2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids

When we first decided to travel to Thailand I reached out to several tour operators for package deals and, having been horrified at the quotes, set about researching and planning our own trip at what turned out to be a fraction of the cost. Having spent months researching Thailand, our chosen route, which excursions to take and where to stay I thought I would share a 2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids including any top tips we picked up along the way.

2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids

• Day 1 Arrival
• Days 2 – 7 Phuket
• Days 7 – 9 Khao Sok
• Days 9 – 13 Koh Samui
• Days 13 – 16 Bangkok
• Day 16 Departure

Day 1: Fly Manchester to Phuket via Doha with Qatar Airways

The biggest expense when planning our 2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids was flights and I strongly recommend booking these as early as possible. If you’re flexible on dates check out Google Flights or Skyscanner where you can search prices for the whole month and get the best deal. Make sure to frequently clear your cookies as these websites have a habit of hiking up the prices the more you search. With us travelling from Manchester we were limited on flights and eventually decided on Qatar Airways with a two hour stop over at Doha airport, Qatar. Make sure to register with Wise beforehand for your travel money card, you can pre-load this to use on the journey, at the airport and once in Thailand too. It gives the best exchange rate so definitely worth doing!

We flew Economy class 6 hours and 50 minutes to Doha and 7 hours on to Phuket and couldn’t fault the service from Qatar Airways. The seats were spacious, the food was great and, most importantly when travelling with kids, the entertainment package had hundreds of films, TV shows, music and games to keep them from getting bored. To avoid any stress when it come to your luggage, especially when taking connecting flights, you can order custom luggage tags with your family name and emergency contact number engraved on the back. For families wanting to skip the stopover altogether, the option to book a jet is worth exploring as it removes the connecting flight stress entirely and gets you there with far less disruption to the kids.

Top tip: Don’t overthink the weather!!! We travelled at the end of May/June which is considered low season and the crowds were minimal. I was so worried about the weather but other than the odd rainpour we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine for the majority of the time. 

Day 2: Sunwing Kamala Beach, Phuket

We had pre-booked our hotel transfers with Andaman Islands Tour & Travel who had a minibus waiting for us at the airport and drove us to Sunwing Kamala Beach Resort located at Kamala Beach. You can enjoy a more hassle free trip by booking convenient airport transfers or shuttle buses with Hoppa voucher codes in advance. This is a great way to save money and enjoy a more relaxing break, especially when travelling with kids

It can be a huge decision choosing where to stay in Phuket to take Thailand family tours, but after a lot of research I learned that if you’re travelling with kids or want something a little quieter then Bangtao, Kamala, Karon or Kata beach are perfect.

Sunwing Kamala Beach stood out for us due to its mid island location and the fact it’s easily accessible from Phuket airport – just a 35 minute drive. It’s just 15 minutes to Patong if you want to visit somewhere a little livelier, 10 minutes walk to Kamala Village and Phuket Fantasea is right on the doorstep. The hotel itself has a huge swimming complex, direct beach access, a kids club, bar and restaurant, a fully equipped gym, shows and entertainment and various activities throughout the day for both kids and grown-ups. We couldn’t have been happier with our choice and would recommend it to anyone looking for accommodation in Phuket.

Top tip: If you’re buying an eSIM for Thailand, it’s far cheaper to buy them in the town than from the airport. We bought ours in Phuket Old Town although they are on sale more or less everywhere you go. Be mindful that some shops will insist on seeing your passport to purchase one. You can also just buy an esim for Thailand too! 

Day 3: Phuket discovery tour & 1 hour ATV safari

We had pre-booked our excursions with Andaman Islands Tour & Travel and opted for a private Phuket discovery tour with one hour ATV off-road safari. The private tour bus collected us from our hotel at 9am and took us to the following:

• Chalong Temple
• Phuket city viewpoint
• Phuket Old Town 
• Karon View Point
• Windmill viewpoint
•   cape
• Big Buddha

We also had a 60 minute ATV session through the jungle which was so much fun albeit in the middle of a torrential rain storm. Definitely one for the memory bank and a great way to end our day. If it’s your first time in Phuket the discovery tour is a real must.

Top tip: Don’t forget to take long trousers and something to cover your shoulders for any temple visits – you won’t be allowed entry without them! 

