For a continent positively brimming with jaw-dropping hotels and resorts, deciding where to stay in Asia can feel overwhelming.

In India, a hotel palace sits on the banks of Udaipur’s famous Lake Pichola, promising a lavish stay marked by the beauty and culture of Rajasthan. In Nepal, an eco-friendly resort sets the standard for farm-to-table dining by serving a menu that pulls its ingredients from an on-site farm surrounded by the Annapurna range. In Mongolia, the newest member of the Beyond Green portfolio brings luxury to classic yurts with a commitment to sustainable tourism.   

From a hotel that blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary swank to a relaxing retreat that stands out from the crowded hotel scene on Bali—the following list of 22 hotels promises some of the most beautiful, exciting, and memorable stays across Asia.

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Amanpuri

Phuket, Thailand

Long a favorite among visiting celebrities for privacy and luxury, Aman Resorts’ original flagship rambles across 76 palm-studded acres with secluded access to Phuket’s Pansea Beach. Swooping Ayutthaya-style rooflines, polished wooden interiors, and pristine tropical landscaping support a strong sense of place throughout the resort. All Amanpuri suites feature oversized bathrooms, while pavilions boast walled gardens, sunken baths, and outdoor showers. Resort amenities include a 27-meter pool, top-shelf watersports gear, a diving school, a charter boat fleet, and a wellness center with Thai-inspired treatment pavilions, steam rooms, saunas, hot and cold plunge pools, and an open-air sala for meditation.

Amanpuri’s main restaurant, Buabok, serves authentic Thai recipes using updated kitchen techniques and the finest ingredients. Guests can also enjoy dining at elegant Nama, redesigned by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma with izakaya-style seating, an omakase counter, and a sake bar, or at Arva, where southern Italian cuisine focuses on local organic produce paired with authentic Italian-imported ingredients. Nura, on the beach itself, conjures a Balearic vibe and eclectic Mediterranean menu with a background of chilled musical beats.

The Anam Cam Ranh

Cam Ranh, Vietnam

With its Imperial-style aesthetics and idyllic ocean views, the award-winning Anam Cam Ranh was one of the first resorts to put Cam Ranh on the map. A former U.S. military port turned luxe hotel spot, The Anam blends Indochine elegance with locally sourced decor and sprawling grounds. Here, coconut palms and frangipani trees lead to a pristine stretch of white-sand beach and the azure waters of the South China Sea.

Check into one of its chic yellow and aqua-accented rooms or suites or, if you’re going all out, the expansive Anam Ocean View Pool Villas. Each comes with a private balcony or terrace that opens to stunning gardens or ocean vistas, as well as original paintings by Vietnamese artists and sustainable local hardwood finishes. A top spot for foodies, Lang Viet Restaurant offers delightful Vietnamese cuisine; The Colonial features international flare; and The Beach Club’s casual seafood offerings pair beautifully with a gorgeous ocean breeze.

Eat well and rest well here: the lagoon-style pool and The Indochine Spa promise 24/7 relaxation. Paired with the resort’s personalized service and eco-friendly practices, it’s an unbeatable getaway on Vietnam’s serene coast.

Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

Perched between the 40th and 45th floors of Ginza’s Midtown Yaesu skyscraper, you’ll find one of the brand’s newest properties, Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo. Upon entering the ground floor elevator bank, you are transported by the design, custom scent and immaculate service to the world of Bvlgari, its understated and sophisticated luxury evident everywhere.

The property was designed by Milan-based architecture firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. The 98 rooms and suites are spacious, with skyline views and custom Bvlgari bath products. Wellness facilities are unparalleled with a TechnoGym equipped indoor/outdoor fitness area complete with an on-call trainer. If you’re a swimmer, the lap pool beckons, but for true relaxation and pampering, you’ll want to head to the spa for an Augustinus Bader facial or body treatment.

Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito brings his refined Milanese cuisine to the property via Il Ristorante. Expect to find iconic dishes like his Vitello tonnato and Spaghetti e Pomodoro. For other dining options, there is Bulgari Bar, an eight-seat sushi counter, and 24-hour in-room dining. Don’t be afraid to use the concierge–the team is happy to help snag some of the city’s toughest tables or to make itinerary suggestions.

COMO Uma Ubud

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Surrounded by lush, undulating hillsides, COMO Uma Ubud provides a peaceful and luxurious respite just outside Bali’s bustling cultural hub. The contemporary, streamlined design is bright and breezy and allows the beauty of nature to really shine. Local woods and traditional details such as thatched roofs imbue a sense of place. Light-flooded rooms show off four-poster beds, Como Shambhala bath products, and terraces with views of the tropical gardens.

