh Lipe due to the most fine sand and crystal clear waters with less tourists and not many long-tail boats. North Point Beach is also the best place to go snorkeling on Koh Lipe right from the shore. The sandbar that pops up at low tide is probably the most photographed spot on Koh Lipe Island. A great place to see the sunset.
Not many of the resorts allow kids under 12 to stay for free, so Akira Lipe Resort is one of the best family resort options on Koh Lipe Island. With beautifully renovated rooms, multiple pools, a Kids Club for rainy days, and the softest stretch of sand, this place is a luxurious escape to paradise!
- Sunrise Beach – a great place to watch the sunrise or even sunset. Also a good place to snorkel from the shore.
The Idyllic Concept Resort is a modern oasis and perfect place to stay on Koh Lipe for families. The infinity pool gives you breath-taking views over the crystal clear waters!
- Sunset Beach – not many vendors or activities and not the best beach in my opinion, but has a great sunset viewpoint on Koh Lipe
- So on Day 1 at Koh Lipe Island, take a breather and relax in a beach chair while sipping a fresh coconut watching the littles swim in the shallow water.
Day 17: Kayak to Koh Kla Island and Snorkel
- From your stay on Sunrise Beach, you could easily kayak or paddle board (SUP) to the nearby Koh Kla island.
- Most kayak rentals on Koh Lipe Island come with the life jacket and snorkel gear.
- The depth of the water is only like 1-2 meters to get there, so my girls were not too scared.
- There are so many coral and beautiful fish around this small island. The kids will easily be entertained ‘Finding Nemo’ along the shoreline.
TIP: Take a picnic lunch to enjoy on one of the two beaches there.
DAY 18: Take an island hopping long-tail boat tour to the nearby islands
- Taking a long-tail boat is one of the best things to do in Thailand with kids.
- Koh Lipe is the most beautiful place to snorkel in Thailand.
- The purple, pink and orange coral reef and vibrant marine life right off the coast of Koh Lipe is mesmerizing!
- The kids will easily spot many ‘Nemo nests’ along the shore too.
- The black rock beach at Koh Hin Ngam is a neat place to visit on an island hopping tour in Koh Lipe.
- Jabang is the best place to snorkel and dive off Koh Lipe Island. The downside is it’s pretty crowded and in the middle of the ocean. That freaks my girls out, so it’s not the place for us!
- Most long-tail boats provide adult-size life vests and snorkel gear.
THAILAND TRAVEL TIP WITH TODDLER: Bring child-size life vests and snorkel gear or swim goggles from home.
- You can easily book an island hopping long-tail boat tour from any of the beaches at Koh Lipe. However, who knows if those drivers will be safe, reliable, or even nice. So I like to pre-book my tours and activities on Klook.com. It’s usually about the same price, but that way, I can read reviews from others and have more of a guarantee that this tour is going to be fun and worth my money.
- I highly recommend this island hopping long tail boat tour on Koh Lipe.
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Thailand Travel Tips with Kids, a Baby or even a Toddler
*TRANSPORTATION TIP: Also you can buy a BTS Sky Train Pre-filled Card that makes it easy to get on and off the BTS Sky Trains with an easy tap. No need to wait in the long queues to buy individual tickets.
*MONEY TIP: Take Thai baht with you because most vendors do not take credit card. Also, beware of pick-pocketers in all the tourist areas. Simply keep your phone, wallet, backpack or purse on your front side.
*BAG TIP: This is my favorite crossbody sling bag for travel because it’s small and light, keeps my valuables up front, and can easily still hold everything I need for a day trip out and about the city.
Here’s what I always put in my sling bag for day trips in the city:
- of course my phone with an Airalo eSIM with unlimited data for 15 days at just $19 USD
- portable charging device is a must!
- a small travel umbrella
- my sunglasses
- hand sanitizer (90% of bathrooms in Thailand do not have TP or soap — ekkkkk!)
- Small travel tissue (only 5 baht from 7-11)
- Beeswax chapstick
- Thai baht (cash is king in Thailand!)
- Copies of all our passport
I have taken this sling bag with me to Thailand, USA, Japan, France, Spain, and Italy — literally all around the world!
TRAVEL TIP TO THAILAND WITH A BABY OR TODDLER:
- You do not need a car seat to ride in a taxi or van
- A baby carrier is your best friend if traveling in Thailand with a baby. I personally loved the Lille Baby Carrier and the Ergo Baby Carriers.
- Skip bringing a stroller — the uneven sidewalks, having to lug it in and out of a taxi, and the never-ending amount of stairs in Bangkok make it not worth bringing a stroller to Thailand
- But if you insist, I highly recommend a travel stroller that will fold up to the size of an airplane carry-on
FLIGHT TIP: We’ve personally had the best experience flying to Thailand with our family on Qatar Airlines and also Japan Airlines. Both were child-friendly airline options.
