Discover a two-week Thai island hopping itinerary with kids from Langkawi to Phuket. Explore seven unique islands by ferry, with snorkelling, jungle hikes, local adventures, and family-friendly accommodations along the way.
The Andaman Sea is home to some of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful islands and, if you’re visiting Thailand with kids, it’s almost obligatory to visit at least one of them. The seven islands that make up this itinerary are all linked via a safe, reliable sea route, taking you from the friendly Malaysian island of Langkawi, all the way to the edge of the Thai mainland in Phuket.
When we planned out this itinerary, the aim was to find the right balance between adventure, experience and comfort. So, although it intentionally misses out the more well-known spots (e.g. Krabi and Koh Phi Phi) that have become victims of their own success, it still follows a well-worn path to take advantage of well-established tourist infrastructure, while stopping off in some more authentic places along the way. Over the course of the trip, you can expect jungle hikes, friendly villages, and some of the most incredible beaches in the world. Plus, with all the journeys either on ferry or longtail boat, you’ll get a real sense of adventure while experiencing the benefits of slow travel.
This part of the country, with its white sandy beaches, warm azure waters and coral diving are what many people most associate with Thailand. But there’s more to the islands than just the beach and ocean, with plenty of unexpected extras along the way including Muay Thai classes specifically for kids, mangrove tours, and local food markets that are an adventure in themselves.
So welcome to one of our favourite places in the world and our top tips for Thai island hopping with kids (including how to book your ferries), plus a detailed day by day itinerary, with details of the exact hotels, hostels and resorts we personally stayed at.
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Top tips for Thai island hopping with kids
- Book all ferries online with 12Go,
- Accommodation prices rise fast in high season (November to April), so book ahead
- Bring your own snorkel and mask (rentals often leak or just don’t work)
- Stock up on mosquito spray from 7-Eleven when you’re in Thailand
- Rash vests and aqua shoes are essential for island life
- Take a backpack not a suitcase (read about our recommended travel backpack for kids here) as lugging a suitcase across sand and onto ferries is extremely cumbersome and impractical
- Tuk-tuks will take you between ferry ports and your accommodation, always agree a price beforehand
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How to book ferries
Ferry travel is big business on the islands and you’ll never have to walk too far to find someone offering tickets and recommendations. The main traveller streets are lined with shops and stalls (you can usually spot them by the large timetable boards outside), and most hotels, hostels and resorts also have a travel desk.
Despite the ever increasing number of online options, many travellers still prefer to book with a real person, and you’ll typically find the price is similar to booking online. They can also offer more information on pickup locations, itineraries and arrangements for onwards travel at the other end.
However, on our recent trip, we found it much more convenient to book online using 12Go, who are the market leaders in Thailand for online ferry bookings. Their website is simple to use and lets you check routes, prices and availability before booking. International credit cards are accepted and, although there’s a small commission each time you book, it’s a safe way to book tickets as opposed to withdrawing cash or using a shop’s credit card machine (plus, many shops in Thailand charge a 5% fee on credit card payments).
After booking on 12Go, you’ll soon receive a confirmation pdf via email, which you then show at the check-in desk. There’s no need to print anything out and the staff are familiar with 12Go bookings and will quickly check your booking reference number and issue you with a sticker and paper ticket.
Note that the peak season for transport is mid-October to mid-May. During this period, ferries run frequently from Langkawi to/from Koh Lipe, from where you can find plenty of other services all the way through to Phuket, stopping off at every tourist island along the way (plus Krabi and Satun on the mainland). During low season (mid-May to mid-October), there are no ferries to/from Langkawi and the services from Koh Lipe only tend to serve the mainland and Koh Lanta.
A note about seasickness
One of the questions we were asked most often during this trip was whether we got seasick. Thankfully, the answer is no. We travelled at the end of the high season, crossing into the low season (late April), and the sea conditions were mostly calm. That said, from May to October, the Andaman Sea can get choppier, so it’s a good idea to pack motion sickness pills just in case.
