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Chanthaburi With the Family
Waterfalls, Beaches & Fruit Orchards

Chanthaburi is one of the easier places to travel with kids, because it has a bit of everything: waterfalls with shallow pools you can wade into, gently sloping beaches where the waves stay mild, a dolphin show that keeps little ones glued to their seats, and orchards where you can eat durian and mangosteen picked straight off the tree. Best of all, it's only about a 3-4 hour drive from Bangkok — close enough that kids don't get fussy in the car. We've laid out a 3-day plan day by day, with travel time and the kids' nap windows already built in.

💦 Shallow waterfall pools you can paddle in🏖️ Gently sloping beaches, mild waves🍈 Orchards with fruit eaten fresh off the tree
Chanthaburi With the Family Waterfalls, Beaches & Fruit Orchards

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The heart of a family trip is don't cram in too much. One or two real activities a day is plenty; let the rest of the time go to the kids playing in the water, digging in the sand, and napping on schedule. The trip ends up more fun than chasing a checklist of sights. So this plan paces things out: start with the waterfall on day one, spend a full day at the beach on day two, then close with the orchards and the old town on day three.

The sweet spot for families is May through July, because that's fruit season — the kids can eat durian, rambutan, and mangosteen fresh in the orchards. But this is also the rainy season in eastern Thailand, with showers that usually roll in during the afternoon, so it's safer to schedule outdoor activities in the morning. If fruit isn't a priority, the cool season (November-February) brings more comfortable weather and clearer water at the beach.

Day 1 — Arrive in Chanthaburi, play at Phlio Waterfall

Phlio Waterfall sits inside Namtok Phlio National Park, about 14 kilometers from town toward Laem Sing district. The part kids love is the pool below the falls, where the water is crystal clear and full of big soro brook carp swimming around. The path from the parking lot to the falls is flat and shady — an easy walk that kids can manage on their own. Entry is 40 THB for adults, 20 THB for children.

Day 1

Arrive in Chanthaburi · Phlio Waterfall, taken slow

Morning
Leave Bangkok early and head for ChanthaburiThe drive is around 3-4 hours. With small kids, plan a bathroom and stretch stop in Rayong along the way so they can move around.
Midday
Reach town, grab lunch at a local spot, then check inStaying in town keeps you close to the riverside community for an easy evening stroll, or pick the Chao Lao Beach area if you'd rather wake up to the sea.
Afternoon
Drive to Phlio Waterfall, walk around, and let the kids paddle in the shallow poolThe pool below the falls is clear enough to watch the carp easily — but don't feed the fish, since it's a national park. Keep little ones in the shallow edge; the rocks in the rapids are slippery, so hold their hands the whole time.
Evening
Head back to town, clean up, rest, and find dinnerKeep day one low-key, because tomorrow is a full day at the beach.

Waterfalls with kids

The rocks around the falls are very slippery — put the kids in heel-strapped sandals or rubber shoes for grip, and don't let them stand under the strong current. A calm, shallow pool is far safer. In the rainy season the water can run fast and murky, so check conditions on the spot before going in; if the current is strong, switch to just walking around and looking instead.

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Day 2 — Beach day at Chao Lao, dolphin show at Oasis Sea World

The beaches on the Chanthaburi side slope gently and the waves are milder than on the Andaman coast, which makes them good for kids to swim. Chao Lao Beach and Kung Wiman are the two spots families tend to pick, both with beachfront accommodation and restaurants. The highlight that gets kids excited is the dolphin show at Oasis Sea World in Laem Sing district, about 30 kilometers from town.

Day 2

Morning swim at Chao Lao Beach · afternoon dolphin show

Morning
Swim at Chao Lao Beach or Kung Wiman early in the dayThe sea is usually calmest and least crowded in the morning, the best time for kids to swim before the sun gets harsh. Put sunscreen and a hat on them before they go in.
Midday
Lunch at a beachfront seafood restaurant, then let the kids napChanthaburi seafood is fresh and reasonably priced — blue swimmer crab, shrimp, and squid are easy for kids to eat. Leave time for a midday nap before heading on.
Afternoon
Go to Oasis Sea World in Laem Sing district for the dolphin showThere are pink bottlenose dolphins and Irrawaddy dolphins. Shows run in rounds, roughly at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 17:00 — confirm the schedule with the park before you go. Entry is 130 THB for adults, 80 THB for children.
Evening
Watch the sunset over the sea, then head backThe Laem Sing area has viewpoints over the river mouth — a nice spot for family photos before heading back into town.

