Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most spectacular infinity pools — the kind that blur the line between water and sky, making you feel like you're swimming into the horizon. Whether perched on a Balinese cliff, hovering above a Bangkok skyline, or stretching toward a Thai island sunset, the best infinity pools in Asia transform a simple swim into a genuinely transcendent experience.
I've spent years visiting hotels across the region, and these 15 properties have the pools that made me stop, stare, and immediately reach for my camera. Here's the definitive ranking — with honest notes on what to expect, what you'll pay, and whether the pool alone justifies the room rate.
The Icons: Pools That Defined a Category
1. Marina Bay Sands — Singapore
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. The 150-metre rooftop pool at Marina Bay Sands, perched 57 floors above the city, is arguably the most photographed infinity pool on earth. And honestly? It lives up to the hype. Swimming here at sunset with the Singapore skyline glowing beneath you is a bucket-list moment that actually delivers.
**The details:** The pool is strictly for hotel guests — no day passes, no exceptions. The best light is between 5:30 and 7:00 PM. Rooms start around $450/night, but you're paying as much for pool access as for the room itself. SEA Hotel Score: 9.2.
**Pro tip:** Book a room in Tower 3 for the shortest walk to the pool deck. Tower 1 guests face a genuine trek.
2. Hanging Gardens of Bali — Ubud, Indonesia
This is the pool that launched a thousand Instagram accounts. The twin-tiered infinity pools cascading down a jungle ravine overlooking the Ayung River valley are, without exaggeration, among the most beautiful hotel pools ever built. The lower pool is the star — a dramatic curved design that seems to float above the rainforest canopy.
**The details:** Guests only, and the property is boutique (44 villas), so the pool never feels crowded. Villas start around $380/night. Best swimming: early morning when mist hangs over the valley. SEA Hotel Score: 9.0.
3. Alila Villas Uluwatu — Bali, Indonesia
Perched on limestone cliffs 100 metres above the Indian Ocean, Alila Uluwatu's main infinity pool is pure drama. The 50-metre pool stretches toward the ocean with nothing between you and the waves below but cliff and sky. It's architecturally stunning — WOHA Architects designed the entire resort to feel like it's hovering above the sea.
**The details:** The pool area has a sophisticated, adult atmosphere. Cabanas are complimentary for guests. Villas from $550/night. Sunset here is extraordinary — the pool faces due west. SEA Hotel Score: 9.4.
Thailand's Finest: Tropical Pools That Steal the Show
4. Six Senses Yao Noi — Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
If you could only swim in one pool in Thailand, make it this one. The hilltop infinity pool at Six Senses Yao Noi looks out over the dramatic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay — the same scenery that made James Bond Island famous, except you're seeing it from a private pool with a cocktail in hand.
**The details:** The main pool is open to all guests, but many villas have their own private infinity pools with the same view. Villa rates from $700/night, but the standard rooms ($350+) still get full pool access. SEA Hotel Score: 9.3.
5. The Siam — Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok's most stylish boutique hotel has an infinity pool that overlooks the Chao Phraya River with the city skyline beyond. It's more intimate than the typical rooftop pool — set within lush gardens at the river's edge, it feels like a private oasis in the middle of the capital.
**The details:** Only 39 rooms, so the pool is never crowded. The Art Deco-inspired design is gorgeous. Rooms from $280/night. Best time: late afternoon when the river traffic picks up and the light turns golden. SEA Hotel Score: 8.7.
6. Banyan Tree Bangkok — Thailand
The rooftop infinity pool on the 21st floor of the Banyan Tree is one of Bangkok's best-kept secrets. While everyone queues for the hotel's famous Vertigo bar, the pool deck offers equally stunning 360-degree views of the Bangkok skyline in relative peace.
**The details:** Guests only. The pool is compact but perfectly maintained, with attentive poolside service. Rooms from $200/night — genuinely excellent value for a pool of this calibre. SEA Hotel Score: 8.5.
7. Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Krabi, Thailand
Tucked into the Krabi coastline, Phulay Bay's infinity pool stretches toward the Andaman Sea with a backdrop of jungle-covered hills. The design is seamless — dark-tiled and surrounded by sandstone, it feels carved from the landscape itself. This is one of only a handful of Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties worldwide, and the pool reflects that exclusivity.
**The details:** Villas from $450/night. The pool has a dedicated pavilion restaurant, so you can order lunch without leaving the water's edge. SEA Hotel Score: 8.9.
Malaysia & Beyond: Hidden Gems Worth the Trip
8. The Datai Langkawi — Malaysia
The Datai's main pool is set within 10 million-year-old rainforest, looking out toward the Andaman Sea. What makes it special isn't just the view — it's the setting. Monkeys swing through the canopy overhead, hornbills call from the trees, and the water temperature is perfect year-round. It's a pool that makes you feel deeply, beautifully remote.
**The details:** Recently renovated, the pool area is immaculate. Rooms from $350/night. The nature walk to the pool through the rainforest is an experience in itself. SEA Hotel Score: 9.1.
