If you’re not familiar with the term “glamping”, fear not – you’re not alone. The first time I heard the word “glamping” I didn’t know what it meant. Clearly, I’m not following the trend. When I looked into it though, I realised it was exactly the kind of thing I enjoyed – being one with nature minus all the icky stuff: the heat, bugs, and make-shift bathrooms! Glamping is basically the words ‘glamorous camping’ put together. And who wouldn’t like some of that?
We scoured all the glamping spots we could find in Asia to come up with these top 10. They have adventure, relaxation, the modern comforts that you are used to, and all the nature you want to be a part of. Even with all the luxury, the rooms afford makes it feel like you’re in a bubble, the view right outside your window and door reminds you that you are a world away from your regular life and its responsibilities. Get ready for a rejuvenating trip!
Image Credit: Trizara Resorts Facebook
You’ll feel like you’re camping alright, in these tent-like structures. Trizara Resorts believes in disconnecting from electronics and connecting with nature, and whether you are a solo traveler, couple, or a group, they have a host of activities to make that possible!
There’s nothing like making new friends on your travels, and some of the best ways to do that are through team sports. Engage in an archery battle, relax with some yoga, go paintballing, or play futsal. There’s the bungee trampoline, flying fox or high rope for those adrenalin junkies, an Amazing Race or Treasure Hunt for some afternoon fun.
They also have off-site outings like hiking and off-road for those who want to explore. All this and more with the home comforts of a good bed to ensure a great night’s sleep and an attached bathroom amid other luxuries! In line with their policy, they don’t have a TV though, because they don’t think you need it!
Address: Jalan Pasirwangi Wetan, Lembang, Bandung. Jawa Barat.
Price Range: From SGD$227/night
Contact: 022 82780085
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trizara.com
Image Credit: La Cocoteraie Ecolodge, Indonesia Facebook
If you’re looking for a place to go for a special occasion, look no further. La Cocoteraie Ecolodge is a small hotel set in the middle of breathtaking beauty. The staff is like family, which makes your experience there that much warmer, friendlier, and more comfortable, and they are willing to decorate your room according to your requests, which makes for the perfect special holiday.
There are no motor vehicles allowed on the island of Gili Trawangan which means you get there by boat, and then take a horse and cart, cycle or walk to the hotel. It also means that the beauty and peace of the island are undisturbed, allowing you to have a holiday of another level. Lounge by the pool, explore the island (it only takes about an hour to walk around the whole place), or seek adventure in the sea.
You get a bicycle and snorkeling gear to use for free once you arrive, so you can get those muscles working, or simply lie on the beach with the sky as your screen to enjoy the sunset or star-gaze. The perfect place to go glamping in Indonesia.
Address: Gili Indah, Pemenang, North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara 83352, Indonesia
Price Range: From SGD$105/night
Contact: +6281907976985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lacocoteraiegili.com
Image Credit: The Canopi
The Canopi is known for its water sports, so if you feel like a fish in water, check it out. You can take it slow while still toning those muscles on the water tricycle, have a bit of a Wipeout experience by attempting to scale obstacles in the water, or shoot for the sky in the Jetovator!
Water slides keeps kids happy, kayaking, parasailing, and more are all part of the Water Experience. If you want to take a break on dry land, try your hand at the shooting range, or explore Treasure Bay Bintan’s private forest in a UTV or an ATV off-road adventure.
Based on what kind of nature buff you are, you can pick the Garden Tent, Lagoon View Tent, Safari Tent or the Glamping Deluxe Tent. Each one features a four-poster bed, air conditioning, wifi, a mini fridge, and more.
Address: Jln. Raya Haji KM 01 Kawasan, Pariwisata, Teluk Sebong Lagoi, Bintan, Kepulauan Riau 29152, Indonesia.
Price Range: From SGD$165/night
Contact: +62 770 - 69 - 2252 / 2253
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.thecanopi.com
Image Credit: Glamz
Not too far away from Kuala Lumpur, you can forget that the city even exists. Have a vacation at the all-new Glamz at Genting, with tents that are pretty cosy but offer you creature comforts as no other regular tent does! The indoor facilities are comparatively less than the other places mentioned above, but the surrounding nature and the cool weather that you immerse yourself in makeup for it.
