Asian beaches are world-renowned for seemingly endless coastlines, and many of Asia’s impeccable beaches are particularly affordable for tourists. We asked fellow family travelers to share the best beaches in Asia with kids and now have to restrain ourselves from booking one way tickets to any one of these unbelievable beaches.
Agonda Beach – Goa, India
The palm-fringed Arabian Sea beaches of Goa are an eclectic mix catering to the raver, the yogi, the package sun-seeker and everything in between. So it can be a bit tricky finding the best one for families. After a year living in India, we decided that our favourite was Agonda in South Goa, which features a golden crescent of powder soft sand, dotted with colourful fishing boats and patrolled by meandering cows that congregate in the same spot for sunset every day. It’s a quiet beach, and the sea has just the right amount of gentle surf for a good boogie-board session (Sea Star Resort where we stayed, lent the boys theirs). There are also a handful of restaurants serving kid-friendly food (e.g. pancakes, omelettes and chips). But, the best thing is that these restaurants are right on the beach, so visitors can enjoy a Kingfisher whilst the little ones play in the sand. And, those who fancy peeling themselves away from the beach can take a fishing boat out to see the dolphins.
Recommended by Jenny from Travelynn Family. Find out more from Jenny about Agonda With Kids.
Choeng Mon Beach – Koh Samui, Thailand
In choosing a place to stay on Koh Samui, we wanted a swimmable, kid-friendly beach, away from the backpacking and party scenes of Thailand. Choeng Mon Beach is the quintessential horseshoe shaped beach for a tropical getaway. Less crowded and tranquil, Choeng Mon is perfect for families with children of all ages as the Gulf of Thailand waters are shallow, warm, and there are plenty of tide pools to hunt for sea creatures. Kids can spend all day in the bathtub-warm waters.
Locals sell sliced mango and corn and ice-cream to cool off visitors. At thatched huts along the beach, an hour-long massage costs $8.00USD. Put toes in sand and watch the sunset while eating dinner at Honey Seafood. A short strip of restaurants also line the road. Walk over in flip-flops for seafood at Garland Samui or enjoy surprisingly authentic Indian at Akbar. Also, we enjoyed the highly professional 100 Degrees East tour for a day trip to see the Angthom Marine Park and the coral and fish-filled shores of Koh Tao. Choeng Mon Beach is a great destination for families!
Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers.
Dahican Beach – Philippines
Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental is a relatively unknown and unspoiled beach in the southeastern portion of the Philippines. Our stay there was short-lived as the mosquitoes were notorious at night, but it is an extremely beautiful place to be. It’s most popular among skimboarders and even surfers so it’s not an obvious “kid” destination. One of the reasons we love it as a family is that it isn’t crowded, and there’s plenty of beach – as in, actual sand, to play in. I has been compared to Boracay, maybe better, though I haven’t been to Boracay. Haha!
Kids can play in the sand or in the water (with some adult supervision, as the Pacific Ocean waves can be rough at times). Lucky visitors may be able to see turtle eggs hatch! We came a few weeks too late, sadly. There are plenty of local kids for visiting kiddos to play with (and they are pros at skimboarding). Plus, camping is free (or only a minimal fee), which we absolutely loved. Another way to see the beauty of Dahican Beach is to go flying in an ultra light plane. Children must be at least seven to do this, though.
Recommended by Pam from Hey, Miss Adventures. Find out more from Pam about Dahican Beach.
Double 66 Beach – Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Seminyak is one of Bali’s most well-known tourist spots. It offers plenty of opportunities to go shopping, grab a coffee or to get a taste traditional Balinese food. Above all, it has a prime beach spot for anyone who would like to sunbathe, enjoy the picturesque sunsets or to try out for the very first time: Double 66 Beach. Even kids will have fun here: whether it’s playing in the sand, joining the locals with their daily match of sunset footie or just jumping through the water – with or without a bodyboard or a surfboard. Double 66 beach is home of Bali’s famous beachboys, who do not only rent out sunbeds, but also love taking care of kids. They are the perfect buddy for the day and will keep the kids entertained, promise!
Recommended by Anne Steinbach and Clemens Sehi from Travellers Archive. Find out more from Ann and Clemens about Indonesia.
Juara Beach – Malaysia
The most beautiful beach we visited in South East Asia was on an island off peninsular Malaysia’s east coast. We stayed in Juara Bay on Tioman Island, to volunteer on the turtle conservation project with our children. Juara Beach is on the South China Sea and is perfect for kids: it is protected by the bay so the water is always calm, there are no harmful predators around, and there are several snorkeling areas close to the shore. It is also absolutely stunning and still quite
un-spoilt too.
