We use cookies to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how you can disable them.
The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands has something, for visitors of every hue, taste, culture, gender, age, and more. Indonesia is unique, in that it has much to offer, to family vacationers, adventure seekers, honeymooners, or backpackers.
Indonesia offers scenic vistas, for those who want to capture each and every beautiful moment, for posterity in their cameras. You have choices that range from snow-capped mountains; active volcanoes; lush green tropical forests and mangroves inhabited with hundreds of species of flora and fauna/wildlife (much of which is endemic to Indonesia); resorts and staying accommodation catering to every budget; choice of vibrant or laid-back cafés and restaurants; white powdery sand beaches; and crystal clear azure waters for swimming, snorkelling or scuba diving.
Let’s check out a few of the favourite family destinations in Indonesia.
To the global visitor, Bali is synonymous with Indonesia. Over the years, Bali has evolved into a place that has a deeply rich culture. Areas in and around Bali offer much to visiting families and their children. Let’s shortlist just a few of these places.
Elephant Park: Two dozen elephants reside here. Your kids can feed them, ride them, and even take selfies with them.
Ubud: Listed as one of the ten friendliest cities in the world, it’s even friendlier for kids. Ubud offers ample choices, depending on their age and their preferences, ranging from white-water rafting, quad-biking, and rice paddy treks.
Ayung River Rafting, Ubud: If your family is looking for some adventure, then rowing your way on the Ayung river, is a fun adventure, and a great way to see Ubud, along its river banks.
Jimbaran: This fishing village is an ideal family vacation getaway. It is kid-friendly, with its long white sandy beaches, calm waters, and seafood restaurants. If you are a surfing family, you can navigate south-west, to the Dreamland and Balangan beaches, for the surf breaks. If you aren’t a surfing family, you can always try your hand at it.
Sanur: If you are looking to chill out on the beach, paddle, or swim, then south-east of Bali, is the beach town of Sanur, with clean white sand and gentle water,. It also offers a good mix of affordable stays and luxury resorts.
Bali Safari and Marine Park: Your children have always seen wildlife in books and movies. Now give them the real thing; show them how animals live in their native surroundings. The park is the perfect and safe place as it offers day and night safaris, where you can spot more than 100 species, which include lions, hippopotamus, elephants, and Komodo dragons.
Bali Bird Park: An aesthetically beautiful and well-managed park, the Bali Bird Park is populated with over 1,000 birds, from 250 species. Imagine how exciting it will be for your kids to experience the highlight of the park – the ‘Walk-in’ aviaries – and have a close encounter, with some colourful and unique bird species. It also houses a top-notch conservation and education centre for children.
Orangutans are the main draw in this park!Want to take the excitement a notch up? Book a river cruise with your kids, on a traditional ‘klotok’ houseboat, and spend a few days and nights wandering through the park’s waterways, catching the orangutans in their absolute natural habitat, as well as crocodiles and probosci’s monkeys.
Home to the biggest lizards in the world, the Komodo Dragons, the Komodo National Park constitutes Komodo, Rinca, and Padar islands, as well as several smaller ones. A boat trip from Labuan Bajo, in nearby Flores islands, will get you to the park. Imagine the excitement and awe on your kids' faces, when they see the amazing dinosaurs-like Komodo dragons.
Since there are no overnight accommodation facilities, you can book one of the slower sailboats, and spend some nights in the park, watching the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat, and leisurely soaking in the pristine and stunning natural scenic beauty of the park.
The park is one of the few places in the world that boasts of the unique and famous Pink Beach, guaranteed to make you and your kid’s jaws drop with sheer wonderment, at the beauty and colour of this beach. The clear waters are safe for swimming, diving, and snorkelling. Now that’s the best of both worlds for you!
Yogyakarta is the perfect destination, if your family loves exploring historical monuments and sites, such as the Palace of Yogyakarta, Taman Sari, Prambanan Temple, and the Temple of Borobudur Temple (mentioned above).Especially catering for your kids, are Taman Pintar, UllenSentalu Museum, and skating in GumukPasir.
Temple of Borobudur
Located close to Yogyakarta city is a UNESCO ‘World Heritage Site’, the ancient ‘Temple of Borobudur’, built in 825 AD. For you and your kids, this is a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity, to check out one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the world, and Indonesia’s most visited tourist spot. This is also a great way to sneak in some history lessons. The hotels nearby are family-friendly and reasonably priced.
You could also visit some of the other popular tourist spots – the PujonKidul Village tour, the Parangtritis beach and village, the Nglambor Beach, The World Landmarks Merapi Park, and the Mangunan Pine Forest.
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It has some of the best beaches and waterfalls in Indonesia that makes it a family vacation magnet, for you and your kids.
And YES! In the south-east corner of Lombok, is one more jaw-dropping ‘Pink Beach’, also called the ‘Tangsi Beach’, where you can lounge or take a dip in its clear safe azure waters.Pink sand beaches are an extreme rarity across the globe, and Indonesia is fortunate to have a few of these.
Your kids will not want to leave the pristine secluded and serene beaches of Belitung island, situated off the south-eastern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Belitung island is a must-visit for the family, the hallmark of which is the soft and white as palm sugar sand, interspersed with granite rock formations. Its crystal clear azure waters is an open invitation for those who enjoy swimming and snorkelling.
There is some history for you in the nearby Lengkuas island, which hosts a 19th century antique lighthouse, built by the Dutch in 1882. race your kids to the top to catch a breath-taking view of the surrounding area.
If you and your children enjoy underwater diving and snorkelling, you will be delighted to experience the beautiful coral reef ecosystems, of KepulauanSeribu, a collection of 110 islands, dispersed across the Bay of Jakarta.The ecosystem consists of 193 coral species, 174 fish species, two giant clam species, six seagrass species, multi-coloured sea worms, and 17 coastal bird species. The green sea turtle and the endangered hawksbill sea turtle nest in these areas.
The clear water is an open and safe invitation for your family to indulge in water activities like swimming, diving and snorkelling, while the white sand beach beckons you to soak in some sun.