Day 4: Green Elephant Sanctuary Park

One of the things we were most looking forward to about Thailand was seeing elephants and I spent a great deal of time researching the different elephant parks in Phuket. We eventually decided on the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park where riding the elephants is strictly forbidden, the elephants live a happy and healthy life free from chains, and each elephant has a dedicated keeper who lives at the sanctuary with their whole family to care for them.

We pre-booked our tickets months in advance as we wanted to secure the date for our daughters birthday and the sessions do book up quite quickly. You can choose either a morning or an afternoon session and you are collected from your hotel in a group minibus and returned back to the door afterwards. The tour includes:

• Feeding the elephants
• Information about the vision of the park and the past of the elephant
• Mud Spa Pool
• Wash the Elephant in the Fresh Water Pool
• XXL Elephant shower
• Delicious Thai Buffet

We couldn’t fault the experience which was undoubtedly one of the best days we have ever shared today. The following day all photos are uploaded to their Facebook page where you can download copies of professional images taken throughout your session. This comes at no extra cost and is a great way of really capturing those memories to look back on forever.

Top tip: Book the morning slot where possible as it gets hotter as the day goes on and there is very little shade for the feeding and bathing. 

Day 5: Free Day

One of the things we really wanted to be mindful of when planning a 2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids was finding the right balance between seeing as much of Thailand as possible and making sure we didn’t exhaust ourselves and the kids in the process. Throughout our stay we scheduled in free days to do our own thing, enjoy the hotel and relax in what can only be described as paradise.

We spent the morning in Phuket Old Town doing some souvenir shopping, buying those all important elephant pants, personalised keyrings and trying some Thai treats from the many shops lining the streets. We spent the afternoon in the pool at Sunwing Kamala Beach, had a stroll around the market which sets up outside of the hotel, enjoyed a pedicure at the massage hut on the beach and then a sunset walk along the beach into Kamala.

Top tip: We later discovered that souvenirs were far cheaper in Koh Samui and Bangkok than Phuket so save any major purchases until later in your trip. 

Day 6: Phi Phi Island Tour 

Again we pre-booked our Phi Phi Island tour with Andaman Islands Tour & Travel and went for the early bird option which, although slightly more expensive, means you start your day at 5am to beat the crowds and travel in smaller groups per boat. The tour includes –

• Visit to Maya Bay
• Swimming at Pileh Lagoon
• Visit to Phi Phi including lunch
• Snorkelling at Bamboo island

As with all of the Andaman Islands Tours & Travel excursions a minibus collected us at 5am and drove us to the marina where we were given breakfast before we set sail to Maya Bay. For those who are familiar with the film The Beach, this is where it was filmed and as a result it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Phuket and can attract up to 6000 visitors per day! Getting there early meant we had the whole bay to ourselves where as just an hour later when we left it was already over run with tourists.

Back on the boat we sailed to Pileh Lagoon where the boat anchored so we could jump off the front of the boat and swim in the lagoon before mooring on Phi Phi where we had a couple of hours to relax, explore and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in a beach front restaurant. Phi Phi is a popular island with a very different atmosphere to the other more deserted islands locally. It’s much busier and more vibrant but utterly beautiful and if you walk up to the top viewing point you can see out for miles.

From there the tour takes you to Bamboo Island which is the most incredible spot to snorkel amongst the coral reefs in crystal clear waters. It was such an amazing experience and one of our favourite days during our stay in Thailand.

Top tip: The sea can be a little choppy at certain times of year so if you or your family suffer from sea sickness be sure to take anti-sickness medication an hour before.

Day 7: Travel to Our Jungle House, Khao Sok National Park 

We had pre-booked our transfers with Andaman Islands Tours & Travel who collected us from Sunwing Kamala Beach Hotel and drove us three hours North to Our Jungle House, Khao Sok. Our Jungle House is located right in the heart of the Khao Sok National Park, spanning 739 square kilometres and home to over 300 species of birds, 48 species of mammal, an estimated 200 wild Asian elephants, endangered tigers and more insects and reptiles than you would ever believe. Our Jungle House has 14 treehouses and 8 bungalows and we booked the Sunrise Loft Treehouse via booking.com which slept the five of us with an additional mattress.

