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Paradise villas: the best overwater bungalows from around the world

We've found the best overwater bungalows and villas tucked in spectacular destinations all around the world.

Whether perched on a coral reef in the Pacific with nothing but a backdrop of a glistening turquoise ocean or extended over a lagoon alongside glorious mountain ranges in Central America, luxury overwater bungalows and villas are tucked away in spectacular destinations all over the world.

For those seeking relaxation amongst wondrous isolated natural environments, we’ve found the most enviable overwater bungalows for you to kick your feet up in.

Overwater bungalows situated in Pacific paradise

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This magnificent Pacific paradise is located on Tikehau, a coral atoll found in French Polynesia. Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort has 24 suites and overwater bungalows, as well as 13 beaches on a beautiful, well-kept island property.

The Polynesians working at the resort are happy to share the secrets of the stress-free island lifestyle. The resort offers Polynesian massages using local ingredients, traditional tattooing by a native tattoo artist, Polynesian dance classes and cooking classes with the resort’s head chef. Here guests can learn to cook traditional dishes of the island.

Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort

Top rated
Tikehau
8.8 Excellent (145 reviews)

An exotic overwater bungalow in Thailand

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On the banks of the River Kwai in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province is one of the most exotic floating hotels, or “floatels”, in the world. Float House River Kwai comprises of 18 elegant boutique villas made from bamboo and traditional teakwood.

Thanks to the Float House’s location in a tropical rainforest, visitors have access to an infinite supply of unique activities in the hotel’s natural surrounds. Guests can ride elephants, canoe down the historically renowned river, or even visit an indigenous Mon village and a nearby Mon’s temple.

The Float House River Kwai

Kanchanaburi
9.2 Excellent (894 reviews)

A tropical rainforest getaway in Malaysia

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The Berjaya Langkawi Resort in Malaysia is spread across 28 hectares of tropical rainforest and the crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea. The resort is home to 50 rooms, suites and chalets found either over the water or inside the rainforest, all with private balconies.

The island resort offers a number of recreational activities including tennis, fishing, scuba diving and windsurfing. Guests seeking a more relaxing stay can visit the hotel spa, followed by a couple of cocktails at one of the nine bars and restaurants on-premises.

Berjaya Langkawi Resort

Top rated
Pantai Kok
8.7 Excellent (3002 reviews)

Luxurious overwater bungalows in Mauritius

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Hidden away in Poste de Flacq, one of the most beautiful regions in Mauritius, you’ll find Constance Le Prince Maurice. The intimate resort is home to 64 suites, 12 family suites, 12 luxury overwater bungalows and the exclusive Princely suite.

The hotel boasts unspoiled tropical gardens, an 18-hole golf course and three superb fine dining restaurants. But the real highlight of a visit to Constance Le Prince Maurice is the hotel’s Wine Cellar, which stores around 25,000 bottles of wine from vineyards all over the world.

Constance Prince Maurice

Top rated
Poste de Flacq
9.5 Excellent (569 reviews)

Sleep and eat overwater

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With just 31 overwater bungalows available, InterContinental Resort Tahiti is the perfect intimate setting to explore the real French Polynesia. The bungalows offer picture-perfect views of the island of Moorea and the resort has a large range of island activities.

Restaurant- and bar-hopping is a must-do at the resort: there are overwater gourmet restaurants, swim-up bars by the pool and live music which has proved a hit with locals. The resort is best known for its traditional Polynesian dinner dance show, which claims to be the best dinner show in Tahiti.

Intercontinental Resort Tahiti, An Ihg Hotel

Top rated
Papeete
8.7 Excellent (2238 reviews)

A luxury private island resort

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Nestled on the Gulf of Thailand, Cambodia’s Song Saa Private Island is the country’s first luxury private island resort. Like the rest of the islands in the Koh Rong Archipelago, Song Saa is totally deserted and boasts untouched tropical rainforests, vibrant coral reefs and white sandy beaches.

The exclusive villas of Song Saa were built with respect to the surrounding natural environment using sustainable materials. The resort features a world-class bar and restaurant positioned perfectly along the shoreline, offering a fusion of traditional Cambodian and Western cuisine with ingredients either produced in-house or sourced locally.

Song Saa Private Island

Top rated
Sihanoukville
9.8 Excellent (32 reviews)

Out-of-this-world ocean views in the Maldives

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The deluxe Anantara Kihavah Anantara Kihavah Villas Resort resort is found on a tropical coral island in the UNESCO World Heritage Baa Atoll, a biosphere reserve recognised for its unique relationship between man and nature. The overwater bungalows are fitted out with sundecks, private pools and out-of-this-world views of crystal clear ocean.

