The Best Thailand Islands for Families

If you’re visiting the “Land of Smiles” with kids I’m sure you’ll want to add a few tropical island stops into your itinerary. Planning a family friendly route around Thailand can be tough and the options do feel endless. We’ve stayed on several Thai islands and honestly love them all. They are all subtly different so I wanted to give you a heads up on what to expect on each. These are the best Thailand islands for families.

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Resources to make your trip to the Thai Islands easier.

For hotels I always use either Agoda or Booking.com. Agoda tends to be cheaper but if I need something with free cancellation, Booking has more options. For larger rentals I also check out what’s available on VRBO.

To book travel around the islands I recommend 12Go. On this website I can find schedules and book ferries, buses, trains and transfers.

When traveling around so much it’s important to stay connected. That way I can check my maps, ferry times and keep in touch with my daughter. I buy an esim before I leave the UK and activate it at the aiport. Airlo has always worked out best for Thailand.

For tours and activities when we’re on the islands I like to prebook excursions on Viator so I know my schedule and budget before we travel.

Check out my Ultimate Guide to Thailand with kids.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is , in my opinion the best island in Thailand for families. It is also one of the most popular for good reason. This is a luxurious island, home to some of the best luxury family resorts Thailand has to offer. This means it’s a good choice if it’s your first visit to Thailand with kids. You’ll find everything you need in your hotel, excellent kids clubs, organised sports and activities and fabulous dining (Western and Thai). Have a look at the best family resorts in Koh Samui for a more detailed look.

But don’t restrict yourselves to staying in your resort. Koh Samui is a gorgeous island with heaps of family friendly things to do. Home to fabulous soft white sand beaches, culture rich temples to visit and epic viewpoints that will take your breath away.

The vibe in Koh Samui is very chilled, beach clubs and restaurants are fabulously designed and mostly very family friendly. But you can also find some more authentic fishing towns with local restaurants and deserted beach bars.

Koh Samui is also a great starting point for some fabulous day trips. Pig Island or Koh Mudsun was a firm favourite with my daughter but we also loved our trip around the stunning Ang Thong Marine Park viewing the many tiny islets.

Koh Samui has an international airport making it one of the easiest islands to get to with kids. Travel is a bit expensive as only one airline flies into the airport but you can also hop on a ferry from the mainland which takes longer but is a lot cheaper.

Read Next: Visiting Koh Samui with kids.

Phuket

Thailands largest island makes for a great holiday with kids. It’s where the Thai tourism industry began and for that reason it’s the most developed with heaps of activities to entertain the kids. Parts of it do feel very built up and busy but you can still find some quieter spots.

Phuket has a huge amount of family friendly resorts ranging from super cheap hostel style accommodation to super luxurious hotels. Bang Tao is my favourite area with it’s high end resorts surrounding a man made lagoon, stunning beaches and luxury beach clubs. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit more peaceful then Nai Yang in the North feels almost deserted, as does the very far South. Phuket is home to some fairly seedy areas, in particular Patong is probably the most famous. Don’t be completely put off however, the worst sights tend to be kept to a very specific area which is easily avoided.

Read Next: Best areas in Phuket to stay with family.

Little kids will really enjoy some activities they recognise from home such as the toddler friendly arcade rides at Jungceylon Mall in Patong. The island is also home to some fantastic waterparks, all of which have toddler pools and slides. Older kids will love exploring the many markets and popping in to insta gorgeous beach clubs such as Fuga in Patong. And of course everyone will love a visit to Phukets beautiful beaches.

Whilst there are heaps of things to do on Phuket with kids it’s also a good place to island hop to some other gorgeous Thai islands. The most famous (and popular) day trips from Phuket are probably to Maya Bay of Koh Phi Phi or to James Bond island. Both offer fabulous snorkelling, exciting boat rides and gorgeous beaches. But along with this come the crowds which have got so bad in recent years the Thai government regular close trips to these island to protect the coral. Make sure you double check before booking any trips to save any disappointment.

Phuket is really easy to get to. It has an international airport in the North which you can fly in to from the UK with a short stop over or directly from all over South East Asia. Flights are frequent. You can also arrive by ferry from Krabi or drive across the Sarasin bridge from the mainland. For me this is the best option as we like to combine a trip to Phuket with a stay in gorgeous Khao Lak.

Start planning your trip to Phuket here.

Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan can easily be reached by ferry from Koh Samui. It’s a lot smaller than it’s more famous neighbour but still has plenty of gorgeous beaches and resorts to entertain. It doesn’t have the organised kid friendly activities that you’ll find on the larger islands but it does have gorgeous scenery, hiking trails and boat tours. The vibe is a bit hippy and chilled. The quieter beaches feel like the Thailand of long ago which is rare on the main tourist trail.

Koh Phangan is home to the fabulous full moon party each month. Yes it’s hedonistic, slightly bonkers and takes a bit of planning with kids but it is a fun and colourful party to visit. We took our 9 year olds and they absolutely loved it. We just made sure we were away from the main party area before it got too crazy.

Read more about visiting the Full Moon Party with kids.

Koh Phangan has plenty of fantastic family friendly resorts and it’s well worth staying for a few nights. Have a look on Agoda for the best deals for your dates. We really loved the Koh Ma Beach resort near bottle beach which felt like a real escape to paradise.

The most family friendly parts of Koh Phangan are to the North and East, they’re a bit quieter than the popular backpacking areas in the South which is also where you’ll find the full moon party.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is another Thai island with a laid back, slightly bohemian vibe. It’s locate just South of Krabi in the Andaman Sea. The island itself is fairly small, it should take you just 40 minutes to drive from top to bottom.

