12 Amusement and theme parks to visit near Bangkok with waterparks and more!

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Written by Shannon Osztonits

Ever considered visiting a theme park when you’re in Thailand? It’s probably not one of the first things that pop to mind when we think ‘Thailand’.

Well, believe it or not, the country has its fair share of epic theme parks, including some of the biggest in Asia!!!

From amusement parks to water parks, what better way to spend the day cooling off and escaping the Thai heat – or screaming with glee (and nerves) as you’re spun and strewn in 360º angles around a rollercoaster, feet dangling in the air!

(And of course, if you’re a travelling family troop, spending the day at say a Cartoon Network-themed water park will be such a treat!!!)

We’ve put together an exciting, fun-filled list of some of the best in the country, guaranteed to leave you smiling from ear-to-ear. So whether you’re travelling to Hua Hin or Phuket, there’s sure to be some fun waiting for you!

On your marks, get set, GO!

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1. Step back in time to another world – Dinosaur Valley @ Nong Nooch Gardens, Pattaya

Ever wondered what it must be like to get up close and personal with dinosaurs, but well, with them being extinct and everything, that might be a little tough.

Unless you’re in Pattaya that is… Situated in the stunningly beautiful Nong Nooch Gardens, walk through pathways of just over 100 different types of life-sized dinosaur replicas, from Cretaceous to everyone’s favourite, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

And I have to say, the dinosaurs are done so well here, like, seriously, they look super realistic, especially for life-sized replicas and it’s truly mesmerising to be honest.

They’ve also got the scenery down to a tee, and it really feels like you’re among the tropics of the Jurassic era and these dinos look totally at home.

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2. They’ve even got a Dexter’s Lab Ice-Cream Bar!!! – Cartoon Network Amazone, Pattaya

Did you know the world’s first Cartoon Network themed park is in Thailand? Neither did we until we heard about the Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark.

With 5 main (and huuuge) water attractions, and 9 main shows going on everyday – both adults and kids alike are bound to have incredible fun. At this unique park, you can slip and slide with all of your Cartoon Network friends, including the Powerpuff Girls and Jake from Adventure Time.

A few of our favorite rides include Alien Attack where 2 riders swirl down 320m in a water roller coaster ride – and the Humungosaur, the first fully themed monster water park ride where 4 riders seated in 2 person rafts race down twin tracks, spinning 213 meters before a super crazy vertical drop!

Not enticed yet? How about the Adventure Zone, the first Adventure Time themed water park!!! (If you can’t already tell, some of us at TripCanvas are great fans. :p)

And if all else fails, head to the Cartoonival, “The world’s largest fully themed cartoon water park for kids and adults featuring 9 water slides and 2 massive water buckets and more.”

Of course, don’t forget to catch any of the 9 main shows happening everyday with Johnny Bravo and Princess Bubblegum Show and more. With rides and shows galore at Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark, you know you’re guaranteed nothing but the utmost fun!

3. Get lost and spend literally the entire day having fun at this gigantic park – Siam Amazing Park, Bangkok

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the oldest water theme park in South East Asia!

Luckily, they’ve kept up with the trends and upgrades, and it is still the largest theme park in Thailand. (t’s so large, we can’t find a good enough drone shot to show you the full view of the park! Here’s a map instead… :P)

It’s broken up into two sections, waterpark and theme park – so if you don’t feel like getting wet n’ wild, you’ve got other options.

The water side is situated around their gigantic ‘sea’ (huge wave pool), and there’s plenty fun winding, spiraling and zooting rides to keep you busy, no matter the age.

The theme park side is where it intensifies on the adrenaline with not one, but two rollercoasters and 1x Gigantic Drop – the name says it all.

Small world is of course, for the little ones and comprises of childhood favourites, from the swan boats to motorcycle chair swing carasoules. And the older kids will have a blast in Fantasy World, flying on a great saucer, or flying on a battle chair.

4. Experience the top highlights of Italy just minutes away from Hua Hin – The Venezia, Hua Hin

If you haven’t gotten your fill of Europe whilst visiting Santorini Park in Hua Hin, make sure to visit The Venezia. This large, open-air destination has harnessed the charm and attraction of Venice, Italy!

