Best treehouse hotels

Most of us have had that everlasting longing for a treehouse ever since we were children. There is something about hiding up in the trees surrounded by the blissful sounds of nature that has called to all of us at least once or twice. Paying wistful homage to these long-forgotten secret hideaways of our youth, treehouse hotels provide splendid solitude, natural leafy surrounds, and a playful sense of fun, romance, and adventure. Make all of your treehouse dreams come true in my selection of the 10 most stunning treehouse hotels across the globe.

10. TREEHOTEL, SWEDEN

Why not create a hotel that gives people a chance to experience nature amongst the tree tops, while also providing a uniquely designed housing experience? These questions led Scandinavia’s leading architects to create Treehotel in Swedish Lapland, where seven rooms are suspended 4-6 meters (13-20 ft) above ground with views of the Lule River valley, miles of forest and a powerful river. The Mirrorcube is the treehouse hotel’s most exciting accommodation, camouflaged by mirrored walls that reflect the Northern Lights and the surrounding boreal fores. Guests here indulge in meals made with the freshest local produce and enjoy excursions such as fat-biking through the taiga, dog sledding, and family ice-fishing trips. Treehotel was inspired by Jonas Selberg Augustsen’s film ”The Tree Lover.”

9. POST RANCH INN, USA

Nestled on the cliffs of California’s Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn offers a perfect palette that balances its stunning natural setting with uniquely designed rooms, award-winning dining, and a signature spa experience. The luxury resort’s organic architecture embraces the dramatic beauty of the Big Sur coastline, seeming to grow out of the ground beside the hotel’s surrounding redwoods. The hotel features 39 rooms, including several free-standing treehouses built on stilts 3 m (9 ft) off the forest ground to protect the delicate root balls below. Triangular in shape, each tree house features a king-sized bed, window seat, desk, fireplace, and skylight to watch the stars from your bed each evening. From Post Ranch Inn, you can explore all the spectacular scenery that Big Sur has to offer, or take a short drive to the picturesque towns of Monterey and Carmel.

8. KEEMALA, PHUKET, THAILAND

Curving shapes and a highly unusual architecture are the inventive dwellings of Keemala, an all pool villa wonderland nestled well away from the Phuket crowds and overlooking Kamala Village and the Andaman Sea. For fun seekers the resort is close enough to the liveliness of Patong Beach and all the dynamic action that Phuket has to offer, yet far enough removed to step back and take time to enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the rainforest and a plethora of holistic activities and cuisine to aid wellbeing. Shaded by an enchanted canopy of rainforest and connected together by a network of jungle walkways, the resort’s 38 villas are designed for guests wishing to experience a rustic, yet lavish, escape. Some villas are built in the canopy, featuring two floors complete with a private pool, upper level master bedroom, and a large lounge and dining area on the lower level.

7. TSALA TREETOP LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA

Like the monumental ruins of an ancient central African civilization, Tsala’s impressive stone-masonry entrance flanked by water features leads to a magnificent foyer supported by Blackwood columns. The elaborate afro-baroque décor’s earthy colors, rich textures and handcrafted fittings are inspired by the diverse cultures of Africa, with the sophistication of the Western World. The views are breathtaking, whether from the exotic dining room, intimate glassed-in lounge, or large open decks high above the forest floor. Tsala features 16 lavish treehouse hotel suites, styled with sophistication and modern touches for pure luxury. Constructed of stone, wood and glass, these beautiful suites comprise a plush bedroom, elegant sitting room with a fireplace, and a spacious bathroom fit for royalty. Extending into the forest is a private deck with infinity pool providing the ultimate privacy.

6. CHEWTON GLEN, UNITED KINGDOM

Chewton Glen is a country house hotel situated less than two hours from central London, located on the border of Hampshire and Dorset. The picturesque landscape of the New Forest – William the Conqueror’s royal hunting ground – is on the hotel’s doorstep. Hidden away in a wooded valley you will find 14 of the hotel’s suites situated in luxury treehouses. The treehouses are unique in every sense. Built high among the trees of a secluded valley, each treehouse is an unforgettable setting for unwinding, for relaxing, for simply being. From their private balcony guests feel the ultimate seclusion, high above ground, far from everyday life. The interiors let nature in, with huge windows giving a panoramic view through the canopy to the valley beyond. For something a little more special stay in The Yews, a private and secluded treehouse that can sleep up to twelve.

