Big Holiday ideas for 'wow' adventure with teens. Indonesia? Africa?

[Goodenoughisgoodenough]

Hi!
Family of 4. DS 18, DS, 14
Where would you take two teens for what is probably going to be our last 'big family holiday' in July/August.

We've still not planned a summer holiday - but we're used to doing things last minute.
I'm looking at Java, Indonesia and would really like some input from anyone who's been there! Especially with teens

Some context: We're fairly well-travelled with our kids; Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt, France (many times), lots of UK camping trips.... We tend to travel on a tight budget - and our kids are fairly good at 'roughing it'. public transport and cheap hostels. Basically my DH and I have forced our kids to relive some of our 1990s back-packer adventures.

I've got a budget of about £5k - and can go away for 3 weeks.

I've decided to blow some savings on what is likely to be the last family holiday before oldest goes to university. I'm not sure that we'll persuade him to come unless it's something pretty 'wow'....!

Our kids especially the 18-year-old are 'up for stuff'. they'll like going on treks, exploring monuments, old temples, and will eat most things.

Our 14-yr-old especially will also appreciate downtime. hanging out on a beach and by a pool.

I'm also slightly conscious that DP and I are both in our 50s and just don't have the energy/stamina we did 20 years ago when we did this kind of travelling - so would love to hear from similar, who've done this kind of travelling with teens

I've been looking at Java, because I went there 30 years ago. Pros: Flights are (relatively) cheap, and the weather is good in July. We can explore volcanos, cities, temples, plus get some beach time. Cons: hell-of-a-long flight. More travelling when we're there. Not sure how 'touristy' it will be? Some of it might feel like more hard work than a holiday!

Uganda is another idea....
Anywhere else in the Far East in the summer? Sri Lanka again? Malaysia?

I'm open to other ideas? Where have you taken two teens on a once-in-a-lifetime type holiday?

south africa / namibia is excellent if you want animals & adventure - you can self-drive and there are lots of places to stay.

I would do the garden route in SA. Start in Cape Town and drive East. It's incredible, plenty to do and see and plenty places to stay!

Malaysia - this was one of DD's favourite trips. She was about 18/19 when we went, We went for two weeks and stayed in KL, Penang and also a small place called Ipoh. We visited a water park near the latter one which was fun.

We've loved Japan and Singapore, and enjoyed Thailand. We sometimes have included a 1-2 stop over in Abu Dhabi on the way back.

This year we are looking at Hong Kong and/or Vietnam. At some point we also plan to visit South Korea and Shanghai. Looked at other parts of China (though you need to pay for visas for China) and India.

Dd and I are 50/51, dd is now 22y but still likes to join us in these kind of trips (she's not daft - she loves holidays, especially free ones!) I am definitely not as fit as I once was - arthritis and peri menopause is hitting a bit harder these days - but manage them all perfectly well.

I do live a multi,centre holiday - makes your holiday feel so much longer, in a good way.

We did a multi Center trip to Malaysia a few years ago, although our children were smaller and our budget bigger - I think our flights were 4K. You can probably fly cheaper via Dubai though?

we stayed in KL, Penang and then went to the Perhentian Islands

i have also been to Namibi and think this would be an amazing destination for teens.

If you go to Java - Borubudur - the biggest Buddhist temple in the world - is amazing and you can fly from Yogjakarta to Bali. Great combination.

Java is great, I second yogyarta is.is particularly special.
If you can, take a look at staying at a place called Kaliandra it's an amazing eco resort. In east java not too far from Bromo where you can walk up the crater

Costa Rica or New Zealand. Both have loads of outdoor adventury stuff and beautiful landscapes. If you go to NZ you can get a camper van and drive around yourselves.

(Sorry to derail slightly, but can you do a family holiday to NZ on a 5k budget? I’ve always kept it off my list as I assumed it would be expensive)

Are these 5k suggestions?

Peru? Right weather in our summer and not too pricey. Lots of active stuff to see and do, Lake Atitlan, different culture, Inca trail if up for it. Could combine with Bolivia too.

I doubt it. Flights are so expensive now you’d struggle to get flights for 4people outside of Europe for less than £3k. A Thai friend of mine said the cheapest flight she can find home is £1200 flying indirect

Costa Rica is great but way over your £5k. I looked at Namibia last year but decided it was too chilly in July (too cold to camp) and the distances were vast, so so much driving.

I'm taking my teen DDs to Thailand this year for 3 weeks. Its costing £10k and only booked this week but we are staying in really nice places and so accommodation is about £5.5k of that.

So - my very rough £5k budget may need to creep up a bit! But I'm looking at £3k for flights (and this is tight, but doable) then £2k spending money. That's £100 a day for a three week adventure - do-able in cheaper destinations using local transport and eating locally. (We spent less than £100 a day in Turkey, recently. Three weeks in Sri Lanka five years ago, we spent about £1.3k) But obviously not luxury. But that's also why I'm asking on this thread. Ideas and input from other families who travel in this kind of way?

We're in Costa Rica right now and it's great for one teen and one tween but the flights for 4 of us were over 5K.

I'd have a look at interrailing across Europe, island hopping in Greece.

There are some weird and wonderful ways of travelling like container ships etc as well.

Thailand, South Africa, Canada, Japan would be my shortlist!

We spent over 3 weeks backpacking around the Philippines with our early teens... it was super cheap apart from the original London to Manila flight. There's over 7000 islands and they are linked by tiny airports and boats so the whole thing was an adventure.

The other interesting trip we did with the teens was Peru. Machu Picchu and then down into the Amazon and then into the desert for a hot, relaxing few days. We actually came back via Cuba but I wouldn't recommend that now because you can't travel easily to America afterwards.

I think you'd struggle to do Uganda for 4 of you for £5K. If you're not familiar with travelling in Africa then you'll probably want to do a more organised trip which will be pricey. Even when I backpacked around East Africa and really roughed it I still ended up spending a lot as the wildlife stuff is expensive e.g. a gorilla trekking pass in Uganda is $800 USD per person per day.

Accommodation has gone up lots and will make a big hole in £100 - we are finding that needing 2 hotel rooms now has massively increased our costs.

The last 2 years we rented 2 bed apartments in the Carribean (summer is low season) which is a much cheaper option but food costs are $$$

Botswana/ Namibia is amazing but think you won’t make it on your budget.

Have you considered venturing into other parts of Europe? Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan for example? Lots of reeking and mountains, good food and interesting history, medieval churches and monasteries, Soviet era stuff.

*trekking

Costa Rica or Vietnam.

Hi - yes, I'd thought that Africa will work out more expensive overall. And yes, Georgia and Azerbaijan have both been on my radar! We visited Bosnia and Romania a few years ago -love Eastern Europe and are very tempted to travel further East. I'd just thought that they would be too hot and uncomfortable in July/August? But maybe not? Any advice?

And yes- think my budget may need to be £6k! Am starting a bit more saving :-)

yea it gets hot in July/Aug but no worse than Asia that time of year! It’s less humid. Of course Africa would be ideal weather wise but as you say, expensive. We go to that region almost every summer in July as we have family there. It’s hot but we manage! Trekking in the Kazbegi region of Georgia is amazing. Have a look! Also wine regions there are nice. You will
funs accommodation across the price range so can find cheap places to stay. Also there’s horseback riding!
If you can afford Asia, then Cambodia and Angkor Wat is fantastic, and there too. Have low cost backpacking options.

Yes, I re-read the op and saw that.
The flights alone may well take up most of the £5k budget sadly, especially in school holidays.