Traveling with Children in Southeast Asia

One of the most striking aspects of a trip to Southeast Asia is the welcoming attitude to children. The smiles and indulgent reception given to pint-sized visitors is wonderful, and travelers to the region can expect to be treated better with kids, than without!

The sincere respect for the family unit inherent in many Asian cultures means that children in Asia are adored - to the extent that adults will often give up seats on public transport for youngsters - and families traveling in the region can expect a universally warm welcome. Friendly locals will shower attention on your children at any opportunity, friendly local kids make ready playmates and temporary nannies are on hand at virtually every corner.

Another plus is that opportunities for low-cost meals and lodging in Asia abound, and with relatively cheap jet travel, affordable family accommodations and favorable currency exchange rates, the term ‘family values’ has real meaning in Southeast Asia. Worried about young eaters? For those with a fussier palate, international kid-friendly cuisine is also readily available and most restaurants welcome children so eating out isn’t a chore. Indeed, with shared dishes, patient and attentive staff and hands-on regional grub, dining in Asia can often be great fun for families.

Exotissimo Travel offers a great selection of exciting adventures featuring a wide variety of activities for the whole family. From elephant riding and mahout training to jungle trekking and canoeing and rappelling adventures, regardless of where you want to go, we’ll find you comfortable, child-friendly accommodation, and plan your trip to ensure that each member of your family has the time of their lives!.

Have a look at Family Jungle Escape in Kanchanaburi for your family trip to Thailand.

Cycling Cambodia

Most true adventurers are well aware that cycling is really one of the best ways to explore and experience a new place. There are no barriers to separate you from the environment that surrounds you which makes for an experience that is pure, energizing and magically engaging. Combining this essential mode of travel with Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and charming friendliness, travelers will be rewarded with a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.

Pedaling across sandy beaches and hidden trails, ‘saddle travel’ gives you exciting access to the remote wonders so often bypassed by trains and buses. Travel the dirt roads and dusty trails to experience the untold adventures of the nation’s northern forests and the magnificent splendor of Cambodia’s Khmer temples and all at your own pace.

Acknowledged as the most exquisite example of ancient architecture in Southeast Asia, the Angkor ruins of Siem Reap are the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of the country and have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

What better way to discover these magical ruins than by cycling through the grounds, stopping to clamber through the fascinating ruins at your leisure. Cycling is also the ideal way to fully experience Cambodia’s stunning and diverse scenery. Whether pedaling through orchards or rainforests, gliding along the Mekong or spectacular coastal trails in the south, or rising to the challenge of a hilly stretch, cycling in Cambodia is a sensory overload of scenes, smells and even tastes that just can’t be replicated in the confines of a car.

The freedom of biking also allows for a uniquely intimate interaction with the Cambodian communities you encounter as you ride. Weaving through temples, market crowds and villagers, you can pause at any time to chat and interact with locals, take a well-earned breather and experience the customary warmth (and tasty delicacies!) of this relatively unexplored land.

Explore Cambodia, pedal through it!

Pranburi International Triathlon 2007

The southern Thai town of Pranburi will host its first major international sporting event on Saturday 20th October 2007, when the Pranburi International Triathlon is to be held at Evason Six Senses Resort & Spa.

The inaugural race, which will take place on the beaches in front of the five-star resort and on the backroads of Pranburi, is planned to become an annual event and an essential fixture in the Asian triathlon calendar.

The race will be professionally managed by international race organizers and will consist of a swim in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand, a bike course close to Sam Roi Yot National Park, and a run through the fishing villages and along the coast of Pranburi with a beach finish.

International professional athletes will compete with local triathletes in the Olympic distance elite race, while a sprint distance short course is set to attract corporate racers and fun runners.

With an abundance of beautiful natural scenery, including the spectacular Sam Roi Yot National park and long stretches of sandy beaches, the race will be scenic as well as challenging. And located just a three hour drive from Bangkok and a short drive from the busy tourist centres of Hua Hin and Cha Am, Pranburi is ideally situated to host an international sporting event.

The race is mainly the result of an initiative by forward-thinking tour operator Exotissimo Travel, and according to Hamish Keith, Managing Director of Exotissimo Thailand, their main goals were "to promote tourism to Thailand and to create a long lasting quality race that will attract both professional and top age group athletes".

Proceeds from the triathlon will be donated to the Royal Project Foundation of His Majesty King Bhumibol, and H.S.H Prince Bhisatek Rajani has confirmed his presence at the event on 20th October.