Clan destinations

Club Med

Its all-inclusive price and all-out pursuit of enjoyment makes Club Med a natural choice for couples deciding to indulge in the joys of raising a family without pausing to consider the flip-side of their offspring learning to say 'no'. The nearest 'villages' - nothing so generic as a 'resort' - are in Phuket, Bintan and Cherating (Malaysia).

Each has the trademark kids' clubs that really do keep them off your hands from after breakfast until dinnertime, when they reappear sufficiently exercised to be overjoyed at the prospect of going to bed. Children aged over 14 have no dedicated club but are free to join in adult sports sessions. Given that the four-day/three-night price of about $5,500 an adult (and as little as $1,060 a child) includes airfare, three meals a day plus wine and a wide range of free, organised sporty fun, this can work out as a very cheap option. (Cherating will be closed from mid-November for refurbishment.) Full details are at www.clubmed.com.hk/home.asp.

North Borneo Railway, Sabah

In this computer age the rarity value of a steam train exercises more than a little curiosity, and nowhere more so than aboard one of Asia's few remaining puffers. This one plies the route from Kota Kinabalu to Papar, 58km along the coast. The British Vulcan 6-015 locomotive was built almost 50 years ago, just before the factory switched to making diesel engines, and is one of the last functioning wood-burning engines left in the world. With a gleaming green and brass livery, the views from its five meticulously restored carriages and open-air observation car provide a unique perspective of Sabah.

The train stops once en route, at Kinarut, where passengers can disembark to visit the Buddhist temple of Tsim Shen Tsui. At 160 ringgit (HK$326) for adults (130 ringgit for children, under-fives free), the trip is one of the best tourist bargains in the region. More at www.northborneorailway.com.my. Three-day Dragon Air (www.dragonair.com) packages to Kota Kinabalu start at $3,980.

Cairns, Australia

Seven hours away, Cairns (www.queensland-holidays.com.au) is just about do-able in a week and the range of outdoorsy activities and entertainment on offer in and around the city provides a terrific contrast to Hong Kong. Here you can hike through the rainforest, horse ride through the bush, catch an Aborigine dance troupe or visit an anthropomorphic koala park. There is big-game fishing and ballooning and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef is just on the doorstep. Local restaurants are having something of a craze about 'bush tucker', not simply dishing up emu and kangaroo but using unusual native herbs and spices.

Both Cathay Pacific and Australian Airlines fly non-stop to Cairns, with return fares from $5,190 per adult. Browse www.cathaypacific.com or www.australianairlines.com for schedules.

Ubud, Bali

Ubud remains the epicentre of an island synonymous with arts and culture, a peaceful market town surrounded by emerald rice terraces and gentle wooded hills. While many adults make a pilgrimage here, there are also opportunities for children to do a bit of hands-on learning. At the Pondok Perak Centre (www.balispirit.com) youngsters can learn Balinese dance, clank away in a mini gamelan orchestra or take creative movement classes. Prices start at around 50,000 rupiah (HK$45) a session. Yoga is another alternative, and in between classes the immediate surroundings lend themselves to short hikes. There are also plenty of opportunities to try white-water rafting (older children only). Garuda (www.garuda-indonesia.com) flights to Denpasar are inexpensive ($2,500 return) but routed via Jakarta or Singapore.

Sapa, Vietnam

Perched 1,600 metres above sea level in the Tonkin Alps near the Chinese border, Sapa is home to more than 30 colourful hill tribes and some truly glorious scenery. Basing yourself at the Victoria Hotel (www.victoriahotels-asia.com), you can sally out for day-treks to the surrounding area or for three- or four-day excursions to take in the scenery and inhabitants at first hand.

Sapa itself is home to colourful markets that are a delight to explore. Trekking prices start at US$30 a person a day. The Victoria Hotel's luxury overnight express is the most stylish way to get to Sapa from Hanoi, and probably a better option than the bumpy road trip. Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com.vn) and Cathay Pacific code-share return flights from $4,760.

Shenzhen Golf, China

What was good enough for Tiger Woods is surely okay for Hong Kong's aspiring sporting prodigies, so follow the dictum of 'get 'em swinging early' at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Missions Hills (http://210.184.7.39/default.asp). It runs a variety of lessons for six- to 16-year-olds. Two-day beginner programmes include tuition, lunch and overnight accommodation, starting from $1,880 a head, while intermediate players pay from $2,480 and get to play on the hallowed greens. Prices are steeper at weekends and for more experienced instructors.

Cycling in China

Despite the rampant industrialisation of southern China it's surprising how much untouched countryside remains, and there are few more charismatic ways to appreciate the highways and byways of Hong Kong's 'backyard' than aboard a mountain bike.

While best suited to eight-year-olds and above who are confident on two wheels, younger children can also go along using a special seat attached to their parents' steeds. Cycling along paved roads and with a back-up vehicle and mechanic, International Cyclists to Asia (ICTA) seeks out some of the region's lesser-known sights. Among these are the Seven Star Crags and Double Dragon Caves outside Zhaoqing - that wouldn't look out of place in Lord Of The Rings. A three-day tour with ICTA (www.mountainbikingasia.com) costs about $4,300 for adults (children enjoy a 30 per cent discount), including transport to and from China, meals, accommodation and guides.

Cruises

Sars scared a lot of liners away from Ocean Terminal, but the SAR's home-based cruise operation, Star (www.starcruises.com.hk), is back in business, with daily departures aboard the Pisces and regular sailings on the Leo. The Pisces doesn't go anywhere - it's simply an overnight bunk on a circular course with buffet, cabaret and a 40,000-tonne playground spread over 12 decks to romp around. Plus there's a casino dedicated to parental entertainment. The Leo voyages further afield, taking in Sanya on Hainan Island and Halong Bay in Vietnam (departing October 19) where you can go ashore for a brief rubberneck and to stock up on souvenirs. A weekday sailing on Pisces for two adults and two children costs $1,856, a sum you could easily bid farewell to on a meal for four back on dry land. Wherever you sail, don't miss the photo op with the squeaky clean Scandinavian ship's officers.

Pinnawala, Sri Lanka

Back on the beaten track now that a ceasefire prevails, Sri Lanka lies ready and waiting to be rediscovered. It is superb for children, with beaches galore and exotic backdrops. One of the island's highlights is the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - about 90km out of Colombo on the road to Kandy - which for the past 30 years has been caring for young jumbos. Daily feeding and bathing times provide an unlimited number of Kodak moments. As well as rearing orphans, Pinnawala is also a successful breeding centre. There are about 60 elephants here, making this the largest captive herd in the world. Admission is 75 rupees (HK$6) for adults, 40 rupees for children. More information at www.explorelanka.com

Both Cathay Pacific and Sri Lankan Airlines (www.srilankan.aero) fly to Colombo, with economy return fares from about $4,290.

Science, Singapore

The merest hint of the e-word (education) brings most vacationing under-18s out in a rash, however Singapore has cleverly contrived to build two expos packed with gadgets and displays that celebrate the age-old cliche of making learning fun. The Singapore Science Centre (www.science.edu.sg) hosts a huge variety of exhibitions - everything from outer space to eco-gardens - and there's also an Omnimax theatre.

The Singapore Discovery Centre (www.sdc.com.sg) is more entertainment-orientated, showcasing the city's history but with some funky extras such as an M-16 rifle-shooting gallery and a virtual-reality sky-diving show.

Admission to the Science Centre is S$6 (HK$27) for adults, S$3 for children; charges for the Discovery Centre are S$9 for adults, S$5 for children. Both Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines fly daily to Singapore, with economy return flights from $2,200.