Our 2-week family itinerary in Thailand

Getting to Thailand

Thailand is serviced by many airlines, and for regional departures both Emirates and Qatar offer fantastic connections through the Middle East. They also offer a Dubai to Phuket service for anyone keen to head straight to (or back from) the islands. 

Being Brighton-based, British Airways’ new service from Gatwick directly into Bangkok was a clear win, particularly as my partner was heading off a few weeks earlier than us, taking his bike to embark on his own cycling adventure. He had a fabulous time cycling between Surat Thani and Hua Hin before meeting us at Bangkok Airport, where he was able to store his bike during own 2-week family holiday for a bargainous £50!

Thailand in February 

With two separate monsoons impacting different areas of the country at various times, it’s best to tailor your trip to Thailand to avoid the wetter regions. However, from December to March, the weather is marvellous everywhere in Thailand, making February a prime time to visit and to explore all kinds of different areas. 

Travelling as a family in Thailand 

Travelling with kids really shapes your travel ideas, as their happiness is integral to a successful all-round holiday. Top of the list for our 2-week family itinerary in Thailand was a visit to Elephant Hills, the award-winning eco camp that started out in the gorgeous Khao Sok National Park north of Phuket. Recently, it has opened a brand-new Elephant Bush Camp, just two hours outside of Chiang Mai, and we wanted to check it out. 

We knew that my daughter, Maya, would be also keen to experience the culture and history of Thailand, we so decided to split the trip between the bustling, lively cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and the southern beaches of Railay and Koh Jum. This made is easy to combine with a visit to the Elephant Hills Bush Camp Chiang Mai. Perfect!

Beginning in Bangkok 

Bangkok has changed a lot over the last couple of decades. Towering high-rises dominate the skyline, scattered randomly amongst the exquisite temples, mixed right in with the alleys and lanes of local living. 

There is nothing so pleasing as a city offering major transport links via its waterways. Ferries, water taxis, and long tail boats service many key attractions along the Chao Praya River and Bangkok’s canals. Even better, the tickets start at under £1 per journey, and it only costs £4 for the entire day. 

An overland and underground train system makes getting around the city super easy and, of course, there are taxis and tuk-tuks aplenty.

On arrival in Bangkok, we hopped in a local taxi to our hotel. If you don’t have an organised transfer and don’t fancy the train, you can go to the taxi area in Arrivals, take a ticket that tells you what number bay to go, and meet your driver. You can expect to pay THB 500 – 600 for the hour-long journey to the city, and the whole experience is stress-free. 

We had chosen a hotel in the buzzing China town area where both evenings we found quite fashionable bars and restaurants that offered cocktails, craft beers and decent live music. Fresh off the plane, this worked better for us than the night market, where an elf-eared local was belting out YMCA with his keyboard.

A little flight-weary, we took a laid-back approach to the city sights, starting the day in the stunning Wat Arun where we marvelled at the numerous Thai people being photographed in full traditional dress (other than the crazy crocs on their feet). 

I couldn’t visit Bangkok with taking a nostalgic wander around the infamous backpacker area of Khao San Road, where we found a fabulous bar with swinging hammock seats, cold beer, iced coffee, and a box of kittens in the toilets. 

A trip to a nail salon was an essential requirement for Maya, and who can argue when a standard manicure or pedicure costs THB 300 and gel nails start at THB 600?

The night train to Chiang Mai

An element of local transport is compulsory on all our family holidays (my partners requirement), so we spent our third night in Thailand aboard the train to Chiang Mai. First class cabins sell out quickly, so we opted for Second class, where open carriage seats are transformed into an upper and lower berth at bedtime. 

All was well, and the optional meal tray was decent, but the lack of an off switch for the overhead strip lighting meant that Maya and I arrived in Chiang Mai a little sleep deprived after taking the top bunks. Top tip… go for the bottom bunks (much wider and darker) or take a face mask.

Exploring Chiang Mai 

A songthaew (small pick-up truck with bench seating) took us from the train station to our little hotel inside the old city walls. Chiang Mai is an endearing city filled with history and dotted with hundreds of Buddhist temples, any one of which you could take a book to and sit and relax in its peaceful grounds. 

After dropping our bags and grabbing a delicious breakfast, we met up with our friends and the driver they had arranged to take us to the magnificent Doi Suthep Temple, set high in the hills some 16km from Chiang Mai. According to legend, the temple was built in the early 19th Buddhist Century to hold a piece of bone from the Buddha's shoulder. One of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, the site cannot fail to impress in all its golden glory.

Chiang Mai is renowned for fabulous food and, with friends in the know, we had lunch at the Earthen Jug Restaurant, where we indulged in succulent crispy pork and chicken cooked in giant clay pots, washed down with some large Singha beers. It was packed with locals, and I can highly recommend it! 

An afternoon swim in the hotel pool gave us just enough appetite to trial the interesting and delicious dishes at an amazing Burmese restaurant called The Swan, just outside the old walls of the city.

Elephant Hills Bush Camp 

The next day, our transfer arrived early to take us and several other guests to the Elephant Hills Bush Camp. We arrived in time for a buffet lunch in the open-air restaurant. Afterwards, we dipped our feet in the stunning pool overlooking the Ping River, and the surrounding hills and plantations. 