With a replica of the famous San Marcos square bell tower and a 200-meter Grand Canal, fully equipped with gondola rides – you just might forget that you are still in Thailand.

Even though the Fontana di Trevi belongs in Rome, it has been added here for good measure.

Along with the 350+ little shops found at The Venezia, you’ll find music gardens, 3D art galleries, mini trains, horse drawn buggies, and upside-down houses – so there’s tons of sight-seeing and fun to be had!

5. Good old-fashioned roller coaster thrills – Dreamworld (40 mins from Bangkok)

Catch yourself screaming in moments of panic as you hang upside down, or fly through the air in a metal seat (on a metal rail hoping for the best) – or are catapulted through the air on their thriller rides!

This large amusement park is located on the outskirts of Bangkok, and the park has plenty of attractions for all ages.

If you’re looking for that adrenaline rush, head to the Skycoaster, the Viking, the Hurricane and the Flying Carpet. All four have elements of fast-paced, stomach-dropping movement.

On the other hand, there are rides like the antique cars, bumper boats and a sightseeing train for smaller children.

If you’re looking to cool off, there are two options. First, you might enjoy the water rides such as the Super Splash or the Grand Canyon. But the second option is our absolute favorite! Snow Town is an indoor play area, complete with real snow!

You can bundle up in provided jackets, then take turns sledding down the hill or building snowmen. Who would have thought that you could play with real snow in downtown Bangkok?! Epic!!!

6. 50 different attractions and some say the 12th best waterpark in the world – Ramayana Water Park, Pattaya (45mins from Pattaya)

Built on a long-forgotten ancient city, may I present the largest water park in Thailand!

This is a super duper choice if you’re looking for variety, and because of its size – there really are plenty of rides and attractions to choose from, catering for all ages.

When anything is named after a reptile, it’s always going to be a thrill; ‘Python’ sends group rafts bouncing and shaking 6m high and ‘Aquaconda’ is a long, fun runner.

Step it up a notch, try their Aqualoop and set your body to the bending test; “Like a Formula One driver, riders will experience the pull forces of gravity as they make a 360-degree loop.” Nuts.

Ever dreamt of being an astronaut as a kid? Feel gravity slip away as the floor beneath you opens and you ‘freefall’ vertically – after the initial drop you’ll surge with water down a narrow slide.

There are also two kids’ zones and I just love the setup at Aqua Play. Themed in Thai mystic, with dragons and all, this play area holds slides and other water activities. The kids will have a blast running and playing amongst the mountainous fall and splashing of water.

PS: There’s a swim-up bar too! (Also, tickets bought online include an all-day buffet!!)

7. Excuse me sir, but am I in Thailand or Greece? – Santorini Park Cha-am, Hua Hin

I’m pretty sure I was supposed to be in Thailand, but this looks and feels a lot like Greece, down to the last cobbled street!

This really is a themed park, in every sense of the original definition of the word and no kidding – it will totally transport you to the Grecian Isle, down to the arrangement of blue and white buildings and street side shops.

The result? A stunning amalgamation of art, quirky shopping with local and international brands, entertainment, lovely cafes and a wonderful theme-park perfect for the entire family.

For me, the vibe here is traditional and classic, and highlights include the Ferris wheel, carousel, haunted house and swings – all done beautifully and almost transporting you to the seaside.

Try your hand at their epic robot wars in ‘The Cage’ – literally, two people are put into a metal robot and you battle it out on the floor. Transformers, anyone?

By the way,‘Tubby’ looks epic! SO basically you sit on a tube at the top of a ramp (14 metres high) and you’re pushed down – catching some serious air whilst you’re at it. As a result, you’ll be naturally catapulted into the air, landing on a bouncy platform!

8. Spend the day slipping and sliding in a tropical jungle background – Vana Nava Water Jungle, Hua Hin

Wow. Did you know that Vana Nava was the first ecologically-aware community water park in the region? (That’s always a big up in my books.)

