In an era of overtourism, these 20 hotels and cruises redefine luxury travel by offering extraordinary access, daring innovation and elevated experiences in the world’s most awe-inspiring locations.
As overtourism strains urban infrastructure and crowds out Instagram-famous destinations, Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Edge List encourages luxury travelers to trade tourist traps for untamed wilderness, swap selfie spots for soul-stirring encounters and experience comfort and elegance in places where amenities are not so easily found.
The Edge List recognizes hotels, resorts and cruises that redefine the boundaries of travel, judged on four key principles. The name itself, Edge, is an acronym, celebrating Exceptional access to remote, awe-inspiring destinations; Daring innovation in providing boundary-pushing adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences; Global stewardship that prioritizes conservation, while minimizing impact and maximizing care for the community; and Elevated experience, delivering excellence even in far-flung environments.
The 2025 list spans 15 countries. Ritz-Carlton Reserve racked up three wins, the most of any brand, and Four Seasons’ first yacht also earned a place here. Among the 17 hotels on the list, boutique properties dominated with 15 spots.
Honorees were chosen through in-person visits from Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito inspectors or editorial team, combined with research and inspection data.
Here is the 2025 Edge List:
ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
On the isolated Indonesian island of Sumba, NIHI’s herd of 28 native sandalwood horses gallop freely across the empty 1.5-mile private beach during twice-daily runs. But guests also have a chance to get up close with these majestic animals. Ride bareback on a steed into the Indian Ocean with the popular Swimming with Horses activity, try healing equine therapy with the gentle creatures or partake in yoga, massage or reiki that all involve horses.
Few encounters are as majestic as the ones you’ll have with East Africa’s endangered rhinoceros. As the only hotel in the 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the slopes of the Aberdare National Park, Solio provides access to more than 200 black and white rhinos. Set out on game drives in the morning, afternoon or evening with meals in the bush, or see the wildlife from horseback, mountain bike or the hotel’s private helicopter.
At the edge of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, this intimate property with 21 rooms in stilted lodges serves as a well-located base for gorilla treks. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel helps guests prepare for silverback sightings by providing complimentary gaiters, backpacks and hats; packing lunch for the outing; and leaving walking sticks as turndown amenities. After the trek, staff members provide flip-flops as they take away your muddy clothes and hiking. After the trek, staff members provide flip-flops as they take away your muddy clothes and hiking boots for cleaning.
Choose a getaway inside Khao Sok National Park, Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp: the Elephant Camp surrounded by forest and singing critters or the Lake Camp that floats on Cheow Lan Lake. Whichever you pick, the highlight is the unforgettable elephant encounters. But don’t expect to ride them—this ethical hotel respects Asia’s largest land animal and only lets you help wash them, prepare their food and feed them.
While staying at this 1930s former hunting lodge in Kenya, there’s no need to head out on safari—one of the continent’s best animal encounters is found at this boutique hotel and giraffe breeding sanctuary. The resident Rothschild’s giraffes treat bedroom windows like drive-through service, poking their heads in search of the treats guests always have stocked for them. Or have breakfast with the animals—you’ll enjoy pancakes while they get the pellets you feed them.
BEACH ADVENTURES
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Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Among the little-known Ummahat Islands, Nujuma combines Saudi culture with futuristic flair. The solar-powered seashell-shaped villas float above turquoise waters, the star attraction. Wade into the waves for kayaking, sailing or windsurfing. Or check out the vividly colored reefs—the world’s fourth largest—while snorkeling or diving. There are more than 165 native species of marine life found in the Red Sea, but be sure to keep a lookout for endangered hawksbill turtles, dolphins and stingrays.
The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
Legendary actor Marlon Brando bought this French Polynesia refuge in the 1960s—after filming Mutiny on the Bounty nearby—and his estate has transformed it into an eco-luxe private island paradise. Plunge into the pristine waters for snorkeling, kayaking, outrigger canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding. There’s also whale watching (from August to October) and diving expeditions where you can witness sea cucumbers, parrotfish, spotted eagle rays and even black-tip reef sharks amid the atoll’s coral reef. Afterward, rest up in one of the Five-Star hotel’s 35 villas.
Surrounded by rocky limestone cliffs, verdant rainforests and the emerald Andaman Sea, the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a secluded, 54-room temple to contemporary Thai design that is as beautiful as its backdrop. Enjoy the scenery by practicing morning yoga on the white sand, catching the 20-minute long-tail boat to Hong Island (part of Than Bok Khorani National Park) for snorkeling or riding a speedboat to dive amid the coral reefs of nearby Bamboo Island.
Eight miles from South Australia, Kangaroo Island is a nature haven with abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, sea lions, koalas, wallabies and echidnas. Another reason to visit is the dramatic landscape, especially at this lodge, whose 25 suites trace the curve of the island’s limestone cliffs. Soak up nature with the hotel’s many experiences, including the Seal Bay safari, a coastal clifftop walk and the Wonders of Kangaroo Island tour of Flinders Chase National Park.