Just 2km away from Our Jungle House is Khao Sok village where you will find some small shops, bars, restaurants and an ATM machine. You can book excursions here in the village or at reception at Our Jungle House on arrival. They offer a whole range of activities from bush crafts, cooking lessons, bamboo rafting, lake tours, jungle hikes, tubing, elephant parks and Thai massage.

We spent the afternoon exploring the area before eating at the Our Jungle House restaurant which was utterly delicious and in the evening you can order breakfast for the following day at a time of your choice.

Top tip: Take all the bug spray!!! 

Day 8: Cheow Lan Lake excursion

We booked the Cheow Lan Lake full day tour via Our Jungle House which includes:

• Transfers to and from the pier via minibus
• Long boat guided tour of the lake
• Lunch at floating bungalows
• Kayaking and swimming in lake
• Jungle hike
• Sail on a bamboo raft
• Visit to the Coral Caves

From start to finish the trip ran like clockwork, paired with another family and a solo traveller plus our English speaking guide who was incredible. He gave a guided tour of the lake, stopped in all the best photo spots and kept the children entertained at all times.

Lunch was delicious and the food literally just kept coming until we couldn’t eat another bite. After lunch those with younger children had the choice to skip the jungle hike and caves and stay at the water bungalows for extended kayaking and swimming whilst the rest of us ventured out. At 9, 10 and 11 our children easily managed the hike and it was so worth it for our first sail on a bamboo raft as well as visiting the Coral Caves.

Top tip: National Park Fees, Sanctuary, and Pier Fees are not included in the tour price so make sure you account for this and take cash on the day, 

Day 9: Travel to Holiday Inn Resort, Koh Samui

Andaman Island Tours collected us via minibus at 9am and we drove three hours to Donsak Pier, Surat Thani. We took the Seatran ferry and bought our tickets on the day which cost around £10 for all five of us, It’s just 1.5 hours across to Nathon Pier, Koh Samui and the ferry itself was lovely with a large, air-conditioned lounge or the choice of outdoor seating. Just 25 minutes later via transfers organised by the hotel, we arrived at Holiday Inn Samui on Bophut Beach and if you’re looking for the perfect family-friendly, beach front resort, this is it.

We booked a family suite which gave us two interconnecting rooms as well as two bathrooms and it was the most beautiful space for us to relax in. Holiday Inn Samui boasts a gorgeous pool complex, a pool bar serving soft drinks, cocktails as well as hot and cold food, a choice of three restaurants, a fitness centre, a large adventure playground, a separate splash zone and the best kids club we have ever come across in all our years of travelling. It’s literally a stones throw from Bophut Beach and a couple of minutes walk from the night markets and the Fishermans Village. Plus they have themed nights for families such as carnival night or movie theatres at the resort so there is literally everything you could ever want. It is by far one of our favourite hotels we have ever stayed at.

Top tip: Eat at the food markets in the evening. It’s so cheap, the food is freshly cooked in front of you and it’s a great way to try new dishes. There’s live music and cocktail stands and countless stalls to buy all your souvenirs. 

Day 10: Pig Island & Tan Island 

We were collected from Hotel Inn Samui by Andaman Islands Tour & Travel at 7am for a private transfer to the pier ready to sail to Koh Madsum, more recently known as Pig Island, in a private long boat. Here Mr Kitt lives with his family and their pigs, all of whom have been rescued and brought to the island to live a long and happy life. You can read the story of Mr Kitt and how Pig Island came to be here but I can honestly say it was one of, if not the best experiences we’ve ever had.

Arriving at the island before the hordes of tourist meant that for well over an hour we had the entire island to ourselves. This gave us time to get to know the pigs, who are incredible friendly, play with the dogs and the puppies who roam freely around the island, and enjoy what can only be described as a little piece of paradise.

We spent around two and a half hours on the island before heading back to the boat and sailing to Koh Tan where we anchored in a popular snorkelling spot for around 45 minutes. Snorkelling in Thailand is incredible and a real must-do activity during your stay.

We then spent a couple of hours on Koh Tan where you can relax on the beach, eat in the restaurant or explore by foot. It’s a beautiful, relatively deserted island and for the whole two hours the only people we saw were the staff in the restaurant. If you’re wanting an idyllic getaway, Koh Tan is perfect.