Getting the most out of the dolphin show

Arrive 20-30 minutes before the show to grab a center seat where you can see clearly without getting splashed too much. Some young kids get startled by the loud cheering, so try sitting a bit farther from the stage where it's easier on the ears. And take the kids to the bathroom before it starts, since the show runs straight through.

Day 3 — Fruit orchards, the riverside old town, then home

Chanthaburi is the fruit capital of eastern Thailand. From May through July, many orchards open for visitors to walk through and eat a fresh-from-the-tree fruit buffet — durian, rambutan, mangosteen, longkong, and salak. Kids enjoy wandering the orchards and seeing the fruit hanging on the actual trees. Popular ones include Rin Radee Garden and KP Garden, but each opens by season, so call ahead to be sure.

Day 3

Fruit orchard buffet · riverside community walk · home

Morning
Visit an orchard, walk through, and enjoy a fresh fruit buffetFruit season only (roughly May-July). If you come off-season, swap this for a morning walk along the Chanthaboon riverside community instead.
Late morning
Walk the Chanthaboon riverside community, stopping at the Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptionThe old riverside community is easy to stroll, with old wooden houses, sweet shops, and cafes. Across the river stands the large cathedral that kids love to photograph. Take it slow, no rush.
Midday
Find lunch and pick up souvenirs before heading backPopular Chanthaburi souvenirs include fried durian chips, cashew nuts, Chanthaburi pepper, and the city's signature Sen Chan rice noodles.
Afternoon
Set off back to BangkokWith young kids, leaving in the early afternoon gets you home before dark, with a buffer for traffic heading into the city.

Taking kids into the orchards

Most buffet orchards charge full price for adults; young kids are often discounted or free depending on height, so just ask before you go in. The ground in the orchards can be slippery and there are insects, so put kids in closed shoes and long pants. Too much durian gives some kids an upset or bloated stomach, so let them try a little at a time.

Before you go — what to pack

  • Non-slip rubber shoes — useful for the waterfall, the beach, and walking through the orchards alike
  • Kids' sunscreen and a hat — the sun at the beach and in the orchards is strong; reapply every 2 hours
  • A rain jacket or folding umbrella — eastern Thailand often gets afternoon showers in the rainy season, so pack one for peace of mind
  • Spare changes of clothes for the kids — they'll get wet at both the waterfall and the beach, so bring several sets
  • Basic medicine and antihistamines — in case a child reacts to fruit or gets bitten by insects in the orchard
  • Kids' motion-sickness medicine — the roads up to the waterfall and Laem Sing have curves; check the age-appropriate dose with a pharmacist beforehand

See family-friendly places to stay in Chanthaburi

See Top 10 Chanthaburi Hotels →

FAQ

How many days should we spend in Chanthaburi with young kids?

Three days and two nights is about right. Day one is an unhurried waterfall visit, day two is a full day at the beach and the dolphin show, and day three is the orchards plus the old town before heading home. That pace leaves room for the kids' nap times. If you're short on time, you can trim it to two days and one night, picking just the waterfall and the beach.

Is Phlio Waterfall good for kids — is it a long walk?

It's a good fit. The path from the parking lot to the falls is flat and shady, not steep, so kids can walk it themselves. There's a shallow pool below the falls where they can wade in clear water and watch the soro brook carp. The rocks at the water's edge are slippery, though, so put the kids in non-slip shoes and hold their hands around the rapids. Entry is 40 THB for adults, 20 THB for children.

Which beach in Chanthaburi is best for kids to swim?

Chao Lao Beach and Kung Wiman are the two spots families tend to pick. The beaches slope gently and the waves are milder than on the Andaman coast, with beachfront accommodation and restaurants on hand. We'd suggest going in for a swim in the morning, when the sea is calm and the sun isn't yet harsh.

When can you eat fruit in the orchards in Chanthaburi?

Fruit season runs roughly May through July, when many orchards open for visitors and offer buffets of durian, rambutan, mangosteen, longkong, and salak. But this is also the rainy season, so schedule outdoor activities for the morning. Off-season most orchards are closed, in which case you can swap in a walk through the riverside old town instead.

How much is entry to the Oasis Sea World dolphin show, and how many shows are there?

Entry is around 130 THB for adults and 80 THB for children. It's in Laem Sing district, about 30 kilometers from town. The dolphin show runs several rounds a day, roughly at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 17:00. We'd suggest confirming the schedule with the park beforehand and arriving 20-30 minutes early to grab a good seat.

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