Southeast Asia is an ideal destination for a muti-generational family trip, due to its sunny weather, relaxing vibe, high value for money, and a variety of family-friendly activities for kids, parents, and grandparents. The warm and cozy feel makes SE Asia a good setting for reunions of families from different countries.
In this article, we offer inspiration and advice for planning a multi-generational family trip to Southeast Asia, including places to go, itinerary suggestions, accommodation options, costs, etc.
How to Choose Destinations for Your Multi-Generational Family Trip
Here we will give you some suggestions based on different lengths of holiday. A two-week trip is most families' choice.
Around Two Weeks
Visiting three countries is the most-chosen option for a two-week family trip with a richer experience and comfortable pace.
The most popular combination is Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Thailand offers more vibrant activities. Your whole family can visit an elephant sanctuary, take a Thai cooking class, experience floating houses in an off-the-beaten destination — Kanchanaburi, ...
At Thailand's renowned beaches, kids and parents can enjoy exciting and fun water spots. Grandparents can take a walk by the sea.
For active grandparents, a light hike in Khao Yai National Park is recommended. Kids can search for wild elephants and other exciting animals in the Park's jungles.
Vietnam features rustic scenery and slow-paced lifestyle. Grandparents could enjoy a relaxing Halong Bay cruise. Halong Bay also has optional activities for kids and parents, such as kayaking and swimming.
Relics of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh are popular attractions. You can bring your kids there to learn about that history.
Besides, all family members could have a walk together in the ancient town of Hoi An, take a local cyclo to explore the Old Quarter and watch a water puppet performance in Hanoi, explore local ethnic villages in Sapa...
Cambodia is interesting for grandparents and parents who like to explore exotic history and culture. Splendid Angkor Wat is Cambodia's biggest draw. The Land Mine Museum is also an interesting place where kids can learn something about the more-recent history of Cambodia.
If you have plans to celebrate a birthday or anniversary etc., there are also some romantic moments that could be arranged to suit you, like a local wedding ceremony in Thailand. Or we could arrange a more-private Halong Bay cruise that would only accommodate you and your family.
But if you want to travel on a more-relaxed schedule, visiting two countries in two weeks may be more suitable, like Vietnam and Cambodia, featuring more on history and scenery, and a slower pace. Check out our 14-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Family Tour.
See more on 2-Week Southeast Asia Itineraries for Couples, Families, and More, including options for 2 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia>>>
If you are planning a summer trip for you and your family, you can get some inspirations from our Travel to Southeast Asia in This Summer: Places to Go, Costs, Weather
Around Three Weeks
If you have a holiday of about three weeks, you can consider exploring three or four countries.
A 2-week Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia tour may have some limitations. For example, if you want to spend more time in Vietnam — touring both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you may not have enough time to enjoy the beaches in Thailand. But with a 3-week tour, you will have enough time to include all these destinations on the same trip. See our 19-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam In-Depth Tour.
Laos could be an additional destination if you have more available time. Luang Prabang, a quaint old town, is its main travel destination. A tour of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos usually takes about 22–24 days. As most attractions in Laos are similar to Thailand's, if you don't have that long of a vacation, you can skip Laos.
If you have other desired destinations, like Bali, Singapore, etc., just contact us. We would be happy to put together an itinerary for you.
Further reading: How to Plan a Trip to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore>>>
Around One Week
If you only have about a week, we recommend visiting one country that is most representative of Southeast Asia and rich in family activities. Thailand or Vietnam is the best choice.
Thailand is a more kid-oriented destination with a casual and entertaining atmosphere, while Vietnam is more grandparent-friendly, featuring historical sites, countryside life exploration, cruises, and more-relaxed-pace adventures.
We offer customized tours for multi-generational family trips. We would create a trip according to your family's needs and interests, your available holiday time, your family group's generational mix, etc.
