If you’ve ever wanted to combine travel and meaningful experiences with your kids, you’ve come to the right place. We’re exploring seven amazing experiences in Asia with kids that will engage and inspire young travellers. This article is actually based on our podcast episode by the same name, “Episode Two – 7 Amazing Experiences in Asia With Kids”, so if you’d rather have a listen than a read, feel free to hit the play button below.
Still here reading? Great! Let’s kick things off with Cambodia.
#1. Exploring temples in Cambodia
It’s no surprise that I’m going to talk about the iconic Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the world’s largest religious monument. A bucket-list experience, this awe-inspiring temple complex in Asia with kids captivates visitors of all ages. Originally built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple before transitioning into a Buddhist site, its intricate carvings, towering spires, and vast moats make it a fascinating place to explore with kids. Wander through ancient corridors, spot hidden carvings of animals, and even catch a breathtaking sunrise over the temple towers. While the complex is enormous, taking a private tuk-tuk tour can help make the visit more manageable for little legs.
My kids were aged four and six when we visited, and they just loved pretending to be explorers as we wandered through the moss-covered ruins. Visiting Ta Prohm, the famous “Tomb Raider” temple, with its tree roots growing up the walls and through the stones felt like stepping into a storybook.
Top tip for visiting with kids: Start early to avoid the midday heat, and don’t forget to bring plenty of water and snacks for the kids. It’s actually a lot of walking, and it can get really hot…but it’s worth every step.
#2. Pushbiking around Pulau Ubin Island in Singapore
Pulau Ubin is a bit of an unheard of experience in Asia with kids and Lonely Planet describes it as Singapore’s very own rustic island getaway. It’s a real opportunity to experience a Kampong or village atmosphere that has long left the mainland.
One of my favourite memories here is of my son, who at the time was six, yelling excitedly, “Mum, look, that monkey has a bag!” Sure enough, a cute little long-tailed macaque monkey was sitting in the middle of the dirt road, up to his shoulder in someone’s lunch bag. I’m guessing someone had put that bag down, fully expecting their lunch to be waiting for them upon return. He didn’t look in the slightest bit guilty that he had just been caught red-handed, and for some reason, I just found the whole scene so funny.
Getting to the island is a simple 10-minute trip across the water from Changi Point Ferry Terminal on a bum boat. When you arrive, you’ll find plenty of push bikes available to hire, including options for families. However, it’s always safer to pre-book your bike hire just in case. Once you get your bikes, you can pedal your way around the island, where you’ll learn via signage about the importance of the Chek Jawa wetlands, a protected site in which six distinct habitats merge. There’s a really cool boardwalk built over a mangrove swamp, and you’ll get to see wildlife that is not usually seen back home.
Top tip for visiting with kids: Don’t put your bag down…the monkeys are thieves, and kids tend to get hangry if they’re forced to skip a meal.
#3. A 4WD tour through northern Thailand
When the kids were eight and 11 years old, we embarked on a tagalong four-wheel drive tour in northern Thailand, departing from Chiang Mai. We spent three days self-driving in a convoy with a tour guide who drove their own vehicle. They showed us some really amazing spots in the mountains and Hill Tribes Villages in northern Thailand that we never would have found on our own and the whole experience was so amazing.
We stayed at locally owned boutique accommodation along the way and had rivers to swim in, waterfalls to swim under, and we even got squirted by an elephant while rafting leisurely down a river on a bamboo pole raft. It was just beautiful, and I really enjoyed getting to know our Thai guides, who were able to give us more of an insight into their culture and, of course, introduced us to some amazing Thai dishes.
Adventurous families will love this experience in Asia with kids and if you can all ride, it’s able to be done on dirtbikes as well.
Top tip for this experience with kids: Be prepared for extended driving times with snacks and drinks for the kids in the back of the car.
#4. Making our own tea blend in Chiang Rai, Thailand
After our four-wheel drive tour, we took a bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. I recommend the first-class bus because it’s very affordable and very comfortable. My husband and I visited Chiang Rai way back in 2008, long before kids, so this place is really kind of special to us.
