Text: Rhonda Bannister
Images: Courtesy of APOLA
Across the Asia-Pacific, a new kind of wilderness escape is redefining luxury travel. Forget sleeping bags and campfires, today’s outdoor lodgings are all about air-conditioned canvas suites, curated cuisine, and unbroken communion with nature. From the forested hills of northern Thailand to the misty valleys of southern China, tented camps are emerging in unique locations that are perfect for adventurous couples.
In the mountains of Nan, northern Thailand, the soon-to-open Visama Explorer Nan invites travellers to experience the region’s quiet beauty from one of eight expansive tented suites. This eco-conscious retreat, set to welcome guests on December 1, 2025, is a two-hour drive from Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport, itself just an 80-minute hop from Bangkok. Opening offers start at THB4,740 (approximately US$150) per night for two, including breakfast and dinner, making it an elegant introduction to Nan’s teak forests and gentle mountain rhythms. (visamatentedcamps.com)
Adventure takes a more untamed turn in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, where the Cardamom Tented Camp offers a genuine back-to-nature immersion. Accessible only by river, the camp’s 4-day/3-night river-view tent package (US$569 per person) includes meals, hiking, kayaking, and zip-lining through a protected forest, all while supporting local rangers who safeguard the 18,000-hectare reserve. (cardamomtentedcamp.com)
Closer to the coast, the 9 Hornbills Tented Camp near Phuket delivers barefoot indulgence with views over Phang Nga Bay’s otherworldly limestone karsts. Guests rise to floating breakfasts in private pools, then kayak or paddle board across turquoise waters before returning for sundowners in the jungle hush. A Five-Night Saver Package includes daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, and complimentary transfers from Phuket or Krabi. (9hornbills.com)
In southern China, history meets wilderness at the new Vinetree Yunnan–Vietnam Railway Tented Resort, where 12 artfully designed tents pay homage to a bygone era of engineering ambition. The camp sits near the century-old Yunnan–Vietnam railway, once hailed by The Times of London as one of the “Three Greatest Engineering Wonders of the World.” Vintage railway relics and panoramic mountain views set the mood, with dinner, bed, and breakfast for two starting at RMB 3,000 (approximately US$410) per night. (vinetreetents.com)
Together, these imaginative retreats signal a growing trend: luxury that treads lightly, celebrates place, and reminds us that comfort and conservation can coexist.
Rhonda Bannister
Rhonda co-founded Holidays for Couples more than 30 years ago, establishing it as Australia’s leading voice in romance travel. Now retired from day-to-day operations, she continues as our editor-at-large, travelling widely and reporting with a special focus on experiences that resonate with couples over 60.