How did they achieve the title? Before the area became the tropical jungle it is today, it was simply an empty plot of land. They sourced over 200,000 plants and trees from across Thailand – and planted them throughout this 3.2 hectares property. And then voila, built a water park in it. ❤️

Don’t miss trying the highest water slide in Thailand – Abyss shoots groups on a tube up to 28 metres to the top of a funnel, as you twist and turn into 4-5 vertical spins. I get dizzy just trying to imagine it!

There’s also a rad Aqua obstacle course – great for all ages with different levels – or spending the day lazing around Coconut Beach, man-made with a wave and actual sand.

And if you love chasing waterfalls, Vana Nava Falls is amazing! At 31 metres tall, it’s the tallest, man-made waterfall in Asia! Cool!!! 😍

9. Unwind at this entertaining action-packed park – Scenical World, Khao Yai

Scenical World is an action-packed giant playground, which can not only be enjoyed by kids, but is also suitable for visitors of all ages.

Expect to have plenty of fun and laughter going around here, with the Life Park, Splash World and Greenery Park Mall (if you wanna do a tad bit of shopping) – and this is another one of Thailand’s parks that boasts both an amusement and water park combined.

What I particularly love is that the type of rides they offer is something a little different. ‘Super Pendulum’ does not look suited for the faint-hearted (basically top half of you is strapped into a ring, feet dangling, and you swing around and around, full 360!), I think I would puke haha!

Sky Diver, Riddle Coaster and Typhoon Tower are all as equally adrenaline-pumping, and all are above ground.

On the other hand, have TONS of fun at this water park with water rollercoasters, Kamikaze racer slides, and get spinning in the Tornado.

The kids’ zone boasts my childhood classics….spinning teacups!!!, Twister (swinging chairs) and even a catapult chair.

In fact, the only question that remains is… What’s not to love?

10 . Mostly a water park, with some wakeboarding… and golf! – Black Mountain Water Park, Hua Hin

If you’re travelling with the family… You’re anywhere between Bangkok, Petchuburi and Hua Hin… And you’re desperate for some fun in the sun, that’s not gonna cost a lot…

This is a great family choice.

It’s got a decent amount of rides and slides, and I love the idea of their ‘Wide Wave’, basically a 3m wide slide so you can all hop on it together. (Although, if you’re anything like my brother and I, things could get dangerous!)

PS: There’s also a pool bar at the water park…. AND a super rad wake park nearby, and they provide all the necessary equipment, from your wakeboard to your helmet.

And if that’s not enough, there’s also a 27 hole golf course set between the mountains. This one’s for you if you’re looking for a little break, or just something different!

11. Adventure is the name of the game – Phukaew Adventure Park, Khao Kho

This adventure park is truly all about getting those energy levels up and doing some hands-on activities, sports and exercises, that are balls of fun (literally).

So here, its not really ‘hop-on-a-ride’, but more of an action-packed activity course. They’ve got rolling air balls on water and a trampoline bungee, a giant swing and mountain speed lungers!

There’s even rock climbing to canoeing, so you’ll totally feel as if you’re really in the great outdoors!

The little ones will love ‘Baby Racing’, Mini Biking as well as their ‘Super Slider’.

‘Tower Jump’ is one of the park’s latest additions and it’s basically their own bungee jump, so prepare for some freefalling!

12. A mini replica of Thailand throughout the ages – Ancient City (Mueang Boran)

If you’re in the mood for an adrenaline rush, you may have come to the wrong place.

What makes this not-so-typical theme park just so unique, is that it’s a theme park built and designed to enlighten its visitors culturally, providing more of a mind thrill than body.

And what’s so special that it’s made this list? Spend the next (easy) 4 hours getting lost wandering among one of the world’s largest outdoor museums. It features a 200-acre city with 109 scaled-down copies of Thailand’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions. How incredible!

Built in 1963, this is an amazing historical park, and it’s divided into the country’s different regions: North, Northeast, Central, Southern, Suvarnabhumi and special places outside the ancient city.

There’s also replicas of The Erawan Museum, Wachirathan Cathedral and The Sanctuary of Truth.

This is truly astounding and a historically rich experience for anyone.