You can opt for a cozy night in one of the Bell Tents or experience the one-of-a-kind dome room. The dome rooms are mostly for couples on vacation or even for families with children. The dome rooms are relatively spacious for their price! However, if you're traveling with friends or looking for a more 'camping-like' experience, we definitely recommend the bell tents! To elevate your glamorous experience, you might even want to try the VIP Dome with Private Jacuzzi ;)
Address: 1, Jalan Meranti, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Price Range: From SGD$86/night
Email: [email protected]
Website: glamz.com.my
Image Credit: Kamu Lodge Facebook
Kamu Lodge differs from the rest of the glamping resorts by providing you with the opportunity to integrate yourself with the locals. Allowing you live like and observe the locals, Kamu Lodge’s specialty is a slow travel, which helps in creating memories that last a lifetime.
They encourage their guests to get up close and personal with the paddy fields and process of harvesting rice, net fishing and gold panning (an easier method of mining and you can keep anything you find!). You can also trek through the forest and have a picnic at the waterfall, try your shot at the archery range available, or get a massage at the Kamu Spa, with all the local curative herbs being used to soothe your body. The lodges are hybrids and environmentally friendly.
They have thick walls to keep the elements out, solar panels to source the electricity, and built with natural resources but still including a bed and a hot shower. They may not be luxury tents, but you still have basic comforts that give you a good night’s sleep!
Address: Ban Nioy Hai, Muang Nga District, Oudoumxay Province, 06000, Laos
Price Range: From SGD$185/night (April to October); SGD$227/night (November to March)
Contact: +856(0) 20 5603 2365
Email: [email protected]
Website: kamulodge.com
Image Credit: Hintok River Camp at Hellfire Pass หินตก ริเวอร์ เเคมป์ ณ ช่องเขาขาด Facebook
Home to two World War 2 sites, Hintok River Camp is a favorite amongst history buffs. Even if history is not your thing, Hintok is worth a visit as they have been honored with many titles, including one of the top 10 adventure resorts, top 7 gorgeous places to go glamping in Thailand, Thailand Boutique Award, and 3rd Amazing Back-to-Nature Hotel in Thailand.
Hintok River Camp is a tented camp that sports gorgeous views along with their natural spring pool – the perfect place to lounge about and drink in the view. The tents are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, a hot shower and more, and you step out of it into another world of beauty. On-site activities include the museum, mountain biking, a sheep enclosure, Thai massage, a trekking trail, and more. In the vicinity of the Camp is Treetop Adventure Park to satisfy your adrenalin cravings with their zip line, flying fox, tightrope, and more. You can also enjoy canoeing, bamboo rafting, exploring The Lawa Cave and gorgeous waterfalls.
Address: 109 Moo 9 Ban Wang Khamen, Tambon Thasao, Saiyok, Kanchanaburi 70150, Thailand
Price Range: From SGD$230/night
Contact: +66(0) 81 754 3898
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hintokrivercamp.com
Located close to popular destinations like Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui makes getting to Elephant Hills easy, but it still manages to feel like another world once you get there. Elephant Hills is Thailand’s first luxury camp, and it consists of luxury tents on solid ground as well as the floating tent camp on the Cheow Larn Lake. You have to book a tour package with them – you cannot book rooms individually – so your stay will include experiencing both tented areas, as well as interacting with and observing elephants in the most ethical way possible.
Don’t worry, they are all about conserving wildlife as well! In addition to offering you little luxuries in your tent like a comfortable bed, a hot and cold shower, and electricity among other amenities, their rooms are built responsibly, using solar and wind energy and a unique waste management system for sustainability. Elephant Hills is set in some of the most beautiful natural landscapes, and part of your tour allows you to go trekking and explore one of the world’s oldest evergreen forests.
The Jungle Lake Safari gives you a well-rounded experience by letting you roam in the wild, as well as taking you to civilization – the market, to be precise – where you get up close and personal with the people, food, and culture. There is a guide on hand to translate as and when you need it. You aren’t always chaperoned though!
You are free to enjoy the scenery and gorgeous sunset from your tent deck, jump into the lake like it is your backyard pool from that same deck, and explore the surroundings in a kayak by yourself. It is a truly rejuvenating experience and something everyone should try at least once in their life!
