Home → India & Beyond → Beyond Borders
19th-century British tea planter bungalows in the Central Highlands, 14th-century Newari palace museums in Kathmandu, high-altitude alpine sanctuaries in Mustang and Bhutan, and pioneer barefoot eco-islands in the Indian Ocean—curated without compromise.
Beyond Borders represents Levistay’s international curation across India’s immediate South Asian neighbors. In the high Himalayas of Bhutan and Nepal, hospitality is rooted in ancient spiritual preservation and architectural mastery. The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu stands as an unprecedented private living museum housing restored 14th to 16th-century hand-carved Newari woodwork, while high-altitude circuits like Amankora and Six Senses Bhutan connect five secluded mountain valleys through rammed-earth and timber sanctuaries.
Descending into Sri Lanka, the narrative shifts between colonial enterprise, tropical modernism, and ancient kingdom heritage. Ceylon Tea Trails preserves 1890s British tea planter bungalows scattered across the Bogawantalawa Valley at 4,000 feet, while inside the UNESCO-listed ramparts of Galle Fort, Amangalla occupies a 300-year-old Dutch colonial grand dame. Farther north in the Cultural Triangle, Jetwing Vil Uyana showcases vernacular dwellings built over man-made wetland reserves facing Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Anchoring the collection in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is evaluated through strict eco-architectural filters rather than commercial high-density resort models. Soneva Fushi remains the undisputed founder of “no news, no shoes” sustainable barefoot luxury within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, while Soneva Jani and Cheval Blanc Randheli represent the peak of overwater architectural innovation and haute couture French hospitality.
Fifteen properties across three tiers—a 14th-century Newari architectural museum, 1890s colonial tea estates, 5-lodge Himalayan monastic circuits, and pioneer barefoot eco-islands.
The questions we are asked most often about Beyond Borders — answered through first-hand knowledge of South Asia’s mountain passes, tea estates, and curated island sanctuaries.
Colombo (CMB) serves Sri Lanka, Paro (PBH) connects Bhutan, Kathmandu (KTM) opens Nepal, and Malé (MLE) serves the Maldives. Direct regional flights seamlessly link these hubs.
October to April offers clear mountain skies across Nepal and Bhutan, optimal dry weather in Sri Lanka’s tea country and south coast, and prime sunshine across the Maldives atolls.
Yes—Bhutan requires pre-arranged visa processing and the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), while Nepal offers visa-on-arrival for most nationalities. Levistay handles all Bhutan visa and permit logistics for our guests.
Ceylon Tea Trails comprises five restored 19th-century working tea planter bungalows set across 2,000 acres, offering private butler service, bespoke daily dining, and intimate estate privacy rather than large hotel corridors.
The Dwarika’s Hotel houses the world’s largest private collection of 14th to 16th-century hand-carved Newari woodwork, meticulously restored over 30 years into a living architectural museum.
Soneva properties prioritize ultra-low-density eco-architecture, vast natural privacy, organic gastronomy, and pioneering sustainability within UNESCO-protected marine environments.
Our Beyond Borders collection spans four South Asian nations—each delivering a completely unique architectural, geographic, and cultural landscape.
Himalayan Monastic Circuits & Pristine Valleys
GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS · THIMPHU / PARO / PUNAKHA / GANGTEY
High-altitude mountain passes, ancient dzongs, rammed-earth lodges, and protected crane valleys.
Properties Featured:
Tea Estates, Colonial Forts & Ocean Wilderness
BOGAWANTALAWA VALLEY · GALLE FORT · YALA LEOPARD SAFARIS
1890s British tea planter estates, 17th-century Dutch colonial grand dames, Sigiriya wetland dwellings, and vaulted bamboo safari tents.
Properties Featured:
Living Museum Architecture & High Alpine Ridge Sanctuaries
KATHMANDU NEWARI HERITAGE · MUSTANG KINGDOM · CHITWAN SAFARIS
14th-century carved wood palaces, Bill Bensley mountain lodges at 2,800m, Vedic wellness sanctuaries, and Rapti river safari lodges.
Properties Featured:
Pioneer Eco-Islands & Haute Couture Atoll Architecture
BAA ATOLL UNESCO BIOSPHERE · NOONU ATOLL LAGOONS
Sprawling jungle eco-hideaways, iconic overwater stargazing villas, and cathedral-scale Jean-Michel Gathy island Maisons.
Properties Featured:
Whether you are combining a 5-lodge monastic circuit in Bhutan with an 1890s British tea planter bungalow in Sri Lanka or a high-altitude Mustang retreat in Nepal, every itinerary across Beyond Borders is curated personally by our travel directors. Connect with our team to design your custom route.
