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Rayavadee Resort, Thailand
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Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, Bali
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Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia
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Silky Oaks Lodge, Beckons, Australia
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The IBNII Spa Resort, India
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One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda
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The Chateau Spa & Wellness Resort, Malaysia
These rainforest retreats pair treetop rooms and forest-view pools with guided wildlife encounters and spa rituals. Here’s what to expect from a stay among the canopy, from Rwanda to Borneo.
Could you spend the day tracking chimpanzees, then return to a treehouse above the tea fields? At these rainforest retreats, guided wildlife encounters, canopy-side pools and spa rituals bring the forest into every part of a luxurious stay, from Bali to Malaysia.
One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda
One of Africa’s oldest jungles is right on your doorstep at Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort, Rwanda. Villas and treehouses sit above the Gisakura tea estate, with forest-view balconies and deep-soaking tubs to come back to after a day out. Head into Nyungwe National Park to track chimpanzees or walk the canopy bridge, then cool off in the infinity pool above the forest. The Tea Lounge serves estate-grown tea, while The Dining Room’s menu follows the local harvest. At the spa, Forest Awakening pairs an outdoor massage with an African mud scrub.
Gaya Island Resort, Malaysia
Within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Gaya Island Resort sits between rainforest, a century-old mangrove forest and sheltered coral bays. The two-storey Suria Suite has a wide deck and an outdoor bath tucked among the treetops, while the infinity pool looks out over the bay. Down in the mangroves, Spa Village offers treatments inspired by Sabah’s healing traditions. Come evening, Fisherman’s Cove is a lovely spot for fresh seafood and a view of Mount Kinabalu.
Silky Oaks Lodge, Beckons, Australia
Set above the Mossman River in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, Silky Oaks Lodge has 40 treehouses sitting in amongst the canopy. Lazily swing in the hammocks on the verandahs and listen to the sounds of the Daintree; choose a Riverhouse with an outdoor stone bath over the water, or the two-bedroom Daintree Pavilion, with its open-air atrium and infinity pool. The Treehouse Restaurant looks through the treetops, while Healing Waters Spa has treatment rooms facing the rainforest or river.
Rayavadee Resort, Thailand
On Krabi’s Phranang Peninsula, jungle-covered limestone cliffs rise behind three beaches. Rayavadee’s two-storey pavilions sit among tropical gardens and coconut groves, with Thai-inspired interiors and outdoor terraces. Follow the garden paths between your pavilion and the shore, and look out for spectacled langurs or hornbills in the canopy. More than 250 kinds of ferns and herbal plants grow across the grounds, giving even a short stroll a few things to look for.
The Chateau Spa & Wellness Resort, Malaysia
An 18th-century French château is an unexpected sight in the tropical rainforest of Bukit Tinggi, but here it sits – The Chateau Spa & Wellness Resort looks across the green slopes of Berjaya Hills, less than an hour from Kuala Lumpur. Settle into a room or suite before heading to spend the day between La Santé Spa and the resort’s dining venues. The Japanese Village Garden and its forest paths are nearby when you’re ready to step outside the château.
Six Senses Krabey Island, Cambodia
On Krabey Island, forest canopy runs down towards the sea. Six Senses Krabey Island tucks its pool villas among the island’s natural vegetation, leaving space for birds and butterflies to find a home. Each villa has its own plunge pool and sundeck, with the forest just beyond.
Take a dip in the oceanfront infinity pool, watch a film by the shore or head out to snorkel over the coral reef. Complimentary watersports offer another way to get out on the water; back on land, four restaurants serve dinner with the island close at hand.
The IBNII Spa Resort, India
Coffee once grew across this 125-acre estate in the hills of Madikeri. These days, The IBNII Spa Resort pairs the forest setting with private pool villas. The Kopi Luwak Premium Pool Villas have temperature-controlled infinity pools, kept at 27–29°C for a swim even in Coorg’s cooler months. Follow a plantation trail or look out for more than 50 bird species, then return for yoga or an Ayurvedic treatment at Aarogyaa Wellness Centre. At dinner, find produce from the resort’s organic garden and local farms, alongside vegetarian dishes at Ballele.
Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia
About five kilometres off Malaysia’s west coast, Pangkor Laut Resort occupies a small part of a 300-acre private island. Choose a Tropical Hill Villa among the rainforest, a Sea & Spa Villa above the water or a private Estate with its own pool and separate living pavilion. At Spa Village, treatments draw on Malaysia’s healing traditions. It’s easy to spend the day between forest, beach and sea, then return to a secluded corner of the island.
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, Bali
North of Ubud, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape is an adults-only retreat built around its “No Walls, No Doors” concept. Its open-air bales frame different views of Bali’s highlands, from rainforest and waterfalls to rice terraces and river valleys. Wake to the seven peaks catching the morning light from the Seven Peaks Pool Bale, or choose the Valley Pool Bale for a heated private pool. The spa and locally rooted cultural experiences offer other ways to connect with the landscape.