Address: 170 Moo 7 Tambon Klong Sok, Panom District, Suratthani 84250 Thailand
Price Range: From SGD$850 for 3D2N Safari Tour+ Package (room included)
Contact: +66 5200 1186 / +66 5200 1196
Email: [email protected]
Website: rainforestcamp.com
Image Credit: Jungle Beach Ahungalla
Jungle Beach Camp is another great location to lose yourself in nature. On the tropical island of Sri Lanka that offers diverse landscapes like green mountains and blue seas, Jungle Beach Camp is set in the south which is the prime location for beach holidays. Take your pick between the Standard Glamping Tent and Deluxe Glamping Tent (the former can host four people while the latter, six) whether you are a couple, family, or a group of people.
Their thatched roofs and wooden structure makes you feel like you’re roughing it out in the wild but with the comfort of an en-suite bathroom, shower, and a warm bed to name a few. Experience Sri Lankan hospitality through the service, delicious food, a relaxing Ayurveda massage, and more. Soak up the sun on the beach, try your hand at the waves, or get involved in a game of volleyball.
Get your adrenalin going on a jet ski ride, diving, snorkeling or deep sea fishing, or whale watching. Your holiday here is what you make of it!
Address: Wathuregama, 80562 Ahungalla, Sri Lanka
Price Range: From SGD$222/night
Contact: +94 776 216 328 or +94 775 959 40
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.junglebeachahungalla.com
Image Credit: Madukelle
Set in the Knuckles Mountain range lies Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge. Waking up to breathtaking views of green mountains and blue skies as far the eye can see, to the chirping of birds and morning nature sounds, you feel like you’re in another world. Sri Lanka is known for its tea plantations which make for some of the best views.
The deluxe room is a sturdy canvas tent – which makes you feel like you’re camping in Asia – with a bed, desk, attached bathroom, hardwood floors and a porch where you can sit out and appreciate the incredible beauty at your feet. There are also net-covered windows (much like ones found in tents) that can be closed off with the canvas or opened up to let in the breeze and view from the comfort of your bed. They also offer honeymoon suite that comes with a private dining facility, a bathtub, and many more little details to make your stay enjoyable.
There is a family lodge available as well. The Lodge offers a dining area with incredible views, a library with internet, an infinity pool, little cosy spots within the plantation – perfect for getting lost in a book, amongst other facilities. There are many places nearby to go hiking, trekking, wildlife watching, or even to the city if you’re missing the city life. Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge offers day trekking, night camping, cooking Sri Lankan dishes with a chef, waterfall excursions, tea picking, and a plantation visit, and a few other activities to get you up close and personal with the surroundings.
Each activity is priced differently and is not included in the cost of the room. There is plenty to see and do at Madulkelle, and it is perfect for an adventurous holiday or a relaxing one.
Address: Madulkelle - Habaragala Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Price Range: From SGD287/night
Contact: +94 (0) 813801052
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.madulkelle.com
Image Credit: Jetwing Kurulubedda
The Jetwing range of hotels manages to integrate luxury with nature beauty, and they have a whole range of locations in different natural surroundings for just that purpose. Located in the southern region of Galle that is commonly known for its beaches, history, and food, Jetwing takes you instead to the jungle a little away from the coast, to a world of its own, hidden away among the lush greens and paddy fields. Hosting 6 luxury villas, Jetwing allows you to be one with nature in absolute comfort.
Views of paddy fields and the sound of a flowing river nearby never sounded so good! Spacious rooms, polished wooden floors, attached bathrooms, air conditioning, tea, and coffee-making facilities are just some of the comforts they have thought of in the basic deluxe room.
Take your holiday a step further by getting booking one of two stilted Dwellings that offer a rain shower, a private plunge pool, and the symphony of birds that share the habitat. Get lost in this world within itself or head out nearby to one of the top beaches in the world – Unawatuna Beach, for the Mahamodara River Safari, the Kottawa Conservation Forest, the Handunugoda Tea Estate, get behind the scenes of a Cinnamon Peeling Centre or explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Galle Fort.
Address: Jetwing Kurulubedda, Galle, Sri Lanka
Price Range: From SGD$181/night
Contact: +94 91 2223744, +94 114 709 400
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jetwinghotels.com/jetwingkurulubedda