- Families with small children could board early
- Automatically got bulk-head seating when we traveled with an infant
- Could pre-select kid-friendly meals
- They have great entertainment options for the littles
- They had ‘grab-n-go’ snacks available throughout the whole flight
- The best part : more legroom than the other international flights for families that we’ve taken
Day 19-21 : Back to Bangkok to explore the rich Thai heritage of food, culture, and history
Day 19: Travel back to Bangkok from Koh Lipe
Urghhh to another travel day. But necessary nonetheless.
From Koh Lipe to Bangkok by plane:
- This would be my #1 recommendation would be to fly from Hat Yai to Bangkok.
- First, you’d have to take a 1.5-2 hour ferry back to Pak Bara Pier + a 2 hour taxi ride back to Hat Yai International Airport
- From Hat Yai, there are many flights per day back to Bangkok.
- If you book 3-4 months in advance, you could easily score a 600 baht flight (~$18 USD).
- I like to book my domestic transportation from 12go.com. It’s a reliable and easy-to-use website for safely booking any kind transportation in Southeast Asia.
To Bangkok from Koh Lipe by Train:
- The second way I’d recommend getting back to Bangkok from Koh Lipe is by an overnight sleeper train from the Hat Yai station.
- If you didn’t yet take an overnight sleeper train with kids in Thailand, then the trip from Hat Yai to Bangkok would be such a once-in-a-lifetime expereicne for kids!
- The train ride from Hat Yai to Bangkok is 14.5 hours. Whewww that’s a ride, but you’ll mostly be sleeping hopefully.
- The overnight sleeper train from Hat Yai to Bangkok is much easier to book a 1st class cabin than it is to snag a 1st class berth on the Chiang Mai overnight sleeper train.
Cost of the Hat Yai to Bangkok Overnight Sleeper Train
- 1st Class Cabin = 2080 baht for bottom bunk and 1790 baht for top bunk = 3870 baht (~$110 USD) for both top and bottom bunks
- 2nd Class A/C Sleeper Train Lower Bunk = 1393 baht (~$42 USD)
- 2nd Class A/C Sleeper Train Top Bunk = 1103 baht (~$35 USD)
Day 20 : Bike or drive a golf cart around Muang Boran Ancient City
One of the best places to spend one day in Bangkok is at Ancient City, aka Muang Boran by the locals.
Ancient City 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.
It has replicas of more than 100 iconic monuments and landmarks!
- You can bike or e-bike around the park
- You can rent Golf Carts to drive around
- You can ride elephants -- very rare near Bangkok
- Free Thai Cultural Dance Shows
- You can take pictures in traditional Thai costumes
DAY 21: The Best Things to Do with Kids in Bangkok
For your last day in Thailand with kids, I’d recommend one of the following:
- Enjoy a nice bike ride around the ‘Central Park’ of Bangkok
- Be enchanted by the vibrant night market at Jodd’s Fair — a foodie haven!
- Catch the sunset from the 78th floor of the Mahanakorn Skywalk with 360 degree views of Bangkok
- If you’re still looking for ideas, here is 100 ideas for the best things to do in Bangkok with kids
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.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
With planning your family trip to Thailand, I think it’s important to know when is the best time to come.
Thailand has a tropical climate, which means it is mostly hot and humid year round with basically two seasons of wet and dry.
The Wet Season
- heavily influenced by the monsoon winds
- typically between June to September
- could rain heavily for 30 minutes and be clear for the next 6 hours
- could rain for 6 hours straight
- But in our experience of living here for the past 15+ years, the heavy rain usually passes within an hour.
TIP FOR TRAVELING TO THAILAND DURING RAINY SEASON: Pack shoes that can get wet, quick drying clothes, and a poncho or umbrella.
The Dry Season
- generally between November to April
- Has mostly clear, sunny days
May and October are shoulder months. The days could be mostly sunny or have a torrential downpour. It just depends if the monsoon season comes early or late that year.
The best time to travel to Thailand is between November to February.
But since our family lives and travels in Thailand year-round anyways, we believe that anytime is a good time to come experience this enchanting country!
Internet and Phone Service in Thailand
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.
MOST LUXURIOUS FAMILY HOTEL:
SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK
If you're looking for a kid-friendly 5 star accommodation right in the heart of Bangkok, then Siam Kempinski is our top choice!
Between the massive swimming pool, the fun Kids Club room, the cute child-size robes and slippers, and the exquisite breakfast buffet, you will be met with luxury at every turn.
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