Find more itinerary ideas for 10 days & 5 weeks in Southeast Asia >>>
The Most-Chosen Itinerary: Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia
Here we outline the most popular features of a well-liked 15-day Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia itinerary, covering must-sees, kids, parents, and grandparents' interests, and some private family time.
Days 1–5: Thailand
In Thailand, two cities' sightseeing fits well in 5 days — see Bangkok and Chiang Mai…
In Bangkok, visit the famous Grand Palace and representative temples. A long-tail boat ride through the ancient canals could be a unique and fun experience for both adults and children.
Chiang Mai is a slow-paced city with a rural feel, which is often preferred by older family members. There are also some kid-oriented activities, like feeding and bathing the elephants at an elephant sanctuary.
- Suggested itinerary: Thailand (2 days); Chiang Mai (3 days)
If you want to include a Thai island (for beach time), you could spend more 3 or 4 days in Phuket or Koh Samui. See our 19-Day Highlights of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Days 6–11: Vietnam
Vietnam's sightseeing could include Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta with 6 days.
In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, visit their iconic buildings to learn about Vietnam's history, especially the Vietnam War. A water puppet performance would be a good traditional entertainment for both kids and adults.
Take an overnight Halong Bay cruise to see Vietnam's extraordinary karst seascape. And visit the Mekong Delta to see the busy lives of local villagers with a fun boat ride experience.
- Suggested itinerary: Hanoi (2 days); Halong Bay (2 days); Ho Chi Minh City (1 day); Mekong Delta (1 day)
Days 11–15: Cambodia
Cambodia's final leg of the journey usually focuses on Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat is found. It takes a day to explore its main features, hear its story, and appreciate its charm, but there is so much more that can be discovered there and around Siem Reap...
Taking an ox cart ride down a country road that is way off the beaten track could be a special experience for your whole family.
By Tonle Sap Lake, you can enjoy quiet family time with a sunset cocktail or fresh local fruit juice.
- Suggested stay in/around Siem Reap: 4 days
More Itinerary Ideas
For more detailed itinerary ideas, please see:
- 11-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour
- 12-Day Cambodia and Vietnam Highlights
- 13-Day Private Singapore and Bali Journey of Discovery
- 14-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Mini-Group Tour
All our tours can be adjusted based on your interests and needs. Just send us your requirements.
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Accommodations by Asia highlights have
Accommodations by Asia highlights have been terrific so far. The Khmer Residence in Siem Reap as well as Eastin Grand hotel in Bangkok. Both had excellent pools and breakfasts.Tours in Siem Reap were particularly well given with an amazing mix of culture, history and humor throughout (Mr Poly). Tours in Bangkok by Mr Banks were informative and well organized with samples of Thai fruit and treats throughout. More
Chris Williams, Nov 2023
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Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More
Diane Elkins, Nov 2023
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Thailand- October 2023!
The team in Thailand was also great. Shout out to our tour guides (Monchai in Bangkok, Indy in Chang Mai and Sonia in Phuket) they were the best!! It was 6 of us and they make us all feel right at home! Kudos! More
Mori P, Nov 2023
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Accommodation Choices for Multi-Generational Families
In Southeast Asia, it is okay for parents and a child to share a room. However, if you want to share a room with two or more kids, it is not allowed in most hotels. So, make sure to check with the hotel before booking.
If you have two or more children, family-friendly hotels with interconnected rooms or family suites are the ideal choice, but they are limited. Booking early is recommended, especially in the peak season. You may need to book 3 to 6 months in advance.
Usually, you will find various hotel options in downtown areas. Staying downtown makes it easier to visit night markets and explore freely. However, most luxury resorts or private villas are situated away from the city centers, where you can usually enjoy a quieter environment, better scenery, and more space.
If you prefer quieter accommodation, then we recommend you book a private trip (rather than a group tour). Private transfers would be a much-more-convenient way for the whole family to head downtown or to other places.
We've winnowed down a selection of excellent Southeast-Asia hotels that we generally recommend, based on the experiences of our family clients.
