Are kids welcome on boats and in homestays in Indonesia?

Hi there,

3 weeks in Indonesia (...) The idea would be to visit Komodo, maybe on a cruise, Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat.

Three weeks isn’t enough for all that—scale back your plans or double the length of your trip.

Okay, thanks, that’s true—I haven’t really looked into the trip details yet. My main question is whether I can go with my two kids

Hi,

We’ve set up a WhatsApp group called "Expert Helping Hand" so you can ask locals your questions if you’re not getting enough or the right answers here on VF.

We noticed that some questions go unanswered or don’t fully meet expectations. Here’s the link if you’d like to ask your question about your kids in Indonesia: chat.whatsapp.com/H7vo93maA6XJD2WHAZcoZ7

It’s completely free, of course.

Good evening,

May I point out that the current VF interface doesn’t highlight urgent requests, searches, or questions? Why not have a clearly visible and readable section for them? I think few members systematically check the new discussions section regularly.

Michel

Good evening, We went to Bali, Lombok, and Komodo with our son when he was 6 years old. The "cruise" to Komodo was very spartan and rough, with multiple engine breakdowns, and the trip ended under sail... We arrived at night with no lights—you couldn’t see the docking spot. It didn’t bother my son. In Komodo, during a jungle excursion, the guide lent him his forked stick to protect himself from the impressive Komodo dragons. Back then, in 1989, we could stay in a modest guesthouse surrounded by deer and Komodo dragons... These days, it’s much better organized. We saw several families with young children on multiple occasions.

Hi there, thanks for your feedback—it must have been quite an experience! Hope we can take this amazing trip!

Hello,

Yes, we’re aware of that. It’s on the list of things to develop for VF. In the meantime, to keep satisfying travelers and provide the most reliable information possible, we’ve set up a WhatsApp group as a solution. There you go.

Have a good day,

Hi Elisa,

Like everywhere in Asia, children are very well received in Indonesia—and even doted on!

This summer 2025, I traveled through Bali, Flores (though not on a cruise), and Lombok, and saw lots of families with little ones staying in homestays. No issues at all, apparently. These families moved from place to place just like we did, but mostly with a driver.

As for cruises, I can’t say for sure, but I assume that with two young kids, you’d charter a private boat. Just be cautious and double-check the safety measures, but it seems like it’s totally doable.

Here’s a link to a great blog by a traveler who’s explored Indonesia on a backpacker budget—and more recently, with her little girl around the same age as yours. Lots of inspiration! [:P] https://msphotographe.com/indonesie-flores-2025-preparatifs/

Happy trip planning in this amazing country! !

Hi there,

We spent 3 days on a boat in the Komodo archipelago in August 2024 with our kids, who were 5 and 7 years old. It was absolutely fantastic—we all have amazing memories of it. No particular difficulties; the kids were really well welcomed everywhere.

A few details: - We booked a boat where we were the only travelers. It’s a bit more expensive (from memory around 900 € for 3 days for 4 of us—I don’t know your budget, but you’ll either need to search quite a bit in advance or take the time to book on-site to avoid paying a fortune), but it’s much more comfortable with kids since you can better adapt to their pace. The comfort wasn’t bad at all, the food was excellent, and the crew was super friendly; - The area is great for diving and snorkeling: we brought masks suited for kids, but they don’t have the same stamina or patience as adults in the water. Sometimes the kids stayed in the dinghy with a crew member while we finished swimming; - Make sure to check that basic safety measures (number of people on board, presence of fire extinguishers, etc.) are respected.

In short, if it tempts you, go for it! :)

As mentioned, Komodo/Sulawesi/Raja Ampat is way too much for a 3-week trip.

Happy planning! !