The glamping trend has swept across Asia, with new luxury tented camps popping up in the region's most pristine corners.
Recent additions include the soon-to-open Cardamom Tented Camp and the Bill Bensley-designed Shinta Mani Wild, both in southwestern Cambodia, along with Rosewood Luang Prabang tucked into the jungles of Laos.
What's more, many of Asia's most popular destinations offer the chance to spot elephants, gibbons and leopards on safari-style excursions.
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"This is different from an African safari," says John Roberts, director of elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation.
"The nature of the forests and the wildlife lets you get much closer to them. Even in tiger, leopard, rhino, sloth bear and bear country, with a good guide you can safely walk and spend time focusing on the birds, butterflies and plant life between encounters with the larger mammals."
Looking for adventure that doesn't sacrifice comfort? Here are the best luxury tented camps across the Asian region.
Cardamom Tented Camp
A joint project between sustainable tourism group YAANA Ventures, Cambodian conservation organization Wildlife Alliance and Thailand's Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, Cardamom Tented Camp sits on a protected stretch of land that was once a hotbed of illegal logging and poaching.
Accessible only by boat, the camp's nine luxury tents look out over the Preak Tachan River and the surrounding meadows, on a parcel of land in southwestern Cambodia between Botum Sakor National Park and Southern Cardamom National Park.
"Wildlife is slowly returning after decades of unchecked poaching," says Roberts, who serves as group director of sustainability and conservation at the camp, an initiative of the Bangkok-based Minor Group.
"We have Asian wild dogs, clouded leopards, mouse deer, sun bears, hog badgers, gibbons, macaques, elephants and much more."
The tented experience is rounded out by a riverside restaurant, a floating pier and plenty of safari-style excursions, led by Wildlife Alliance rangers, where travelers are all but guaranteed to spot a wide range of wildlife.
"It's important to choose camps and lodges that actively protect the forest," Roberts says.
"They usually have the best guides, who are often either local former poachers or scientific researchers, or a combination of both."
The camp is set to open on November 1.
Shinta Mani Wild – The Bensley Collection
A new project from renowned resort designer Bill Bensley, in partnership with Wildlife Alliance, Fauna & Flora International, the Royal University of Phnom Penh and the Cambodian government, Shinta Mani Wild aims to become an unprecedented wildlife sanctuary.
Surrounded by three national parks, Kirirom, Bokor and Cardamom, in southwestern Cambodia, its 15 tents promise total immersion in nature.
A typical day might include a host of adventures, from river expeditions along what's considered Southeast Asia's last wild estuarine system to hikes through forests where travelers may spot wild elephants, gibbons and bears.
For those hoping to witness animal migrations, the best time to visit is the dry season, from November to March.
What's more, the beautifully designed tents blend elements of Cambodian architecture with retro touches that evoke the days of colonial expeditions.
When the resort opens in mid-2018, it will feature a restaurant and bar set beside a waterfall, serving dishes made from local produce, a spa, and a spotlight on the conservation projects of the Shinta Mani Foundation.
Rosewood Luang Prabang
Also slated to open in early 2018, Rosewood Luang Prabang will be located roughly 10 minutes from Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Laos.
This is glamping 2.0: picture dense jungle, waterfalls, open-air showers, private dining terraces and a mix of 23 palatial villas and luxury tents set in a pristine natural landscape.
Beyond its stylish accommodations, Rosewood is also working on a Lao bistro, a bar and a Rosewood spa.
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Clawfoot tubs, antique furnishings, open-air showers, sprawling terraces: the all-inclusive Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle transports travelers back to the early days of exploration, thanks to the craftsmanship of resort designer Bill Bensley.
There are 15 tents scattered throughout the jungle, plus one massive explorer's lodge with two separate bedrooms and a private pool.
The Golden Triangle setting, where northern Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, combines dense jungle, meadows, rivers and a sanctuary for rescued elephants.
The elephants appear around the tented camp in the mornings for their bath with the mahouts (elephant trainers), and can be seen roaming the vast reserve.
Elsewhere on the grounds, travelers will find a bar with beautiful sunset views, an open-air Thai restaurant, a wine cellar (where you can enjoy private tastings before dinner), cooking classes and a spa that seems to float in the middle of the jungle.
Amanwana
With its own private island and marine reserve in eastern Indonesia, Amanwana takes camping to a whole new level.
Located on Moyo Island, the resort's 20 "tented suites" come with high ceilings, air conditioning, hardwood floors, king-size beds and large windows.
The two room types, some surrounded by jungle, others on the shore, are a short walk from the coast, where snorkeling and diving reward travelers with colorful reef life.
The grounds also feature an open-air restaurant and the Jungle Cove spa, a chance to unwind in the company of macaques and tamarind trees.
Those seeking more animal encounters will find plenty of wildlife on jungle treks around the island.
Unless it finds you first: many species, including deer, are said to appear near the tents in the early morning.
