Day 1 – Arrival in Kuala Lumpur
After a long flight, you will arrive in Malaysia where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel with a swimming pool in the lively city centre. Kuala Lumpur is a fascinating blend of vibrant Asian street life and striking modern skyscrapers. Once you have settled in, you can head out to explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, enjoy delicious Chinese dishes at the street food stalls on Jalan Alor or dine at one of the relaxed food courts in the city’s modern shopping centres.
Day 2 – Exploring Kuala Lumpur
Today you have time to explore the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur as a family. We will arrange your ticket for the KL Tower, where you can enjoy fantastic skyline views without the long queues at the Petronas Towers, and even see the Twin Towers from above. If you visit in the late afternoon, you will experience the city in daylight before watching it light up at sunset. Children can also enjoy the playground and swimming pool nearby, while you relax. If you would like to explore further, we can arrange a family day trip to the Batu Caves, with Hindu temples inside striking limestone caves, the golden statue of Lord Murugan, and plenty of playful macaques along the way.
Day 3 – Fly to Sumatra
From Kuala Lumpur you will fly to Sumatra, where our driver is already waiting to take you on a four and a half hour journey to the jungle of Bukit Lawang. The road is rough and bumpy, passing what feels like endless palm oil plantations, though the journey is softened by the sight of pigs along the roadside and children waving as you go by. After a few hours you will arrive at our hotel, which is simple but beautifully set on the edge of the jungle. There is no swimming pool, but the river running through the village offers a perfect place to cool off, with houses on stilts along the banks and people carrying on with daily life, washing clothes and bathing in the water.
Day 4 – Trekking to find orangutans
Today you will trek higher and higher into the jungle with your guide, and after less than an hour of hiking you suddenly hear a crackling sound above you as a curious orangutan slowly climbs down, carrying a small baby on her back. She is not very shy, and you keep a respectful distance while taking beautiful photographs at your leisure. Although it is forbidden to feed or touch the orangutans, when one comes a little too close your guide quietly produces a few bananas from his bag, explaining that they can become aggressive otherwise and that this helps manage their behaviour. The trek lasts about three hours, with a refreshing swim at a waterfall along the way and a picnic lunch provided by the guide, and after eating you make your way back to the village by drifting along the river on a car tyre, a journey that takes about twenty five minutes.
Day 5 – Further into the jungle
From Bukit Lawang you venture deeper into the jungle, crossing a gently swaying suspension bridge to reach a handful of small family run lodgings that sit quietly within the landscape, where your wooden bungalow by the river feels perfectly at home. There is no hot water but in this warm climate it is hardly missed, and with only limited electricity the simplicity becomes part of the experience. Days are spent swimming in the river alongside children from the nearby village, their laughter echoing through the trees, and when night falls quickly the jungle slips into darkness, leaving only the sounds of insects, distant wildlife and the steady flow of the river.
Day 6 – Tangkahan guided tubing adventure
Today you will head on a tubing adventure, where they are already waiting in the river and your guide ties them together to form a simple raft before steering you gently downstream. As you drift along you may spot a monkey swinging through the branches overhead, and at a shallow stretch your guide will point out a tributary where you step out to discover a hidden waterfall, perfect for a refreshing swim against the strong rushing water. After some time you cross the river and follow your guide on foot along the banks through palm oil plantations back towards your bungalow, with the option to relax later in a nearby hot spring or continue the afternoon with a trek as described below.
Day 7 – Tangkahan to Medan
Today you will spend the night in Medan before continuing your journey on to Java, staying just outside the hustle and bustle of the city in a comfortable hotel with a swimming pool, offering a peaceful retreat after your travels through Sumatra. It is a welcome opportunity to slow down, refresh, and take stock of the journey so far. From your hotel you can enjoy views towards the surrounding greenery and distant jungle, a gentle reminder of the landscapes you have explored. In the evening you can settle into the hotel restaurant for a relaxed meal, enjoying a quiet end to the day before your onward flight.
Day 8 – Fly to Java
Today you will leave Sumatra and travel on to cultural Java. After a short flight, a driver takes you to your hotel for the next few nights. where you check in and enjoy a refreshing dip in the courtyard swimming pool. In the evening you head out to explore the city and have dinner locally, and the next morning you visit the Sultan’s palace and stroll along the lively Malioboro shopping street, where you find a restaurant serving delicious rendang, before returning to your hotel by becak, taking in the sights and sounds of the city along the way.
Day 9 – Guided tour to Borobodur
Today you set off from Borobudur village on mountain bikes with a local guide who greets people working in the fields as you pass, clearly familiar with the area. You cycle along tracks between rice paddies and through a small village, stopping at a simple warung for drinks, snacks and fruit. Children from the village gather to watch and interact with your group along the way. You then continue to the foot of Borobudur Temple and begin the climb up, passing groups of students who are keen to take photos. At the top, among the stupas, you take in wide views over the surrounding volcanoes and the green countryside you have just cycled through, before descending and returning to your accommodation.
Day 10 – Train to Malang
Today you travel by train across the Javanese countryside, with comfortable seating and the chance to sit among local passengers. Rice fields, green hills and small villages pass by as the landscape moves steadily outside the window. On arrival in Malang, a driver is waiting to transfer you to your hotel, a small-scale and comfortable property with a swimming pool. After the journey, you have time to relax, take a swim and settle in before preparing for tomorrow’s expedition.