The Bush Camp Chiang Mai offers 1- and 2-night packages. We were glad that we opted the longer stay, as it gave us more time with the elephants and more also time to take advantage of the pool and the gorgeous environment. The luxury tents are things of real beauty, and many of our fellow guests left wishing that they had chosen the 2-night package.

The camp has 10 rescued female elephants, each with their own mahout (who they have for life). Over the 2 or 3 days that you spend at the camp, you get to prepare food and nutrition balls to feed to these lovely beasts.

Maya particularly enjoyed the “Poocasso” experience where we made paper from elephant dung and the following day were able to decorate it. We also spent time cooking with the mahouts’ families, from the Karen hilltribes, and learning about their traditional crafts.

Relaxing on Railay Beach 

After one final night in Chiang Mai, stocking up on bracelets and indulging in some delicious Khao Soi, typical of the area, we took an early flight to Krabi, a shuttle to the pier and a longtail boat to Railay Beach. 

Predictably popular, the area has stretches of white sand beaches surrounded by phenomenal limestone karst mountains. Walking Street is crammed full of restaurants and bars, as well as a selection of souvenir shops and boutiques.

Set above the busy streets, Railay Phutawan Resort offers a relaxing retreat from the buzz, where tastefully decorated rooms with generous balconies surround the perfectly positioned pool. 

Settle into a well-appointed sunbed to take in views of langur monkeys swinging in the trees overhead and watch rock climbers scaling the surrounded mountains.

Up for a bit of action, Maya and Andy had a half-day rock climbing experience with the very professional Hot Rock Climbing School (THB2500 / half day), while I got unintentionally waylaid chatting to my sunbed neighbours, enjoying spicy papaya salad and sipping happy hour fresh mango margaritas from the open-air restaurant.

Escaping to Koh Jum 

After a few nights on Railay Beach, we took a scheduled speedboat over to the island of Koh Jum (Andy’s favourite island). The perfect change of pace, Koh Jum felt like stepping back in time to super laid-back island life, where days are spent beach walking, swimming in the clear sea, hanging out on deck chairs or hammocks, and indulging in tasty food at a choice of relaxed restaurants dotted along the beach.

With no cars (or cash machines), you can get around the island by motorcycle-side car taxis.  Reuniting with our friends here, we settled into simple beach bungalow life, taking advantage of the fantastic full-body massage on offer for THB 350 at the beachfront of our accommodation. 

Another highlight for us girls was the brilliant cooking course at Rim Tang cooking school, where the boys then joined us to eat the ridiculous quantity of Thai dishes we had prepared under the guidance of lovely Pa. 

It was great to give Maya the independence and confidence to choose her own spice levels and ingredients. However, I was little unnerved by the joy she gained from mincing chicken breasts with a cleaver!

Our final nights in Krabi Town 

To keep things interesting, we took the local boat back to the mainland, where a single songthaew was waiting to transport us and the other tourists to town. We had obviously picked a busy day and the truck was packed, so Andy had to hang off the back with half the luggage! 

It was great to spend our final afternoon and night in Krabi Town before our flight home. Though a popular hop-off point for tourists passing through on their way to the islands, Krabi Town has an authentic feel and welcoming atmosphere.

The Krabi River Hotel has simple clean rooms and a great roof top bar overlooking the river, which is a hot spot for local teenagers to take Instagram shots! It was a lovely venue for a bit of live music with a cold beer. 

A few doors down from the hotel, Baitoey Restaurant served us some exceptional food, which was quite different to what we’d eaten elsewhere. And, of course, it would have been criminal not to finish our trip with a banana pancake from the night market...

Homeward bound 

Our flight home involved a long break in Bangkok, where we stored our main bags along with Andy’s bike before heading for a massive shopping centre (Centralworld), easily accessible by sky train from the airport. 

We were keen to avoid getting too hot, but after a bit of branded shopping and a windowless food court lunch I was relieved to get back out on the street for a last drink in an open restaurant, watching the world bustle by in the form of street carts and sellers going about their daily business. 

Back in the airport, I did spot some genius sleep pods that you can rent by the hour (THB250) right in the airport by the baggage storage, which would be a great option if you have a long layover.

Reflections on our family holiday in Thailand

We felt like we experienced lots over our 2-week break in Thailand, with plenty of variety and balance. For Maya, fewer early starts might have eased our mornings a little, but once we were up and moving, it was lovely to watch her throw herself into any activity. 

For kids of any age, a pool is always a winner to cool down, slow down, recharge some energy, and make new friends, young and old. I also recommend squeezing a snorkel and mask into your luggage. Remember that kids also need some down time, so don’t be afraid to build some ‘chill days’ into your itinerary. 

Thailand never fails to tick all the boxes. The scenery, the people, the wildlife, the weather, and the food, all mix to create a near-perfect holiday destination for all ages. If you’re wondering where to travel on your next family holiday, Thailand is an all-round winner.

Ready to plan a family trip to Thailand?

We've been helping parents to plan unforgettable family holidays to Thailand for over 20 years. Most of our travel consultants have children themselves, so they can offer first-hand tips as well as expert advice. 

To get started, simply give us a call on 1273 320 580 or send us a quote request by email.

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