9. The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi — Malaysia
Set on the beachfront with views across the Andaman Sea to scattered islands, this resort's infinity pool wraps around the main building in a generous horseshoe shape. It's large enough that you can always find a quiet corner, and the sunset views rival anywhere in the region.
**The details:** Rooms from $300/night. The pool bar serves excellent cocktails, and there's a separate adults-only section. SEA Hotel Score: 8.6.
10. Amanoi — Ninh Thuan, Vietnam
Aman's Vietnamese property sits on a cliff overlooking Vinh Hy Bay, and its infinity pool is every bit as dramatic as you'd expect from the brand. The 30-metre pool hovers above the bay, framed by mountains on either side. It's one of the most peaceful pool experiences in all of Southeast Asia.
**The details:** Amanoi is remote — a 90-minute drive from Cam Ranh airport — but that isolation is the point. Pavilions from $800/night. The pool is rarely busy. SEA Hotel Score: 9.2.
The Risers: New and Noteworthy Pools
11. Capella Ubud — Bali, Indonesia
Bill Bensley's fantastical tented camp in the Ubud jungle has a main pool that feels like a natural swimming hole in the middle of the rainforest. Dark stone, cascading greenery, and a design that's whimsical without being gimmicky. The private tent pools are equally spectacular.
**The details:** Tents from $600/night. The pool is exclusively for guests and rarely has more than a handful of people. SEA Hotel Score: 8.8.
12. Rosewood Luang Prabang — Laos
One of the newest luxury properties in the region, Rosewood Luang Prabang has an infinity pool that overlooks the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Swimming here at sunset, watching long-tail boats drift past, is about as romantically Southeast Asian as it gets.
**The details:** Hilltop Tent Villas have private plunge pools, but the main pool is the star. Rooms from $500/night. SEA Hotel Score: 8.7.
13. Bawah Reserve — Anambas Islands, Indonesia
Reaching Bawah requires a private seaplane from Singapore, which should tell you everything about the level of seclusion. The main infinity pool looks out over a turquoise lagoon encircled by six untouched islands. It's the kind of view that doesn't look real.
**The details:** All-inclusive rates from $1,200/night cover everything including the seaplane. The pool is small but you'll rarely share it. SEA Hotel Score: 9.0.
Best Value Infinity Pools
14. The Anam — Cam Ranh, Vietnam
Proof that you don't need a four-figure room rate for a world-class pool. The Anam's 60-metre infinity pool stretches toward Long Beach, backed by Indochine-style architecture. It's stunning, well-maintained, and costs a fraction of comparable experiences.
**The details:** Rooms from $130/night — absurd value for a pool this good. There's also a second pool and a kids' pool. SEA Hotel Score: 8.4. You can compare prices for The Anam and similar Vietnamese resorts on SEA Hotel to make sure you're getting the best rate.
15. The Mulia — Nusa Dua, Bali
The Mulia's beachfront infinity pool is enormous — one of the largest in Bali — and the resort's over-the-top luxury aesthetic means the pool deck comes with attentive service, premium sun loungers, and a full poolside dining menu. It's not subtle, but it's undeniably impressive.
**The details:** Rooms from $250/night. The pool gets busy at peak times, but there's a quieter adults-only section at The Mulia Villas. SEA Hotel Score: 8.3.
How to Choose the Right Pool for You
If you're planning a trip specifically around pool experiences, here's how I'd break it down:
**For the view:** Six Senses Yao Noi or Amanoi — nothing compares to those natural landscapes.
**For the Instagram shot:** Marina Bay Sands or Hanging Gardens of Bali — iconic for a reason.
**For architecture lovers:** Alila Villas Uluwatu — WOHA's design is a masterpiece.
**For romance:** Rosewood Luang Prabang or Bawah Reserve — intimate and unforgettable.
**For value:** The Anam in Vietnam — a world-class pool at mid-range prices.
**For urban swimming:** Banyan Tree Bangkok — skyline views at a reasonable rate.
Tips for Getting the Best Pool Experience
**Book directly or compare first.** Many of these hotels offer pool-view room upgrades that are worth paying extra for. Use SEA Hotel to compare rates across booking platforms — the price difference for the same room can be significant, especially during shoulder season.
**Timing matters.** Most hotel pools are at their quietest before 9 AM and after 4 PM. The midday rush (11 AM – 2 PM) is when you'll fight for loungers at popular properties.
**Ask about private pool villas.** At many of these resorts, upgrading to a villa with a private infinity pool costs 30-50% more than a standard room but transforms the experience entirely. At Six Senses Yao Noi and Capella Ubud, the private pools rival the main ones.
**Check guest-only policies.** Most luxury properties restrict pool access to hotel guests. Marina Bay Sands, in particular, is strict about this — don't believe anyone who claims to have a workaround.
Southeast Asia's infinity pools aren't just amenities — they're destinations in their own right. Whether you're splurging on a clifftop villa in Bali or finding exceptional value on the Vietnamese coast, the region offers pool experiences that genuinely can't be matched anywhere else in the world.