CULTURAL IMMERSION
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Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Five-Star Mandapa brings travelers to Ubud, Bali’s spiritual center, to connect to the rich culture and yourself. Try mebayuh, a purifying water blessing at the resort’s temple that helps wash away negative energies; the Balinese Ritual Lifestyle, where guests wear traditional garb and prepare a Balinese daily offering called canang; or gebogan making, where you learn to arrange stunning towers of indigenous fresh flowers and coconut leaves on a traditional Balinese wooden plate.
Most Sacred Valley hotels promise convenience in getting to Machu Picchu. Only one boasts its own train station. Leaving from Tambo del Inka’s platform makes the trip an enjoyable journey, whether snacking in the dining car or taking in the region’s natural beauty through its panoramic observatory. There’s far more to enjoy at the lush property amid the Andes. A musician sets the soundtrack for the meals at Hawa restaurant using traditional instruments, and rooms and public spaces incorporate vibrant Incan designs.
Jutting from granite on stilts in the charmingly named Joe Batt’s Arm, this architectural marvel looks like it’s about to stride into the North Atlantic. An homage to Newfoundland’s fishing shacks, the inn immerses you in the community with a long list of included activities like wild berry picking, punt rowing and learning bushcraft skills. And in the 29 rooms, everything from the wooden rocking chairs to the patchwork quilts is locally made.
NATURAL WONDERS
This remote Central American island resort is a 1.5-hour boat ride from the Great Blue Hole, a sinkhole that’s part of the Belize Barrier Reef and a UNESCO site. Divers and snorkelers can explore the geological wonder’s caverns and stalactites that reach up to 40 feet. The hotel also caters to anglers—trophy fish (bonefish, permit and tarpon) can be caught alongside more common varieties (snapper and jack). The hotel’s kitchen will then turn your catch into a fresh meal.
As the only hotel inside Brazil’s Iguacu National Park, Hotel das Cataratas delivers adventures you won’t find anywhere else. Before the park opens to the public and after it closes, guests of the Five-Star hotel have the world’s largest waterfalls all to themselves. Other ways to experience the falls include the Macuco Safari, which sends you on a Jeep ride through the rainforest, followed by a speedboat ride down the river, and a Full Moon Walking Tour, a nighttime trek to see the rare lunar rainbow.
Carved into Cappadocia’s moon-like terrain, this thousand-year-old monastery and historical village is now a boutique hotel. Each of the unique 71 rooms is built into ancient volcanic stone and features earth tones, locally crafted wood furniture, Anatolian rugs and Turkish antiques—some have fireplaces and indoor pools. There’s also the spa’s cave pool and the outdoor pool, which overlooks Mount Erciyes and Pigeon Valley, with its rock-cut churches and renowned fairy chimneys.
OCEAN EXPEDITIONS
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Four Seasons Explorer/Ken Seet
Discover Palau’s underwater wonders aboard this 11-cabin catamaran and floating PADI Five-Star Dive Center. It was purpose-built for scuba divers and snorkelers with an equipment-stocked stern that makes heading out for the included excursions quick and easy. Swim among 1,400 fish species and 500 coral species with expert guides and a private paparazzi team to capture all the exhilarating moments.
Silver Origin approaching Kicker Rock at sunset, Galapagos Islands.
Silver Origin
Embark on a Galapagos expedition aboard the Four-Star Silver Origin, Silversea’s first destination-specific ship. Designed to tread lightly on Darwin’s paradise, the vessel features many sustainable touches, such as a dynamic positioning system that enables it to hover above fragile reefs without dropping anchor, as well as a freshwater purification system in all cabins to eliminate the need for plastic bottles. Of course, the 100-passenger ship also ensures that guests remain in a luxurious environment: every accommodation is a suite that comes with butler service.
The world’s first vessel conceived exclusively for polar exploration (it uses an eco-friendly hybrid propulsion system), the 245-passenger icebreaker Le Commandant Charot brings travelers to the North Pole and the outer reaches of the Antarctic. Ponant will also help guests journey across the icy terrain on a dog sled or in iceberg-dotted waters in a kayak. Afterward, return to the ship to warm up in the sauna or with a fine-dining meal at the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea.
WILDERNESS RETREATS
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Wickaninnish Inn/Simone Mondino
Sitting between Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s rainforest and the tumultuous Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island’s west coast, this Four-Star hotel makes guests feel as if they’re at the edge of the world. Join daily whale- and bear-watching trips or the weekly naturalist-led nature tours. Be sure to visit during winter storm watching season (November through February), when you can witness 25-foot waves crashing against the shore onto Chesterman Beach from cozy confines of the Wick.
At 9,200 feet in Pike National Forest, all-inclusive Cloud Camp puts guests high in the sky. Getting to the 15-room stone-and-timber lodge (part of The Broadmoor’s Wilderness Experiences) is a switchback-filled adventure all its own with transport via a mule ride or a three-hour hike. (There’s also a luxury vehicle available.) Once you reach the Rocky Mountain retreat, spend days hiking, trying archery and taking nature walks. At night, roast s’mores around a campfire, soak in the hot tub or stargaze.
