How to Plan a Family Trip to Southeast Asia 2024/2025

Southeast Asia is highly praised by families for its stunning beaches, relaxing atmosphere, rich cultural experiences, and abundant outdoor adventures.

But the challenge is: how to plan that dream family trip, especially when traveling with seniors and teenagers. Here, we have provided a guide for you that includes the best kid-friendly destinations, suggested itineraries, costs, and best times to visit.

The Top 5 Destinations to Visit with Kids in Southeast Asia

With so much to explore in Southeast Asia, we have carefully selected five destinations for your information: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Indonesia (mainly Bali). These countries balance comfort, ease of travel, and diverse activities, no matter whether you're exploring, holidaying, or celebrating a significant birthday or your kid's graduation.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

1. Thailand: Top Destination for First-Timers

If you have limited time in Southeast Asia, Thailand is undoubtedly the best destination. It is the epitome of typical experiences in Southeast Asia.

You and your family could enjoy watery fun and sunbathe on idyllic beaches on its renowned islands, such as Phuket and Koh Samui.

You could step back in time at historical landmarks in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Interactions with elephants are another highlight: your kids would probably love feeding and strolling with the lovely elephants in a sanctuary. Want something adventurous? Venture into Khao Sok National Park for wild elephant spotting, trekking, kayaking, and even staying on a floating campsite.

Further reading: How to Plan Your First Trip to Thailand

2. Vietnam: Rich Outdoor Adventures and a Gateway to Rustic Life

If you want to gain an insight into the rustic life of Southeast Asia, look no further than Vietnam.

A Halong Bay cruise is a must in Vietnam. For added quality, we've carefully selected private junk boats and smaller luxury cruises for your family.

To engage active teens, you could also trek to visit the hill tribes in Sapa, cycle around the countryside, and go on a basket boat tour in Hoi An. Relics of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City are often more attractive to grandparents.

Further reading: How to Plan an Incredible Family Trip to Vietnam

3. Indonesia (Mainly Bali): Top Beach Destination for Summer Vacations

With perfect weather between April and October, Indonesia is one of the best summer destinations in Southeast Asia for families with school-aged children. It boasts outstanding islands and top-notch family hotels, especially in Bali.

Relax at a beachfront family resort while enjoying yoga, meditation, and cooking classes. Alternatively, take your active teens on adventures, such as hiking up volcanic mountains, riding on thrilling jungle swings, snorkeling to discover colorful marine life, and kayaking through mangroves.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a Trip to Bali

4. Cambodia: the Splendors of Angkor Wat

Cambodia is home to Angkor Wat. What's more educational than touching this great wonder that you may only have read about in textbooks?

Unveil the mysterious temple complexes with your guide, a Khmer scholar, take a sunset quad bike ride around Angkor Wat, and discover the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake.

5. Singapore: a Metropolis Embracing Diverse Asian Cultures

Singapore could be a great starting point for Southeast Asian travel as it combines both Western and Asian cultures, along with excellent travel facilities.

You could encounter futuristic skylines, spot wildlife at Night Safari, and indulge in diverse cultural heritage when you go neighborhood-hopping. A foodie tour is a great way to celebrate the unique Singapore hawker culture.

Read about How to Plan a Trip to Singapore and Thailand

How Long to Spend on a Family Trip in Southeast Asia

Most families spend 10 to 15 days in Southeast Asia, particularly families with school-aged children.

If you prefer a slow pace and in-depth exploration, you're advised to focus on a single country. Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are full of vibrant interactive activities for parents and children to do together.

If you are seeking multiple facets of Southeast Asia, you could discover the best of two to three neighboring countries. The most chosen combinations are Singapore-Bali, Vietnam-Cambodia, and Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam.

With three or more weeks, you could hit more hidden gems in a single country or extend your trip to at least four countries.

Get to know more itinerary suggestions for 10 days, 2 weeks, and 3 Weeks in Southeast Asia.

Top 3 Itineraries for Family Trips to Southeast Asia

Below, we have specially crafted three itineraries, which are packed with kid-oriented activities.

If you'd prefer traveling to a single country, you could check the 12-day itinerary in Thailand and the 2-week itinerary in Vietnam. If you prefer a multiple-country tour, see our 15-day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam itinerary for inspiration.

1. 12-Day Thailand Family Vacation

• Bangkok (3 days), Kanchanaburi (2 days), Chiang Mai (3 days), Koh Samui (4 days)

This itinerary showcases the best experiences in Thailand: city life, traditional culture, interactions with elephants, and Instagram-worthy tropical beaches.

Create memorable moments as you cruise along the ancient canals, take care of the lovely elephants together, and stay in a house that floats on a river.

