The Most Serene Private Pools

Perched atop a cliff on an untamed island, the private pools within the villas and reserve homes at Soneva Kiri are surrounded by tropical rainforest and pristine sandy shores. Some are even kitted out with a waterslide for sliding right in. Whichever way you enter, cotton candy pink sunsets are a sure thing.

Set within a protected national and marine park on Vietnam’s archipelago islands, Six Senses Con Dao is encircled by golden sands and a sapphire sea. Every villa and residence opens to a private infinity pool, so all guests wake up to views of sparkling water on top of sparkling water.

Carved into the rugged Caldera cliffs of Santorini, Mystique is perched dramatically over the Aegan Sea. All suites, designed in Cycladic architecture, are ultra-romantic but we strongly suggest the villas, where private plunge pools pan out to sweeping vistas of islands rising out of the deep blue sea.

Overlooking a picturesque bay on the Caribbean coast, Hermitage Bay features only 30 individual suites spread across the beach and hillside. The highest amongst these are the Hillside Pool Suites, where views of the white sand beach, mangroves and distant harbor are maximized from the private plunge pools and sun decks.

High in the Al Hajar Mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar is a quiet escape surrounded by rugged mountains, hamlets, ancient villages, caves and canyons. This stillness extends to the spacious suites, the most luxurious of which is the Jabal Villa, with its private pool offering a prime view of the craggy summits and steep gorges.

Situated on a UNESCO biosphere reserve, the tiny Milaidhoo Island Maldives is enveloped by soft white sands, vibrant reefs and warm turquoise waters. It’s no wonder every villa here opens up 180 degrees and out to private freshwater pools, many of which hang overwater for uninterrupted views of the ocean.

Trisara’s community of private pool villas and residences sit on a terraced hillside on a secluded cove directly facing the Andaman Sea. Spacious, completely private and shaded by old-growth canopy, the pool decks at these exclusive homes afford undisturbed views of fiery sunsets.

Atop a rocky outcrop in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve serves as a viewpoint over the African bushveld. Newly renovated, its suites feature glass fronts and extended decks holding private plunge pools, where one can spend hours gazing out to the wild plains and active waterhole below.

Designed by architect Bill Bensley, the tented camps at Capella Ubud are hidden in the trees, blending in harmony with the natural surrounds. Not just ordinary tents, these are luxurious accommodations complete with private saltwater pools for soaking up tranquil views of the rainforest and rice paddy terraces.