Ultimate Honeymoon Hotspots in Asia

The wedding’s over and guests have all departed so now it’s time for the best bit. The bit when you get to forget the stress and to-do lists and spend some incredible quality time with your new husband. This is the one holiday in your life where you can be as indulgent, excessive and shamelessly romantic as you wish. And as always, to assist in planning for your luxurious honeymoon we’ve put together our ultimate guide to honeymooning in Asia.

For Pristine White Sand Beaches: The Philippines
If you steer away from the more popular Boracay style beach resorts, then the Philippines play host to some of the most spectacular, postcard perfect islands in Asia. Your honeymoon is a time for alone time; secluded beaches, candlelit dinners and not another soul in sight.

Honeymoon perfection is personified in the form of Amanpulo. Arriving via private plane to this reef encircled private island, true desert island heaven awaits. Cashmere soft sand on your own stretch of beach will draw you down from your impossibly large villa to the perfectly still water. Enjoy candlelit dinners, exceptional spa treatments and service and the most enviable location in the whole world. Amanpulo is made for honeymoons, so much so you might need to re-visit every anniversary!

A slightly more affordable but no less exhilarating option is a stay at El Nido resorts most exclusive property on Pangulasian Island. Again, only reachable via a private plane, the 42 villas offer a postcard perfect honeymoon setting. If you’re not contented with the paradise views and luxury rooms, then the snorkelling, hiking and boat activities on offer will be sure to have you and your hubby beaming from ear to ear.

Amanpulo, Rates from $7,300HKD per night

El Nido Pangulasian Island, Rates from $5,000HKD per night

For Cultural Hedonists: Sri Lanka
With the civil war over, Sri Lanka is exposing its hidden secrets to luxury travellers. With improved infrastructure and an influx of luxury hotels, now is the time to visit. Perfect for couples who want a little more va-va-voom than just uninterrupted beach time, Sri Lanka really does have a little bit of everything.

For pure natural beauty, schedule some time up in the old Colonial tea estates in the Hill Country. Lazing around lush green fields and soaking up the history of the region is utterly soul soothing. To sleep surrounded by wood panelling, quaint verandas and claw-foot baths, we recommend nowhere other than the delightful Ceylon Tea Trails. If you fancy a night in Kandy then stay at Kandy House and then take a mystical train journey up to the tea country.

For UNESCO listed World Heritage beauty head to the cultural triangle with its ancient cities, monumental fortresses and luxurious accommodation in the form the eco-minded Vil Uyana  or more modernist Kandalama in Sigiriya.

Intrepid explorers will want to head into the National Parks for a spot of safari. You’ll definitely spot an elephant or two but the true draw is spotting a leopard lazing in the jungle, best done from the wonderfully bespoke tented camps set up by Leopard Trails.

Finally, for some much deserved downtime, head South to Tangalle and laze all day on the beautiful beaches. For faultless luxury check out Amanwella or for something a little more bohemian try Last House.

Ceylon Tea Trails, Rates from $4,000HKD per night

Kandy House, Rates from $1,700HKD per night

Vil Uyana, Rates from $1,100HKD per night

Kandalama, Rates from $1,100HKD per night

Leopard Trails, Rates from $6,200 HKD per night all inclusive

Amanwella, Rates from $4,600HKD per night

Last House, Rates from $1,100HKD per night 

For the Best of Both Worlds: Bali
Bali is synonymous with yogic levels of peace and relaxation. But if it’s that that you and your beau are after, stay away from the more raucous Seminkyak and Kuta areas where drunken revellers are sure to infringe on your romantic escapades.

Instead we suggest you start your Bali honeymoon holiday up in the tranquil hills of Ubud. True to our belief that nothing says honeymoon like an Aman, check out Amandari, perched amongst rice fields it is perhaps Ubud’s most indulgent option.

No less luxurious and equally as private but at a lower price point is the fantastic Chedi Club. With only 20 private villas, your own butler and private pool overlooking the paddy fields, it is a touch of heaven.

For some beach time, we recommend that you head a little further afield and explore the lesser-known Lombok area. With a magical untouched feel, you will be amazed at the scenery and pampered at the new hotels in the North West areas of Sira Beach and Malimbu. Or check out some of the fantastic range of eco-retreats that are either propped up on their own private islands or perched on mesmerising cliffs. For the best honeymoon worthy range check out the top picks from the folk at Ampersand Travel.