We can also recommend suitable hotels according to your specific accommodation needs, including location requirements, hotel facilities, hotel environment, etc. Just contact us.
Best Times to Visit Southeast Asia for a Multi-generation Family Trip
For the vast majority of families, their available travel time is relatively fixed, mostly during the winter break or summer vacation, i.e. their children's holidays.
The Winter Break: Best Weather and Peak Season
If you choose to travel during the winter break, you would have the best weather in Southeast Asia — sunny, virtually rainless, and warm. This is great for any sightseeing or outdoor activities, such as snorkeling, biking, etc.
Winter is therefore the peak season in Southeast Asia, with highest traveler numbers in the Christmas and New Year holidays. You would need to prepare early, especially for hotels and flights. Hotel prices can increase by 2–3 times, especially in popular cities such as Bangkok and Phuket.
December 22 to January 3 is the most expensive time to go. If you want to save money, it's best to avoid this period.
If you are planning a Christmas or New Year family holiday in 2024 with a big family, to save money you may be interested in our 14-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Mini-Group Tour 2024/2025.
We have shared more tips on our The Ultimate Guide to Spending Christmas / New Year Holidays in Southeast Asia.
The Summer Vacation: Cost-Efficient and Less-Crowded
The summer vacation is usually from late June to late August. This coincides with the main rainy season in Southeast Asia, which falls between July and September.
During the wet season, it doesn't rain all day long, though. Usually, there are short afternoon downpours, but the rest of the day is otherwise sunny, and you can enjoy most of a day without much inconvenience.
The summer monsoon season is also the best period for cost-efficient travel, when you would find the biggest discounts and more promotions on accommodation, flights, and tours. The less-crowded attractions and beaches are also wet-season rewards.
With Asia Highlights, you could enjoy free tour cancellations (except your international flights from/to your country) up to 22 days before departure. Just contact us to make your summer/winter family holiday dreams come true.
Check out more on our Best Times to Visit Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and Thailand and Vietnam.
Costs for a Multi-Generation Family Trip
Southeast Asia offers good value for money. For the price of a mediocre restaurant in Western countries, you can enjoy a superb meal at a Michelin-starred establishment in Southeast Asia.
A private tour is an affordable luxury in Southeast Asia. Here are the typical prices for a private tour in Southeast Asia for a general idea:
- $200–250 per person per day for adults and 30%–50% off for a kid younger than 10 years old, including 4- or 5-star hotels, a private guide, private transport, sightseeing fees, accommodation, and flights within Southeast Asia.
Our actual quotations would be based on your specific itinerary requirements: group size, hotel requirements, etc. Just contact us to find out costs for your SE Asia family trip.
Further reading: How to Plan a Trip to Singapore and Thailand>>>
Our Private Tours Are Very Family-Friendly!
Our private tours are the hassle-free solution to making family trip arrangements. You would have a one-to-one travel consultant that you can always contact to communicate your tour ideas whenever it is convenient for you.
We would design your itinerary based on your family's interests, hotel preferences, dietary considerations, and other requirements.
We also provide convenient and worry-free transfers. Plus, anything you encounter during your trip would be dealt with by your guide or your travel advisor, who would only be a call away 24-7. They would solve any issues for you immediately.
The Most Popular Southeast Asia Tours
- 8-Day from South Vietnam to North Cambodia
- 14-Day Classic Vietnam and Thailand Tour
- 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
- 19-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam In-Depth Tour
All our tours can be adjusted based on your needs. Just contact us.
Why Asia Highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating)
- Save Your Time:
- Less research, more enjoyment!
- Real-time 1V1 expert planning
- Maximize Your Flexibility:
- Personal local guide and ride
- Explore at your own pace
- Celebrate Your Journeys:
- Specially-crafted family adventures
- Celebrate milestones with style!
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It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.)
moreFrom the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic.
moreThe tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history
moreWe made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreOther highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing,
moreOur day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China.
moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreWe traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great.
moreWe visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise.
moreAmazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping!
moreGet Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.