Nature-Focused Thailand Itinerary

Hi everyone,

We’re planning our second trip to Thailand (2 weeks on-site, late April/early May) as a family with our kids.

On our first trip, we visited Bangkok, Ayutthaya, the River Kwai, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, and Khao Lak. We especially loved Koh Phi Phi for its limestone cliffs and lush vegetation, as well as Koh Lipe for its crystal-clear waters and snorkeling.

This time, we’d like a trip more focused on nature. We don’t want to visit any cities (maybe a floating market if it’s really worth the detour).

We’re looking for:

- Spectacular jungle; - Animals in their natural habitat; - Beautiful hikes or boat rides; - Paradise-like beaches; - Turquoise water with excellent snorkeling, preferably directly from the beach (turtles, tropical fish, etc.).

We’re thinking of including Khao Sok, but we’re unsure which islands to combine with this park.

Do you have any suggestions for 2-week itineraries with reasonable travel times? We’re prioritizing landscapes, nature, and the sea above all else.

Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences!

Hey! I’m going to suggest a slightly different option: Kanchanaburi + Koh Chang + Koh Wai / Koh Mak / Koh Kood. Given your travel brief, which is basically “give us jungle, animals, and turquoise water, but leave us alone when it comes to cities” , I think this could really suit you well. Kanchanaburi, first off. Not necessarily for the town itself—especially since you’ve already seen the River Kwai—but the whole surrounding region is stunning: mountains, jungle, rivers, waterfalls, national parks… And a big plus, it’s still relatively easy to get to from Bangkok. Next, I’d head to Koh Chang, an island I really like and think is pretty underrated, especially since Covid. It’s large, very mountainous, covered in jungle, with waterfalls, hikes, boat trips, and enough to do to stay for several days without starting to talk to the coconut trees. Sure, there’s tourism, but it’s still a long way from the Phuket/Phi Phi vibe. And as soon as you move away from the busiest spots, it gets really peaceful fast. After that, you’ve got a few options. Koh Wai, for starters, if you want to go full Robinson Crusoé 😛. It’s a tiny island with a few very basic bungalows, almost nothing around, and a particularly complicated schedule: swim, snorkel, eat, relax, repeat. Some accommodations are still booked directly via Facebook rather than big platforms. Then Koh Mak and especially Koh Kood. I’m probably a bit biased here, but to me, Koh Kood has some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. Turquoise water, white sand, jungle almost reaching the sea, little roads lost in the greenery… it’s really stunning. Koh Mak is even smaller, flat, and super quiet. It could make a nice stop between Chang and Kood if you’ve got the time. For a two-week trip, I’d see something like this: Bangkok → Kanchanaburi 2/3 nights → Koh Chang 4 nights → Koh Wai or Koh Mak 2 nights → Koh Kood 4 nights → Bangkok You don’t necessarily need to do both Koh Wai AND Koh Mak, by the way. Two small caveats, though. Late April/early May, the weather starts getting a bit more unpredictable around Koh Chang/Koh Kood. It doesn’t mean non-stop rain, but I’d keep some flexibility and check conditions closer to your trip. And about snorkeling, I don’t want to oversell it: the area is great, and Koh Wai can be particularly interesting for it, but if your top priority is stepping out of your bungalow, putting your head underwater, and immediately finding Nemo, Dory, and three turtles waiting for you, Koh Tao is probably still a better bet 😄. But for the combo you’re after—jungle, mountains, waterfalls, nature, gorgeous beaches, and islands that are still relatively quiet—I’d definitely look into Koh Chang / Koh Wai / Koh Mak / Koh Kood. It’d also make for a pretty different second trip to Thailand 😊