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Escape to the Jungle in One of These Modern Forested RetreatsView 11 Photos

Escape to the Jungle in One of These Modern Forested Retreats

If Tarzan and Jane happened to be design-loving folks, they'd be right at home at any of these vacation destinations.
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There’s something about being surrounded by lush tropical plant life that soothes the urban soul. Nestled within the jungles and rainforests of Asia and South America, these contemporary hotels and rental homes offer a way to enjoy modern comforts while waking up to birdsongs, butterflies, and an occasional wild monkey.

The Naked House on Thailand's Second Largest Island

Built by architect and photographer Mark Gerritson, The Naked House is a stunning six-bedroom minimalist villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui with concrete floors and plenty of outdoor space. It's available to rent through Airbnb.

Built by architect and photographer Mark Gerritson, The Naked House is a stunning six-bedroom minimalist villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui with concrete floors and plenty of outdoor space. It's available to rent through Airbnb.

Surrounded by Lake Koggala, TRI Hotel is a sustainably-built Sri Lankan resort with green walls and roofs, recycled wood furniture, and solar heating. It offers spectacular 360-degree views of the lake and verdant rainforests.  

Surrounded by Lake Koggala, TRI Hotel is a sustainably-built Sri Lankan resort with green walls and roofs, recycled wood furniture, and solar heating. It offers spectacular 360-degree views of the lake and verdant rainforests.  

European, Japanese, and Balinese aesthetics come together in the design of Bisma Eight, an elegant boutique hotel in Ubud, Bali that's surrounded by paddy fields and forests.

European, Japanese, and Balinese aesthetics come together in the design of Bisma Eight, an elegant boutique hotel in Ubud, Bali that's surrounded by paddy fields and forests.

Cocooned by jungles along the Mexican Caribbean coast, Papaya Playa Project offers the best of both forest and sea. The design of this eco-friendly resort hotel uses "Chukum," a traditional Mayan building technique that helps keep interiors cool.   

Cocooned by jungles along the Mexican Caribbean coast, Papaya Playa Project offers the best of both forest and sea. The design of this eco-friendly resort hotel uses "Chukum," a traditional Mayan building technique that helps keep interiors cool.   

Opened in 2015, Keemala—which is located in Kamala Village in Phuket, Thailand—offers four types of private accommodation options including Clay Cottages, Tent Villas, Tree Houses, and Bird’s Nest Villas. All villas come with pools and views of the jungle canopy. 

Opened in 2015, Keemala—which is located in Kamala Village in Phuket, Thailand—offers four types of private accommodation options including Clay Cottages, Tent Villas, Tree Houses, and Bird’s Nest Villas. All villas come with pools and views of the jungle canopy. 

Set in a 1970s Brutalism residence designed by Brazilian architect Wladimir Alves de Souzain, and located at the heart of Santa Teresa in Rio, Chez Georges, is a nine-bedroom hillside house with soaring ceilings and a music studio that overlooks the Brazilian rainforest.

Set in a 1970s Brutalism residence designed by Brazilian architect Wladimir Alves de Souzain, and located at the heart of Santa Teresa in Rio, Chez Georges, is a nine-bedroom hillside house with soaring ceilings and a music studio that overlooks the Brazilian rainforest.

Embraced by the jungles of Thailand’s Koh Yao Noi Island, the villas at Six Senses Yao Noi have wooden poster beds, sofas upholstered in sunny yellow and orange, commodious bathrooms with a sunken bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers, a spacious infinity pool, and an outdoor pavilion. 

Embraced by the jungles of Thailand’s Koh Yao Noi Island, the villas at Six Senses Yao Noi have wooden poster beds, sofas upholstered in sunny yellow and orange, commodious bathrooms with a sunken bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers, a spacious infinity pool, and an outdoor pavilion. 

Built almost entirely with locally-sourced bamboo, the Green Village residential community in Ubud, Bali, is a sculptural house designed by Elora Hardy of Ibuku. It's available to rent through Airbnb.

Built almost entirely with locally-sourced bamboo, the Green Village residential community in Ubud, Bali, is a sculptural house designed by Elora Hardy of Ibuku. It's available to rent through Airbnb.

Situated in a former agricultural site that's now home to a wetland forest, Kalundewa Retreat near the city of Dambulla, marries clean, modern lines with rustic teak and brick.   

Situated in a former agricultural site that's now home to a wetland forest, Kalundewa Retreat near the city of Dambulla, marries clean, modern lines with rustic teak and brick.   

Nihiwatu is a cluster of luxury bale villas on Sumba, one of the more remote islands of Indonesia. Interiors are furnished with tropical hued fabrics, warm woods, rattan, soft drapery, and local artifacts.  

Nihiwatu is a cluster of luxury bale villas on Sumba, one of the more remote islands of Indonesia. Interiors are furnished with tropical hued fabrics, warm woods, rattan, soft drapery, and local artifacts.  

Michele Koh Morollo
Dwell Contributor
Michele Koh Morollo is a journalist who has been writing about design, lifestyle and travel for the last twenty years.

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