There is little more breathtaking or lavish than a clifftop hotel, ideally with an infinity pool reflecting the sky. The unobstructed views and the fact that you’re living on the edge is exhilarating. From clifftop resorts in Bali to the steep hills of Danang Sun Peninsula, we’ve hand-picked Asia’s most incredible clifftop and mountainside hotels.
1. Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Alila Villas Uluwatu is a superb resort at the southern tip of Bali. The lobby is the first place you see when you arrive, and it offers a sneak preview of the beautiful pool and the ocean beyond.
There are only 65 villas in the resort, comprising of 56 one-bedroom villas. All the villas’ layouts are well thought out, with a proper resting, lounging, and working area, as well as a separation for the bath area. There is plenty of technology, from an entertainment system to an extensive library of music and movies. There are various shower options, an indoor rain shower, a jet shower, an indoor bathtub, and an outdoor shower.
To make things even better, the bathrooms are overloaded with high-quality amenities from separate For Him and For Her shower suppliers to a bathtub box containing sun tanning oil, after sun cooling gel, insect repellent, signature sunscreen, purifying mask, and a bottle of aromatic bubble bath liquid. There is also a pillow mist spray, which acts as a sleeping aid by the bedside!
All villas are beautifully designed, featuring contemporary designs with various Balinese elements, such as wood, water, stone, and rattan. The open plan design also allows natural light and the sea breeze to come into the room. All villas have their own private pool, which occupies the back half of the unit, along with an outdoor cabana and table.
As you would expect, breakfast here is excellent, an a la carte buffet, where guests can order anything off a daily rotating menu of western and Indonesian food. The dinner options are even more comprehensive, and all tastes are catered for.
In the grounds between the restaurants, there is a long 50-meter cliff-side infinity pool with many chairs and cabanas to lounge or tan, perfect for an Instagrammable honeymoon photo! One of the two picturesque overhanging cliff-side platforms serves as an extended lounge space for guests to chill and sip cool drinks while admiring the turquoise Indian Ocean, stretching to the horizon. There is also a pathway next to the platform, which leads almost 700 steps down the cliff to a stretch of pristine private beach.
At the edge of the hotel is another overhanging clifftop platform, explicitly used for weddings and functions. A dramatic platform offering gorgeous views of the Ocean, Alila Uluwatu is a trendy and superb choice for breathtaking weddings.
2. InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is located in a superb setting on the side of a forested mountain, so not quite clifftop, more cliff-side. The hotel is located on the Son Tra Peninsula, which is also known as Monkey Mountain. It is a 30 minutes drive away from downtown Danang and Danang International Airport.
The resort is surrounded by lush forests which stretch down to the beach. The entrance to the resort, which sits on 39 hectares of land, is near the top of the Son Tra peninsula. The sprawling resort uses the sloping terrain to incorporate the buildings on four levels – Heaven, Sky, Earth, and Sea. Neat cobblestone paths offering gorgeous views, lead away from the check-in area, past rooms, and wind down to sea level.
Guests are taken to their rooms and suites by golf cart. Regular rooms and suites are housed in the bungalows lining the various levels. The color scheme is white walls and black wooden pillars inspired by Vietnamese temples. Ornate carvings of dragon, elephant, lion, and lotus flower motifs can also be found in the rooms.
The buggy ride from the rooms to the sea level can pass by La Maison 1888, the on-site French restaurant housed in an elegant French-style mansion. The restaurant offers fine French dining, with private dining options available in the various themed rooms. The mansion also hosts Buffalo bar as a separate drinking area.
The sea level is next to a long (700m) stretch of sand on the ocean’s edge, which features beach chairs with umbrellas. The Barefoot restaurant is located on the left and overlooks the sand and the beach. At the right of the entrance is the resort pool, which is heated. Next to this pool is the HARNN spa and the renowned French pedi manicure studio. During the summer, the water which laps the beach is calm with great waves, as the sea is sheltered in the bay of the Son Tra peninsula.
To the right side of the sea level is the L_o_n_g bar, a bar with long tables running the length of the dining area. The bar serves a variety of drinks and signature monkey cocktails, which are very delicious.
At the side of the bar, there is a kids club, Planet Trekkers, a complimentary service to give parents some time alone. Opposite this area is a decent-sized gym with a good mix of equipment and weights. On top of the L_o_n_g bar is the L_o_n_g pool. This pool is an infinity pool (not heated), is much bigger than the resort pool, and is surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas!
