Paradise awaits anyone lucky enough to be holidaying in Bali with kids! The island is packed with beautiful, safe, sandy beaches and stunning scenery including some of the world’s most spectacular rice terraces and steaming volcanos. It’s child-friendly, too, with locals welcoming children with open arms, and the iconic temples the ideal place for kids’ to burn off energy.
A magnet for artists, artisans and musicians, the island is also a place where you can learn from the locals – anything from cooking and drumming or bee-keeping to batik making, whilst colourful handicraft markets offer endless shopping opportunities. (You’ll find that pocket money goes further than usual here!)
From craft making and cooking to adrenalin-fuelled activities, the kids will find a ton to do in Bali
Having been on the tourist map for many, many years, Bali has also matured to offer some fantastic adrenaline-fuelled activities suitable for older children, whilst simultaneously offering gentler options for younger ones. And of course, there are plenty of beaches and pools (both hotel pools and natural ones) to relax in if R&R is high on the agenda.
Best visited between Easter and October half term (see when to go to Bali), here’s just a fraction of the things you can see and do. We can’t wait to design you a truly exciting and memorable holiday!
Top 10 activities when holidaying in Bali with kids
1. Visit Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart
The lush Balinese paddy fields of Ubud provide a picturesque backdrop to a myriad of family-friendly activities
Ubud is the beating cultural heart of Bali. It’s a wonderful jumble of upmarket restaurants, cool cafes, and designer shops alongside traditional warungs (simple eating places) and craft markets. Sip on dragonfruit juice (replete with bamboo straw) and watch the beautiful people go by. Join the locals in a footie match then let the kids hone haggling skills in the market. They will love spending their holiday money on sarongs, woodcarvings, shell jewellery, or tie-dye clothes. We visit Ubud on both sample Bali itineraries, our 15-day Active Bali & Komodo and our 15-day Relaxing Bali family adventure.
2. Hang out with the wildlife: birds, monkeys, and dragons!
Meet parrots, pelicans, and macaws at the Bali Bird Park
In a paradise island such as Bali, it’s no surprise that there’s an array of amazing wildlife to see in the jungles and forests here. After a long flight, what better way to gently ease yourself in with a visit to the Bali Bird Park near Ubud. Here, your kids will be wowed as they feed parrots, pelicans and cormorants, with colourful macaws landing on their shoulders. Another place well worth a visit is the natural monkey and temple sanctuary, the Ubud Monkey Forest.
If you’re travelling on our Active Bali & Komodo adventure, you’ll also have the opportunity to come face to face with real-life dragons, the eponymous Komodo dragons. Nothing beats THAT for ultimate bragging rights!
3. Breakfast on the crater rim of Mount Batur
Sunrise on Mount Batur – another Bali high
Coercing children out of bed at 3 am to climb an active volcano in the dark may not be everyone’s idea of holiday fun. However, without doubt, it will be a memorable addition when holidaying with kids in Bali! After a reasonably gentle 2hr ascent, you will find yourselves sitting on the crater rim of Mount Batur. Here you can eat your breakfast eggs, cooked by natural volcanic steam. Some rather over-enthusiastic monkeys will keep you company as you watch the sun rise over nearby Mount Agung. The dip in the hot springs afterward will feel so good!
Take a look at our 15-day Active Bali & Komodo sample itinerary for more information about climbing Mount Batur and other active adventures your family will love!
4. Learn to cook authentic Balinese cuisine
A great way for the kids to learn how to cook their own Balinese meals
Indonesian food is utterly delicious and, if you avoid the sambal, not necessarily as spicy as other Asian cuisines. Take the children on an eye-opening trip to a night market and gorge on simple but delicious nasi goreng, fresh seafood, and the ubiquitous nasi campur. Our favourite market is Gianyar, just outside of Ubud.
You can also get the kids cooking their own meals at one of the many cookery schools. You may wonder if it’s possible to combine children, sharp knives and gas stoves in a safe way…but it is! Watch them create gado gado, chicken satay, and banana leaf-wrapped steamed tuna. Ever thought you would see your children eat curried tempeh?!!
5. The best family-friendly beaches in Bali
The kids will love joining in a turtle release on a Balinese beach – usually between April and October
For many families travelling to Bali with kids, the beach will be a big feature of the trip. But how do you pick which beach is right for your family? There are so many options, which should you choose?!
