If you've got a taste for luxury, then these hotels are ones you'll want to put on your travel bucket list. Robb Report has released its annual list of The 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth, and it's safe to say we're drooling at all the incredible stays in Asia.
The list was put together after some painstaking deliberation by Robb Report's 26 Travel Masters – a group of luxury travel specialists who make a living from recommending the best experiences to some of the most discerning clientele in the world. They each shared their top five luxury hospitality experiences, comprising both new properties and old favourites across key regions like Europe, America, Africa, and, of course, Asia.
Top in Asia is NIHI Sumba, ranked No. 7 on Robb Report's list. It's located on Sumba Island, an up-and-coming destination just an hour's flight from Bali. This island is pristine, (still) devoid of the tourist crowds and tourism development found on the ever-popular Bali. NIHI Sumba, one of the few (and earliest) luxury resorts on Sumba, fits right into this island's rustic charm.
Robb Report touts it for its focus on sustainability, highlighting its "light footprint", comprising thatched villas (which bring to mind the island's unique uma traditional houses), private pools and bales, and total seclusion on 2.5 kilometres of untouched beach. It also gives back: locals from nearby villages are trained at Nihi's hospitality school and employed at the resort, and curated experiences are offered to guests through the Sumba Foundation, which runs several projects empowering Sumbanese in aspects like water, nutrition, and education.
Read: Is Sumba worth visiting? A mini-guide to Indonesia's Bali alternative
Robb Report only ranks the top ten hotels in the world – the rest of the 50 best list is categorised according to region. Nine other hotels in Asia make it to this prestigious list, including favourites like Aman Tokyo and Capella Taipei, as well as new openings like Shakti Prana in Kumaon, India. The entrants run the gamut from 'floating' marble hotels to zen wellness resorts – check out the full list below or on Robb Report.
The greatest luxury hotels in Asia for 2025, according to Robb Report:
- Nihi Sumba – Sumba, Indonesia
- Aman Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan
- Amanbagh – Rajasthan, India
- Banwa Private Island – Palawan, Philippines
- Capella Taipei – Taipei City, Taiwan
- Six Senses Kyoto – Kyoto, Japan
- Shakti Prana – Kumaon, India
- Six Senses Vana – Dehradun, India
- Soneva Secret – Haa Shaalu Atoll, the Maldives
- Taj Lake Palace – Udaipur, India
Have you heard? Is Sumba worth visiting? A mini-guide to Indonesia's Bali alternative
Plus: This gorgeous Central Asian country just extended visa-free travel to 56 countries
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration straight to your inbox.