Jungle lite, and beautiful beaches
I spent a lot of time in Thailand in my 20s and I wanted to show my husband and two girls, 13 and 14, just how beautiful a country it is and how smiley and warm the people are. I wanted to immerse them in a completely different culture and show them a slice of Thailand’s countryside, lakes and jungle, but have plenty of pool time too. We travelled in late June, officially rainy season, and yet we had just one hour of rain in the whole trip. What we did have was one of our best ever family trips that my youngest talks about ALL the time; perfectly balanced between comfort, culture and just enough adventure. Here is how our family holiday to Thailand with teenagers worked and why this route is now one of my favourite recommendations for clients.
Get into the swing of things
We started our trip in Khao Lak, staying three nights at Little Shore Katathani. We had the two-bedroom suite with a private pool and it was pure heaven. The girls had their own bedroom and space, and we had ours, but we could all be together in our own pool whenever we wanted. We actually only used the pool before bedtime. We would come back from eating out at a local restaurant, I would suggest pyjamas and the two girls would get straight in to swimsuits!
Little Shore isn’t particularly for families but it is linked by a small gate to The Sands, a livelier sister hotel with larger pools and activities. Our daughters loved wandering over there for the atmosphere and fun, while we could retreat back to the quieter side when we wanted some calm. It felt like having two different styles of resort in one stay. It was great to just chill here for two days and wind down at the start of the trip.
Outside the hotel, the street is lined with relaxed restaurants and bars, all within a couple of minutes’ walk. One evening we took a 5‑minute taxi into Khao Lak town to explore a really large but relaxed local market filled with street food, clothing and souvenirs.
Jungle time!
Next, we were collected and driven inland to Elephant Hills Jungle Camp for three nights in the rainforest. This was the “adventure” part of our holiday but it was very comfortable and organised.
From the moment we arrived, we could switch our brains off. The itinerary was so well structured that everything from transfers to activities and meals was taken care of. All we had to do was turn up at the right time and enjoy being there.
Our elephant experience was limited to a carefully managed hour on the first day, which felt responsible and respectful. Elephant Hills has 11 elephants that they have rescued and we got to meet them from beyond a fence, and chop food up to feed them It was really fun. The rest of our stay was a mix of kayaking along calm waterways, longtail boat rides, swimming in the lake and a guided jungle walk.
My personal highlight was a lunchtime jungle walk where our guide showed us plants and insects and explained how they are used locally. We then stopped for a barbecue lunch in the forest. The suckling pig, cooked right there in the jungle, was honestly the tastiest I have ever eaten and one of those meals that stays in your memory long after you get home.
Food at Elephant Hills was excellent overall. Dinner menus changed every night, with lots of flavour and variety. The girls could choose familiar Western options if they wanted, but they ended up trying plenty of Thai dishes and found it all very accessible. For anyone nervous about how kids will cope with the food on a family holiday to Thailand, this style of set-up is ideal, and western food is available everywhere nowadays.
We stayed in luxury tents, which were fun and comfortable. There were proper beds, good brick bathrooms and two hammocks outside. For the girls, it felt like a “real” adventure they could proudly talk about, without sacrificing home comforts.
Passionfruit daiquiri anyone?
Next we drove south to Phuket for the final part of our trip, staying nine nights at Katathani resort. We had a two hour drive down through the island of Phuket, passing through various busy resort and the hectic main town, but the moment we arrived at the resort we were delighted with the set-up. The Katathani is large enough to span the entirety of Kata Noi beach, with a local road running through the centre full of restaurants and shops, so it feels like an all inclusive resort but you get to interact with the outside world. This allowed us to give the kids freedom to do their own thing more than we could have done in other areas of the island.
Kata Noi is a gorgeous long sandy beach with crashing
waves in rainy season and a very laid-back feel. The kids were out bodyboarding
every day. The girls could move between beach and pool, while we decided
whether to join in or relax in a lounger with a book.
All beaches in Thailand are public, so you can hire loungers and order homemade cocktails and drinks from local vendors, or keep things more luxurious by staying at the resort pools and ordering from the hotel bar. Our daughters particularly loved the huge pizzas at lunchtime, ideal for sharing. There are numerous pools to choose from, and a brand new waterpark has just opened on site, which is a big bonus for future family stays.
We booked a Deluxe Junior Suite, which was a brilliant set‑up for parents and teens. We could separate our sleeping spaces a little, and we had a large balcony for swimsuit drying and morning coffee. A small thing but there was a box outside each room to keep shoes and sandy stuff in, I loved that!
Right outside the hotel there are local shops, a 7/11 for snacks and essentials, and plenty of casual restaurants. A 5‑minute tuk tuk ride brings you into Kata, a bustling resort town with another lovely beach, lively streets, lots of restaurants and a fantastic big food market. The girls loved the energy here in the evenings and felt confident exploring with us.
We took a day trip to the nearby islands with time for snorkelling in clear, turquoise water. The girls loved jumping in, spotting fish and then drying off on the boat with a cold drink.
Back on land, they quickly discovered 1 USD banana pancakes from a local truck and would happily have lived on those alone. Fresh fruit smoothies became a daily ritual too. Those simple, everyday treats are the things they still talk about now.
For our final night, we dressed up and went to the Sundeck Restaurant, set high on a hill with views over the coastline. Watching the sun set and looking back over all the different parts of our trip felt like the perfect way to end our Thailand adventure.
Don’t think twice, just book a trip to Thailand with your kids. It can cost more or less the same as a European Summer holiday these days, but it will elevate the fun and fabulousness!!!
