Family Thailand Adventure

Maximise your time in Thailand by flying overnight to Bangkok.

You will be met on arrival and fast-tracked to your luxury hotel. Bangkok is a vibrant and energetic introduction to Southeast Asia. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok, which is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya. You could also head out to explore this vibrant city renowned for golden temples and street food.

After breakfast explore Bangkok with a private guide and see the city like a local. Children will delight in floating down hidden canals in a traditional boat, taking a tuk-tuk to the Grand Palace, and visiting the Emerald Buddha, one of the most sacred sites in Thailand. After lunch head to the Golden Mount Temple for distant views over the city’s oldest districts. Return to your hotel by shuttle boat and head to the spa before savouring a sundowner overlooking the river.

Today, leave the city behind with a cycle tour around the urban oasis of Bang Krachao, known as the ‘green lungs’ of Bangkok. Breathe in the fresh air as you ride through this hidden jungle woven with waterways and dotted with temples. Your tour guide will ensure you’re correctly fitted with a bike and helmet before you set off from the hotel for the 25-kilometre ride. Elevated pathways take you above the ground for you to enjoy the views of farmland and Thai temples. One of the highlights is the Ayutthaya-era temple with a 250-year-old teak wood roof. Stop off at Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden where you can learn more about the local plants and wildlife. 

Today, take a short flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, a town in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The region is where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Youngsters will enjoy getting up close and personal with Asian elephant during a visit to the resort’s camp in the jungle. Find out more about the area's infamous past at the Hall of Opium Museum. During your time in Chiang Rai you can also join a spice spoons cookery class.

Start the day picking up some local produce at Baan Du fresh market, then hop on a mountain bike to see paddy fields and the old monk cave. Youngsters will enjoy the long-tail boat ride to Mae Yao village. Meet members of the Lahu tribe and join a family to cook lunch. In the afternoon, trek to Huai Mae Sai waterfall and take a dip in the moon-shaped pond. Visit Yao and an Akha village and learn more about the cultures of each tribe. Finish the day with a visit to Wat Rong Sua Ten, or the Blue Temple, famous for its contemporary Buddhist art.

Head to the very north of Thailand to discover the Golden Triangle, where the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Discover the history of trade between the nearby communities. Enjoy lunch at a remote restaurant, before taking a traditional long-tailed boat. Meet with your English-speaking guide and cross over the Sai River into Myanmar, arriving in the town of Tha Chilek. Here, you may explore the town by rickshaw, witnessing local life at its most intriguing. Tour the impressive Shan-style temple and check out the local market.

This morning you will fly to your luxury resort in Phuket. Enjoy a day at leisure where you can unwind on this island paradise where green hillsides overlook white powder beaches. Savour flavours from around the world in the rich choice of restaurants at Anantara Layan.

Today, start the day re-energising at the resort spa – an oasis of tranquillity dotted with lotus ponds. Indulge in signature treatments inspired by nature which include an orchid bath and coconut oil massage. This afternoon, learn how to create the rich layered flavours of Thai cuisine with the aptly named Spice Spoons cookery class. Choose a menu or design your own, then head off to the local market with the chef to select fresh produce. Your interactive class is held in a traditional open-air Thai kitchen. Savour your creations afterwards with all the family.

Mark your last day in Thailand taking part in myriad of family activities. This morning master the art of eight limbs in the resort’s own Muay Thai kickboxing ring where you wear traditional shorts and battle with your personal instructor. This afternoon you can take a longtail boat trip to visit the island of Koh Weao taking time to snorkel among a rainbow of tropical fish on the way. Toast your last night with a Thai meal in Dee Plee and watch the sunset over the Andaman. 

Bid farewell to the white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters before boarding your overnight flight to the UK. Delight family and friends with your new collection of Thai recipes when you arrive home.