The resort facilities are also exceptional. Sun loungers and shade-giving umbrellas frame the gorgeous jade-green pool. The indoor-outdoor spa offers holistic wellness therapies like Taksu massages and Javanese Royal Lulur Baths. Kemiri serves Balinese cuisine made from fresh ingredients and plenty of healthy options for breakfast and dinner. For a taste of Italy, head to Uma Cucina for handmade pasta and woodfired pizza. There’s also an open-air poolside bar for cocktails and light bites. Guests can participate in cultural activities ranging from water purification ceremonies to Pencak Silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art, and explore the great outdoors with adventures such as river rafting, mountain biking, and sunrise treks. Complimentary perks include yoga classes, guided walks, and shuttles to town.

Evolve Back Chikkana Halli Estate

Coorg, Karnataka, India

Tucked away in the lush, rolling hills of Coorg (officially known as Kodagu), this eco-friendly resort adroitly blends guilt-free luxury with green practices, making it an ideal choice for conscientious travelers through its use of wind power, low-energy fixtures, and recycling of all water and waste. Each of the five stay categories also has admiral qualities—whether it’s the perfectly positioned antique-style furniture, white-washed mud walls, or traditional columns and ceilings. Additionally, all feature a private pool surrounded by a serene lily pond; top picks are the balcony-edged Lily Pool Duplex for families and the gazebo-equipped Lily Pool Villa for couples.

If you ever manage to tear yourself away from your plush accommodation, plenty of activities await. Join an expert naturalist for walks through the 300-acre grounds—fragrant with coffee and spices, learn the art of gourmet coffee making, explore nearby villages on electric cycles, visit an elephant camp, or go birdwatching. After a day outdoors, hit the spa for soothing Ayurvedic treatments or the seductive infinity pool (only for adults) overlooking the dense forest. Limber and rejuvenated, pull up a chair in the stilted reading lounge and lose yourself in a good book. Come evening, settle in one of the three restaurants serving Indian and Western options, or request a private dinner by the lake, poolside or in the treetops under a shady canopy.

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Bali, Indonesia

Bali’s south coast is home to some of the most stunning resorts in the world, including the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. While the resort is only a twenty-minute drive from the airport, its enviable location on a tranquil stretch of white sand beach makes it feel a world away. The 147 villas, each with its own infinity pool, are laid out like a Balinese village.

With an unhurried atmosphere and exceptional amenities, you’d be forgiven for never leaving the resort. Head down to the resort’s private beach, Coconut Grove, to relax in a sunbed or try one of their complimentary water sports: kayaking, windsurfing, and catamaran sailing. The beachside restaurant, Sundara, has a picturesque sunset view looking out over the Indian Ocean. The other resort restaurants excel in their own ways—Taman Watilan for variety, with tables surrounding nine live cooking stations, and Alu for health-conscious dining with nutritionist-curated meals. The standout, though, is Jala, set amongst gardens fragrant with lemongrass, serving Balinese dishes rich with flavor and heritage. After dinner, visit the exceptional TELU Bar—its rustic-chic ambiance created from upcycled materials—to sample arak, the local spirit.

Gaya Island Resort

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

A 10-minute speedboat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu in Borneo in west Malaysia gets you to Gaya Island Resort, located within a protected marine park and surrounded by lush rainforest. Understandably, conservation is a keyword here, and the marine center at Tavajun Bay focuses on turtle rescue, coral reef restoration, and community education.

Each of the 121 villas at this resort comes with a stunning rainforest or sea view, with the plushest accommodation in the two-story, two-bedroom Suria Suite. Chances are, you will never want to leave your room. Or you will just pay repeat visits to the Spa Village, nestled at the edge of the mangrove forest, for signature Malayan therapies such as the Tadau Kamatan couples’ treatment that uses indigenous rice (among other delicious things like honey, cinnamon, and avocado) in the poultices and scrubs.

And for those with more outdoorsy inclinations, there’s plenty to choose from—guided nature walks through the rainforest, kayak exploration of the mangroves, snorkeling amongst pristine coral reefs, or even recreational fishing. You’ll never get bored of the food, either. Apart from the all-day restaurant Feast Village, there is the option of fresh seafood at Fisherman’s Cove, specialty Japanese cuisine at Omakase, or a light lunch by the pool.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Yufuin

Yufu, Oita, Japan

The rural village of Yufuin looks like a still from a Studio Ghibli anime movie: think cloud-topped mountains and pastoral vistas dotted by steaming natural baths. Designed by Kengo Kuma, Hoshino Resorts KAI Yufuin is a lavish hot springs retreat set in the midst of terraced rice fields, with volcanic Mount Yufu looming in the background. The property is picture-perfect at all times of the year; snow covers the surrounding peaks in the winter, while deer roam the fields in the warmer months.

