Kick back with your family on one of Thailand’s most accessible islands, which offers adventure activities and child-friendly resorts for a beach holiday that’s fun and relaxing in equal measure
1. Get comfortable in a family-friendly resort
There are so many family-friendly resorts on Samui that you won’t lack options. Parents and kids alike love the Anantara Lawana. The kids’ club offers activities that range from crafts workshops to kids’ yoga and Thai boxing, so parents can rest easy while their young ones get busy.
Older families who love to soak up the local culture can check in to the luxurious Zazen Boutique Resort, which has a shop selling one-off Thai antiques and local art. It’s not surprising, considering that its 65 sq m garden villas – king-size beds and day beds included – showcase art and artefacts from across the region. If you’re feeling restless, the resort can arrange activities ranging from Thai cooking classes to sailing trips to Ang Thong Marine Park on a traditional Burmese junk boat.
2. Enjoy some quiet couple’s time while the kids play
While the young ones are living it up at your resort’s kids club – the complimentary one at Shiva Samui is packed with activities from volleyball to diving lessons and beachcombing excursions – treat yourself and your loved one to a massage at Sala Samui Choengmon Beach’s spa.
3. Dine on fresh seafood
Tuck into delicious Thai seafood at Krua Chao Baan, a favourite with local families. It’s reassuringly casual and ideal for a leisurely lunch. If you’d like something a little fancier for dinner, head to Hansar Samui’s H Bistro Restaurant for fresh Maine lobsters, deep sea red prawns and oysters flown from Canada, under the stars.
4. Get healthy together
Here’s how you can bond with your restless teen. Drop into Vikasa Life Cafe for an insanely healthy breakfast – think chia pudding and raw buckwheat pancakes – with an invigorating view. It’s just what you need to fuel your active day out.
5. See the sights – both cultural and natural
Introduce your young ones to Thailand’s incredible culture with a visit to the Big Buddha Temple. The glistening gold monument will leave them agape, and you with a feeling of peace.
Then cool off with a trip to the Na Muang Waterfalls. These easily accessible cascades turn purplish against the rocks. They’re not only stunning – they’re also refreshing. Kids will love taking a dip in the tranquil pools.
– TEXT BY HANNAH STUART-LEACH
PHOTOS: KAMALAYA KOH SAMUI, HANSAR SAMUI, SHIVA SAMUI, SALA SAMUI CHOENGMON BEACH, WORLD RESORT SAMUI
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings. It was updated in May 2024 by Craig Sauers.
