No matter how many luxury hotels pop up in major cities across the globe, it seems that luxury travellers will always flock to the opportunity to commune with nature, to seek out a slower pace and to get a little canvas between bed and sky.
Glamping has never been more popular, as travellers search for a more authentic connection to the destinations they travel to and the natural environment that makes these locales so appealing.
In Asia, these tented camps come in the form of jungle retreats, rainforest reprieves and tropical island oases. Here are some of our favourite tented camps and resorts from across Asia-Pacific.
Sal Salis
Located on a deserted strip of Western Australian beach, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef is an exclusive safari-style camp hidden in the white sand dunes of the UNESCO-listed Cape Range National Park, an hour’s drive from Exmouth.
Boasting 16 spacious beachfront tents, just steps from some of the world’s greatest coastal reefs, guests will share this ultimate beach camp with red kangaroos, numbats, short-eared Rock-wallabies, and even frill-necked lizards while the surrounding seas are popular with humpback whales and migratory whale sharks.
Glamping at its best, each tent (which is dismantled and removed at the end of each season) comes with 500-count cotton linen, a pillow menu, an ensuite bathroom with solar-powered showers and of course, stunning sea views.
Beyond, a main camp building acts as a library and communal dining room, where guests share stunning sunsets and stellar Australian cuisine with a hint of bush tucker influence (don’t forget to sample the local gin collection).
&Beyond Punakha River Lodge
Set along the Mo Chhu River in Bhutan’s lush Punakha Valley, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge blends traditional Bhutanese architecture with understated luxury.
Bhutan-bound travellers looking for a unique and authentic retreat won’t be able to look past one of the Himalayan nation’s newest arrivals. In addition to a two-bedroom family villa with a private pool, and the one-bedroom River House with its private plunge pool, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge offers a clutch of safari-style tented suites, each suspended from a traditional timber structure. Interiors highlight hand-woven textiles, intricate woodwork, and brass bathtubs set beneath skylights, while suites include indoor and outdoor showers and private verandas.
When you’re not communing with the cosmos during a hot stone bath spa treatment, you can try your hand at river rafting and temple hikes, or sample locally inspired cuisine made with produce sourced from farmers throughout the Punakha Valley.
Three Camel Lodge
Located in the heart of the Gobi Desert within the sprawling Gurvansaikhan National Park, Three Camel Lodge offers an eco-luxury stay rooted in Mongolian tradition.
You’ll explore this remarkable landscape like a local, staying in one of a collection of handcrafted gers (yurts), each furnished with wood stoves, hand-painted décor, and private bathrooms. There’s also a central lodge built in the classic Mongolian style.
Powered by wind and solar energy, the lodge avoids single-use plastics, supports conservation projects, and grows produce in its own greenhouse. This thoughtful approach makes it both a cultural gateway and a model for sustainable hospitality in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.
Activities at Three Camel Lodge range from camel treks across dunes and visits to the Flaming Cliffs, famed for their fossil finds, to cultural encounters with nomadic families, stargazing, and spa treatments.
Four Seasons Tented Camp
One of the world’s most popular luxury tented camps can be found in Thailand’s Golden Triangle.
At the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai, guests can learn to ride elephants, saved from the streets of Bangkok, on two or three-night all-inclusive packages. The camp’s 15 “tents” – essentially canvas stretched over spacious wooden frames, complete with polished teak floors, sun decks and new custom-built timber hot tubs – offer complete privacy, with the resort itself only accessible by boat.
I’d suggest you book ahead for the coveted 54 sqm Mekong Tent, with its breezy deck overlooking the Ruak River and its fascinating objets d’art, which include a heavenly soaking tub.
While there might not be televisions or room service, you can soak in the camp’s granite boulder swimming pool and Jacuzzi, located high above the meandering river, and for early risers, a suspension bridge over the San Valley is a stunning spot for dawn photography.
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Another great glamping opportunity in Thailand can be found at Anantara’s Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, which, nestled amidst a 160-acre bamboo forest, boasts one of the kingdom’s most unique and luxurious stays – The Mekong Explorer Tent.
The stunning two-bedroom hillside retreat features panoramic views of Northern Thailand’s breathtaking landscapes, private terraces with outdoor bathtubs and infinity pools, as well as décor laced with leather, wood and fabrics from Jim Thompson.
Other local accents include sustainable teas from Sawanabondin, chocolates from Kad Kakao and Praewa cloth bags traditionally used by hill tribes in the Lanna region.
Alternatively, opt for one of the resort’s eye-catching Jungle Bubbles, fully air-conditioned suites with king-size beds and transparent roofs, wreathed by raised wooden decks and perched on the banks of the river.
Capella Ubud
For a remote rainforest hideaway with the seduction of glamping, look no further than Capella Ubud.
Capella Ubud’s refined, tented camp sits within the rainforests of the Keliki Valley in the Central Highlands and features architecture by acclaimed designer Bill Bensley, who took inspiration from the early European settlers from the 1800s. Bensley’s ‘minimal intervention,’ approach meant that all trees and local plants were left untouched and protected throughout the construction of the camp.
Capella Ubud features 22 one-bedroom tents, all with private pools – we love the Keliki Valley Tents, which feature heated swimming pools, outdoor decks with day beds, indoor and outdoor showers and sublime interiors that include freestanding beaten copper bathtubs.
To unplug and unwind, be sure to indulge in spa experiences drawn from Bali’s rich wellness tradition or take a float in the resort’s famous Cistern Pool, the perfect antidote to a day’s hiking through the lava fields of Mount Batur.