Amandari, Rates from $7,300HKD per night

The Chedi Club, Rates from $2,700HKD per night

A little further afield: The Maldives
Nestling down on the far edge of the Asian continent, the Maldives have become super accessible thanks to the recent launch of direct flights over from Hong Kong. So palm fringed beaches, private atolls and impossible clear waters are now simply a hop, skip and jump away. Famously suited to honeymooners due to the secluded nature of most hotels, there is a hotel for all tastes. Keep in mind that often the most economical way of booking a Maldives hotel is on a package basis with a travel agent to avoid the hefty nightly rates and Sri Lanka is a great nearby stopover if you’re looking for some action after pure beach time.

If you’re looking to indulge your inner hippie then Six Senses hotels are the ones for you. For the ultimate in desert island hideaways they somehow manage to merge a barefoot, laidback approach to luxury with faultless attention to detail and indulgence. Think breezes gently fluttering through open sided, wooden floored, paradise-like villas. For a truly exclusive honeymoon check out Soneva Fushi; the ultimate Robinson Crusoe fantasy hotel. For a more affordable option, look at the no less spectacular Six Senses Laamu.

If contemporary elegance is more your style then the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru stays true to the Four Season’s World Class hotel standards and brings a beautiful contemporary approach to its humongous private villas. Local village influences merge seamlessly with a more minimalist aesthetic in this epic 44-acre natural lagoon site.

Our final option is consistently voted the top hotel in the Maldives and Cocoa Island by Como definitely deserves this accolade. Applying Como’s distinct style of low-key luxury, this hotel will make you feel relaxed, pampered and spoilt like you have never been before.  All rooms hover over the crystal-clear waters and the Como Shambhala Retreat will ensure you have the most tranquil start to married life with oodles of yoga, meditation and treatments.

Soneva Fushi, Rates from $18,000HKD per night

Six Senses Laamu, Rates from $7,500 HKD per night

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Rates from $7,700HKD per night

Cocoa Island by Como, Rates from $9,000HKD per night

Image sourced from Pinterest

Off the beaten track: Thailand, Myanmar & Vietnam
If even Sri Lanka and Bali seem too “done” and you long to swim upstream then we recommend treading the alternative path in Thailand and Vietnam. Steer clear of the clichéd hotspots and instead explore these unforgettable sights on your own honeymoon adventure.

Northern Thailand
The Golden Triangle around Chiang Rai captivates many a seasoned traveller. An area where wildlife abounds, the scenery and culture will have you mesmerised. There is no more worthy honeymoon hotel than the epic Four Seasons Tented Camp. With views spanning Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, even those well-travelled folk at Conde Nast Traveller deem it the most memorable place they have ever stayed. With only 15 tents (unlike any tent you have every seen) the most luxurious adventure awaits you.

If you can’t get in here, then it’s also worth checking out the nearby Anantara Golden Triangle resort where you can commandeer your own elephant and guide it through the enchanting jungle.

Four Seasons Tented Camp, rooms from $15,000HKD per night on an all-inclusive basis

Anantara Golden Triangle, rooms from $7,800HKD per night

Myanmar
Take advantage of your proximity to this magical country and hop across the border from Thailand to sample some of Burma’s delights. As the country is so new to tourism it isn’t necessarily fully geared up to honeymoon luxury standards. So our top pick would be to fit the following in your itinerary.

A stay at the enchanting Inle Princess Resort down on Inle Lake where you can watch the world go by from your lakeside perch. If you have to spend a night in Yangon then prepare to be dazzled by the famous Shwe Dagon pagoda whilst you lounge in colonial luxury at the Governor’s Residence.Then for a truly honeymoon worthy adventure, embark on a voyage down the Irrawaddy river from your own luxury cabin aboard one of the Orient Express’s iconic fleet. For more Myanmar tips, see our full guide here.

Myanmar is hard to navigate alone so we would recommend contacting Ampersand Travel for help compiling your dream itinerary. 

Central Vietnam
For the perfect end to your intrepid exploration of South East Asia’s heartland, schedule some downtime in Central Vietnam. As we explored in our recent guide to the area, Central Vietnam is a region often overlooked but home to beautiful scenery and incredible hotels. A stay at the newly opened Aman’oi will be the most apt way to embark on married life together, with utter heaven on your doorstep.

Or if you want to be nearer the action but no less spoilt then check out the Nam Hai in Hoi An. With Hoi An’s historic centre not far away, you can still immerse yourself in the beachside luxury of this exceptional resort

Aman’oi, rates from $6,900HKD per night

The Nam Hai, rates from $3,900HKD per night

We’re wanderlusting all over the place right now, but kind of need a reason to go on a honeymoon. To hell with it, we’re planning a wedding! If you’re in the same boat, go check out our Hong Kong wedding planning guides and our That Bride interviews with real Hong Kong brides.