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Maha Sarakham with Kids
2 Days: Monkeys, Water, Pottery

Maha Sarakham is a small town that's easy to explore with kids. The distances between sights are short, traffic is light, and there are plenty of hands-on activities for children: feeding monkeys at a forest park, splashing around by the reservoir, and shaping clay at the pottery village of Ban Mo. We've put together a 2-day, 1-night plan that won't wear out little ones, with a kid-friendly cafe to stop at every afternoon.

🐒 Feed the monkeys🛝 Kid play cafes🏺 Throw clay pots
Maha Sarakham with Kids 2 Days: Monkeys, Water, Pottery

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

When you travel with kids, the key is short distances, hands-on activities, and places to sit and rest along the way. Maha Sarakham checks all of those. The main stops on this plan sit within about 30 kilometers of town, and most drives between them run 15–40 minutes, so kids won't get fussy in the car. We've set aside the first day for nature and animals, and the second day for crafts and cafes, so if the kids tire themselves out playing in the water on day one, day two stays nice and easy.

Why Maha Sarakham works for kids

  • Compact town — the sights cluster around the town center, so you're not driving across districts. Little ones won't get worn out in the car.
  • Monkeys up close — Kosamphi Forest Park has hundreds of long-tailed macaques, including the rare golden long-tailed macaque. Kids will be thrilled.
  • Lots of new kid cafes — in town you'll find cafes with playgrounds, animal feeding, and coloring stations where kids can burn off energy while parents sip coffee.
  • Easy on the wallet — this is a student town, so food is cheap, and family rooms range from a few hundred baht up to the low thousands a night.
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Book the activities in your Maha Sarakham trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in Maha SarakhamHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Maha Sarakham attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Maha SarakhamOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Maha Sarakham activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
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Day 1 — Kosamphi monkeys + Kaeng Loeng Chan water

Day 1

Animals, nature, and water for the kids

08:30
Leave town and drive north to Kosum Phisai districtAbout 28 km, roughly 35–40 minutes. Grab some sticky rice and grilled pork to eat in the car on the way.
09:15
Kosamphi Forest Park (locals call it Bung Ling, the monkey pond) — watch and feed the monkeysOpen 08:00–18:00 daily, covering about 125 rai. There are hundreds of long-tailed macaques plus the rare golden long-tailed macaque. Bring your own bananas or corn, and don't let kids hold plastic bags or snacks in their hands — the monkeys will snatch them.
11:00
Stroll past the Buddha-life sculptures in the park + rest in the shadeThere's a natural pond in the middle of the park, and it stays cool and shady — a good spot to let the kids run around for a bit.
12:00
Head back into town for lunchPlenty of restaurants to choose from in town. If the kids are sleepy, this is a good stretch for them to nap in the car.
14:30
Kaeng Loeng Chan, the reservoir that's the town's green lung — cycling and water playLocated in Kaeng Loeng Chan subdistrict, Mueang district, about 7 km from town. There's a big open area for kids to run, and some spots with shallow water to splash in. Keep a close eye on children and avoid the deeper areas.
16:30
Farm Suk Cafe by Kaeng Loeng Chan — feed the animals, take photosDecorated in a Japanese style with a petting-zoo area for feeding animals and lots of photo corners. There's a food and drink menu, so kids can play and eat before heading back to the hotel.
18:30
Check into the hotel in town, shower, restAfter all that splashing and running on day one, the kids will sleep soundly.

A tip about the monkeys

Before you get out of the car at Kosamphi, tuck away glasses, hats, snack bags, and any keychains dangling from your bag — the monkeys are used to people and grab things fast. Keep kids close to an adult at all times. Handing the monkeys one piece of food at a time is safer than dumping out the whole bag.