Take in panoramic views while soaking in Hoshino’s outdoor onsen baths, which are fed by bubbling mineral-rich waters. The 45 tatami-matted rooms are reminiscent of classic farmhouses and decorated with natural materials like bamboo and washi paper lamps. A few are stand-alone residences with wraparound verandas or outdoor bathtubs. A signature Firefly Room has strings of blinking lights that evoke insects in the air and shichitoi tatami (made from a local grass) that gives off a gentle fragrance with each step.

To spotlight the changes in the seasons, Hoshino KAI Yufuin serves a kaiseki dinner with unusual specialties such as softshell turtle soup and locally sourced game like badger and boar. Those toasting a special occasion can ask for a Celebration Box filled with preserved flowers, cake, and sparkling sake.

HOSHINOYA Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Tucked in the forested hills of Arashiyama, HOSHINOYA Kyoto is an exclusive property only accessible by a private wooden boat. As you glide for 15 minutes down the curving Oi River towards the century-old wood frame cottages, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve teleported back in time to the late 19th-century Meiji era.

From the moment you check in to the secluded ryokan, which was once the playground of Kyoto’s aristocracy, the staff graciously anticipates your every need. HOSHINOYA consists of just 25 minimalist yet spacious rooms furnished with futons, slatted screens, and woodblock-printed wallpaper. Each has a picture window framing the gorge, which is especially resplendent in autumn when the foliage burns bright red.

When night falls, enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner paired with fine wine and sake, which aims to stimulate the five tastes (bitter, sweet, salty, sour, umami). After, unwind with a fruit and herb-seasoned soak in the deep cypress wood bathtub before falling asleep to the sound of the flowing river. The next morning, wake up to a generous spread of vegetable hot pot with fish and pickles prepared in your room.

InterContinental Khao Yai Resort

Khao Yai, Thailand

Inter-Continental Khao Yai Resort rambles across 47 acres of lush tropical landscape with over 30,000 trees and five lakes. Sprung from the fertile imagination of award-winning architect and interior designer Bill Bensley, the unique escape transforms 19 Thai vintage railway carriages into state-of-the-art accommodations and dining facilities. Real railway lines are installed alongside the cars so that while walking in the area, you might truly feel as if you had stumbled upon a forgotten rail junction in the forest. Adding to the exotic atmosphere are baobab trees from Madagascar and wild swans in the lakes.

Somying’s Kitchen offers Thai and international culinary experiences with an emphasis on farm-to-table concepts. Poirot presents a more formal French dining experience reminiscent of the golden age of first-class train travel, located in a restored heritage train carriage. The venue is named for Hercule Poirot, the fictional Belgian detective hero of Agatha Christie’s famed mystery novels.

The very popular Planet Trekkers Kids Club is also housed in a heritage railcar and boasts its own private garden. A sizeable outdoor pool on the grounds is available for recreation, exercise, or just cooling off, and for serious workouts, there’s a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center.

The Leela Palace Udaipur

Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

On the banks of Udaipur’s famous Lake Pichola, the Leela Palace offers a lavish experience from start to finish, beginning with a boat ride to the hotel, where guests are greeted with a shower of rose petals followed by the enchanting strains of traditional Rajasthani musicians. Inside, the grandeur continues, with high arched ceilings, silver figurines of elephants and horses, hand-carved marble lotuses, and Thikri—a traditional Mewari mirror-mosaic work—making every corner of the property a feast for the eyes. This aesthetic is echoed across the 80 rooms and suites, each offering either lake or garden views. To truly feel like a king, book the Maharaja Suite; it’s 3,585 square feet of separate dining and living rooms, a personal spa treatment room, a garden courtyard, a plunge pool, a walk-in wardrobe, and the service of a personal butler.

Looks aside, you will also experience maharaja levels of indulgence when dining in the lake-facing restaurants serving Indian and international fare, sampling an old-world tipple at the mahogany-clad Library Bar, unwinding in the Ayurvedic spa by the lake, and relaxing in the expansive courtyard, the scene of nightly Rajasthani folk dance. Guests are also encouraged to participate in cultural activities such as the morning ritual of praying at the on-site 16th-century Hindu temple or taking advantage of the complimentary guided art walk through the palace.