The hotel is home to one of the few underwater glass restaurants in the world – one is even equipped with a wine cellar. Another highlight of the resort is the Anantara Spa, which uses the finest natural oils which are produced by the local island community.

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Top rated
Baa Atoll
9.8 Excellent (108 reviews)

Relax and unwine in a Vietnamese overwater bungalow

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The Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang resort lies exclusively on a private island, located in one of the world’s most beautiful bays. The hotel features 84 stunning villas along the shoreline, as well as private overwater massage huts.

Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang is the only resort in the world to have a luxury spa built over the water. These intimate massage huts at the Vincharm Spa are ideal for complete relaxation of the body, soul and mind. They are located in total privacy and perch above calm flowing waves. Vincham Spa uses traditional oriental products to help guests unwind. Still undecided about visiting Vietnam?

Hotel Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang

Nha Trang
8.6 Excellent (808 reviews)

An authentic Polynesian hotel experience

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The Le Méridien Bora Bora bungalows are perfect for guests wishing to stay in an authentic Polynesian environment. The hotel has six types of bungalows, all of which have been renovated in the last few years.

Guests have the choice of staying in overwater bungalows with infinity pools, glass-bottom floors or private terraces. Visitors can even choose to be in close proximity to private lagoons and a turtle sanctuary. The resort offers an abundance of activities including kayaking, snorkelling, jet-skiing, parasailing, even shark and sting-ray feeding.

Le Méridien Bora Bora

Top rated
Bora Bora
9.0 Excellent (392 reviews)

Impressive lagoon views from your overwater bungalow in Bora Bora

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Found just off the coast of one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, InterContinental Le Moana Resort in Bora Bora offers impressive views of mountains towering over the lagoon. The resort has 64 bungalows, and 50 of them are overwater bungalows.

The hotel has numerous Polynesian treasures on offer, such as local handicraft demonstrations of hats, baskets and mats being made from coconut palm leaves. Guests can also treat themselves to handmade traditional garments and Monoi oil used by Polynesians for its medical properties. On top of that, the most prestigious pearl producer in French Polynesia displays their collection of loose pearls and jewellery in the hotel.

Intercontinental Le Moana Resort Bora Bora, An Ihg Hotel

Top rated
Bora Bora
9.3 Excellent (964 reviews)

An overwater bungalow experience in the Caribbean

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Resting over a coral reef in the Caribbean Sea, at the tip of Bocas del Toro in Panama is the exotic Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge. The hotel features nine overwater huts with thatched palm roofing, connected by one long boardwalk.

The hotel offers guests a local take on activities, with daily trips to nearby indigenous villages, visits to some of the most remote beaches in the area, hikes through rainforests to discover the region’s exotic wildlife and even fishing trips with local fisherman—a popular activity among visitors.

Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge

Bocas del Toro
8.8 Excellent (289 reviews)

Ultimate beachside luxury

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For the ultimate luxury experience, the Maldives is the place to be. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a beautiful resort spread across two islands. The hotel has a variety of accommodation options, from beach bungalows to water villas in a range of sizes and styles.

The resort is best known as the home of the world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant, serving fine European cuisine five metres below sea level amongst 180-degree panoramic views of spectacular coral reefs and marine life.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Top rated
South Ari Atoll
9.5 Excellent (509 reviews)

Explore the set of Castaway

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Tucked away in the Mamanuca Archipelago near Nadi in Fiji is the picturesque overwater bungalows of the Likuliku Lagoon Resort. The bungalows, like the resort itself, were designed using traditional Fijian architecture and were built with natural materials unique to the region.

From body treatments at the spa with the finest Fijian products to windsurfing over the glimmering Pacific waters, the resort offers a mix of relaxation and adrenalin-filled activities. Likuliku even offers a jetski tour to Modriki Island, where the movie Castaway was filmed.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort

Top rated
Malolo
9.8 Excellent (683 reviews)

Slow down and enjoy nature

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The five-star Gili Lankanfushi resort sits on the secluded coral island of Lankanfushi, just a 20-minute speed boat ride from Malé Airport. The resort’s relaxed atmosphere gives guests the opportunity to slow down and indulge in the wondrous nature that surrounds them.

The private resort has 45 overwater bungalows with private water gardens and sun decks. Some of the bungalows are accessible by walkway while others can only be reached by boat – ideal for those seeking the ultimate private getaway. The hotel also offers excellent home-grown produce in their kitchens, with most of the vegetables and herbs used in its dishes coming from the resort’s organic herb garden.

Gili Lankanfushi

Top rated
Nord Male Atoll
9.7 Excellent (453 reviews)

Feature image courtesy of Marcelo Rabelo / Fotolia