2. 2-Week Vietnam Vacation for a Family with Teenagers

• Hanoi (2 days), Ninh Binh and Halong Bay (3 days), Ho Chi Minh City (2 days), the Mekong Delta (2 days), Hoi An (2 days), Da Nang (3 days)

This itinerary perfectly combines thrilling and educational experiences with a relaxing beach vacation — it's ideal for families with teens.

You could take a rowing boat through a tunnel cave, swim/kayak during a Halong Bay cruise, cycle around the countryside, and take a ride in a basket boat in Hoi An. A foodie walking tour, a cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, and A O Show add an interesting glimpse into the local culture and life.

3. 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour

If you're eager to discover as much as possible about Southeast Asia in just over 2 weeks, this itinerary is best for you. You would explore the highlights of these three bordering countries at a comfortable pace in one trip.

Not only could you experience the essence of Thailand and Vietnam but also the allure of Siem Reap in Cambodia. To immerse your family in the region's exotic history, a Southeast Asian trip without Angkor Wat in Siem Reap would be incomplete.

The outline itinerary below is for your inspiration:

• Days 1–5 in Thailand: Bangkok (2 days), Chiang Mai (3 days)
• Days 6–11 in Vietnam: Hanoi (2 days), Halong Bay (2 days), Ho Chi Minh City (1 day), the Mekong Delta (1 day)
• Days 12–15 in Cambodia: Siem Reap

A beach vacation isn't included in this itinerary. If you would like some beach time, you could check out our 19-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour or contact us to tailor-make your itinerary.

Want More Itinerary Options?

The above-mentioned itinerary has been welcomed by our clients as the basis for many a personalized tour, but we are always ready to tailor-make a fulfilling tour for you from your dream trip ideas.

How Much Is a Family Trip to Southeast Asia?

As a family, you could find that Southeast Asia offers excellent value for money. A private tour would save you from the planning hassles and ensure a seamless experience that's tailored to your family's preferences.

Typically, a multiple-country private tour costs about US$200 to US$250 per person per day, including handpicked 4- or 5-star hotels, private local tours, and flights within Southeast Asia. Kids aged under 10 could get a 30–50% discount.

If you prefer to have an in-depth exploration in a single country, you could expect the lowest costs in Vietnam and Cambodia and the highest costs in Singapore and Bali, Indonesia.

Traveling with us, we could also create exclusive activities for your family. For example, we assisted in organizing a Thai wedding for a family celebrating their grandparents' 50th anniversary. To keep your kids interested, we could also arrange traditional farming and fishing activities in a local village.

Best Times to Visit Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a year-round destination for family trips. Most countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, enjoy dry weather from November to April, which offers the best conditions for winter breaks and spring breaks.

With the best weather comes high prices and large crowds. Early booking 3 months in advance is beneficial to guarantee rooms/tickets and seek better deals.

As for summer vacations, you are likely to encounter short afternoon downpours, which are not favorable for beach activities in most countries. But travel is still possible with the lowest prices and the smallest crowds. If you're looking for the best weather and beach fun from April to October, add Indonesia.

More monthly weather on the best times to visit Southeast Asia.

How to Select a Family-Friendly Hotel

There are abundant family-friendly hotel options in Southeast Asia. Usually, most hotels only allow parents and one kid in a room. For families with two or more kids, it's advisable to book interconnected rooms, suites, or villas. With a high demand in the peak season, you're advised to book at least 3 months in advance.

As experts in tailoring family vacations, we know which districts are more suitable for a family stay, such as Nusa Dua in Bali. We've also selected a diverse choice of family hotels: those with close-up views of landmarks, swim-up rooms, and boutique hotels for a one-of-a-kind experience. Picture staying in a floating house on a river, beachside bungalows, cliff hotels boasting infinity pools, or even tent-shaped villas nestled in the jungle.

How to Get Around Southeast Asia

Flights are a fast and comfortable choice when traveling between countries. In a single country, flights could be as affordable as US$60 for journeys between cities, while private transfers are more efficient for city tours and visiting remote areas. Our door-to-door private transfers would save you from navigation, long walks, and the hassle of dealing with public transportation.

>>>Get an idea about how to plan a trip to Thailand, Singapore and Bali

Contact Us for Booking

You are warmly welcomed to have us customize your own trip based on your group size, interests, and other needs. Sit back and use our Create My Trip service.

In addition to the above itineraries, we also have other itineraries you may be interested in:

• 13-Day Private Singapore and Bali Journey of Discovery
• 14-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Family Tour
• 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
• More Southeast Asia Tours