Active & adventure holidays for teens in Thailand

If you’re looking for an adventure to remember, there’s plenty of choice on a Thailand family holiday, especially if you head to the north of the country around second city Chiang Mai.

Is there a more memorable way to start than by climbing aboard a bamboo raft and sailing down to the river before hiking to a remote village in the hills of the north, to meet members of the Palong tribe? Ideal if your teens love being active, as well as giving them an opportunity to see a very different side of life in the country.

That’s not the only way to explore the scenery through. Not far from the town of Pai, Pai Canyon (or Kong Lan) is dramatic enough to tempt anyone out on a walk. The narrow, elevated trails have been created by erosion over centuries, with some fabulous views out over the canyon itself, where lush greenery contrasts with the rocky cliffs. You can also pedal through the surrounding villages, stopping for a dip in a waterfall, visiting villages and soaking in the scenery.

If waterfalls get the vote from your kids, you shouldn’t miss the Erawan falls with seven separate tiers of cascades not far from Kanchanaburi – climb to the top, and splash in the clear waters as you go.

Or head to Khao Sok National Park, where you can swim in natural lakes and walk through rainforests, helping support the local community along the way which provides guides to help you explore. Head out in a canoe along the river running through the national park, overshadowed by limestone cliffs, as you discover more about the nature and wildlife, or kayak from the floating bungalows where you’ll stay before taking a walk past thick bamboo groves in the jungle.

Hiking, biking and kayaking aren’t the only adventures for teens to enjoy on family holidays to Thailand – how about getting to meet Asian elephants in the wild? There are several places where you can see these majestic animals, many rescued and orphaned across Thailand. The best centres not only help protect the elephants, they ensure that visitors also learn more and can add their support, in an ethical way.

Near Chiang Mai, the Elephant Nature Park is one of the best known, with a chance to find out more about individual elephants as well as watching them roam freely.

Or at the Elephant Hills Camp further south, you can mix wildlife spotting and some active adventures, canoeing down the Sok River through the jungle, looking for hornbills, macaques and gibbons, before meeting the resident elephants, helping with feeding time at the conservation project and learning a few secrets from their mahouts. Living in one of the last areas of primary rainforest, this is a part of the world where the exotic plants and tropical trees have hardly changed over thousands of years but it’s still easy enough for kids to explore.

Elephants aren’t the only creatures to spot on a Thailand family holiday either. Head to Khao Yai, the oldest of Thailand’s National Parks, with the chance to take a safari through the jungle and see the reserve’s animals plus an easy trek for a close-up look at some of the highlights. There are elephants here, although you may be lucky to see them, as well as wildcats and porcupines. Then finish the day at the bat cave, watching thousands streaming out to catch insects.

Or the Wildlife Friends Foundation rehabilitates a variety of injured animals, including bears, wild cats, monkeys, gibbons and more, and there’s a chance to help out at feeding time. It’s easy to combine with a visit to Khao Sam Toi National Park and Kui Buri National Park, home to water buffaloes and wild elephants, not to mention some spectacular scenery, from caves to limestone peaks and beaches you’ll want to be cast away on.

Although there’s far more to Thailand than just beaches, it would be a shame not to visit at least one island if you’re visiting Thailand with kids. And you certainly won’t be limited to sandcastles and paddling either.

Ko Samui is a great option for older kids, with kayaking, quad biking and surfing on offer, as well as some fantastic snorkelling. Don’t miss Angthong National Marine Park, where you can kayak between the limestone cliffs before grabbing your snorkelling gear and discovering the marine world below with its tropical fish and colourful corals.

You’ll find scenic hikes and kayaking on Ko Phi Phi too, plus more snorkelling with blacktip reef sharks – although they’re small and harmless, it’s still a thrill to be floating in the same water. Or on Ao Nang, you’re likely to meet curious monkeys as you kayak through mangrove forests, while there’s more snorkelling and waterfalls on Ko Phangan.

If your teens want to see more of the underwater world, you’ll find introductory dive sites on Koh Tao, known as Turtle Island, and famous for its coral, emerald green water and tropical fish. The island is also ideal for snorkelling if you don’t want to dive, plus you can set out on hikes to one of the island’s viewpoints too.

For a smaller, quieter island, Ko Yao Yai gives you a taste of desert island life without actually having to be a castaway, including the chance to sail by traditional longtail boat to bat-filled caves and hidden lagoons for more tempting snorkelling and a gentle hike to one of the island’s loveliest beaches.

If that’s not quiet enough, there’s a genuine desert island experience, where you’ll spend the night on a tiny island, catching your own dinner and finding wood for a bonfire to cook it over, before sleeping in the tent you set up earlier.

These are just a few examples of the activities we recommend for families in Thailand, but there’s more where these came from! Your travel specialist will be happy to talk you through the options so you can choose excursions that’ll be perfect for your teenagers.

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