I’ve repeatedly been asked what our favourite thing about Thailand was and aside from the beaches, the people and the culture, our absolute favourite excursion was this. I can’t recommend the early bird tour enough if you want that desert island feeling with the pigs. It’s a little more expensive than the group tours but worth every single penny for memories like this.

Top tip: Take a camera, you’re going to want to remember this family holiday forever. 

Day 11: Ang Thong National Marine Park 

It was another 8am start with Andaman Islands Tours & Travel collecting us and taking us to the pier where we boarded a speed boat to Ang Thong National Marine Park. Ang Thong is a chain of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand and covers 50 square kilometres of rock formations which rise from the sea.

The tour includes:

• Transfers to and from the pier
• Group speedboat trip to Ang Thong
• Snorkelling in Ang Thong
• Sea kayaking
• Hikes to two separate viewpoints
• Buffet lunch
• Free time to explore

Snorkelling in Ang Thong completely blew us away and swimming above the coral reefs was an experience we will never forget. It was a long day but absolutely worth it to explore the archipelago, see the sea caves from the kayaks and enjoy an authentic Thai buffet served by the most wonderful people.

Top tip: Take sensible footwear to climb the viewpoints. The second is quite difficult on an uneven trail climbing 600 metres! 

Day 12: Free day

We used our free day on Samui to explore at our own leisure and relax at Holiday Inn Samui. Our top things to do were:

• `Visit the Big Buddha Temple, As well as the temples you’ll find a number of restaurants and shops around the area known as Big Buddha Beach.
• Wander down the Fisherman’s Village. The Fisherman’s Village is a historical part of Bophut where the streets are lined with bars, restaurants and shops. In the evenings it hosts the Fisherman’s Village Walking Street market which was one of the largest we came across and sold everything you could ever imagine.

• Visit Coco Tams to watch the fire show directly opposite the hotel. The fire show runs twice per evening at 7.30pm and 9pm and it’s advised to get there around one hour before to secure a table as only seated customers can stay for the show.
• Enjoy a picnic at Holiday Inn Samui. You an order a picnic to take out for the day or to enjoy overlooking the beach together. With hot and cold dishes plus fresh coconuts to cool down, it’s an amazing idea and new to Holiday Inn Samui this year.

Top tip: If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in the Fisherman’s Village we were recommended The Hut Cafe right at the start of the street (or the end if coming from Bophut beach direction). It was one of our best meals in Thailand! 

Day 13: Fly to Bangkok

We transferred to Koh Samui Airport and flew to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi with Bangkok Airways. It’s the smallest, most relaxed airport I have ever seen and we were actually switched to an earlier flight on arrival and casually taken through security and transferred to the plane with just minutes to spare. There is no rush, no queues and no formalities other than a quick show of your passport. It was just an hours flight to Bangkok, enough time to be served a meal and a drink. From Bangkok airport we took a cab from the taxi rank and agreed a fixed price to our hotel which worked out at around £10 for a 40 minute transfer.

We had debated where to stay in Bangkok itself and found the most popular areas for families, and considered some of the safest, are Riverside and Siam Square. We chose the Millennium Hilton hotel located right on the river, adjacent to ICONSIAM – one of the largest malls in Asia – and easily accessible by boat and Skytrain, We booked a Panoramic Executive Suite because if you’re staying in Bangkok, you want to wake up every single morning to a view like this one.

The hotel boasts a roof top pool, fitness centre, restaurant and 24 hour concierge. It’s central enough to walk into the city whilst being far enough out of the action to be quiet for those travelling with kids. We spent our first night in Flow restaurant and then cocktails in the Three Sixty Cocktail lounge with live music.

Top tip: If you’re a Hilton Gold Honours member you get access to a private lounge with set times for complimentary drinks, hot and cold food and afternoon tea on the weekend.

Day 14: Exploring Bangkok

We took the whole day to explore Bangkok and we managed to fit so much into our day:

• Our first TukTuk ride in the city (make sure you haggle, they quote you about five times the price they’re willing to go!)
• A Long Boat tour of the Khlongs booked at the pier (haggle every price you see in Bangkok!). It’s the best way to view the Big Buddha and one of the most impressive statue we’ve ever seen standing at 70 metres tall making it the largest in Thailand.

