Highlights
- Craft your own souvenirs at a family pottery class in Ko Kret
- Discover Thai history as you travel along the Khawe River to Kanchanaburi
- Cool off at Erawan Waterfall before mingling with elephants at a sanctuary
- Explore Chiang Mai by visiting key sites and taking a Thai cooking class
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bangkok | Bangkok |
| Day 2 | Day Trip to Ko Kret: Pottery Workshop & Lunch with a Local Family | Bangkok |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Samut Songkham & Damnoem Saduak Floating Market | Bangkok |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Kanchanaburi via Nakorn Pathom & River Khwae | Kanchanaburi |
| Day 5 | Explore Erawan Waterfall & Phra That Cave | Kanchanaburi |
| Day 6 | Meet the Rescued Residents of Elephant World | Kanchanaburi |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai |
| Day 8 | Thai Cooking Class with a Local Family | Chiang Mai |
| Day 9 | Family-Friendly Chiang Mai City Tour | Chiang Mai |
| Day 10 | Depart Chiang Mai |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand's capital. A driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once you've settled in, rally the kids and go out to do some exploring. Bangkok is a tourism hub, and you'll be overwhelmed by the variety of family-friendly activities on offer. Apart from settling in and eating a delicious Thai meal, little ones might like to spend the afternoon at the Sealife Bangkok Ocean World, the largest aquarium complex in Southeast Asia.
If time permits, visit the Muang Boram Museum, which has miniature copies of Thailand's most remarkable ancient landmarks. Curious youngsters will discover a fairy-tale world as you learn more about Thailand's most famous places.
Day 2: Day Trip to Ko Kret: Pottery Workshop & Lunch with a Local Family
Experience the authentic rural life of Ko Kret River Island and spend an adventurous day full of fun activities. Meet your guide at the hotel and head to Pak Kret Pier, located 12 miles (20 km) north of Bangkok. Upon arrival at the pier, board a long-tail boat to Wat Poramai Yikawas and take the kids on a journey back in time. Visit the 200-year-old leaning pagoda and a local museum to learn about the Mon people, a dominant tribe of central Thailand between the sixth and 10th centuries. Walk around the nearby market and taste exotic local snacks in hand-thrown terracotta pots.
Hop back on the boat to visit a pottery house that preserves the Mon's famous craftsmanship with its exquisite pottery patterns. Here the kid will love getting their hands dirty as they join a mini pottery workshop to make some ceramic souvenirs. Later, cruise around the island, enjoying rural views before stopping at a small pier. Stroll off the beaten path into a less visited, lush green area, where a local family will warmly welcome you in their home. Sit down, relax, and cook a kanom krok, a coconut snack, together on a terracotta stove. Finally, leave this scenic island and return to your hotel.
Day 3: Day Trip to Samut Songkham & Damnoem Saduak Floating Market
Today it's off into the Thai countryside to discover some of the most exciting markets in Thailand. After breakfast, meet your guide and travel south of Bangkok to Samut Songkhram by train. This short regional train ride heads for a great country market that has sprouted along the railway tracks. Keep your kids on the lookout as you witness the incredible speed of the vendors, who quickly pack up their stalls when the train approaches. The merchants have learned the art of assembling and reassembling their wares at a moment's notice.
After the train ride, you'll board a long-tail boat and cruise through the canals toward the colorful Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Observe how locals live alongside a labyrinth of canals and enjoy the vibrant spectacle as people buy and sell fruit. Upon arrival at the floating market, you'll have time to stroll around the area bustling with boats and vendors. There will be plenty of time for shopping, and you can treat the little ones to tropical fruits and other delights. After the boat ride, return to your hotel in Bangkok.
Day 4: Transfer to Kanchanaburi via Nakorn Pathom & River Khwae
Wake up early in the morning and get the kids ready for your next destination, Kanchanaburi. With your guide, stop at Nakhon Pathom, where you'll visit Woodland Muangmai Fantasy Museum. Here in the largest wood art museum in Southeast Asia, you'll learn the story of this art form and see the unique masterpieces from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Then continue to Kanchanaburi, where you'll have a stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, embark on a long-tail boat and cruise along the River Khwae. Disembark at the pier in Kanchanaburi, next to the river's iconic bridge. Your family will receive a history lesson as you discover the tragic moments in Thai history during World War II and visit the Death Railway Museum and Research Center. You'll also visit the War Cemetery before continuing to your hotel in Kanchanaburi.
