Active Family Vacation to Thailand

Just an hour’s drive south of Bangkok, Samut Songkram province offers visitors a glimpse into life in the Thai countryside. Stop at a local railway station where a bustling country market has sprouted up along the tracks. As a train pulls into the station, witness the vendors quickly clearing their stalls off the railway. Then, after the train departs, watch them resume business as usual. Then visit Damnoen Saduak floating market and take a long tail boat ride through the canals and see how people live alongside the labyrinth of waterways in this area. 

There is no better way to explore Bangkok’s endless maze of backstreets and alleyways than on foot. Discover daily life away from the tourist trail. Start in the bustling Yaowarat district and discover shops and stalls selling a wide array of items. From here, delve deeper into the smaller backstreets, or ‘sois’, of Chinatown. Visit Talad Kao, a market packed with fresh food, tropical fruit and Chinese herbs. The last stop of the walk is Wat Leng Nei Yi, a Chinese Taoist temple.

Discover the city’s ways of life and iconic monuments from the water. Take a ride along the Chao Phraya River, also known as the ‘River of Kings’.  The solar-powered boat then turns off the main waterway and onto the canals, or ‘klongs’. Capture glimpses of small villages on the water’s edge and enjoy the slower pace of life away from the city centre. Cruise back onto the Chao Phraya to visit Wat Arun, a 79m high pagoda built in a style similar to Angkor Wat. 

Set out on a serene river adventure and experience the cultural blend where the three countries that make up the famous Golden Triangle – Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar – meet.

The spectacular Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, is totally different from any other in Thailand. The temple’s consecrated assembly hall is finished completely in white, including white glass. The white represents Lord Buddha’s purity and the white glass stands for Lord Buddha’s wisdom.

Enjoy a lively night in Chiang Mai town, wandering through the South Gate of the old city to the traditional street food market that opens every evening. During the walk, you will be tempted by the heady aromas emanating from the various food stalls and simple carts, and your guide will be on hand to introduce the many local dishes on offer. And of course, you will be able to try whichever dishes take your fancy.

Enjoy an active and exciting day of kayaking and cycling in and around the spectacular Sri Lanna National Park, just an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai. You’ll cycle 20km along beautiful rural roads set against a backdrop of dazzling bamboo and fern groves, fruit orchards and rolling rice fields before paddling kayaks on Mae Ngud Lake Reservoir. At lunch time, you’ll stop for a delicious Lanna meal at an exotic bamboo floating raft house. The afternoon can be spent paddling and exploring the lake, swimming or indulging in a spot for sunbathing on the shore of the reservoir. You’ll be transferred with your bikes back to Chiang Mai in the evening.

Visit the Chang Chill Sanctuary, committed to a hands-off policy, to watch their resident elephants from afar as they roam freely in the forest. Your guide will first provide you with an introduction and safety briefing before you head out into the wilderness to respectfully observe these gentle giants in their natural about elephant behaviour from the local mahouts. You’ll also have the chance to fill their feeding tubes with corn, sugar cane, grass and bananas before a wholesome lunch at the camp.

The beautiful scenery of Ta Lane Nature Reserve with its steep cliffs, canyons and lagoons is a nature lover’s paradise. Explore the mangroves by kayak and observe the rich bird and animal life as you paddle through the green waterways of the forest.

Pristine beaches, tropical rainforest and incredible coral reefs, home to schools of colourful fish, make these islands perfect for exploring. Cruise around the islands by boat and enjoy swimming, snorkelling and relaxing.