Looking to take our kids 9 and 12, on an adventure. Not looking to do an all inclusive, thinking about Thailand, maybe South Africa, Malaysia. Something with culture, adventure but also beautiful beaches. Any advice or guidance is appreciated

Tanzania. Serengeti with Ngororo crater than to Zanzibar for the beaches. Can have a look at Kilimanjaro on the way by!

G Adventures has some great trips for families. We did Vietnam and Cambodia with them when our kids were 8-9 and it was great. We did Guatemala & Belize a year later and Nicaragua a year after that.

Langkawi in Malaysia is across the water from Thailand (so has the same kind of beach and water temp), but is much, much less crowded.

We just got back from Langkawi! It was a great time. Good food and small enough to get around.

Africa for sure! I'm sure there are family tours that do Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Maybe do some camping, see the wild animals in their natural habitats, beaches in Namibia and South Africa, etc. Or Eastern Africa as Dean mentioned above. Tanzania/ Zanzibar had wonderful beaches and you will be able to see the oldest tortoises in the world! Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are the best for animals.

Better beaches if you go to Mozambique

Wow! Lucky kids! Enjoy yourselves!

Mozambique!

Peru...machu pichu?

Debbie Williams
We took our four children and went to Kenya. It was an amazing trip. We went with a group called A Better World. We did a little mission work (which was absolutely incredible - we weren't involved with the church in any way, but were accepted readily). We saw parts of Kenya that the average traveller wouldn't see. We were invited into the homes of the Masaai people. We spent a little time in orphanages, doing eye clinics, visiting the homes of many peopleand went on many safaris. We spent the last part of the trip in Lamu on the most incredible island on the Indian Ocean. The best family trip we have ever taken. A Better World has gone there at least 2-4 times per year for the past many, many years.

Places such as Africa require Immuninization. Some which are shots over several months. The shots for Africa are for Malaria etc which are very tough. I don’t think I would take kids there for that reason. Adults can take the shots better. Maybe ask your doctor, Alberta Health Services will be able to assist you with required shots.

All of the places she listed pretty much require some kind of shot or another. Even Asia.

There is malaria all over the world and there are new anti malarial drugs on the market these days, including pills. Travelling outside of North America requires some immunizations. At age 9 and 12 they will be able to understand and it would be worth it for a trip of a lifetime!

Lesya malaria Immuninization is much more difficult to take. I’ve travelled to 12 countries all over Europe, US, UK, Central America, South America, Jamaica, Japan, China, NZ and Bali. My only shots required for those countries was a Hep B booster n Twinrix. Africa shots are extensive and takes some planning to have all shots completed prior.

Robbin I've been to 10 African countries. Most of the shots and medications were completed in my prior travels - to South America and Asia - so it's not just Africa that specifically needs an intense immunization regimen

Lesya I’m just advising the mom about Immuninization requirements for her and her children. That’s definitely something to factor in when choosing a travel destination.

Robbin good news is we’ve been to Ghana multiple times therefore our shots are up to date, all we need is malaria so the world is our oyster

Malaria shots? I’ve never heard of shots. I spent four months, only took anti-malarial pills half that time and lived.
I fully intend on taking my daughter back with zero concerns.

I don't think you can immunize against malaria? -- if you are in an endemic region you do doxycycline or malaria meds. There was a vaccine developed around 2015 but apparently doesn't work well. When we've been in malaria endemic regions travel nurse determined whether it was the more serious forms or the ones you can easily treat. With the latter, they just recommended avoiding mosquitoes and using deet etc.

Galapagos has some neat mountain biking adventures.

I literally got home yesterday from the Seychelles. Hands down, the most beautiful place I've ever been or seen. Not easy to get to but worth the trip. 112 islands. Hanging out with giant tortoises that love having their necks scratched, you see massive fruit bats flying over the water in the middle of the day, from Bird Island you can see Manta Rays at the beach... They've never been hunted or had predators so there's no fear. OMG... It's the experience of a lifetime. There's a reason why the British Royals honeymoon there and Sheikhs have homes there. Best of all, it's not full of tourists

I have taken my children (9, 11 and 19) to Bali twice. We love it. Lots of cool adventures (biking, white water rafting, snorkelling, diving, ziplining, meeting elephants...), beaches, culture, amazing and varied food, animals... can't recommend it enough. The people are so welcome and peaceful and love children. Oh yeah, it's also super cheap!

Tanzania / Kenya / Chile

Philippines

CHILE
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What a gift for your kids! These suggestions are all great. But I would caution you against visiting orphanages. Google "poverty porn" to learn more. One rule of thumb is: if you wouldn't do it here, why do it there?

Bali!!

Vietnam.

My daughter loved Vietnam! People are warm friendly and welcoming

So many amazing options! Thanks everyone for the input, now to do some research

If you’re open to northern Africa, parts of Morocco have beaches and you could combine it with a trip to the mountains, desert and medinas.

Kenya is another one of my favourite places. Mombasa has beautiful resorts on the beach as does Lamu.

I loved the beauty and history of Athens, plus it's pretty cheap. I can't wait to take my kids

Zanzibar

I was just in Malaysia and Singapore with my 10 and 12 year olds. Super easy to travel. Beautiful weather. Not super expensive. Cultural but also beach, shopping and food opportunities.

I've also been to Thailand and Cambodia without kids. Would be pretty easy to go there with them too.

Anywhere in Australia

Travelled to Asia w three pre-teens on a few trips. Thailand is very easy...it’s basically “Mexico is to Canucks what Thailand is for Aussies” so plenty of English, lots of familiar foods, chain restaurants, 7-11 on every corner, easy to get from place to place etc.
We loved Vietnam too, but found the language barrier bigger and that travelling from place to place more challenging. That said Vietnam is cheaper and the food is wonderful. My advice - plan for both!

Philippines!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/503279337/posts/10157389818714338/

The Canary Islands. Spanish Culture, incredible beaches and so much adventure - volcanoes, deserts & the ocean. Very safe. And cost of living cheaper than Canada!

Malaysia is a great option. The cost is lower than South Africa and it's less touristy than Thailand. You can hit many cities in Malaysia for cheap. Langkawi, Malaysia has multiple beaches to explore. There are beautiful beaches on the east coast of Malyasia as well.

I went to Malaysia a few years ago now favourite Asian country so far! I was alone so I cant help you with the family bit but I never really felt unsafe everything was very inexpensive and it was culturally rich. Didnt get to the beaches i only had about a week and spent the week exploring KL. I leave for Taiwan in 3 weeks let you know how it is when I get back! Good on you for planning something beyond the norm! My mom really put an emphasis on it when we were kids! She drove us to Boston with important culturally significant stops on the way. #noregrets

Malaysian Borneo was amazing. Requires some internal flights but selingan island to see nesting and then baby turtles, the river lodges (see hornbills, wild orang, proboscis monkeys and others, hornbills etc. ) and orangutan rescue (sepilok I think) mt kinabantan, snorkel off an island a short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu. Kuching was also beautiful but we missed most of it with airline troubles. Lots to do there too. We also popped in to Brunei.

Pattaya in Thailand is amazing...you can travel to a lot of different islands and it's really cheap....stay near the beach at Jomtien...beautiful...go to chang mai and monkey island

Never buy days trips from travel agencies there..you can go to the docks yourself by bus and hire a speed boat to the island for 300 baht each... much much cheaper

Tanzania is nice place to take kids for culture tours.Safari &nice
beaches &much more and is cheaper for kids.