Thailand for Families

This stunning resort is designed like a traditional Thai Village, laid out around working rice terraces and surrounded by mountains, a stay here feels like stepping into another world. From the hotel, your family can explore the rich culture of the local area, visit elephant sanctuaries or take part in cookery classes. The Four Seasons also has a two-level infinity pool, an award winning spa, fitness center, tennis courts and a library. For the younger members of the family there is a complimentary children’s Gecko Club (4-12 years) with a daily activity program, children’s menus, DVDs and toys. This resort is well equipped for all ages, and has something to suit every pace of vacation.

The spectacular views and the fun-filled children’s programs are highlights at the Peninsula Bangkok. This unique, elegant hotel features sprawling, uninterrupted views of the city skyline and the river below. Flexibility is paramount here, making a convenient stay for your family. The Peninsula offers numerous and varied restaurants to dine at, suiting every palate, and the Spa is a tranquil respite from the buzzing city. The hotel also has a luxury fleet of chauffer driven limousines for guests to use. One of the best features of this hotel is the excellent facilities for children. They are gladly welcomed with special bathrobes, activity kits, equipment such as cots, and special room service menus. Babysitting can also be provided. The Peninsula Kids’ Academy provides hours of fun for 4-12 year olds with cultural and culinary activities. The hotel also offers an à la carte program to allow guests to experience the best of Thai culture including cuisine, arts and crafts, dance and massage, at their discretion.

Anantara Mai Kaho Phuket Villas boast a tranquil location, away from the crowds. The décor is inspired by Thai architecture, with spacious indoor/outdoor areas, and facilities include an excellent spa, bicycles, tennis courts, and gym with Muay Thai, yoga and aerobics classes. Families are well catered for here, with tailored activities and a great kids club. The Turtle Club will get your children involved with arts and crafts, nature activities and games. Babysitting is also available upon request. And while your little ones are being thoroughly entertained, you can participate in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, Thai cooking classes and mountain biking trips ranging from short routes to full day tours with a picnic.

This camp is a stunning place to stay whilst exploring this fascinating historical, cultural and adventurous region. Perfect for older kids, the resort prides itself on its private elephant camp. This is a wonderful place to experience these great animals first-hand by walking with them through the bamboo jungle, and helping bathe them, or your family can even spend a full day learning how to master the art of being a mahout. There is also an abundance of other family-friendly activities on offer during your stay here, including visits to Chaing Rai and the neighboring countries by longtail boat, mountain biking, tree planting, yoga, trekking and a wonderful Thai cookery school where the chef will personally take you to visit the local market. After a day full of exciting experiences, your family can cool off in the free form infinity-edged swimming pool, which looks down over the tree canopy towards the Mekong River.

The Floathouse is such a unique and exciting property that floats directly on the River Kwai. You can even jump into the river from your deck and float down to the end of the jetty before climbing back up! There are so many exciting activities here, no member of your family will be bored. There are orchards to the back of the hotel to stroll through, bamboo rafts to cruise down the river in and WWII history explore at the War Cemetery, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, and the dauntingly titled Hellfire Pass. A stay at The Floathouse River Kwai isn’t complete without a visit to the impressive Lawa Cave. Inside there are a number of chambers with dramatic stalagmites and stalactites. It’s also home to the smallest bat species in the world, the Kitti bat.

Rayavadee is luxurious and elegantly furnished in a Thai style with polished woods, richly colored fabrics and hand crafted details. Each of the 98 pavilions even has its own little garden. For active members of your family, the resort offers excellent snorkeling, rock climbing, exploring the uninhabited islands in the marine reserve and treks in the lush forested interior. For those looking to relax, the luxurious Rayavadee spa has an extensive range of holistic therapies and there is also a lovely swimming pool. We seriously recommend dining at the Grotto, a restaurant which is nestled under an ancient limestone cliff, where you can enjoy a lazy lunch or a magical sunset cocktail.

Samujana is an amazing option for the family looking for something different than the typical resort. The villas offer a huge amount of privacy and a wonderfully personalized experience. Perched on a hillside, each of the 27 villas at Samujana is truly luxurious. Some of the villas even come with their own gym, a private cinema and large infinity pools, ensuring a magical stay for your entire family. Villa vacations are the perfect alternative to staying in a hotel, especially when traveling with your entire family. These villas can cater to families with both younger and older children, so everyone’s need are well met. One of the standouts of Samujana is the service, your family can choose from the type of service you want from super attentive to one that’s more discreet.

Your family will have an unforgettable stay at Soneva Kiri, this resort feels like a tropical, hidden retreat, blending beautifully into its surroundings. Each villa comes with a personal butler and the dining here is spectacular. The property includes menus created by a three Michelin Star chef and offers unique tree pod dining with service on a zip wire, and an ice cream parlor. Allowing the older family members to relax and enjoy their stay, Soneva offers the Eco Den, a revolutionary kids' area that appears to hang over the forest canopy, as well as a magical giant bamboo playground in the shape of a manta. The exciting and innovative children’s program here includes fishing, land and water excursions, cookery and chocolate making, science experiments and crafts.

