Overview

Asia is an enormous region of the world offering vast scope for family holidays and breaks, with everything from sparkling modern cities full of towering skyscrapers to awe-inspiring nature including beaches to suit all needs, whether it be surfing or paddling, and wildlife that’ll your kids have probably only have seen on TV or in zoos. 

Diving, whitewater rafting, elephant-riding, tiger-spotting and visiting animal sanctuaries are just some of the activities you and your kids might  choose to experience during a stay in Asia, and there are some world-class themeparks around the region that complement a holiday in gorgeous nature.

Asia recommendations

Western Asia

This vast territory begins with Turkey (partly in Europe), Cyprus (partly in Europe and also classed as the Middle East) and Egypt (partly in north Africa and also classed as the Middle East). In the part of Western Asia classed as the Middle East, the most family-friendly places to visit are Jordan, Oman and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
 
The rest of Western Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, together with the ‘Middle Eastern’ countries of Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen) is off the radar for most families, as is Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

Eastern Asia

For adventurous families, Eastern Asia offers a lot of scope for exciting holidays, especially in China and its Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, and in Japan with its amazing offerings, from neon cityscapes and state-of-the-art themeparks to mountain streams where snow monkeys bathe. Also in Eastern Asia lie the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Mongolia.

Southern Asia

Southern Asia has some of the world’s most compelling countries to visit with kids, especially India, where tiger-spotting and elephant-riding in nature reserves, plus wonderful beaches, are just some of the offerings. Sri Lanka isn't an obvious destination with kids but will reward you for your efforts with a compelling history and incredible wildife. In the Indian Ocean lie some of the most family-friendly destinations for beach holidays: Mauritius and the Seychelles (both technically in Africa) and the Maldives. Other countries of Southern Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Nepal and Pakistan.

South-Eastern Asia

This is another great region for adventurous family holidays, especially Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Also in this region are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), Myanmar and the Philippines.

Eating with Kids in Asia

Whether in nighttime street markets or swanky restaurants, eating out is one of the great joys of travelling in Asia. But those with fussy kids won't find it hard to track down familiar international cuisine in larger cities across the region, or in family-friendly hotels and resorts.