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Bali is no stranger to high-end hotels, but when it comes to unparalleled luxury interwoven with stunning scenery, it’s tough to beat Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. While each accommodation offers 24-hour butler service alongside private plunge pools, those in search of exemplary quarters should spring for the Mandapa Pool Villa, a three-bedroom suite that comes complete with a full kitchen and scenic forest views—and to sweeten the deal, the property is also equipped with a truly impressive dining scene.

For a deep dive into the rich flavors of Balinese cuisine, Sawah Terrace crafts local fare packed full of produce from the on-property garden. Ambar is perfect for some light Japanese-inspired bites paired with a craft cocktail at sunset, but for a truly idyllic dining experience, Kubu is an essential spot. Perched on the Ayung River, this restaurant holds sustainability in particularly high regard, offering a 10-course zero-waste tasting menu that incorporates a wide variety of foraged plants into each dish.

In between meals, visitors are welcome to book a session at the Mandapa Spa—a scenic space with a dedicated meditation temple—or book a day trip to famed Balinese wonders, ranging from Mount Batur to Tirta Empul Temple.

The Oberoi Udaivilas

Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, made a glittering debut on the banks of Lake Pichola in 2002. The shine hasn’t scuffed off—it still looks as regal as the crown jewel it was envisioned to be.

Built on 50 acres of forest land, you notice its grand domes from the boat when you arrive in style. The gilded dome in the lobby demands attention, and as you spend more time, you’ll be itching to click pictures of its architectural details: the arches that frame various parts of the courtyard, the gardens with more stylishly placed domes, and the lake views.

There are only 87 rooms on this property—each with a jharokha (window seat) and an outside area. Its Premier Rooms are a luxurious 86.39 square meters with a king-sized bed and marble bathroom—much bigger than a New York apartment. The hotel also features suites with semi-private and private pools that either look onto the lake or the courtyard. If you’re feeling rather majestic, book the top-of-the-line Kohinoor Suite with a master bedroom, a twin bedroom, a dining room, and a living room, along with a private pool. Of course, there are beautiful restaurants, a spa, spots for romantic interludes, and loads of in-house activities. Need anything? Just ask your butler.

A 2021 upgrade to the property included installing a 1-megawatt solar plant that takes care of 60% of its energy consumption. Mindful guests will also appreciate other sustainable touches, including a sewage treatment plant, solar and electric-powered boat, and motion sensors.

This Oberoi property consistently appears on the world’s best hotel lists. It’s a fine example of Rajasthani hospitality—welcoming, warm, quiet, and efficient.

137 Pillars House Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, Thailand

The historic William Bain House, built in 1887 as a legacy of the Borneo Company, lives on 137 Pillars, a renovated and repurposed boutique hotel named for the 137 solid teak logs supporting the wooden building at the center of the property. Sixty villas in classic Chiang Mai post-colonial style dot the compound, while the original house contains dining rooms, lounges, and a library.

Palette serves modern Thai recipes, including several northern Thai specialties, alongside other Asian dishes and Western cuisine. The Dining Room in the old Bain House serves breakfast only, while Jack Bain’s Bar is a delightful hangout for cocktails and bar bites surrounded by antiques and 19th-century mementos of Chiang Mai’s teak era. The William Bain Terrace Suites overlook the historic pillars house, the pool, and an attractive climbing garden wall. Each features a large bedroom, generous living room, airy veranda, and en-suite bathroom with a walk-in closet and sunken bath facing tropical foliage.

Park Hyatt Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

At first glance, Park Hyatt Kyoto could be mistaken for a samurai-era village. A string of low-ceilinged, tile-roofed buildings stretch across the hillside, interspersed by minimalist rock gardens. The design vibes perfectly with neighboring Higashiyama, one of Kyoto’s best-preserved historic districts famous for its labyrinthine streets. With only 70 rooms, this is one of the world’s smallest Park Hyatts, letting guests experience a serene and luxurious retreat with ultra-personalized service.

Park Hyatt’s rooms seamlessly blend traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary swank: each has shoji paper doors under sloped wood ceilings and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. Some of the nine suites open into private Japanese gardens. Others have floor-to-ceiling views of Yasaka Pagoda, Kyoto’s five-story tower with dark, upturned eaves that are often pictured on Instagram.

