Asia's best luxury tented camps: See wildlife in comfort

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(CNN) — The glamping trend has swept through Asia, with new luxury tented camps setting up in the region's most pristine locations.

The latest additions include the soon-to-open Cardamom Tented Camp and Bill Bensley-designed Shinta Mani Wild, both in southwest Cambodia, and Rosewood Luang Prabang in the jungles of Laos.

Better yet, many of Asia's hottest spots provide glimpses of elephants, gibbons and leopards through safari-style excursions.

"It is different than an African safari," John Roberts, director of elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, tells CNN Travel.

"The nature of the forests and wildlife allow you to be much more intimate. Even in deepest tiger, leopard, rhino, sloth and bear territory -- with a good guide, you can safely walk and spend time concentrating on birds, butterflies and plant life between encounters with large mammals."

Looking for adventure that doesn't sacrifice comfort? Here are the top luxury tent experiences in the Asia region.

Cardamom Tented Camp

Wildlife is slowly returning to the national parks around the Cardamon Tented Camp.

A collaborative project from YAANA Ventures sustainable travel group, Cambodia's Wildlife Alliance conservation organization and Thailand-based Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the Cardamom Tented Camp sits on a protected stretch of land that was once a hotbed of logging and poaching.

Accessible only by boat, the camp's nine luxury tents overlook the Preak Tachan river and nearby grasslands in a stretch of land in southwest Cambodia, between Botum Sakor National Park and the Southern Cardamom National Park.

"The wildlife is slowly coming back after decades of unhindered poaching," says Roberts, who is the group director of sustainability and conservation at the camp, an initiative of Bangkok-headquartered Minor Group.

"We have Asiatic wild dogs, clouded leopards, mouse deer, sun bears, hog badgers, gibbons, macaques, elephants and more."

The tented experience is complemented by a riverside restaurant, a floating pier and a slew of safari-style outings -- led by Wildlife Alliance rangers -- where travelers are bound to spot a mix of wildlife.

"It's important to pick camps and lodges that actively preserve the forest," says Roberts.

"They will tend to have the best guides who are often either local community ex-poachers or research scientists -- or a combination of both."

The camp is due to open November 1.

Shinta Mani Wild -- The Bensley Collection

A new project from acclaimed resort designer Bill Bensley -- in partnership with Wildlife Alliance, Fauna & Flora International, The Royal University of Phnom Penh and the Cambodian government -- Shinta Mani Wild aims to be an unparalleled wildlife sanctuary.

Hugged by three national parks -- Kirirom, Bokor and Cardamom -- in southwest Cambodia, the 15 tents promise an immersive experience with nature.

A typical day could include multiple adventures, from river expeditions on what's said to be Southeast Asia's last...

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