Another exciting feature of this resort is the cable car system called the Nam Tram, which goes from the bottom of the resort at Sea level to all the various other levels.
There is also a daily trekking trip to explore the flora and fauna of the Son Tra nature reserve. They also have a complimentary shuttle bus from the resort to Danang city and Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage City, about 30 minutes away from Danang. The shuttle bus takes 2 trips a day, which provides ample time to make a day trip to Hoi An.
3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand
Set on a tropical, palm tree covered cliff, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is the perfect place to discover the idyllic bliss of Thailand’s island life, lounging by the infinity pool with a cold drink, or relaxing on your private deck overlooking the Gulf of Siam.
Experience island perfection in a private hillside sea-facing Pool Villas or luxurious Residence Villas shaded by coconut groves and overlooking the Andaman Sea. This chic, mountainside, alfresco living space comes complete with a private infinity pool and astonishing panoramas of Mae Nam Bay, Koh Phangan, and the Gulf of Thailand.
A gourmet paradise awaits you, where a creative workhouse, with a distinct setting and ambiance, offers Southern Thai cuisine. Explore these authentic flavors that speak for themselves as you sit perched on a breezy hilltop amid a plantation of coconut palms and simply stunning views.
Located right on the beach, Pla Pla, meaning “many fish” in Thai, is a casual spot for an extensive selection of the freshest seafood and prime cuts of meat. With Thai sandstone walls and floors providing a dramatic contrast to the steel-blue and silver décor that defines the restaurant’s ambiance, Pla Pla is the perfect setting for a beachside lunch or dinner.
Set on the edge of the brand new 50-meter-long infinity lap pool at the resort’s private beach, CoCoRum enjoys stunning views of the ocean and the lush green tropical hillside. It’s the perfect location for a refreshing dip between decadent cocktails.
Wherever you are in the world, Four Seasons hotels are consistently one of the best hotels in that city or resort. There isn’t a Four Seasons loyalty program, so you will never be able to book a free stay by racking up and redeeming points, or by collecting points on your credit card and spending them at a Four Seasons hotel. It can’t be done. But you can get discounts at Four Seasons hotels and benefit from special rewards at Four Seasons hotels for no extra cost by booking your next stay via our luxury travel concierge.
4. Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka
Where trade winds carried legendary explorers like Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and Fa-Hsien past Sri Lanka’s soaring southern cliffs on some of history’s most celebrated nautical journeys, Cape Weligama is set on 12 acres of terraced clifftop real estate above this fabled island’s palm-fringed shores.
Thirty minutes east of Galle, Cape Weligama inhabits 12 manicured acres at the top of a cliff, rising 40 meters above the Indian Ocean. Stunning panoramas await you, naturally complementing the 39 private retreats designed by one of Asia’s most celebrated architects, Lek Bunnag.
The hotel offers an array of international dining venues that capture Weligama’s iconic sunsets. The 60-meter crescent-shaped infinity pool enjoys the same view and appears to flow seamlessly into the shimmering sea, while those timeless breezes ensure elegant swells tickle the sun-kissed sand.
5. Bulgari Resort Bali, Indonesia
Bulgari Resort Bali is a luxury haven with 59 villas and five mansions, all of which have spectacular views of the Indian Ocean because they are sat at the top of the cliff. The beauty of its setting is matched only by the property’s blend of traditional Balinese and contemporary Italian design.
Below the resort is the unspoiled, mile-long private beach, accessible only by the property’s cliffside elevator. Villas range from 3,000 to 47,500 square feet each, with an open-air living room, plunge pool, and patio within a secluded tropical garden. The property boasts a beach club, three restaurants, a bar, an oceanfront spa, and an infinity-edge pool, the vibrant hub of the resort.
6. Intercontinental Koh Samui, Thailand
Intercontinental Koh Samui occupies an unspoiled stretch along the island’s western coast and offers clifftop sunsets that are hard to beat. The InterContinental Koh Samui has one of the best club lounges on Koh Samui.
Koh Samui is a popular tourist destination just over an hour away from the busy capital Bangkok. The resort sits atop a cliff amidst coconut plantations and has 300 meters of its own beach frontage along the scenic coast of Taling Ngam. The resort is renowned for incredible sunsets and breathtaking ocean views, set across 22 acres of luscious tropical gardens to the quiet, unspoiled, white sandy beachfront.
InterContinental Koh Samui Resort is home to 79 rooms, suites, and villas, which sit on a clifftop and descend through tropical gardens to a private 180-meter white sand beach.