Diners can watch the sunset over the pagoda from Kyoyamato, the hotel’s one-star Michelin restaurant founded in 1877. Dine on elegant, seasonal kaiseki served on an impressive variety of ornate plates. For a more interactive experience, sit at the steel-plated counter at Yasaka and watch the chefs prepare a five-course teppanyaki meal with French techniques.

The Pavilions Himalayas, The Farm

Pokhara, Nepal

Nestled in a verdant, forested valley southwest of Pokhara, this sustainability-focused resort is one of the most delightful escapes in Nepal. Fueled by solar and biogas power, the address features 14 villas in three categories, distinguished mainly by size. All boast a private terrace, high ceilings, exquisite Nepalese artwork, sophisticated wooden furnishings, and a genuine fireplace, complemented by mod cons such as complimentary Wi-Fi and iPod dock. However, the real pleasure of staying at the Pavilions Himalayas is enhanced by the breathtaking daily vista of the Annapurna range.

The resort’s eco-friendly efforts are also found in its mountain-view restaurant, where Nepali fare is prepared with ingredients harvested from the on-site organic farm. Guests can choose to dine indoors or al fresco. An on-the-ball team arranges everything from guided walks to the farm and village, nature hikes, and yoga sessions to private cooking classes with the hotel’s chef. The infinity pool, overlooking the rice fields, and the spa, featuring a sauna and a range of Ayurvedic therapies, are perfect post-activity relaxation zones. The former also has parasol-shaded sun beds on its terrace; order drinks and nibbles to enjoy while you savor the view.

Ritz Carlton Koh Samui

Koh Samui, Thailand

Carved into a lush 58-acre coconut plantation, the Ritz Carlton Koh Samui occupies a private bay where accommodations incorporate natural materials, soothing pastel colors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that take in sweeping sea views from virtually every vantage point. A large, free-form resort pool overlooks the sandy beach and sea. A unique “swim reef”—the only one in Southeast Asia—teems with thousands of fish representing over 50 marine species and boasts an advanced filtration system to screen out pollutants and jellyfish. Guided snorkeling and live fish-feeding programs are offered daily.

Facilities for sporty types include tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center with an outdoor Muay Thai ring open 24 hours. A full range of Thai and international treatments are available at the resort’s Spa Village Koh Samui. Southern Thai cooking classes, with visits to a local market, will appeal to those with cultural/culinary interests. An unusually wide variety of dining opportunities include Shook! for innovative Asian and Western breakfasts, Baan Talat for Thai street food favorites in a market-style atmosphere. Pak Tai for southern Thai, Sea Salt for Thai seafood with a view, One Rai for Indian cuisine, and The Ranch for well-crafted steaks and fresh seafood.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Fari Islands, Maldives

At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, luxury is an understatement. Guests are welcomed onto the private island via seaplane or boat, with the sound of a conch shell being blown as a welcome. Staff members who will play a pivotal role during your stay give a warm greeting at the dock with a hand over their heart symbolizing a sign of respect. This endearing gesture will be seen throughout your stay. Within minutes of arrival, you’ll meet your Aris Meeha, or island butler, who will be available to you via WhatsApp during your stay. Choose from an overwater or beach villa with magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. The villas are decorated in calming and sophisticated neutral furnishings with expansive sundecks and private infinity pools.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is divided into three areas: Culinary Island, Grand Sunset Beach, and Fari Marina Village. The latter is accessed by boat and is home to boutiques, restaurants, a beach club, and a Lagoon Coral Adoption and Marine Biology Center. The resort has seven restaurants and bars; La Locanda’s Southern Italian cuisine is ideal for breakfast, EAU Bar’s relaxed setting is perfect for lunch, and Arabesque’s Middle Eastern dishes are some of the best for dinner. The overwater ring-shaped spa is a sanctuary all by itself. You can’t go wrong with any of the treatments offered, but the Bamford Signature Journey is highly rated.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli

Maldives

Get ready to swoon–a private island in the middle of the turquoise Indian Ocean is the stuff of daydreams and fantasies, and they actually come true at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, the glamorous accommodations of would-be honeymooners worldwide.

Overwater villas include deep-soaking tubs and infinity pools, along with private access to pristine ocean waters filled with colorful marine life. Less “tropical panache” and more “luxe modern polish,” these sleek rooms are outfitted with iPad controllers and Bose speakers; rainforest showers and marble dual vanities; floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors; and 24-hour a-day room service. Vommuli Resort offers top amenities only the most discerning traveler could wish for, including a hydrotherapy pool, salon, and wellness studio, the largest wine cellar in the Maldives, private decks with relaxation nets, seven restaurants, cruiser-style bicycles, and personalized butler services, and even a library, among a multitude of other amenities.

