Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
A wonderful, laid-back wildlife lodge owned by one of India’s most dedicated tiger campaigners: film-maker, photographer and writer Belinda Wright. It’s…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Beijing
A garden sanctuary in the hutong, the Orchid is Beijing's best-run boutique hotel, going the extra mile with memory-foam mattresses, mobile phones,…
Gujarat & Diu
Nestling next to the village of Kathiwada in Madhya Pradesh, just near the Gujarat border, this breathtaking 19th-century mansion was once the hunting…
Ladakh
How often do you get the chance to bed down in a genuine, functioning Himalayan royal palace? The six suites of old rooms here have been stylishly…
Ulu Temburong National Park
Ulu Ulu Resort is the only accommodation actually inside the park. The upscale riverside lodge edges into the forest, with comfortable dorms and stylish…
Himachal Pradesh
Unwind amid bucolic views, birdsong and sounds of rushing water, cool off in the plunge pool beneath apricot trees, meditate, learn local cooking and even…
Maringi Eco Resort by Sumba Hospitality Foundation
Sumba
Where to start with this incredible complex: that it's a not-for-profit NGO where students from Sumba learn the art of hospitality before landing top…
Mongolia
For an offbeat experience, cross Terelj Gol for this pleasant ger camp run by an eccentric Dutchman named Bert and his lovely family. The meadow location…
Bohol
This near-legendary place polarises opinion. Ensconced in tropical forest on the Loboc River, it's perfect for those eager to experience and explore the…
West Sumatra
Rimba Ecolodge is an intimate French-Indonesian-run place reachable by boat. Monkeys (both silvered leaf and red leaf species) come to explore the beach…
Kathmandu
Hidden down an alley on the southern edge of Thamel, this Newari temple–style hotel has been built with meticulous attention to detail. The spacious rooms…
Western Mongolia
Most gorgeously situated camp in all of Mongolia? We may have a winner. It's nestled in the groove of a steep valley overlooking Üüreg Nuur, some 20km…
Malaysia
Woven into the jungle, Sekeping Serendah is a back-to-nature retreat with an appealing rough-luxe style. Accommodation is accessed by a boardwalk that…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Perched on the hillside above Budhanilkantha, Shivapuri Heights offers a peaceful, private bolthole far away from the chaos of Kathmandu. Rooms are…
Shimla
For the full Raj treatment, you can't beat this exclusive retreat crammed with chandeliers, tapestries, antiques and family portraits. Five…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
The manicured grounds of Terrapuri Heritage Village resemble a film set about the lives of sultans of yore. Meaning ‘Land of Palaces’, Terrapuri is equal…
Mongolia
Attached to the excellent cafe-restaurant of the same name, this nine-room guesthouse, is run by an Australian guy called Murray, his young family, and…
Brunei Darussalam
Run as a partnership between Borneo Guide and the local Iban community, this blissfully laid-back jungle retreat offers accommodation in ecofriendly…
South Coast
A slice of jungle-chic, Rainbow Lodge proves being sustainable doesn't mean having to sacrifice creature comforts. Powered by solar panels and biofuel,…
Shanghai
Within a former post office, China’s first carbon-neutral hotel not only incorporates recyclable materials and low-energy products where possible, but…
Scuba Junkie Mabul Beach Resort
Sabah
The most eco-conscious of all Pulau Mabul's lodges, this place attracts a younger international crowd. Super-fresh chalets come with porches and bathrooms…
Mindoro
This postcard-perfect, privately owned resort island is a low-key tropical paradise. It's on a long, curving white-sand beach, and has a combination of…
Phuket
Breeze into the soaring lobby, where white-mosaic pillars frame ponds reflecting encircling palms, and fall in love. This five-star stunner blends Thai…
Malang
For a real flavour of what Java has to offer, this remarkable luxury hotel, loaded with local character and genuine hospitality, sets the standard. It…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
This award-winning, luxury homestay, the beautiful, spacious home of a couple who are experts in wildlife and travel, makes a great base for the park's…
Shikoku
Fluent English-speaking owner Mitsu has redesigned a concrete 1960s edifice, originally built by his father, into an intriguing contemporary retreat. Each…
The Hill Country
Tea Trails comprises a collection of five stunning colonial-style residences built for British tea plantation managers. Completely refurbished, the…
Yangshuo
One of Yangshuo's most memorable stays is this old, Chinese sugarbeet factory – complete with Cultural Revolution slogans – that's been converted into a…
Phuket
A genuine candidate for the finest hotel on Phuket, Sri Panwa is poised idyllically on the island's jungle-covered southeasternmost tip. Multiroom villas…
Boracay
Ibiza meets Miami Beach meets Filipino hospitality at this smoothly run boutique resort at White Beach's private northern end. Aesthetically, it's Boracay…
Cham Islands
Live with the locals in Bai Huong village. Visitors are given a bed with a mozzie net, and bathrooms have sit-down toilets and cold-water showers…
Perak
Thrillingly remote Belum Eco Resort perches on a private island, thick with jungle and teeming with wildlife. Twelve A-frame chalets (electricity evenings…
Anhui
When Shanghai artist Li Guoyu discovered this Ming dynasty home it was being used as a pigsty (hence the name). She painstakingly restored it, adding an…
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Opened in 2019, the PuXuan (sister hotel to Shanghai's acclaimed Puli) is Beijing's most stylish sanctuary, made for grown-ups who demand the finer things…
Bandipur
This new bargain option is in its own category. A tent camp on a mountaintop, with amazing views of Manaslu towering over the Trisuli River, it's run by a…
Khao Sok National Park
Whether you're a family, a honeymooning backpacker couple or a solo traveller, this resort makes everyone smile. Above Mae Nam Sok, at the foot of…
Coron Town
Pulling up at the beach at this private island feels like discovering the cool kids' secret hideout. Sangat has a full-service dive centre, kayaks and jet…
Chiang Mai
At first sight it's hard to tell if Dhara Dhevi is a resort or an ancient temple complex. In fact the structures were built in the 2000s, yet they're jaw…
Sokcho
A five-minute walk from the intercity bus terminal, this place combines the niceties of Korean motel rooms – minifridge and basic toiletries – with free…
Kota Bharu
Pasir Belanda Homestay, around 4km from the centre of Kota Bharu, is one of Kelantan’s choicest options. Three sizes of traditional Malay homes have been…