Day 11 – Bromo land rover expedition
Today’s expedition is made all the more adventurous as you travel by jeep, slowly climbing in altitude along winding roads through lush green forest. As you get higher up you leave the tarmac behind and head onto dusty tracks into the vast crater landscape surrounding Mount Bromo, where clouds of fine ash drift and the scenery takes on an almost lunar feel. Smoke can already be seen rising from the volcano itself. You climb the steps to the crater rim for a close-up view of this raw natural force, before continuing by jeep to an outer crater viewpoint for its famous panorama, enjoyed in much quieter conditions outside of sunrise hours. Afterwards, you continue to Kaliandra, where you stay for two nights at a small-scale resort set among plantations, offering a relaxed atmosphere and time to unwind by the pool or take a gentle walk around the estate on arrival. Please note that access to the crater can occasionally be restricted due to ash clouds from Mount Bromo; if so, an alternative walk to the temples in the valley is arranged.
Day 12 – Activities in Kaliandra
Today’s adventure is right on your doorstep at Kaliandra. Together with a local guide, you explore the estate, visiting the greenhouse, meeting local residents and helping to harvest fresh vegetables. You then continue to a nearby village (kampung) to get a closer look at everyday life, including time with schoolchildren if it is a school day. The excursion ends at a local batik gallery, where you try this traditional art form for yourself and create your own piece, taking part in the process from start to finish. Along the way, you can enjoy a refreshing juice or a light salad made from the vegetables you picked earlier. In the afternoon, there is time to relax by the pool or unwind with a snack and drink at the wellness centre.
Day 13 – Fly to Bali and transfer to Ubud
Today the driver takes you to Surabaya airport, where you fly on to Bali before continuing by road to Ubud. It is a fairly long travel day, but once in Bali the pace slows down. Just outside the centre of Ubud, you stay in a small-scale hotel set among greenery, with rooms furnished in attractive dark wood. There is a swimming pool available for a refreshing dip after the journey. Ubud itself is a lively town with plenty of restaurants, bars and boutiques, while in the surrounding countryside you can see oxen working the sawahs and rice stalks swaying in the breeze.
Day 14 – Guided cycling in Ubud
After breakfast, you are taken by minibus to the starting point for a bike ride through Ubud. You cycle with an experienced guide, with the route and pace adapted to your family’s needs (with the option of a more challenging ride for teenagers). The route takes you past rice fields and temples, with a stop at a primary school, while your guide explains Balinese life, culture and traditions along the way. If you wish to rest, you can pause at a warung for a Balinese coffee before continuing.
The final stretch is mainly downhill, ending in a traditional Balinese garden where lunch is prepared for you with local dishes. After eating, you are transferred back to your hotel for a relaxed afternoon by the pool or a gentle stroll around nearby craft workshops. In the evening, you can head into central Ubud for dinner, where there is a strong vegetarian and organic food scene alongside plenty of family-friendly options.
Day 15 – Day at leisure to explore
Today is free for further exploration, giving you the flexibility to shape the day around your family’s interests and energy levels. You might choose to visit one of the nearby temples, wander through the rice fields on a gentle walk, or explore Ubud’s many markets and small shops. There are also plenty of family-friendly activities available, from short nature walks and monkey spotting to hands-on craft workshops where children can try painting or wood carving.
If you prefer a slower pace, the hotel pool is an easy option for a relaxed morning or afternoon, while parents can enjoy a massage or spa treatment. Ubud also offers a wide range of cafés and restaurants suitable for all ages, making it easy to take breaks throughout the day. Whether you decide to explore or unwind, today is all about enjoying Bali at your own pace with plenty of options to keep both adults and children entertained.
Day 16 – Transfer to Sanur and check into beach hotel
Today you travel from Ubud to Sanur, where your long-awaited time by the beach begins. On arrival, you can unwind in the hotel’s tropical garden or by the pool after the journey, with the beach just a short walk away. It’s a relaxed and easy setting, ideal for spending time together, especially with teenagers. In the evening, you can stroll from your hotel to Sanur’s beachfront boulevard, which runs parallel to the shore and is lined with a wide choice of restaurants, cafés and small shops. It’s a pleasant place to wander, with plenty of options for a relaxed dinner to round off the day.
Days 17 & 18 – Days at leisure to relax
The rest of your stay is free to relax, whether by the pool or on the beach, giving you time to unwind after the more active parts of your trip. The sandy beach slopes gently into the sea and the water is usually calm, making it ideal for swimming and suitable for all ages. Colourful fishing boats line the shore and there are plenty of simple massage spots where you can enjoy a treatment at a reasonable price, a nice way to ease tired muscles. If you prefer to stay active, you can stroll along the promenade which runs parallel to the beach and is lined with shops, cafés and small stalls, perfect for browsing, stopping for a drink or picking up a few souvenirs while soaking up the relaxed coastal atmosphere.
Day 19 – international departure
After breakfast and perhaps a final dip in the pool, it is time to say goodbye to Bali. Your driver will take you to the airport, which is around 45 minutes away, allowing for a comfortable and unhurried transfer through familiar island scenery one last time. Most flights depart in the early evening, so there is time for a relaxed morning, perhaps enjoying a final coffee or simply taking in the atmosphere before check out.
Accommodation