5. HAPUKU LODGE + TREE HOUSES, NEW ZEALAND

Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses is a contemporary country hotel located on a deer breeding farm in the South Island of New Zealand, 12 km (7 mi) north of the renowned eco-marine town of Kaikoura. It sits snugly at the base of the Kaikoura Seaward Mountain Range, with the Kaikoura coast and famed Mangamaunu Bay to the east. The lodge provides luxurious accommodation on Kaikoura’s rugged coastline, a place for guests to relax in its intimate indoor/outdoor setting and a place from which they can explore the larger maritime landscape of Kaikoura. The hotel’s five treehouses are unique, nested in the canopy of a native Kanuka grove. The treehouses are designed to complement the natural environment. Their large windows bring the tree canopies into the bedroom and provide impressive views of Kaikoura’s dramatic mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

4. &BEYOND LAKE MANYARA TREE LODGE, TANZANIA

Most people think that the famous tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara have developed their climbing habit to get away from annoying insects. However, they might just be jealous of the magnificent treehouse suites at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Cradled in the boughs of an ancient mahogany forest, the lodge blends into the natural beauty of its breathtaking surroundings. Designed to exert minimal impact on the environment, &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge offers an exclusive interpretive safari in a remote, game-rich wilderness. Overlooking a forest boma, or outdoor dining area, lined with traditional dugout canoes, guest areas are characterized by soaring spaces that house local artworks and tactile fabrics. An interactive kitchen allows guests to observe the preparation of delicious dishes while enjoying spectacular forest views.

3. WILDERNESS SAFARI’S BISATE LODGE, RWANDA

Comprising just six spacious forest villas designed as treehouses, Bisate offers a luxurious base from which to enjoy an extraordinary gorilla conservation experience and life-changing journey to this beautiful region. Situated within the amphitheater of an eroded volcanic cone, Bisate is surrounded by natural splendor, with sweeping views towards the Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno volcanoes. Bisate’s sophisticated architectural and interior design is rooted in Rwandan building tradition as exemplified in the design of the Royal Palace of the traditional monarch. This spherical, thatched structure echoes the thousands of hills that dot the Rwandan landscape, while the richly-detailed interiors exhibit surfaces and screens made from a variety of woven materials with strong resonance in Rwandan culture.

2. FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE, THAILAND

A natural paradise surrounded by majestic mountains, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle puts you in an exquisite bamboo jungle close to some of Thailand’s oldest civilizations. Here, you can ride an elephant, take a nature stroll, and discover the customs of northern Thailand’s most colorful hilltribes. Four Seasons Tented Camp contains just 15 tents, tucked away into the trees and designed in a lavish safari style by Bill Bensley. Inside the tents, you can stretch out in 54 square meters (581 square feet) of living space appointed with leather-and-hardwood bush chairs, paddle fans and a hardwood desk, or soothe your muscles in a custom-made wooden hot tub on the outdoor deck. Guests spend days feeding, bathing and riding the elephants, enjoying fine dining, and relaxing in the intimate spa before retreating to their luxurious accommodations cocooned in the trees.

1. IVORY LODGE, LION SANDS GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA

Ivory Lodge, which was recently completely renovated, offers its guests an African Bushveld experience in lavish comfort. Extraordinarily beautiful in its simplicity and texture, the lodge’s timeless design incorporates steel, wood, thatch, glass, water & sand enhancing the surrounding bush environment. A sophisticated contemporary theme defines the interiors, with bold furniture and edgy décor, ambient lighting, inferences of tribal design and highly textured finishes. Each of the 8 villas include a private rim flow pool, exquisitely appointed bedroom and lounge, and simply more of everything. The more adventurous may want to opt to stay at one of the hotel’s ultraluxurious treehouses operated by the same management in the same wildlife reserve, guaranteeing a once in a lifetime experience and the ultimate African bush experience, safely above ground and semi-encased in glass.