The black sands of the north coast at Pemuteran are a low-key base from which to head off on snorkelling trips in search of Nemo amongst the corals of Menjangan Island. On the south coast, you can ride the surf at Jimbaran or enjoy legendary sunsets at Seminyak. Sanur is possibly the best location for families with its safe reef-protected waters, coconut palm-fringed white sandy beaches, and café-lined boardwalk. Here you can hire a SUP, enjoy a sun lounger massage and get your hair braided.
Our travel experts will be delighted to share their knowledge and help you select the right choice for your family. And, if the beach is your thing, particularly to help recover from a long flight, we thoroughly recommend our 15-day Relaxing Bali sample itinerary. Take a look to see where you could be maxing out the R&R.
6. Temple-hopping in paradise
Watch pilgrims worship at the holy springs of Tirta Empul – the kids can bathe in its refreshing waters too
Bali’s many temples are not only exquisite but also beautifully child-friendly. Kids will love being wrapped in a sarong and then being able to roam freely around the open-air compounds. They can play hopscotch in the gardens of Ulun Danu, perhaps Bali’s most iconic temple and spot monitor lizards swimming the moats at Taman Ayun. Another hugely popular family-friendly activity is bathing in the holy waters of Tirta Empul, where you’ll be surrounded by a menagerie of animal and fish-inspired fountains. Who knows, some of the guide’s entertaining stories of legends and gods may even sink in?!
7. Go whitewater rafting on the Ayung River
Make a splash rafting with the kids in Bali – great fun for all the family
Take a hugely enjoyable white-water adventure on the Ayung River. The rapids offer enough excitement to garner squeals from the kids without turning their parents’ hairs grey (er). The guides are excellent (“Watch out for those crocodiles…”) and with plenty of opportunities for swimming between the rapids this is the ideal way to beat the heat in a gloriously tropical setting. A fantastic family-bonding experience. Check out this YouTube video of rafting on the Ayung River.
8. Learn local skills; batik, drumming and kite-making
Get to the heart of Balinese art, from batik to oils
Bali’s arts and craft scene are world famous. The best way to experience the genuine side of this is to visit artists in their family compounds. This is a true ‘off the beaten track’ encounter few travellers get to enjoy. Led by a hugely knowledgeable and passionate local guide, you can tailor the tour to your family’s interests. Budding drummers can learn local techniques (without annoying the neighbours). Blossoming artists can join an art class using oils with a bamboo stick. Or for the ultimate holiday souvenir, build your own kite and fly it with the local kids.
9. Ready for the adrenaline rush
Older kids will love jumping into rock pools on a full-on family canyoning adventure
Get the adrenaline pumping on a full-on canyoning adventure at Gitgit! This activity is suitable for all those who like dangling off cliffs, free abseiling through 15m waterfalls, jumping into rock pools, or sliding on a Tyrolean Traverse. The whole family can relax afterward in the hot springs. For a more gentle adventure, Sambangan’s Secret Garden may better suit your family. This offers a fun mix of pool swimming, gentler waterfall slides, and increasingly high jump-offs. These start at 2m and end at a chest-thumping 15m big one.
10. Take a guided cycle tour
Enjoy a gentle cycle in Bali with kids, a favourite Stubborn Mule activity
Away from the traffic of Ubud there are some peaceful rural roads that are safe to enjoy on two wheels. Freewheel down from the volcanic highlands (no pedalling required) and stop at a coffee and cocoa plantation. Here you can watch the roasting and taste the infamous Luwak product (kids you won’t believe where it comes from!) You can visit a local farmer to learn about bee-keeping and taste some of the local fruits. And in between rides, take time to meander between the impossibly lush green rice terraces, such as the world-famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Travelling in Bali with kids
Want to know more about travelling in Bali with kids? Check out our Indonesia & Bali family holiday section and take a look at our sample itineraries – our 15-day Relaxing Bali or our 15-day Active Bali & Komodo. You can call us to talk through your ideas during office hours on 01728 752751 or get in touch by using our contact form.
All the family will love the warm welcome in Bali
Liddy Pleasants, MD Stubborn Mule Travel
We always love to hear about your experiences holidaying in Bali with the family, so please send us your reviews and feedback. Thank you – [email protected].