Elephant Hills Tented Camp is comprised of two separate camps, and perfect for social families. The main camp has 30 rustic tents surrounding a communal dining area where guests can mingle after their adventures. The second camp has 10 en-suite tents floating on the Cheow-Lan Lake, powered by solar and wind energy. The second camp is the more adventurous option and better suited to families with older children. Elephant Hills offers a light wildlife experience, and has expert guides who are extremely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. While here, you might spot lizards, frogs, exotic birds or even the odd Gibbon monkey. During your stay, your family must try the elephant interaction experience. All activities are conducted as part of a small group, which is fun because you’ll get to know the other families staying at the camp.

The Pimalai prides itself on being in a natural environment and peaceful setting while maintaining high standards of luxury and friendly service. This resort is perfect for on-the-go families. It has an activity center that offers mountain bikes, trekking, tennis, canoes, kayaks, sailing, windsurfing, boat cruises and snorkeling. The surrounding waters of the Lanta Marine National Park are pristine for diving, and the Pimalai has its own PADI dive center. After a day packed with adventurous activities, pop into the relaxing spa for aromatherapy massages, scrubs and wraps.

A stay at Santiburi will be a relaxing, bonding experience for the whole family. The one and two-bedroom suites are great for families, offering plenty of space at fantastic value. For more active members of the family there are watersports, cycling, a superb golf club and professional course, as well as tennis and squash. For those in need of pampering, the spa’s natural treatment rooms with Jacuzzi gardens are a sanctuary for indulgent treatments and holistic therapies that will leave every member of the family refreshed (the spa even provides specialist treatments for children and teens!). There is a whole host of other activities for your children to enjoy here, like a kids' activity center, and a movie and music library. While your children are being entertained, treat yourselves to a torch lit seafood barbecue on the beach.

The 56 spacious villas at Six Senses Yao Noi have been designed with a modern, elegant style and have their own private infinity pool with large sundeck, open-air bathrooms and personal villa team trained to anticipate every whim. You can guarantee that your family’s stay here will be a relaxing one. The Six Senses Spa has been designed in the style of a Thai longhouse with separate treatment salas and a gym. Other facilities include a library, main pool with stunning views, wine cellar and tennis court. Your butler can arrange a multitude of exceptional dining choices including private picnics, champagne breakfasts and beach barbecues.

The villas at the Four Seasons are cleverly built into the hillside and offer unparalleled views of the oceans the secluded beach below. Each villa has chic alfresco living spaces and is accompanied by its own private infinity pool. There are tons of activities for both adults and children here, with swimming, tennis, watersports and boat trips, as well as a fantastic children’s club with a range of fun activities that would make any adult jealous. While your young ones are playing away at the children’s club, visit Cocorum, a tropical and laid-back rum bar, then hit the pool. With inviting lounge beds and idyllic views, the 50m long pool makes for the perfect place to unwind with a cocktail or even a shoulder massage in the shade of the palms.

For active teenagers who want to burn some adrenaline, we have just the answer. First head north to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s adventure capital, where all the family can enjoy a dazzling array of experiential activities including bamboo rafting, elephant treks and trekking to remote hill tribes for a day. Think local markets, cycling past ancient temples, cooking classes and night bazaars - all the activity a teenager could wish for. Finish in Koh Samui. Explore remote inlets by kayak or maybe try zip-lining. Of course, after all this entertainment they might just like to put their feet up with a big grin on their faces!

With direct flights from Bangkok to Bhutan, this combination works perfectly from October to April – spend five days in Bhutan combining Paro and Punakha – trek to the amazing Tigers Nest Monastery, free-wheel cycle down through the Haa Valley, meet local Buddhist Monks (some will be the same age as your children!), try your hand at archery and simple walks through the countryside seeing local life that has been unchanged in centuries. Fly back to Thailand and straight down to the beach for a week.

This soft adventure itinerary combines the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, jungle trekking, meeting elephants and a stay on the pristine beaches of Koh Lanta. In Bangkok we will arrange a guide who will take the family through the markets on a street-food tour and taking a traditional klong to a tourist-free floating market. Cycle the backstreets to remote Buddhist temples. Hit Khao Sok and spend your days under canvas – canoe through the jungle, trek through rainforests and meet the local elephants. Finish on the beach in Koh Lanta where all the family can relax and get in some well-deserved pool time!

If you are looking for the ultimate twin-center between an element of culture and time on the beach then Cambodia and Thailand is the solution. Begin by flying to Siem Reap, home to the vast temple complex of Angkor Wat. ‘Tomb Raider’ is essential pre-vacation film viewing to get the children into the spirit of things. We will use specialist guides to ensure Angkor Wat comes alive for the family – but Cambodia offers a great deal more – think of private boat trips on Tonle Sap lake, rural markets, cycling or even helicopter experiences. Fly down to Koh Lanta for a relaxing week on the beach in Thailand.

If you want to really impress the children, then we have an itinerary that really doesn’t hold back. Begin in Bangkok, using our specialist guides to make the city come alive. Fly to Chiang Mai for a stay at Dhara Devi from where the children can have their own elephant for a day. Spend your days seeing ancient temples, cycling through villages or walking to remote hill tribes. Finally end on the beach in Koh Kood at Soneva Kiri – quite simply the best beach hotel in Thailand.