There’s not a whole lot to do but that makes it a perfect place to totally relax and enjoy some family time together. It’s the kids of place to play in the pool or sip a cold Chang with your feet in the sand whilst the kids play in the beachside play areas. If you’re after a bit more adventure then a trip to Emerald Cave is fascinating (if slightly claustrophobic) or take a snorkelling tour or a boat to one of the many surrounding islands.

This is not a party island, the nightlife is low key and family friendly. All the restaurants are very welcoming to kids and you’ll easily find something for even the fussiest of eaters.

Much of the accommodation on Koh Lanta is small boutique style guest houses and shacks on the beach. But you can still find some luxury options. The Avani Plus Koh Lanta is a gorgeous hotel with all the usual facilities you’d expect from the Avani brand. With a fabulous restaurant, gorgeous pools and plenty of family sized rooms.

It’s fairly easy to get to Koh Lanta but it is another island without an airport. At least part of your journey will be by ferry. You can take the car ferry from Krabi which is super quick or a speedboat or ferry from Phuket and Koh Phangan which will take a little longer.

Koh Chang

One of the prime benefits of Koh Chang is that it doesn’t require a flight to get to. It’s an easy journey from Bangkok. So is popular with city dwellers and expats who want to escape to the islands for a weekend. The journey should take you just over 5 hours. It’s Thailands third biggest island but has somehow managed to escape the mass development found on some of the other islands.

Koh Chang is home to some absolutely gorgeous beaches which is no doubt where you’ll want to spend most of your days. It also offers fantastic hiking trails to waterfalls and into the mangrove jungle. Although the island doesn’t have many adventure playgrounds or waterparks it makes for a lovely escape for a few days.

If you’re after great value luxury for your stay on Koh Chang, opt for the KC Grand resort located on White Sand beach in the North of the island. It has a great kids club, offers watersports for guests, has cooking classes and gorgeous family sized rooms.

Other places that aren’t Islands but feel like it!

Khao Lak

Khao Lak is another place which still feels like the Thailand of old. It’s all about long stretches of soft white sand, rickety beach restaurants and super friendly locals. It’s the perfect place for a chilled out holiday but there are still great things to do in Khao Lak with kids. Our daughter particularly loved our visit to the Turtle Sanctuary and totally fell in love with these amazing creatures.

Khao Lak is home to some fabulous resorts. Most of which have kids clubs and organised activities to keep the whole family happy. We loved La Vela Hotel which is located right on the beach. It has its very own skate park, nightly fire show and excellent kids club. For more ideas, check out my post on the best hotels in Khao Lak for families.

It’s Located on the mainland, about an hour North of Phuket. The best way to reach Khao Lak is to fly in to Phuket and hire a car or take a transfer across the Sarasin bridge and up to Khao Lak. You can also fly in to Krabi airport and drive which should take about two and a half hours.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is essentially the touristy part of Krabi. It’s a bit busier than Khao Lak and a good place to opt for if you want a base while you visit the surrounding islands. As well as boat trips and beach days there are plenty of other things to do with kids in Ao Nang. Our favourite was hiking the short Monkey Trail to a deserted beach past hundreds of cute macaques.

You’ll find every type of accommodation available in Ao Nang from low cost hostels to high end resorts. Read my guide on the best resorts in Krabi for families for ideas.

To get to Ao Nang you’ll fly into Krabi airport then it’s a 40 minute drive to Ao Nang.

Smaller islands that are still worth a visit

You don’t need to limit yourselves to the bigger, busy islands. There are still several smaller ones that kids will enjoy visiting. These are the best Thailand islands for families if you’re looking to get off the grid.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is located just off Koh Samui on the other side of Koh Phangan. You get the ferry from Koh Samui which takes an hour and a half.

Koh Tao is famous for scuba diving and snorkelling so ideal if you have little water lovers. It also has some stunning beaches and excellent hiking trails. This is a great island for outdoor adventuring. Much of the accommodation on the island is smaller boutique hotels and basic guest houses. You’ll find the large, luxury resorts on Koh Samui. Check out the villas at Langkhai Garden if you’re after some family friendly luxury.

Koh Yao Yai

You’ll find Koh Yao Yai nestled halfway between Phuket and Krabi in Phang Nga Bay. It’s home to a handful of gloriously luxurious resorts such as the Santhiya. The beaches are rustic, picture perfect and mainly deserted. It’s a great place for lazing on the beach, island hopping and exploring Phang Nga Bay but there is very little else to do.

Koh Phi Phi

For me, Koh Phi Phi is very over touristed and can feel crazy busy. It was made famous by the film The Beach which was made famous by Leonardo Dicaprio. Koh Phi Phi Ley is the uninhabited half of this pair of islands. It’s home to Maya Bay where the scenery is stunning but is often closed due to over tourism. Koh Phi Phi Don is where you’ll find the hotels and busy beaches.

Family friendly activities are mainly kayaking, hiking, swimming and relaxing. The good news is that there are plenty of great resorts with family friendly activities so you can always just enjoy the hotel facilities. I’m not saying don’t visit, just do your research carefully.

Koh Samet

If you’re short on time during your stay in Thailand, Koh Samet is a good option. It’s just over 200km from Bangkok and the drive to the ferry will take around three hours. The island is part of a National Park so is somewhat protected and well preserved. It’s home to many beaches, some busy and bustling, some pretty much deserted so there’s something for everyone.