Thailand for families: elephants & island escape

Today, you have a private guided tour of Bangkok, visiting the capital's key attractions, including the Wat Po (home to the reclining Buddha) and the Grand Palace. You will get to experience Bangkok's different forms of public transport — the Skytrain, which winds its way through the skyscrapers and shopping malls, the public taxi boat, a long-tail boat and, of course, the Thai tuk-tuk. This fun excursion gives you a fantastic insight into the capital and the people who call Bangkok home.

This morning, explore a quieter side of the city, boarding a solar-powered longtail boat to explore Bangkok's Klongs, with its Portuguese-influenced heritage and local life, arriving at a hidden café for your morning hands-on dessert workshop. With the owners, learn about popular Thai desserts then get ready to create a dish. The afternoon is then at leisure to explore by yourselves — the Skytrain is a great way to get around the city for families, with an easy-to-follow route and comfortable seating. The Children's Discovery Museum has plenty of hands-on exhibits focusing on science and natural history. If you are visiting on the weekend, you might like to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is full of brightly hued fabrics, handicrafts and souvenirs.

An early start today for your private transfer to the airport to catch your internal flight to Phuket, a journey of about one and a half hours. Upon arrival at Phuket Airport, you will be met by staff from Elephant Hills to take you and other guests to Khao Sok National Park. The Elephant Hills Camp is a fantastic rainforest and elephant experience. The welfare of the elephants is at the heart of this camp, and it has received numerous awards for this. Your experience at the camp will be with other guests in small groups. During your stay, all meals are included. Upon arrival at the camp, meet the elephants and learn more about these magnificent creatures. You will have the opportunity to help prepare and feed them their lunch. After a traditional Thai lunch, you have the chance to enjoy the local scenery — being paddled in a canoe through the jungle past stunning limestone karsts.

Today leave the tented camp with other guests and head inland by road and then by boat for your scenic journey to the relatively untouched and stunning Cheow Larn Lake. This is a great place to enjoy nature and experience a unique accommodation experience — a floating tent. Children aged under 11 are not allowed to stay at this camp. Your afternoon includes a guided canoe safari.

After breakfast, join your guide on a walk through the jungle listening to the chorus of the many primates, reptiles and birds that inhabit the national park. After lunch, the lodge staff will transfer you and other guests to the pier at Surat Thani in time for the ferry to Koh Samui. The ferry crossing should take just over an hour. A driver will be waiting for you at Koh Samui to take you and your family to your hotel.

Today is free to relax or explore independently.

Day at leisure. You may like to relax on the beach or visit some of the attractions on the island. Your hotel can arrange private guided trips to the Na Muang Waterfalls or nearby Bophut, which has a charming fisherman's village.

Today's activity is a fun-packed visit to the Angthong National Marine Park for a day of kayaking, snorkelling and exploring steep viewpoints for incredible panoramic views of the bay. Your trip will be joined by other guests in a small group setting. This beautiful park consists of 42 islands and provided the inspiration for Alex Garland's book 'The Beach'.

Day at leisure on Koh Samui.

Today is your last day by the beach before heading home.

Your hotel will arrange your transfer to the local airport in time for your flight to Bangkok where you will catch your international flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.