Southeast Asia rarely gets credit as an overwater-villa destination. Most travelers assume you need a Maldives budget to sleep above turquoise water, but that is only half the story. Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Indonesia all have stunning overwater properties — many at a fraction of Indian Ocean prices.
We spent weeks comparing rates across platforms, reading hundreds of verified reviews, and crunching our proprietary SEA Hotel Scores to find the 12 best overwater villas in Southeast Asia right now. Whether you want a honeymoon splurge or a surprisingly affordable water bungalow, this list has you covered.
Why Choose Southeast Asia Over the Maldives?
The math is simple. A week in a Maldives water villa can run $8,000–$15,000. In Southeast Asia, comparable experiences start around $200 per night and rarely exceed $800 — even at the top tier. You also get far more to do on land: street food, temple runs, jungle treks, and vibrant cities are never more than a short transfer away.
Flight access is easier too. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore are major hub cities, meaning you can combine an overwater stay with a broader Southeast Asia itinerary without backtracking.
The 12 Best Overwater Villas
1. Pangkor Laut Resort — Perak, Malaysia
**SEA Hotel Score: 94** | **From $320/night** | **Platform price range: $310–$380**
Pangkor Laut occupies its own private island off Malaysia's west coast. The overwater Sea Villas sit on stilts above the Straits of Malacca, with glass floor panels and outdoor rain showers. The real draw is Emerald Bay — consistently ranked among Asia's most beautiful beaches — which you share with maybe 50 other guests.
The spa village alone justifies the trip. Treatments draw from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese healing traditions, and the overwater spa pavilion is one of the most photogenic in the region.
**Best for:** Couples seeking privacy without Maldives prices.
2. Gayana Marine Resort — Sabah, Malaysia
**SEA Hotel Score: 89** | **From $210/night** | **Platform price range: $195–$260**
Perched on stilts in Gaya Bay within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Gayana is equal parts resort and marine research station. The overwater villas have direct lagoon access, and the on-site marine ecology research center lets you hand-feed baby clownfish and learn about coral restoration.
Snorkeling is excellent right from your villa deck. At night, underwater lights attract squid and reef fish — a private aquarium beneath your floor.
**Best for:** Eco-conscious travelers who want substance behind the scenery.
3. Frangipani Langkawi Resort — Langkawi, Malaysia
**SEA Hotel Score: 86** | **From $150/night** | **Platform price range: $140–$195**
This is the entry-level option for overwater living in Southeast Asia, and it punches well above its price. The water chalets are simpler than Pangkor Laut's offerings — think tiled floors and rattan furniture rather than hardwood and designer fixtures — but the location on Pantai Tengah beach is superb, and the sunsets are free.
We found rate differences of up to $55 per night between platforms. Use [SEA Hotel's price comparison tools](/destinations/langkawi) to make sure you are getting the best deal.
**Best for:** Budget-conscious travelers who want the overwater experience without the overwater price tag.
4. Berjaya Langkawi Resort — Langkawi, Malaysia
**SEA Hotel Score: 88** | **From $180/night** | **Platform price range: $165–$230**
Set within a rainforest on Burau Bay, Berjaya's premier chalets on stilts sit above a mangrove-fringed coastline with views of Langkawi's iconic karst islands. The resort spans 71 acres and includes its own beach, a hilltop spa, and a Japanese restaurant accessible only by a wooden walkway through the trees.
The overwater chalets feature outdoor Jacuzzis and private sun decks. Hornbills are regular visitors — they will literally land on your balcony railing.
**Best for:** Nature lovers who want rainforest and ocean in one stay.
5. El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island — Palawan, Philippines
**SEA Hotel Score: 92** | **From $450/night** | **Platform price range: $420–$520**
Miniloc is the original El Nido resort, and its water cottages remain some of the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. They sit in a sheltered cove framed by limestone cliffs, with Bacuit Bay's lagoons and hidden beaches accessible by kayak from your front door.
Rates are all-inclusive: three meals, afternoon tea, island-hopping tours, and kayak use. When you factor that in, the per-night cost is more reasonable than it first appears. The Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon — two of the Philippines' most famous sights — are a five-minute boat ride away.
**Best for:** Adventure seekers who want world-class scenery with their overwater stay.
6. El Nido Resorts Apulit Island — Palawan, Philippines
**SEA Hotel Score: 90** | **From $380/night** | **Platform price range: $360–$450**
Apulit is Miniloc's wilder, less-visited sibling in Taytay Bay. The overwater cottages here face a dramatic wall of limestone cliffs, and the marine sanctuary directly below the stilts is home to sea turtles, reef sharks, and giant clams.
Activities lean adventurous: cliff diving, wreck snorkeling, and a via ferrata route along the cliff face. The all-inclusive package mirrors Miniloc's, but fewer guests means more space and quieter beaches.
**Best for:** Divers and snorkelers who want a quieter alternative to El Nido's main bay.
7. Huma Island Resort — Palawan, Philippines
**SEA Hotel Score: 87** | **From $250/night** | **Platform price range: $230–$310**
On Busuanga's northern coast, Huma Island features floating overwater villas connected by wooden boardwalks. The resort is built on a former pearl farm, and the marine life beneath the villas is remarkably diverse. Each overwater villa has a private deck with direct sea access and an outdoor shower.