[Special Mention] 13. The first 3D Walk Adventure Park (insanely cool) – Tribhum, Phuket

Wow, this is something really special, and going to pull on the hearts of a lot of game fanatics and lovers of fantasy.

I introduce to you the world’s first ever, true 3D Walk Adventure Park, themed around the world of the Titans and the underwater world and gods. Its crazy cool!

Recently opened in February 2019, they combine interactive technology with actual, live acts and characters are dressed to theme, running and playing amidst the park and rides – this totally just adds to the effect and experience.

Enter the ‘Magical Forest World’ and become entranced and lured by the Makaleetrees… Be transformed into a Tribhum creature… Or make your way through Vanekampoo Monkey zone inhabited by half-monkey, half-oyster animals.

I mean the scenes, different story-lines and areas within the park are literally insane, and everything has been perfected down to the lighting.

Don’t forget to try The Silver Mountain World, a 4-storey high glider ride (you hold onto metal bars, strapped in, hanging) that goes up to 45km/h – or battle it out in the virtual world for the elixir of immortality in the Demon Maze.

[Special Mention] 14. The kids will have a blast – Tube Trek Waterpark, Chiang Mai

Okay, the first thing you’ve got to know about this park, is that although it’s open 7 days a week, it’s best to pick a weekend to visit. (Not all of the rides are available/open during the weekdays.)

This is another water park, consisting solely of water rides and it’s divided into 4 areas: Splash, Kids Pool, Wave Pool and the Lazy River.

There’s also these cool astronaut and other space figurines walking around, which kids will love interacting with.

There’s nothing spectacularly different about the rides that they have, but they are definitely fun and all in all – this is a great park to escape the heat of Chiang Mai, especially in Summer

[Special Mention] 15. A rooftop water park you say?! – Pororo Water Park, Bangkok

If you’re in the city and are simply dying to escape the beating heat, this rooftop waterpark will cool you done and bring a smile to you instantly.

Previously known as LeoLand, Pororo Aquapark is located in Central Bangna department store. The newly renovated water park includes 9 pools and 4 slides with areas suitable to both children and adults.

The most exciting part of this water park is its water slide which catapults you over the street. You feel like you are suspended over mid-air, but it quickly pulls you back in, and deposits you back on the roof in the safety of a pool.

While this water park may not be on the same scale as those found in Hua Hin or Pattaya, it’s certainly worthy of a day of cool fun in Thailand’s capital.

[Special Mention] 16. Your traditional waterpark, plus a few extra exhilarating rides – Splash Jungle Water Park, Phuket

Although this next one is not GINORMOUS, the rides that they do offer here are quality and top-notch, I’m digging it.

It’s a wonderful park to bring the kids to, and you can all enjoy some fun in the sun and water, screaming and giggling with delight!

The latest addition is the Whizzard; Basically you and your friends are dispatched into enclosed, high speed AquaTubes that spiral alongside each other as you twist and turn into a 360-degree loop, finally before a surprise drop into colorful lanes!

Boomerango also looks nuts! You’re out into a dark tube,  followed by a rush highhhh up a vertical wall. Get ready then for the reverse free fall which accelerates you over a 15 meter high transition bump. THEN, that ain’t over until you drop down into splashdown pool! 😱

It’s also nice to hear that this park is super clean and efficient, and all of the rides are kept maintained and open for guests.

Do remember, all rides involve water, so don’t forget to bring the correct attire!

Whether you’re young or old, the thrill of good old-fashioned theme park fun never seems to get old.

And it’s just another way the Land of Smiles ensures you don’t leave without putting one on your face too! So what are you waiting for? One, two, three, GO!

Don’t forget to share your fun-filled experiences with us, by commenting below, or tagging #TripCanvas in your next theme-filled adventure!

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Travel Writer

Shannon Osztonits

I live to travel and I travel to live. I’m a traveling Gypsy with a passion for the English word, being inspired daily by the different cultures and colours, scents and scenic overloads, sensory explosions and mind-awakening experiences. The ones that take your breathe away. Walking along the earth, one country at a time, it’s what I live for; a life full of adventure, sharing my thoughts and experiences through literature