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Cambodia
Treehouse, Koh Rong
Cambodia’s second-largest island, Koh Rong, is under an hour from chaotic Sihanoukville by fast boat, yet it’s still so undeveloped that there’s neither mains water nor electricity. Prices are high for Cambodia – but you get to stay in a treehouse on a tropical beach. Rustic bungalows high in the trees have hammock-equipped balconies and gorgeous sea views; the odd branch weaves through the cold-water bathrooms, and you’re visisted by geckos, lizards and monkeys.
• Treehouse for two from £22, +855 34 934 744, treehouse-bungalows.com
Tree Top Ecolodge, Ban Lung
In a lush valley in Ban Lung, jumping-off point for Virachey national park, Tree Top’s location sets it apart. Basic hardwood bungalows with wraparound verandas have hammocks and hot water bathrooms (great for washing off trekking dust) and the terrace restaurant makes the most of the views. There are bikes to hire for rides to lakes and waterfalls.
• Bungalow for two £9.50, +855 12 490 333, treetop-ecolodge.com
Laos
Sala Done Khone, Champasak
Backpacker bungalows in Laos’ 4,000 Islands archipelago can cost as little as £2, so splurging on the boutique Sala Done Khone buys a lot: stylish floating bungalows with private decks, or suites with four-posters, a decent-sized pool and a riverside restaurant. Walk or cycle to waterfalls and farmland, float off Don Det beach in an inner tube, or spot endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.
• Bungalow for two from £25. +856 (0)31 260 940, salalaoboutique.com
Malaysia
Lupa Masa, Sabah
Borneo rainforest adventures are often less eco than they seem. But Lupa Masa, an basic jungle camp half an hour’s hike from Poring hot springs, is built almost entirely from bamboo and the (limited) electricity comes from a mini-hydro plant. You wash in the river, swim in the waterfall, hike through jungle, and sleep on mats or hammocks in the open air. Book at least two days in advance.
• From £34 for two full-board, +60 19 802054, lupamasa.wix.com/lupamasaborneo
Thailand
Baan Rim Nam, Koh Chang
Far from the hubbub of Koh Chang’s backpacker zone, this converted fisherman’s house is 150m from Klong Prao beach and has five en suite rooms with aircon. The deck has hammocks and a book exchange, and there are kayaks to explore the river and islands. Owner Ian is a mine of information.
• Doubles from £13.50, +66 87 005 8575, iamkohchang.com/kohchang-guest-house
Mango Houses, Krabi
These three antique Chinese teak houses, which sit on stilts over the waters of Koh Lanta Old Town, can be rented together or separately. Fish off the deck, which has sunrise views, nab a hammock, or explore the town and many beaches by boat or bike.
• Doubles from £24 (min three nights), +66 95 014 0658, mangohouses.com
Khao Sok Raft Houses, Surat Thani
Photograph: Alamy
In Khao Sok national park, gibbons, langurs and macaques whoop through primary forest, while karst pinnacles jut from Chiew Lan lake. Divers can explore caves and a sunken village, and anyone can do waterfalls and trails. You sleep in idyllic government-run raft houses. Two-person versions at Ton Tert are cute with great views but very basic; the fanciest, at Klong Ka, sleep six and have private bathrooms.
• Bungalow for two from £8, khaosoklake.com/floating-bungalows-khao-sok-raft-houses-thailand
Vietnam
Ile de la Baleine, Vietnam
Vietnam doesn’t do beach bungalows very well, but this resort on Whale Island, off Nha Trang, is an exception. There are 30-odd simple bungalows, an over-water bar, and an excellent French/Vietnamese seafood restaurant with a daily-changing, seafood-led set menu. Besides diving, snorkelling and hiking, the resort has catamarans, windsurfers and canoes.
• Bungalow for two from £28, +84 58 3840 501, iledelabaleine.com
Philippines
Palawan camping, Palawan
Camp out on a remote beach on Palawan, in the western Philippine archipelago, without carrying loads of stuff: tents with beds are pitched beneath shady canopies, and owners Toby and Thelma have thought of everything visitors might need. The site is only accessible by boat, and sailing, fishing, kayaking and more, plus three meals a day, are included.
• From £36 for two, +11 63 48 434 8687 palawancamping.com
India
Otter Creek Tents, Goa
Fashion photographer Denzil Sequeira transformed four historic beach houses in Mandrem into luxury hideaways that draw celebrities including Jade Jagger. His Otter Creek Tents share the white sand beach, saltwater creek and excellent restaurant with the more expensive houses. Safari-style candy-coloured tents have four-poster beds, stone floors, rustic-chic bathrooms, private jetties and a desk where you might finish that novel.
• Tent for two from £26 a night (one week minimum), no phone, aseascape.com
Quiet Healing Center, Pondicherry
The planned community of Auroville circles the vast gold Mother Temple. In gardens by the beach, the Quiet Healing Center is a spa and wellness centre with 13 rooms. Enjoy therapies from ayurveda to aquatic bodywork, improve your yoga or take therapeutic training courses. Rooms are spacious and cool, the vegetarian food is delicious, and you can just lounge in hammocks or stroll the sands.
• Doubles from £35 full-board, +91 413 2622 329, aurovilleguesthouses.org
Indonesia
Sifa Cottages, Togean Islands
On a white sand beach in Walea Kodi, off Sulawesi island, these blissfully secluded cottages amply repay the lengthy journey (typically an overnight ferry from the nearest airport, Gorontalo, local boat to the island, then a private boat from the harbour). There’s outstanding snorkelling and diving, fresh water from a spring, and surprisingly varied food. It’s worth spending extra for a beachfront bungalow with western bathroom: book in advance and bring cash as there are no ATMs in the Togeans.
• Bungalow from £25 for two, full-board, +62 821 9596 6721, waleakodi.com
Dodola Island, Spice Islands
A dazzling uninhabited island off Morotai, Dodola has white sands, palm trees and coral gardens. There are plans to refurbish the three bare-bones chalets at some point, but for now living the private island dream is free: cook over open fires and camp under the stars if you prefer. Ask the tourist office in Daruba for a chalet key and negotiate a boat at the harbour, or hire a local guide like Alex Djangu.
• Free, contact [email protected]
Kali Manik, Bali
On a stretch of black sand beach in Kalisada village on Bali’s north coast, these three houses – SeaShell, Tepee and Grass Hut – sit in gardens that supply the organic restaurant. Mains electricity is limited, water is recycled, and Silvia pays staff decently, with a share of profits. Need more than hammocks and a good book? Try snorkelling, massages or hiking, visit a coffee plantation or enjoy some of Bali’s best diving at Menjangan island.
• House for two from £39, +62 362 706 4888, bali-eco-resort.com
Gili Nanggu, Lombok
These 13 islands off Sekotong are known as the Secret Gilis. Gili Nanggu has no regular inhabitants, just one Indonesian-owned resort, with 17 cold-water cottages on a pretty beach and a ramshackle turtle sanctuary – the recently refurbished sea-view cottages, styled like traditional rice barns, are the best. Guests can go snorkelling, swimming, and island-hopping, and feast on grilled fish washed down with cold Bintang beer.
• Cottage for two from £20,+62 812 3797 2299, gilinanggu.com
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