School groups come regularly to stay near the turtle project, but when they weren’t there, we often had the beach all to ourselves! Further along there are hotels and resorts, but it still isn’t a crowded beach by any means. We felt incredibly lucky to experience such a beautiful part of the world together.
Recommend by Emma Walmsley from small footprints, big adventures. Find out more from Emma and her family’s Volunteering Experience at the Juara Turtle Project.
Kamala Beach – Thailand
Kamala Beach in Phuket, Thailand is just a 10-15 minute drive north of infamous party-beach, Patong, but a world away in atmosphere. It is one of our favourite beaches for families in Phuket. This beautiful two-kilometre stretch of white sand on the Gulf of Thailand has a laid-back vibe, with shallow waters perfect for kids to splash around in, and sunloungers for parents to kick back on. There is a good selection of bars and restaurants lining Kamala Beach that serve up well-priced local Thai and western food, and there are also several beach stalls where visitors can order fresh juices, coconuts, cocktails and beers and have them served directly to their sunlounger. Sunsets are particularly amazing at Kamala Beach!
Recommended by Marianne from Mum on the Move. Find out more from Marianne about Kamala Beach.
Koh Rong Samloem – Cambodia
Koh Rong Samloem, an island off the coast of Cambodia, offers pure white sand and picturesque vistas of the Golf of Thailand. It’s beauty is comparable to Thailand’s beaches but without the heaving crowds, and although its infrastructure is now well on its way to supporting the tourism of Thailand’s busy beaches, it’s still relatively quiet in comparison and undiscovered by the masses. It makes a great add on after visiting Angkor Wat. Pro-Tip: I highly recommend taking the sleeper bus to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap by Giant Ibis so you can get the boat over to the island… my two children aged four and seven months slept comfortably on the floor beds.
While the island is more expensive than the majority of Cambodia, it’s still inexpensive in terms of western prices, so visitors can get a great hotel that leads straight out onto the pristine white sands. What makes Koh Rong Samloem particularly kid friendly is the shallow waters. It is possible to walk a fair way out to sea before it starts to get deep, which means that toddlers can safely play by the water’s edge. We stayed at Moonlight Resort on Paradise beach, which was a great stretch of beach. And, with rooms right on the beach front, nap time becomes a breeze. A bucket and spade were all we needed.
Recommended by Donna from Mamas Travel Tribe.
Palawan Beach – Singapore
When locals and travelers want to escape the city, they head to Sentosa Island, which is only a 10 minute drive by taxi from downtown. Sentosa is also reachable by cable car, bus and even a colorful monorail that’s free for kids under three. Sentosa, which is built on reclaimed land is home to multi-million dollar mansions, beautiful beaches as well as Universal Studios and a casino. The three beaches on Sentosa: Tanjung, Palawan and Siloso have soft, powdery sand brought in from nearby Indonesia and Malaysia. All of them are located in protected lagoons so the water is clear and gentle, which is perfect for young kids.
Each beach has a slightly different feel, but Palawan Beach is definitely the preferred one for families. Palawan has the largest beach, yet it’s not as crowded so you’ll usually be able to find a quiet spot in the shade. When kids tire of playing in the sand or swimming, check out the fantastic free water park called Palawan Pirate Ship or walk across the rope suspension bridge to the islet, which claims to be the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia. Definitely drop by the Palawan Amphitheater for it’s free afternoon animal shows where kids can see and pet animals and birds. The presenters are knowledgeable and make the 20 minute show fun and educational for the kids.
Recommended by Scott & Nori Brixen of Two Twins Twavel.
Sunday’s Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Arriving at Sunday’s Beach Club in Bali can be quite confusing for the kids. Visitors arrive at the flash 5 star clifftop resort with a pool. The only way to the Indian Ocean beach is down the cliffs, and the adventure starts with a ride down the inclinator. Finding a bean bag on the sand is a lot of fun, and there is great service for all food and drink needs throughout. Swimming, playing with provided beach buckets, stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling and kayaking are sure to the keep the kids entertained all day. The kids’ menu is a huge hit, and for the younger ones, high chairs are available. Once the sun starts to set, there are bonfires and regular live music. It’s like being on a deserted island but with all the comforts of home.
Recommended by Kate Comer from Rolling Along With Kids.
This list of best beaches of Asia makes us want to hit the beach right now. Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Europe, Australia and Central and South America blog posts.
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