Most of the journeys (especially the open-air speedboats and longtail boats) were smooth and enjoyable. However, a couple of enclosed ferries (like the one from Langkawi to Koh Lipe) felt a little stuffy and less comfortable, which might not suit those prone to motion sickness.
Thai island hopping itinerary form Langkawi to Phuket
This two week island hopping itinerary takes in seven islands starting in Langkawi, Malaysia, and finishing in Phuket, Thailand. Here we provide the suggested number of days as well as our recommended accommodation for families.
But first, here’s a map of our route:
Day 1: Langkawi
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: Langkawi with kids
Where we stayed: Langgura Baron Resort – motel style accommodation overlooking a car park. It’s cheap, has an outdoor pool for kids and is in a central location.
If you’re heading to the Thai islands from the south, Langkawi in northern Malaysia is your natural gateway. However, since this trip is all about Thailand, we recommend using Langkawi as a quick stopover and spending just one night here.
As you’ll be catching an early ferry the next day, there’s no need to splurge on expensive accommodation. A well-located hotel with a private bathroom and air-conditioning will suffice. We stayed at the Langgura Baron Resort at Cenang Beach, just a short walk from the beach. While it’s not the most stylish or luxurious, it’s clean, functional, and offers a warm pool, all at a reasonable price. It’s perfect if the kids want to swim but you’re not looking to spend big on a nearby resort.
Once settled, head to Cenang Beach to swim, try water activities like jet-skiing or kayaking, or relax on the sand. Afterward, stroll along the beach and enjoy dinner with sunset views. The beachfront dining options aren’t as abundant as in Thailand, but if you walk north along the beach, you’ll find Kalut Cafe and Bar, offering decent food, cold drinks, and an early evening fire show.
If you are staying longer in Langkawi, do check out our guide for visiting Langkawi with kids, which includes recommended things to do. For a more comfortable stay, we recommend Holiday Villa Resort and Beachclub Langkawi.
Day 2-4: Koh Lipe (include day trip to Koh Adang)
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: Koh Lipe with kids
Travel time from Langkawi to Koh Lipe: 2 hours
Where we stayed: Forra Dive Resort Pattaya Beach – basic family huts on Pattaya Beach (no air con).
Click here to book your ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is the first stop in Thailand, with customs and immigration formalities handled a few metres from the sea. Bags are brought from the boat and deposited in the sand, a slightly surreal way to arrive in a new country, although it feels apt in a place that’s so associated with sandy beaches and aquatic adventures.
This island is all about the white powder sand and turquoise water, but don’t be under any illusions of unspoilt beauty: the secret on Koh Lipe has been out for many years. Whereas some islands retain a hint of local influence, Koh Lipe is fully-geared towards tourists, with every building set aside to keeping them happy.
The payoff is that all the creature comforts and conveniences you might need are right on your doorstep, with the central Walking Street running through the island offering tours, dive shops, restaurants, supermarkets, souvenir shops and bars.
Above all else, Koh Lipe is focused on diving and snorkelling trips near Koh Adang, with a range of options for all experience levels. If you’re here with kids, there are two popular courses available: bubble maker for over 9s and ‘proper’ dives for those aged over 10. The mainly European instructors are friendly, patient and professional, with reasonable prices to match. Non-divers are welcome to snorkel from the dive boat, although there’s excellent snorkelling available directly from the island’s beaches. We organised our diving trip through Forra Diving and were able to arrange this in person the day before.
Pattaya Beach is the place we’d recommend you base yourself, with a good mix of activities, hotels, restaurants and relaxation. Sunset Beach is quieter with a few shacks selling drinks, although some rubbish does wash up here. Sunrise Beach might once have been idyllic but it’s now a parking area for scores of longtail boats.
Getting around the island is easy via the tuk-tuks that buzz around the streets. Prices are fixed at THB50 per person and they fit three passengers comfortably, four at a push. Try to get the WhatsApp number of a reliable driver and message them to collect you if you get stranded.
Day 5-7: Koh Libong (include day trip to Koh La Liang)
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: Koh Libong with kids
Travel time from Koh Lipe to Koh Libong: 2 hours
Where we stayed: Le Dugong Libong Resort – excellent value family huts with beach views and a balcony for beers once the kids are asleep.