Day 5: Explore Erawan Waterfall & Phra That Cave
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Perfect for active, high-energy families, today, you'll take a break from cultural exploration and have the chance to play or relax in the tranquil atmosphere of Kanchanaburi's tropical forest. Start the morning by visiting Erawan Waterfall, a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall in Erawan National Park. The kids will love climbing up each tier of the waterfall's limestone surface but be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Finally, head down to cool off from the heat and play in the natural pools at the bottom of the picturesque cascades.
After swimming, dry the little ones off, hop in the car, and drive through the national park to Phra That Cave, a large mountain cave filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Take a short trek up the hill to the cave's entrance, and step into a dark, mysterious world with impressive rock formations. After having a traditional Thai lunch at a nearby local restaurant, you'll return to your accommodation.
Day 6: Meet the Rescued Residents of Elephant World
Today will be exciting for the entire family, as you'll spend time at an elephant sanctuary and get up close to its primary residents in their natural habitat. Elephant World is a sanctuary for elephants rescued from the tourist trade, where they live out their years enjoying the untouched jungle landscape in peace and harmony. In the morning, you will be transferred to the camp, where the volunteers will introduce you to the project. Then you'll meet the elephants and feed them. Included are activities you and your kids will love, such as preparing food and cleaning fruits and vegetables for the elephants.
Have lunch at the camp, and take the elephants to the river for bathing. If you wish, you can join your kids in this activity and help get them clean. Then walk with them back to the forest and feed the gentle giants a snack of fruits and vegetables before leaving the camp.Day 7: Fly to Chiang Mai
If the kids are looking for something more active, head to Bua Tong National Park for a hike in the jungle to Bua Thong Waterfalls, also known as the "Sticky Waterfalls." The kids will love it since the limestone rocks here are porous and easy to climb when wet. You could also take the family to Bai Orchid-Butterfly Farm to see hundreds of colorful flowers and butterflies or spend a lazy day at Suan Buak Haad Park for great views while your kids have fun on the playground. In the evening, the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road is worth visiting to treat the kids to tasty local street food.
Day 8: Thai Cooking Class with a Local Family
Today, you'll escape from the bustling city to reach the relaxing countryside and enjoy a cooking class with a local family in a rural village. Upon arrival at the house, you'll take a walk around the farm while the host introduces you to the local herbs and ingredients. Then, you and the kids will learn to cook the first three courses of your choice and have lunch on a delightful shaded terrace as you savor your creations from the kitchen. After lunch, return to the hotel, and you'll have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore the city.
Day 9: Family-Friendly Chiang Mai City Tour
Today you'll have fun exploring more of Chiang Mai using different modes of local transport, such as a songthaew (a passenger truck), a long-tail boat, and a tuk-tuk. Start the day with a stroll around the alleyways of the old trader community of Wat Gatekaram before continuing to Warorot Market, where you'll find local snacks and other goods. Then continue to Wat Chedi Luang, one of the most spectacular ruins in the old city that once housed the Emerald Buddha. Take part in giving offerings and receiving blessings in accordance with the local customs.
For lunch, enjoy a delicious bowl of khao soy. This famous Northern Thai dish combines coconut cream, crispy noodles, and spices. In the afternoon, head to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a sacred temple located in the mountains. Enormous mythological nagas line its grand staircase of 306 steps, and inside the cloister, you'll find an intriguing copper-placed chedi topped by a five-tier gold parasol containing Lord Buddha's relics. On a clear day, there are incomparable views over Chiang Mai from the temple grounds.
Day 10: Depart Chiang Mai
Today your northern Thailand adventure comes to an end as you and your family are transferred to the airport in Chiang Mai for your onward flight. Safe travels!
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