Looking back through history, one thing is abundantly clear – humans have enjoyed a good old soak in the tub for thousands of years.
The origins of our obsession with bathing are much more widely disputed. In 2013, Sir David Attenborough attracted controversy by lending support to a theory that suggests we descended from apes who spent a large portion of time in water, however the scientific jury remains out. Now, we’re supposed to be talking bathtubs here, so we’ll spare you the ins and outs of the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis, but the point we’re making, to intrigued travellers and sceptical scientists alike, is that once you’ve experienced the level of bathtub bliss that we’ve discovered around the globe, then the notion that our apelike ancestors enjoyed monkeying around in the water makes a lot of sense.
Sanctuary Baines Camp – Botswana
One thing that science can’t dispute is the supremely relaxing splendour of Sanctuary Baines Camp’s outdoor bathtub. Bordering Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve, this intimate retreat not only offers bathing delight under the Southern Hemisphere’s stars, in the heart of an African island jungle, but it’s also one of only two camps to offer you the opportunity to walk with Elephants. This unusual camp is romantic, rustic and conscientiously constructed from recycled cans as part of Sanctuary’s commitment to maintaining the rich biodiversity of the African continent. Sometimes, it’s the simple pleasures that we find most enchanting and these stunning star baths really offer a sense of inner peace that’s truly magical. Indulge your inner aquatic ape with an African experience that so few are lucky enough to enjoy, by dipping your toes in the inviting warm waters of a very different kind of discovery.
Rayavadee Villa – Thailand
As far as stupendously beautiful bathtub views go, The Rayavadee Villa in Krabi, Thailand, exceeds all expectations. This two-bedroom villa is located right on cusp of one of Krabi’s finest white sand beaches, Phranang. Either side of you, limestone karst cliffs soar, home to colourful wildlife overlooking an aquamarine sea that stretches out into infinity. Your butler will fill your bath with fragrant Thai oils, scents and petals, leaving you to float away whilst gazing at the lush green and blue landscape in the distance. Soak in the luminous sunset from your tub, your lemongrass martini in hand, in one of Thailand’s finest villas. With its own free-form swimming pool and built-in Jacuzzi, furnished in an elegant, contemporary Thai style, Rayavadee provides a perfect luxury beachfront location for your Thai holiday.
Lily Beach – Maldives
Across the Bay of Bengal, where the Indian Ocean meets the Arabian Sea, Lily Beach Resort and Spa on Huvahendhoo Island, offers perhaps one of the most secluded bathtubs we’ve found. With nothing but brilliant blue ocean and sparsely populated atols in sight, the resort’s overwater villas create a mesmeric ambiance that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Even when you do manage to pull yourself away from the addictively relaxing tub, you more than likely won’t stay dry for long, as Lily Beach is well known for the abundance of sealife inhabiting its shallow surrounding waters and reefs. With a host of PADI courses catering for beginners and even the most experienced of divers, you’re free to delve into the home of majestic manta rays and seek out the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing a whale shark in its natural environment.
Solitaire Lodge – New Zealand
Solitaire Lodge offers a bathtub view with a difference, and that’s not just because the water goes the opposite way down the drain. Overlooking Te Karamea Bay in culturally rich Rotorua, the resort’s Executive Suite has not one but two bathtubs with a view, letting you and your partner choose from indoor or outdoor bathing. They may say that sharing is caring, but more often than not we choose to bathe for relaxation rather than romance. The bathtubs are amply sized if you do prefer to share, although we recommend you double the bubbles and take advantage of your twin tubs while appreciating the bay’s spectacular views. You could be forgiven for losing track of time and soaking so long that your fingers wrinkle, but with helicopter transfers, boat rides, fishing, cycling, horse trekking, golf, bungy jumping and more available to you, Solitaire Lodge promises fulfillment both in and out of the tub.
Six Senses Laamu – Maldives
We’ve saved the most unique of our bathtub views until last. There’s no better way to start your Maldivian mornings than to do so with a dip in one of these innovative see-through tubs. In an age of global interconnectivity, anything worth paying for is worth replicating, but even when the day comes that some wily entreprenuer decides to feature this beautiful design in their rival resort, one thing that can’t be recreated is the exceptional biodiversity you’ll see swimming beneath you. Aside from your own private peepshow into nature, Six Senses Laamu has a multitude of features, which entice luxury lovers from around the world. From relaxation to recreation, you can take advantage of their tranquil world class spa or pick up the pace with an array of land and watersports. Nowhere else will you find a bathtub view like Six Senses Laamu.