The resort affords magnificent views across the Gulf of Thailand, the famous Five Islands, and Ang Thong National Marine Park; no wonder it is featured in the New York Times’ bestselling book ‘1000 Places to See Before You Die’.
7. Banyan Tree Samui, Thailand
Overlooking the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui is nestled up a steep hillside amid the lush jungle of a private bay in Lamai.
Relax in your pool villa, amuse your palate with the culinary adventures provided by various dining outlets, partake in a range of recreational activities, indulge in the tender touch of the therapists at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Samui, or soak away your worries in The Rainforest, the resort’s hydrotherapy facility.
Beyond this secluded haven lies an abundance of excursion options for both couples and families alike, including a variety of cultural attractions as well as the idyllic natural beauty of Samui’s jungles and the breathtaking beaches, islands, and coral reefs of the Gulf of Thailand. Exquisite dining, coupled with eclectic shopping, makes for another way to explore the diverse offerings of this modern island that still retains its rustic charm.
8. Viceroy Bali, Indonesia
The multi-award-winning 5 star Viceroy Bali, is one of the best hotels in Ubud Bali. Still, unlike the clifftop Alila Villas Uluwatu which is in position one of this listing, Viceroy Bali is located on the forested hills in the interior of the island. This luxury hotel is just 5 minutes drive from the thriving culture and arts center of Ubud, yet the location feels like another world.
Wandering into the hotel’s open lobby with its marble floor and high-vaulted bamboo and grass-thatched roof immediately washes away any stresses. A water feature trickles nearby. Make your way down a grand staircase and watch the resort open up into a serene sanctuary clinging to the side of the strikingly steep and verdant Valley of the Kings.
With only 25 cliff-edge pool villas, Viceroy Bali offers absolute privacy for those seeking the elegant and exotic in travel. A soft, artfully manicured garden rolls gently off to the side of the main infinity-edged pool overlooking the jungle valley opposite.
Nearby, a path leads down to CasCades restaurant, the beating heart of the resort with its 10-meter cone-shaped grass thatched roof. Here Belgian executive chef Nic inspires Balinese and Western creations imbued with a classic European sensibility. The restaurant is the perfect setting for a romantic or special occasion and offers world-class dining using only the freshest and highest quality international and local produce.
Each of the spacious 25 villas is exquisitely furnished and exceedingly private. Moreover, each villa has its own private, heated pool and outdoor cabana, as well as unrivaled views of the surrounding valley and dense jungle. Adding to the serenity, the constant calm, cool sound of the rolling river rises from the valley ravine as guests sit on their private terraces and relax.
9. Oyado The Earth, Japan
Oyado The Earth rests in a primeval forest, and sits along cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Toba City, within the Ise Shima national park. The hotel follows the contours of the Earth and awakens your senses to the wonders of nature. Enjoy the view of the morning sun that rises from the horizon and the shadow of the moon that reflects on the dark black sea.
The seven types of rooms in this sixteen-suite inn are spacious and give a sense of openness. All rooms have an open-air bath filled with hot spring water.
10. The Pavilions Phuket, Thailand
Indulge your body and soul at The Pavilions Phuket. Enjoy sensational west coast views, an award-winning spa, the largest outdoor pool in Phuket, and the kind of luxury that makes you feel instantly calm and content.
The Pavilions Phuket is perched on a hillside high above Layan Beach on Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, offering fantastic views of the ocean; the sunrise and sunsets are just incredible from this vantage point.
The resort has an air of privacy, space, and calm. The abundance of tropical greenery and the heavenly views are really all you need here, but the resort itself is beautiful too; contemporary with attractive Asian art to remind you exactly where you are.
Set up camp at that pool, not just the largest in Phuket but a stunningly beautiful area with a tiered garden and, of course, those magnificent views. Cocktails and snacks are served here, and it’s the place to be at the weekends to catch the BBQ events.
Your private sanctuary will be one of the 93 luxurious suites and private pool villas in this spacious, private resort. All offer luxurious, beautiful spaces, plus you have your own private infinity pool, which is a must here. If you’re after slightly more than total relaxation, then take the shuttle service to Layan beach or how about elephant trekking through the rainforests or explore sea caves by canoe.
It’s not just us that adores this place; it’s multi-award-winning, with the World Luxury Spa Awards Winner 2016, World Luxury Restaurant Awards Winner 2016, and the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2016 among its award collection.
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