Day 2 — Pottery at Ban Mo + kid cafes in town

Day 2

Hands-on crafts and somewhere for kids to let loose

09:00
Light breakfast at the hotel, then off to Ban Mo communityBan Mo community is in Khwao subdistrict, Mueang district, about 10–15 km from town. They've been making earthenware pots here for more than 200 years.
09:45
Watch traditional pottery-making at Ban MoThere are many kinds of pots — water jars, hot-pot bowls, sukiyaki pots, plant pots — all in a reddish-yellow clay, priced around 50–200 THB. Kids get to see the potters at work, and at times you can try shaping clay yourself. Call ahead to the pottery group at 094-958-6529.
11:30
Buy a small pot or a little souvenir to take homeEarthenware is fragile, so wrap it in thick paper and stow it somewhere safe in the car.
12:30
Back into town for lunchTown has plenty of made-to-order and Isan restaurants. Pick one with easy parking.
14:00
Wonder Duck Cafe, a kid cafe in the center of townNear Waeng Nang market. There's egg collecting, feeding ducks, rabbits and fish, coloring, a soft-play area, and a slide. Open around 10:00–22:00 (the kitchen closes an hour before the cafe). Kids can play for ages while parents sip coffee.
16:30
Alternative: Mena Mesa Cafe and Bistro if you want a change of sceneA big place with a playground and several seating zones. There's food, bakery items, and drinks — a good way to close out the trip before heading home.
17:30
Pack up and head homeIf you've got a long drive, leaving before dusk is more comfortable, and the kids can sleep in the car.

How to pack so traveling with kids stays easy

  • Bananas/corn for the monkeys — bring them from home or buy them on the way, packed in a cloth bag that closes.
  • A change of clothes and towels — there's water play at Kaeng Loeng Chan on day one, so the kids will definitely get wet.
  • Hats, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent — most of the sights are outdoors and by the water.
  • Snacks and drinking water — some stretches between stops don't have a convenience store nearby.
  • Wrapping paper — in case you buy earthenware from Ban Mo to take home.

Adjusting the plan to your kids' ages

Safety first

Toddlers (under 4)

Skip the deep-water play and stick to kid cafes with fences and soft floors, like Wonder Duck and Farm Suk. Hold your child the whole time when feeding the monkeys.

Hands-on

Older kids (6 and up)

Give Ban Mo more time, let them actually shape clay, and let them take charge of feeding the animals themselves. It's more fun and they learn more.

Bigger families

A mix of ages

Stick to cafes with several zones, like Mena Mesa: older kids play on the playground while the little ones stay close to parents in the shade.

About where to stay

Pick a hotel in central Maha Sarakham as your base, because every stop in this plan loops around the town. You can drive out and come back the same day — no need to switch hotels mid-trip.

Find a family hotel in central Maha Sarakham to use as your base

See the Top 10 Maha Sarakham hotels →

FAQ

What time does Kosamphi Forest Park open, and is it far from town?

It's open daily 08:00–18:00, in Hua Khwang subdistrict, Kosum Phisai district, about 28 km from central Maha Sarakham — roughly a 35–40 minute drive. Go in the morning when it's still cool and the monkeys are out foraging in numbers.

Is it safe to let kids feed the monkeys? What should I watch out for?

It's safe with close supervision. Keep kids right next to an adult, hand the monkeys one piece of food at a time rather than holding the whole bag, and tuck away glasses, hats, snacks, and anything dangling from your bag — the monkeys are used to people and grab things fast.

Which kid cafes are there in Maha Sarakham?

Wonder Duck Cafe in the town center near Waeng Nang market has egg collecting, animal feeding, coloring, and a soft-play area. Farm Suk Cafe by Kaeng Loeng Chan has a petting zoo for feeding animals, and Mena Mesa is a big place with a playground.

Can kids try making pottery at Ban Mo?

Sometimes, yes. The Ban Mo community in Khwao subdistrict, Mueang district, has made earthenware for over 200 years. Kids get to watch real potters at work and can occasionally try shaping clay themselves. It's best to call ahead to the pottery group at 094-958-6529. The earthenware runs around 50–200 THB.

How many days is right for this plan?

Two days and one night is just right for a family with kids: nature and animals on day one, crafts and cafes on day two. If you have very young children and want to take it slow, you can cut a few stops and do it in a single day and still have a great time.

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