The island also has a sandbar that emerges at low tide — perfect for Instagram, but genuinely beautiful regardless.
**Best for:** Couples and honeymooners looking for a Philippine overwater option without El Nido's price tag.
8. Song Saa Private Island — Koh Rong, Cambodia
**SEA Hotel Score: 93** | **From $650/night** | **Platform price range: $600–$780**
Song Saa is Southeast Asia's answer to the ultra-luxury Maldives experience. Spanning two private islands connected by a footbridge in the Koh Rong Archipelago, its overwater villas feature private infinity pools, outdoor bathtubs, and butler service. The interiors blend reclaimed driftwood with contemporary design — it is rustic luxury done right.
The resort runs a marine conservation program and community development projects with nearby fishing villages. Rates are steep for Cambodia, but you are paying for one of the most exclusive private-island experiences in the region. Compare prices across platforms on [SEA Hotel](/destinations/siem-reap) before booking.
**Best for:** Luxury travelers who want a Maldives-caliber experience in Southeast Asia.
9. Six Senses Krabey Island — Sihanoukville, Cambodia
**SEA Hotel Score: 91** | **From $500/night** | **Platform price range: $470–$580**
Six Senses brought their signature wellness-meets-luxury formula to a private island off Cambodia's coast. While not all villas are overwater, the Ocean Pool Villas sit at the water's edge with private infinity pools that seem to merge with the Gulf of Thailand.
The spa and wellness programming are among the best in Southeast Asia. Earth Lab sessions, sleep programs, and an observatory for stargazing complement the beach-and-pool routine. The resort is a 15-minute boat ride from the mainland.
**Best for:** Wellness-focused travelers who want world-class spa programming with ocean-edge living.
10. Telunas Resorts — Riau Islands, Indonesia
**SEA Hotel Score: 85** | **From $170/night** | **Platform price range: $155–$210**
Just a one-hour ferry from Singapore's Tanah Merah terminal, Telunas is the closest overwater escape to the city-state. The overwater bungalows are deliberately rustic — no air conditioning, no TVs — in favor of sea breezes, hammocks, and the sound of waves below.
The resort runs entirely on solar and rainwater, and community engagement with the neighboring fishing village is central to the experience. If you want a genuine digital detox, this is it.
**Best for:** Singapore-based travelers seeking a quick weekend overwater escape.
11. Misool Resort — Raja Ampat, Indonesia
**SEA Hotel Score: 92** | **From $500/night** | **Platform price range: $480–$600**
Raja Ampat contains the richest marine biodiversity on Earth, and Misool's overwater cottages and villas put you directly above it. Built from reclaimed ironwood on a private island in the southern Raja Ampat archipelago, the resort also operates a 300,000-acre marine protected area.
Diving here is bucket-list caliber. Manta rays, walking sharks, and pygmy seahorses are regular sightings. The overwater villas have glass floor panels for watching reef life from bed.
**Best for:** Serious divers who want the best marine life on the planet beneath their villa.
12. Punta Isla Lake Resort — Laguna, Philippines
**SEA Hotel Score: 85** | **From $120/night** | **Platform price range: $110–$150**
An unconventional pick: Punta Isla sits on Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, rather than the ocean. The floating cottages are a short drive from Manila, making this the most accessible overwater option on the list.
It is not a luxury resort — think comfortable lake house rather than Maldives villa — but the sunrise views over the lake with the Sierra Madre mountains as backdrop are genuinely stunning. And at $120 per night, you can afford to stay longer.
**Best for:** Manila-based travelers who want a quick overwater getaway without flying.
How We Ranked These Villas
Our SEA Hotel Score weighs five factors: guest reviews (40%), value for money (20%), location and setting (15%), amenities and service (15%), and platform price consistency (10%). We cross-reference ratings from Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia, then normalize for review volume so that a boutique resort with 200 five-star reviews is not penalized against a chain hotel with 5,000 ratings.
Tips for Booking Overwater Villas in Southeast Asia
**Book early for peak season.** Most overwater properties in this list have fewer than 30 water-facing rooms. December through March is peak season across the region, and the best villas sell out months in advance.
**Compare prices across platforms.** We routinely see 15–25% price swings between booking platforms for the same room on the same dates. Tools like [SEA Hotel's comparison engine](/best-hotels/overwater-villas) exist precisely for this reason.
**Check weather windows.** Malaysia's east coast (including islands near Sabah) has monsoon season from November to March. Palawan's dry season runs November to May. Raja Ampat is diveable year-round but calmest October to April.
**Ask about meal plans.** At remote island resorts like Misool and Song Saa, you are captive to the resort's restaurants. All-inclusive or half-board plans almost always save money compared to a la carte pricing.
**Consider shoulder season.** April–May and September–October often deliver lower rates with reasonable weather. You might share the resort with half as many guests.
The Verdict
If money is no object, **Song Saa** and **Misool** deliver experiences that rival or exceed the Maldives. For the best balance of luxury and value, **Pangkor Laut** remains the gold standard. And if you want overwater living for under $200 per night, **Frangipani Langkawi** and **Telunas** prove it is absolutely possible.
Whichever property calls to you, compare rates before you book. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive platform for the same room can easily cover a sunset dinner for two.
