Traveling in Asia with kids. Responsible travel guide to traveling in Asia with kids.

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Traveling in Asia with kids

What does responsible travel recommend?

Is Asia suited to families? In a nutshell, yes. But, as every family is different, so is every country in Asia and what each brings to the table in terms of facilities, food and infrastructure differs greatly. You can go modern and fast-paced, opening your kids’ eyes up to the bright lights of China, or you can opt for a more traditional, slow vacation in somewhere like Burma or Borneo. Traveling anywhere in Asia with kids will bring challenges though, whether that’s long journeys, heat, insects, or upset tummies, so have a think about what essentials you can and can’t cope with before taking the plunge.

Things to do in Asia with kids

ASIA FOR FAMILIES

Luoyang Kung Fu School
Way before the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan muscled in on the party, China’s Shaolin monks have been dedicated to the study of Kung Fu for centuries. Learn all about the history behind the discipline before joining the monks at their mountainside monastery for a lesson.

Homestay with a local family Asia’s rich tapestry of cultures is not something that you experience, but something that you remember too – especially if you’re a wide-eyed, judgment-free child: opt for a homestay in places like Mongolia, Nepal or Indochina and live with a local family to see just how much you can learn from mutual curiosity.

Whale watching
You can see whales in Sri Lanka? Who knew… In fact, you can spot up to 10 different species languishing in Sri Lanka’s big blue from late November to early April and the mighty blue whale is most likely to bask in the Indian Ocean’s warm waters from late March to mid-April.

Tips for families

responsible travel asks the experts

Kian Rackley from our supplier, Insider Journeys, shares his advice on traveling in Indochina with kids: “A tour of Indochina is great for families and very educational for kids because of all the modern history. It’s a combination of countries where you can really get your hands dirty too; you can spend a day at a rice paddy in Laos and the kids can learn about how rice is planted, or they can have an eco-fishing experience in Vietnam alongside a traditional Vietnamese fisherman; there’s lots of opportunities where they can get involved with local culture and understand it better and family is hugely important to the Indochinese cultures, so they would never see it as out of place to involve children in their lives.”

Liddy Pleasants, from our supplier, Stubborn Mule, who cycled across Southeast Asia with her two children aged two and five-years-old, shares her thoughts on Asia for families: “If we had to pick the ideal continent for a family vacation, then it would have to be Asia as there just isn’t anywhere else that packs in quite so much culture, scenery, wildlife, history and sheer colour. Southeast Asia offers a relatively gentle introduction to travel whilst still being incredibly exciting – the children will love taking ziplines through the jungle in northern Thailand, riding the bamboo train in Cambodia, kayaking through the gorgeous landscape of Halong Bay in Vietnam and exploring Inle Lake by longtail boat in Burma. The Indian subcontinent is also fabulous with a kaleidoscope of colour, tuk tuks, sacred cows, crazy buses and dreadlocked holy men in India, and a more relaxed vibe in Sri Lanka where you can cycle through peaceful paddy fields, search for leopards and explore the ruins of ancient cities. Then there’s China, with its futuristic skylines, stunning scenery and cuddly pandas…The question is where to start?!”

Photo credits: [Top box: Anne Roberts] [Luoyang Kung Fu School : Shi Deru] [Homestay with a local family: The Wandering Angel] [Whale watching: kwan kwan] [Liddy Pleasants quote : Stubborn Mule]

Written by Polly Humphris

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