Sandat Glamping Tents
Hidden among the jungle and rice fields surrounding Ubud, in central Bali, Sandat Glamping Tents offers five luxury tents and three lumbung, essentially thatched-roof bungalows inspired by traditional Balinese barns.
The whimsical accommodations blend elements of Balinese culture with romantic touches imported from Italy, where the brand launched its first glamping experience near Venice in 2009.
While each room has its own unique character, many boast flowing drapery, Venetian-style chandeliers, four-poster beds and private pools.
After a day of exploring temples, cycling through the rice paddies or rafting on the river, you can retreat to the lounge and bar, a cathedral-like bamboo restaurant or even a private dinner under the stars.
And if you're here for a wellness getaway, good news: one of the most beautiful parts of the property is the yoga pavilion, a stunning bamboo structure surrounded by rice fields.
Elephant Hills
One of Thailand's first luxury tented camps, Elephant Hills brings the tropical jungle right to your doorstep.
The company runs two separate camps, both inside Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand, each offering a different experience.
As the name suggests, The Elephant Camp promises encounters with these gentle giants, many of which were rescued from the logging industry.
Visitors can admire the elephants in their natural habitat, and even bathe and feed them at set times throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the Rainforest Camp floats on Cheow Lan Lake, where canoeing and hiking are close at hand.
But the best part may be the peace and quiet. Travelers open the flaps of their tents and find themselves just a few feet from the calm lake, a serene way to start the morning.
To visit both glamping sites, travelers can choose the Jungle Lake Safari, which includes one night at the Elephant Camp and two nights on the lake.
Damodra Desert Camp
Offering a completely different kind of safari, Damodra Desert Camp in northern India showcases the beauty of the desert.
Here, travelers can experience the vast, wind-swept dunes of the Thar Desert, about 18 miles from Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan, without sacrificing a single comfort.
The tents, inspired by Swiss cottages, come with air conditioning, private patios and colorful upholstery that pays tribute to the region.
During the day, visitors are most likely to join a camel safari or enjoy sandboarding on the dunes.
As night falls, the camp comes alive with live music and Indian dinners, all under the starry desert sky.
Norden Travel
Owned and run by a local Tibetan couple, in the Gannan region of central China, Norden Travel showcases beautiful grasslands and a rich culture with eight wooden pine cabins and four luxury tents made of yak hair.
The rustic decor and hardwood floors are refined and cozy all at once, the kind of place where you could hide away for a while and clear your mind.
Each tent and cabin is a little different, some tucked into the shrubbery while others sit along the river, but all have outdoor seating areas, stoves and peaceful, pastoral views.
Though it isn't quite a safari, a hike through the surrounding mountains and hills will likely reward guests with sightings of gazelles and pheasants, yaks and, of course, sheep.
On top of that, the camp also arranges horseback rides, village visits, guided hikes, yoga and private tours of Labrang Monastery, one of the six major Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.
SUJÁN JAWAI and Sher Bagh Relais & Chateaux
A rustic retreat in Rajasthan, SUJÁN JAWAI offers 10 white canvas tents and every modern comfort you could dream of, including an on-site spa, a restaurant, a pool, yoga and much more.
Set against the sandy Aravalli hills, a three-hour drive from Jodhpur or Udaipur in northern India, the camp draws inspiration from its rugged surroundings, using leopard motifs, wildlife photography and plenty of bright red accents throughout.
Using their luxury tent as a base, travelers can be as lazy or as adventurous as they like.
Options include private bush picnics, evening wildlife drives, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and leisurely dinners by the campfire.
There's also a half-day excursion to the incredible carved Jain temple of Ranakpur and the 15th-century Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Even just wandering the grounds, which are actively involved in big cat conservation, there's no shortage of flora and fauna to admire.
Of course, the best experiences come with the guides in town. On jeep safaris, the camp's experts lead travelers across meadows, granite hills and lakes for the best views of leopards, antelope, crocodiles, wild boar and flamingos.
SUJÁN JAWAI's sister property, Sher Bagh, transports travelers to a 1920s-style safari within India's Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
By day, enjoy safaris, excursions and British Raj-style dining; by night, settle into a tiger-themed room.
Tiger Tops
A pioneer of sustainable tourism in Nepal, Tiger Tops was one of the first companies to establish a tented camp in Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in south-central Nepal.
"Maybe because I spent so much time there, some of my most memorable safari experiences were in Chitwan," Roberts recalls.
"From the gol-ghar breakfast hut (a reed-thatched central building) at the old Tiger Tops tented camp, I watched rhinos mating, as well as a tigress and her four cubs."
In 2012, government policy required all hotels and lodges to be relocated outside the national park.
Today the company operates three locations across the country, including the recently opened Tiger Tops Elephant Camp, with comfortable tented lodges.
The British-Nepali company gives its elephants a chain-free sanctuary in their natural habitat, where travelers can interact with the pachyderms and observe their daily routines.
Typical activities include cutting grass with the mahouts (elephant keepers) to feed the animals, or hiking through the jungle side by side.
