Thailand with Kids Part 1: Bangkok, River Kwai & Jungle Adventures

Introduction

Thailand had been on our family bucket list for years. We dreamed of colourful markets, tropical beaches, temples, jungle adventures and delicious food. But most importantly, we wanted to discover if Thailand would be as easy and enjoyable with children as everyone told us.
Spoiler alert: it was!
Thailand turned out to be the perfect family adventure. The country is incredibly welcoming, travelling around is easy and every few days felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Our route took us from the busy streets of Bangkok, through the history and nature around River Kwai and Kanchanaburi, into the jungle landscapes of Erawan Waterfalls and finally towards northern Thailand.
In this first part of our Thailand adventure, we take you from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, sharing our favourite experiences, practical tips and everything you need to know when travelling Thailand with kids.

Our Thailand family itinerary

Bangkok – temples, street food & colourful adventures
🌿 River Kwai & Kanchanaburi – history and nature
💦 Erawan Waterfalls – jungle swimming paradise
🏯 Mueang Sing Historical Park – hidden ancient temples
🌿 Chiang Mai – mountains, culture and northern Thailand

Bangkok with kids: where Asia comes alive

Bangkok is a city that immediately wakes up all your senses.
The sound of tuk-tuks, the smell of street food, colourful temples, busy markets and endless movement everywhere you look. It is chaotic, exciting and completely different from home.
For families visiting Thailand for the first time, Bangkok is the perfect introduction to Asia.
We recommend staying at least three days. Not only because there is so much to see, but also because it gives everyone time to recover after the long flight.

Things we loved in Bangkok with kids:

✨ Visiting Wat Pho and the giant reclining Buddha
✨ Exploring the Grand Palace
✨ Eating street food
✨ Watching the city from above
✨ Visiting the magical Unicorn Café
(Internal link: Bangkok with kids blog)

Wat Pho: discovering Bangkok’s golden treasures

One of our favourite moments in Bangkok was visiting Wat Pho.
The temple complex is huge, but the absolute highlight is the enormous golden reclining Buddha. At 43 metres long, it is impossible not to be impressed.
The children loved looking for all the small details around the temple: the colourful tiles, the statues and the traditional rituals happening around them.
It was a beautiful first introduction to Thai culture.

River Kwai & Kanchanaburi: history meets nature

After the energy of Bangkok, we were ready for a change of pace.
We headed towards Kanchanaburi, a region where history and nature come together.
The area around River Kwai is famous for the Death Railway, built during World War II under terrible circumstances. Visiting this place with children is also a chance to talk about history and why remembering the past matters.
But Kanchanaburi is not only about history.
The area is also home to incredible nature, waterfalls and hidden gems.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

One of our first stops was Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Watching colourful boats move through the narrow canals, filled with fresh fruit, local food and souvenirs, felt like stepping into another Thailand.
Yes, it is a popular place to visit, but it remains a fun experience with children.

Erawan Waterfalls: our jungle adventure highlight

If we have to choose one place from this part of Thailand that our children still talk about, it would probably be Erawan Waterfalls.
Hidden inside Erawan National Park, these waterfalls look like something from a movie.
The turquoise pools, jungle surroundings and little trails make this a perfect family adventure.
We walked to several levels of the waterfalls, but decided not to go all the way to the top. Travelling with children also means knowing when to slow down and enjoy the moment.
And then came the funniest part…
The fish!
The little fish nibbling at our feet created a lot of screaming, laughing and jumping around. It was completely harmless, but definitely a memory we will never forget.
Travel tip: Bring water shoes and a waterproof bag. You will thank us later!

Mueang Sing Historical Park: ancient temples in the jungle

Our next stop was Mueang Sing Historical Park.
Compared to the famous temples of Bangkok, this place felt completely different.
Quiet, surrounded by nature and with almost no crowds, it felt like we had discovered our own hidden piece of Thailand.
Walking through these ancient Khmer ruins made us wonder how people managed to build such incredible structures centuries ago.

Chiang Mai: the next chapter of our Thailand adventure

From Bangkok we continued our journey towards Chiang Mai.
You can choose the famous night train, which is an adventure itself, or take a short domestic flight.
With children, we chose comfort and flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Northern Thailand showed us a completely different side of the country: green mountains, local traditions, temples, markets and incredible experiences.
And after Chiang Mai, we traded mountains for beaches…
Read more about Chang mai in (Internal link: Chang Mai with kids blog)