Click here to book your ferry from Koh Lipe to Koh Libong
Although many Thai islands suffer from over-tourism, there are still semi-hidden gems that have escaped saturation and manage to retain a strong sense of tradition and authenticity. Koh Libong is certainly one of them. Two hours from Koh Lipe by ferry but with a vibe light years away, it’s off the main tourist trail and doesn’t yet have any of the large-scale resorts or tourism infrastructure you may have found elsewhere.
With a strong Muslim-influence, this isn’t the place to come for a party (which might explain the lack of crowds), instead it’s somewhere to unwind, chill out, read a book, splash around in the calm seas, and generally go back to a time when this part of the world was a well-kept secret on the traveller trail.
If you do tire of doing nothing, Koh Libong is a great base to take a longtail boat tour of neighbouring Koh La Liang. On the half-day trip (THB2500 plus National Park fees), you’ll visit caves, enjoy isolated snorkelling, beach time and squid fishing, before heading back to Koh Libong to get busy relaxing again.
Day 8-13: Koh Lanta
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: Koh Lanta with kids
Travel time from Koh Libong to Koh Lanta: 2 hours
Where we stayed: Twin Bay Resort – fabulous beachside pool in a quiet spot on the island, with modern family bedrooms (bunk beds for the kids). Click here to read our review.
Click here to book your ferry from Koh Libong to Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta feels busier than other stops on this Thai island hopping itinerary, with more traffic on the roads that cut through the island. The good news is that Koh Lanta manages the crowds well and it always feels as if there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves. It never crosses into over-commercialised territory and there are still pockets of serenity to be found.
Most visitors spend the majority of their time never more than a few metres from the sea and, with mile upon mile of golden sand, it’s hard to blame them. You’ll find the best beaches on the west of the island, Long Beach is a particularly beautiful spot once the sun starts to drop below the horizon.
Koh Lanta has a high standard and variety of accommodation, with plenty of beachside resorts to choose from. The small Walking Street area is much more manageable than in other parts of Thailand and is an excellent place to pick up some cheap food, drinks and souvenirs. It’s also recommended spending an hour or two wandering around the heritage streets of the Old Town and then stopping for lunch at one of the many restaurants lining the waterfront (we particularly enjoyed Pinto). If the family are in need of good pizza, there’s an excellent pizzeria at SALT Costa Lanta, with friendly service, wood-fired pizzas and stunning beach views.
Away from the beaches, Koh Lanta is a good place to learn Muay Thai (Lanta Muay Thai Complex offer classes specifically for kids), or watch a bout (which may be a tad late for little ones as they don’t start until 9.00pm). It’s also the base for the ever-popular Four Islands Tour where you’ll visit Kohs Mook, Kradan, Ngai and Chuck. For some exercise on the water, it’s a fun hour taking a kayak tour of the mangroves, although watch out for the macaques who make an appearance towards the end of the trip.
Day 14: Phuket
Travel time from Koh Lanta to Phuket: 3 hours
Where we stayed: Phuket Old Town Hostel – a spacious family room in an traditional old shophouse in the heart of the Old Town.
Click here to book your ferry from Koh Lanta to Phuket
To end your trip, skip the beach resorts and stay in Phuket Old Town for a refreshing change of pace. With colourful streets, local markets, and laid-back charm, it’s a great way to experience a different side of Thailand’s islands.
Spend your time wandering the historic lanes, browsing quirky shops, and enjoying local eats. We recommend dinner at Amritsr Old Town for excellent Indian food, and Harry Potter fans will love the Butter ‘Brew’ at The Mad Hog.
When it’s time to leave, book one last tuk-tuk ride via Grab, a fun and easy way to reach the airport. For those continuing on, Phuket has bus links to Krabi, Khao Sok, Bangkok and many other destinations.
For those families staying longer, check out Mama Loves Phuket for family-friendly tips, activities, and hidden gems across the island.
Want to see more about this trip?
Then head over to our Instagram account to watch this reel of this exact trip.
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