2020-04-01_Travel___Leisure_Southeast_Asia

56 TRAVEL+LEISURE | APRIL / MAY 2020

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Indonesia’s islands

With more than 17,000 islands in total,

the Indonesian archipelago is ideal for

family cruises. Indeed, an ocean-bound

expedition within the Coral Triangle

will serve up unforgettable highlights

ranging from sightings of tropical fish,

sea turtles, dolphins and komodo

dragons, to moorings off deserted

islands and beaches perfect for

splashing around on. Reputable

operators include Barefoot Yachts

(barefoot-cruising-indonesia.com),

which has experience with family travel

and specializes in charters on

traditional Indonesian phinisi

schooners around alluring destinations

such as Komodo, Raja Ampat and the

Gili Islands. — D.F.

Halong Bay

When done well, a Halong Bay cruise

can be a nature trip, a beach break and

a cultural experience rolled into one.

Avoid the crowded group tours, and

instead go for a smaller, more boutique

experience if you’re taking the children

along. Heritage Cruises (heritage

cruises.com) offers luxury

accommodations packaged into two-,

three- or four-day tours of Halong Bay

and its environs. To really sail away

from the busier waterways, get

adventurous with a cruise to Cat Ba

Island or Bai Tu Long Bay. Itineraries

include cave visits, kayaking

expeditions and even Vietnamese

cooking classes. — L.L.

Mekong River

Southeast Asia’s longest river offers up

a good range of family-friendly cruises,

with luxury riverboats departing from

practically every major city along it.

The upper reaches of Laos to Luang

Prabang mix limestone terrain with

cave shrines and Buddhist temple

expeditions, while farther down in

Cambodia, there are Angkor visits and

cycling tours through the countryside.

The new Mekong Jewel (uniworld.com)

just launched at the beginning of the

year, upping the ante for luxury cruising

between Siem Reap and Saigon. Pandaw

(pandaw.com), which has sailings along

different sections of the Mekong, offers

free accommodation for children on

certain routes. — B.V.V.O.

CRUISING WITH KIDS

With boutique sailings like these adrift on the region’s most spectacular waters,

there’s no need to hit the high seas for a family cruise.

MUST-PACK: A

r e f i l l a b l e

water bot tle

Say no to gross plastics!

Cheeki’s BPA-free stainless

steel water bottles feature

an Ocean Friends line with

bright colors and cute

creatures. Double-

insulated, they keep

contents chilled for up to 24

hours, and feature

adjustable flow for smaller

kids. Bottles are meltdown-

proof, with a lifetime

warranty. cheeki.net.au;

A$39.99

Along the

Mekong River,

in Paksa, Laos.

Heritage Cruise

get you deeper

into Halong Bay.

Sail Indonesia

with Barefoot

Yachts.

Sail Indonesia

with Barefoot

Yachts.