Bangkok scavenger hunts for kids and families
Bangkok rewards wandering, but it is a lot of city for small legs and short attention spans. These are free, self-guided scavenger hunt trails you play on a phone: each stop is a thing to find and photograph, verified on the spot, which turns a walk between temples into something children are actually chasing.
How the hunt works
Each stop is a thing to find. When your child spots it, they take a photo, and the app checks two things at once: that you are actually at the location, and that the photo shows the right thing. Only then does the stop count.
That verification is the difference between a printed checklist and a game. Nobody can tick off the Münster from a café two streets away, which is exactly why children take it seriously.
4 trails in Bangkok
6 verified stops listed below
Old Bangkok Explorer
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the river. The heart of the old city, walked as a hunt.
- 01The Grand Palace gatesThe white and gold walls of the palace compound on Na Phra Lan Road.
- 02A Yaksha guardian demonThe giant painted demon statues standing guard at the temple gates.
- 03Wat Pho reclining BuddhaForty-six metres of gold Buddha, lying down. Any angle counts.
- 04A naga serpent balustradeMulti-headed serpents forming the staircase rails at temple entrances.
- 05Wat Arun across the riverThe Temple of Dawn seen from the far bank of the Chao Phraya.
- 06A river cross-ferryThe small passenger boats shuttling between Tha Tien and the far side.
Chinatown Bangkok
Yaowarat and the lanes around it, at street level.
Stops are revealed in the app as you play this one.
Bangkok with Little Ones
A gentler trail built for younger children, including the monitor lizards that roam Lumphini Park.
Stops are revealed in the app as you play this one.
Temples of Bangkok
The same stops in riddle mode: the clue is a rhyme, and working out what you are looking for is the game.
Stops are revealed in the app as you play this one.
Questions parents ask
How much do the Bangkok trails cost?
Nothing. All four Bangkok trails are free in the Scavvi app on iOS and Android.
Which trail should we start with?
Old Bangkok Explorer if you are doing the Grand Palace and Wat Pho anyway, which most families are. Bangkok with Little Ones is the gentler option for younger children.
What ages are they for?
Roughly four to fourteen, with the Little Ones trail aimed at the younger end and riddle mode at the older end.
Do we need to book?
No. There is no booking and no guide. Open the app in Bangkok and start whichever trail you are nearest to.
Is there a dress code for the temples?
The temple complexes have their own rules, and they are enforced at the gate rather than by us. Check the official guidance for the Grand Palace and Wat Pho before you go, and dress for it.
How does the verification work?
Each stop is geofenced, so you have to be there, and each photo is checked by AI to confirm it shows the right thing.
Playing in Bangkok?
The app is free, the trail is free, and there is nothing to book. Download it before you go and it will be waiting when you arrive.
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