• Visit to ICONSIAM Mall home to over 7000 shops, over 100 restaurants and even a floating market. There’s an incredible food market where you can try dishes such as BBQ crocodile or roasted scorpions, designer stores to browse, cocktail bars and Thai ice cream counters, plus countless photo opportunities with dress-up props which the kids loved.
• Visit to Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha. This is one of the most beautiful temples we have ever seen and is unmissable! If you forget your long trousers and cover up you can borrow a skirt and cape at the entrance like I did.

• Walk through China town and enjoy the colourful alleyways, gorgeous Chinese temples, historic buildings and famous Yaowarat Road. Be warned, this was the busiest place we came across in Bangkok so hold the kids close and enjoy!
• Stroll down Khao San Road, a major tourist district in Bangkok known for its vibrant entertainment scene and budget hotels. Not the most child-friendly place after dark but work a visit to tick it off your Bangkok trip list.

• Watch a Muay Thai boxing match at the Rajadamnern Stadium. We booked this before our trip but tickets were available on the day and it was a great night watching around twelve fights with a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium.

Top tip: We found taxi’s were actually cheaper than Tuk Tuks and it was far better to be sat in traffic in air-con than baking in the heat on the back of a Tuk Tuk! 

Day 15: Hotel & Exploring

For our third day in Bangkok we had several things we really wanted to do:

• Enjoy the roof top pool at the Millennium Hilton. For those staying nearby or in hotels without swim facilities, you can pay to access the pool for the day which is a great way to enjoy a little relaxation and cool down. Bangkok is HOT!!!

• Brave the Mahanakhon Skywalk. The Mahanakhon Skywalk is Thailand’s highest observation deck at 314 metres and offers 360 degree panoramic views from an indoor and outdoor viewing area. For those brave enough you can walk across the glass tray on the 78th floor which is utterly terrifying but a real must-do experience when in Bangkok. We booked our visit on the same day and there was plenty of availability on the website.

• Visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market. With over 200,000 people visiting the market every weekend, the Chatuchak market has become the world’s largest weekend market and has over 15,000 stalls spread out across 35 acres with 26 different sections ranging from food to art, antiques to fashion and so much more. It’s a little over whelming if you just aimlessly wander so I’d recommend having an idea of the sections you’d like to visit instead of attempting to see it all in one go. We took a cab to the market as it’s a little out of the way.

• Moonlight swim back at the Millennium Hilton rooftop pool. Open until 9pm, the pool is very quiet in the evening and we had it to ourselves looking out at the bright lights of Bangkok. We watched a spectacular lightning storm on the horizon and the boats sailing along the river, it was such a special memory to share.
• We ate back in the hotel buffet restaurant which was hands down the best buffet we have ever had in any hotel, ever. If you’re staying at the Hilton or in the area, we can’t recommend it enough!

Day 16: The Grand Palace & Departure 

On our final day of our 2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids we visited The Grand Palace, a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. The entrance fee is 500 baht for tourists although young children may enter for free, this also includes access to Wat Phra Kaew and Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile, which are located within The Grand Palace compound.

The Grand Palace is every bit as grand as the name suggests and every single building is fascinating to see. Be sure to see the Emerald Buddha, a figurine of the meditating Buddha made from one solid piece of green jade, and considered one of Thailand’s most precious icons. Although photography is allowed here at the Grand Palace, photos of the Emerald Buddha are forbidden and it is important to respect the rules which are quite strictly imposed.

Top tip: There are various stalls adjacent to the Grand Palace entrance where you can hire shirts, trousers and cover ups for around 50-100 BHT should you not have them with you. Children are also expected to cover up here and you will be refused entry without covered shoulders and legs. 

We transferred to Bangkok airport where we boarded our plane with Qatar Airways and flew 7 hours to Doha and then a further 7 hours home to Manchester. With the return flight being a night flight the children slept pretty much the entire way, I wish the same could be said about us!

I’m not sure how I will ever find the words to sum up just how completely incredible our travels to Thailand were, nor truly do justice to the memories we made. It’s safe to say we completely fell in love with Thailand and although we saw it as a once in a lifetime trip, we are already making plans to return. You can watch our favourite moments on my Instagram channel highlights and see more of our trip on our round up video below.

I hope you found our 2 week itinerary for Thailand with kids post helpful, I have also shared a second itinerary from our follow up visit in 2024 here – 20 day itinerary for Thailand with kids.

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