Popular with the locals, Singha Park in Chiang Rai was originally known as Boon Raw Farm, and it was used to produce barley for the famous pale lager singer beer. Now, the park features a giant golden Singha statue, and it’s open to the public as an agricultural tourism business that boasts beautifully curated gardens, lakes and fruit tea plantations. We jumped on board the hop-on-hop-off tram at Singha Park and soon found ourselves at a tea plantation where we learned what goes into making a good brew. This is one of those little-known destinations in Asia with kids that we only found out about because a local suggested it.
Here, the staff have an undercover area where you can create your own blend of tea, and once you’ve made it, they seal up your tea bag on the spot so you can try it out. Both the kids and I really enjoyed this hands-on experience.
My tip for this experience? If you’re stuck for inspiration when making your tea, you can’t go wrong with a lemongrass and lavender combination. It smells amazing, and it tastes pretty good as well.
#5. Explore My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam
My Son are a series of Unesco listed ruins in Vietnam that, would you believe, actually predate Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Myanmar’s Bagan and Indonesia’s Borobudur. Built during the 4th to 13th centuries, there are several ancient Cham temples spread over a two-kilometre wide valley here. Sadly, much of My Son was destroyed by the US carpet bombing of the region during the Vietnam War, but what is left standing is definitely worth a visit.
My top tip for this experience in Asia with kids? The easiest way to visit with kids is to hire a private driver (your hotel can help you out with this) from either Hoi An or Da Nang.
#6. Visit the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China
We visited the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China for the first time back in 2011, a year before our son was born. We’ve only just come back from taking the kids (now, aged nine and 12 years old) to this fascinating festival, and I can honestly say that it’s one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had in Asia with the kids. Held every year in January, it’s not for the faint-hearted, with temperatures getting down to minus 25-ish at times. The warmest it was when we were there was minus 10 degrees.
Here, you’ll find house-sized snow sculptures, castle-sized ice sculptures that you’re actually allowed to walk through, and even an ice slide that, this year, was up to 500 metres long. The Songhua River runs through the Russian-influenced city of Harbin, and it completely freezes over, with heaps of fun things for the whole family to do on the ice. You’ll find slides, zorb balls, quad bikes, horse rides and more. It’s just a whole heap of fun wrapped up in a beautiful snowy landscape. Snow aside, it’s also a great city to experience the culture of northern China.
Top tip: Don’t let the temperature stop you visiting. The only thing preventing you from having a good time is clothing that’s not up to the job.
#7. Experiencing Teamlab in Tokyo, Japan
We recently spent some time in Tokyo, Japan on our way back from the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China. Japan seems to be on everyone’s mind at the moment, and I was no exception. After only a week, it was not hard to see why Japan has become a fast favourite in Asia with kids.
Why? It’s not just the cultural attractions – it’s because it’s so easy to manage with kids. Some countries are a large culture shock, and it can be a little bit hard to manage with kids when they suddenly find themselves out of their comfort zone. But the thing about Japan is, the cultural differences are rarely unpleasant. One example of this is the toilets. So when you go to China, kids may be a little bit put off by the squat toilets. When you go to Japan, you’ll find toilets that need a university degree to flush, they play music so no one can hear you ‘go’, and they wash your bottom for you – so it’s more fascinating than unpleasant. Much like Singapore, Japan is a very easy introduction to Asia. It doesn’t hurt that the food is amazing, too!
One of my most memorable things to do in Tokyo was to visit Teamlab Planets and Teamlab Borderless, both immersive digital art museums. Teamlab Planets features interactive water and plants and encourages barefoot exploration. Teamlab Borderless is bigger, and offers a fluid, ever-changing digital landscape. At one point at Teamlab Planets, you’ll find yourself walking through water, while digital fish swim around you and under your legs. It’s simply amazing.
Top tip: Fuel up before you enter so the kids don’t announce their hungry before you’ve seen everything!
That wraps up our favourite experiences in Asia with kids
So that wraps up our seven favourite amazing experiences in Asia with kids. I’m sure there are many other great experiences out there to be had, and we would love to hear some of yours. Thanks for joining me on this journey through some of Asia’s most memorable family travel experiences. I hope this has inspired you to explore this incredible region with your family.
Where to next?
Let me know what you think!