Twinpalms Tented Camp Phuket
One of Asia’s newest tented camps, Twinpalms Tented Camp Phuket is a blissful adults-only sanctuary set against the dazzling backdrop of Bangtao Beach’s white sands and serene lagoons.
Offering an elevated take on luxury glamping, the resort promises a seamless transition between outdoor adventure and refined comfort across its 28 meticulously designed one- and two-bedroom luxury tents, each of which features teakwood furnishings, plush four-poster beds, private balconies, and oversized bathrooms with tropical rain showers – some even have private plunge pools.
After a long day working up a sweat at the resort’s Muay Thai studio, exploring the markets of Old Town, or diving in Phang Nga Bay, retreat to the tented spa for holistic healing at the hands of experienced therapists or sate your appetite at the Michelin-recognised Wagyu Steakhouse, one of the island’s top dining experiences.
Wa Ale
In Myanmar’s pristine Myeik Archipelago, Wa Ale is an exclusive private island retreat, featuring 11 sublime tented sanctuaries (as well as six conventional villas) nestled along some of the Andaman Sea’s most beautiful beaches.
Each tented suite accommodates four guests and features expansive sun decks, direct beach access, lavish outdoor showers, sumptuous beds, and gleaming hardwood floors.
Set within the untouched splendour of Lampi National Park, Wa Ale channels a portion of its proceeds to the Lampi Foundation, championing the preservation of the park’s wildlife while supporting local communities. Each day, guests can explore vibrant coral reefs, navigate hidden caves by SUP board, wander through lush mangrove forests, or tread scenic walking trails.
After a day of discovery, the River Spa beckons with tranquil views and rejuvenating Ayurvedic treatments. Dining is an exquisite affair, featuring authentic cuisine crafted from the island’s own garden harvests and sustainably sourced seafood, blending indulgence with purpose.
Amanwana
A hidden Eden in eastern Indonesia, Amanwana is a luxurious tented camp on Moyo Island – a protected nature reserve within Moyo Satonda National Park – off the coast of Sumbawa, where it affords guests access to the Flores Sea, a popular spot with whale sharks.
This blissfully remote tented camp resort, approximately 90 minutes from Bali by air and sea (or even faster by direct helicopter flight), embodies barefoot luxury amid pristine wilderness. Home to 17 luxury tents (Princess Diana stayed in Tent 20 during her visit in 1994) that evoke safari chic with a tropical twist, with thatched roofs, air-conditioning, polished hardwood floors, king-size beds, and Indonesian artwork, Amanwana is a popular destination for families visiting Bali or Lombok.
You’ll be able to fill your day with snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking and SUP boarding in search of turtles, sting rays and dolphins, or embark on walks to spy Rusa deer, wild boar, macaques, and sea eagles before returning to camp for gourmet seasonal dining, with dishes laced with ingredients from the camp’s own organic gardens (including Moyo Island honey).
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi
Commune with nature at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, where the lavish safari-style Jungle Tented Villas offer guests a captivating encounter under the stars of the Indian Ocean.
Located at the heart of the resort’s inland jungle, the Tented Villas feature alfresco living spaces, outdoor rain showers, roll-top tubs, locally-sourced rustic amber-tinted interiors, handmade furnishings, private plunge pools and of course, complete seclusion.
Film aficionados can arrange a private pop-up cinema screening; the adventurous can set sail to a nearby deserted island for a castaway picnic; and the active can head out to sea for a sunrise fishing trip and learn the art of Maldivian line fishing, before heading back to their tented abode for a private jungle BBQ of traditional Maldivian dishes.
Shinta Mani Wild
One of the most exciting, tented properties in the region, architect Bill Bensley’s Shinta Mani Wild is located at the intersection of the Kirirom, Cardamom and Bokor National Parks, offering guests the chance to delve into Cambodia’s wildest side (and even arrive at the camp by zipline!).
This fantastic eco-resort boasts just 15 tented suites, each perched beside a rushing river and dressed in vintage-esque décor, including packing cases, leather-bound tomes, chess sets, crystal-cut decanters, and outdoor rolltop bathtubs, juxtaposed by Bensley’s usual flair for colour and texture.
Beyond these indulgent suites (which were inspired by Jackie Kennedy’s 1967 visit to Cambodia), you’ll find a communal restaurant that showcases local flavours and foraged ingredients, an Instagrammable waterfall cocktail bar, and a spa where you’ll be poked and prodded into submission. Feeling adventurous? Head out on patrol with the local Wildlife Alliance anti-poaching team, take a mountain bike down the jungle trails or take a nighttime hike looking for nocturnal wildlife.
Longitude 131°
An icon in Australia’s wild outback, Longitude 131° is located in Australia’s Red Centre, near the mesmerising Uluru and is the perfect base from which to explore the UNESCO-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
This unashamedly contemporary camp, a member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia, blends modern opulence with a pioneering spirit across its 16 sublime tented pavilions, which include the coveted 153 sqm Dune Pavilion. Each suite features floor-to-ceiling windows, custom Baillie beds, rain showers with Molton Brown toiletries, and private decks framing Uluru directly from the bed (the Dune Pavilion offers views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta).
When you’re not in your room soaking up the desert’s mysteries, you’ll be feasting on à la carte Modern Australian cuisine – think Cape Grim beef from Tasmania, Humpty Doo barramundi from the Northern Territory, and South Australian shellfish – paired with an extensive selection of Australian wines; exploring the stories of land from Traditional Owners during guided nature walks (look out for the dingoes, kangaroos and whistling kites); and soaring over the sunburnt landscape during helicopter adventures.