While the bungalows are perched over a lagoon, the resort also includes beachfront accommodations and private bay access. Excursions such as water sports, boating, and private island picnics can all be arranged by the exceptionally gracious staff. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

The Siam

Bangkok, Thailand

Set right on the storied Chao Phraya River, The Siam is a stunning daydream; a serene, Far-East testament not only to bespoke, bygone design, but service that sets the bar globally.

The hotel’s vibe, crafted by renowned interior designer and landscape artist Bill Bensley, starts with a towering entrance, where two-story banana trees and Bird of Paradise plants rise from the mirrored surface of a black, linear fountain feature. Grand staircases, white stone and black iron accents abound, lending a feel of a colonial villa meeting a chic resort. The lobby, rooms, communal and restaurant spaces are decorated in antiques, from vintage bicycles to ancient artifacts, and moments like the vinyl listening room and the pool, which stretches along the swift-moving waters of the river, all work seamlessly to create a respite that is at once harmonious and ever-interesting.

Remaining new, even to those who visit often, is paramount at The Siam, and this year, they debuted Sunday Jazz brunch at their acclaimed restaurant Story House, as well as a larger, private speed boat for sunset excursions. The hotel will debut a fresh renovation of the 28 suites and 10 pool villas in fall of 2024, and their latest guest takeaway is one you won’t find elsewhere. One may book a Vintage Colodian Wet Plate Photography session––sitting for a portrait session onsite, with an acclaimed local photographer. He produces prints using the world’s oldest method of photography.

Six Senses Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Six Senses Kyoto is an eco-friendly hotel that gears every experience towards “serenity, now.” Located in tranquil Higashiyama–an easy walk from Myōhō-in and Sanjūsangen-dō Buddhist temples–Six Senses feels like a Zen monastery for the modern age. The 81 rooms are colored in earthy tones and equipped with organic cotton sheets, yoga mats, and plastic-free minibars. Some have front-row window views of the stately 16th-century Toyokuni shrine.

Six Senses stands out for its 24-hour spa, which uniquely combines traditional Zen healing with smart tech. Wellness-seekers can participate in sound therapy, blend rice bran and matcha scrubs at Alchemy Bar, and optimize their bodies with sleep tracking and biomarker screenings.

True to its name, Six Senses Kyoto offers a variety of cultural activities to awaken the mind and body. Guests can join hikes through Buddhist pilgrimage routes in the mountains and meditate at Ryosokuin Zen temple. Local artisans hold regular workshops on calligraphy, furoshiki (Japanese cloth wrapping), and sashiko (fabric-strengthening sewing techniques).

Six Senses’ commitment to sustainability includes repurposing materials for art and composting kitchen waste to feed the in-house gardens. Sekki Restaurant’s all-day menu focuses on nutrient-rich local produce and changes regularly to reflect Japan’s 24 micro-seasons, a nod to the Zen path of being present in every moment.

Three Camel Lodge

Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Perched on a mountainside in Mongolia’s remote Gobi Desert, Three Camel Lodge is a standout eco-resort and a proud member of Beyond Green’s sustainable hotel collection. Founded by Mongolian-American businessman Jalsa Urubshurow, who also established Nomadic Expeditions—a sustainable operator dedicated to enriching lives and protecting places—the lodge offers an glimpse into traditional nomadic life with its 40 luxury gers (traditional Mongolian dwellings). These round, tent-like dwellings are made from sustainable materials like wood, camel fur, felt, and rope and are equipped with modern comforts such as private bathrooms and solar-powered electricity.

The lodge’s amenities and activities include an on-site restaurant serving local delicacies, a bar with an extensive whiskey selection, archery, biking, cooking classes, ger-building workshops, and even a spa. Its deep commitment to sustainability and community sets Three Camel Lodge apart: The lodge exemplifies responsible tourism by investing in local staff, supporting educational programs and recreation in nearby communities, cultural preservation, and preserving Mongolia’s rich biodiversity.

The resort eliminates single-use plastics, employs a robust waste management system, and sources construction materials locally. Guests can explore nearby natural wonders like the Flaming Cliffs and Yol Valley and engage in activities such as camel treks, horseback riding, archery, and stargazing. As a Beyond Green property, the lodge exemplifies industry-leading responsible tourism practices and has upheld a pioneering reputation for sustainable tourism in Mongolia.