Why do we travel? An individual might argue that we do this to leave our comfort zones and try something fresh — understand and emulate another culture, its food, its customs etc.. If that is the situation, oftentimes it is where we choose to sleep that is going to have the biggest impact on attaining this perfect experience. It’s where you’ll call home, even if it’s only for a night.
That’s why many savvy travelers are taking to the trees, where sky-high tree house hotels, lodges and bed-and breakfasts have become de rigueur for open minded adventurers looking for that one-of-a-kind experience.
But make no mistake: While there are plenty of amazing Swiss Family Robinson–kind tree homes created from tree trunks and decoration rope, they’re not all rustic. Many architects have turned the notion on its head, including amenities and materials with design flair. But regardless of what your style taste, you are guaranteed never to forget your trip.
Here are 11 tree homes worth the climb.
1. Hapuku Lodge, New Zealand
This spacious property includes exquisitely designed tree homes on a vast New Zealand deer farm. Owner Tony Wilson and his family are enthusiastic about architecture, so much so that WIlson’s daughter, Julia, will become the fifth-generation Wilson architect following year.
The vertical batten outside is New Zealand redwood over Canadian cedar. The siding is aluminum.
The owners moved to extra lengths to guarantee a quiet and cozy stay. Soundproof windows maintain the stag roar out during mating season, while thick cushioning under the carpets reduces foot noise.
All of the beds have custom-made mattresses. The furniture is made by hand from North American hardwoods.
Price: About $668 per night for two guests
Photos courtesy of Hapuku Lodge
2. Treehotel, Sweden
Deep at a Swedish forest, some of Scandinavia’s most talented architects have created game-changing, uniquely themed and designed tree house hotels.
The Bird’s Nest area is just what its name suggests: Chaotic and complicated interlocking shrub branches mimic a bird’s nest on the outside.
But the interior is a wood-clad modern resort suite with small lookout windows.
Price: About $677 per night for two guests
Treehotel’s Cabin area, on the other hand, is a two-person capsule in the trees with a double bed, bath and terrace.
Indoors, a contemporary bedroom appears toward the Lule River valley.
Along with a small sitting nook close to paned windows allows guest truly connect with residing in the trees.
Price: About $677 per night for two guests
Treehotel’s Mirrorcube is possibly the most head turning, or reflecting, for that matter. Mirrored walls display the surrounding woods, developing a modern world. And don’t worry: Infared film on the panels prevents birds from flying into it.
The interior, made from plywood with a birch surface, is clean and cozy at once, with six windows to get a panoramic view.
Price: About $708 per night for two guests
The company’s UFO tree house cuts a striking alien experience scene. The composite material design allows for a lightweight yet durable design.
The two-story, contemporary area can sleep four people.
Price: About $677 per night for two guests
Photos by Peter Lundstrom, WDO
3. Tree Houses Hotel, Costa Rica
This bed-and-breakfast is located on 8 acres surrounded by a 70-acre wildlife refuge with a waterfall, swimming pools plus a winding river. The land is thought to be a “bird watcher’s paradise and wildlife lover’s dream” Guests regularly catch sight of sloths, monkeys, toucans, armadillos, hummingbirds, parrots and motmots. The tree houses are air conditioned and have warm-water showers and refrigerators.
Price: From $98 per night for two guests
Photo courtesy of Tree Houses Hotel Costa Rica
4. Sanya Nanshan, South China Sea
These vacation rentals sit in the tamarind trees along a sand dune in an isolated shore near a vast Buddhist and ecological theme park with temples, pagodas and botanical gardens.
Price: Contact for rates
Photo courtesy of Sanya Nanshan Treehouse Resort and Beach Club
5. Reserva Amazonica, Peru
In the Peruvian southeastern Amazon, 90 feet above the forest floor, sits this rustic tree house.
Guests can go for a wander without ever setting foot on the ground by means of a set of bridges that connects half a dozen trees and platforms.
Price: About $460 each night at the summer for two individuals
Photos courtesy of Inkaterra
6. Tree House Lodge, Costa Rica
Deep in the thick Costa Rican woods, an all-wood lodge sits in the trees.
All of the furniture in these split-level tree homes is hand carved from renewable wood. Scarlet birds of paradise include just the correct pop of tropical colors.
Meanwhile, screened windows let fresh air in while keeping bugs out.
Price: $300 per night for two guests
Photos courtesy of Tree House Lodge
7. Green Magic Nature Resort, Kerala
You’ll need to take a cane lift using a water counterweight up 115 feet to the trees to say goodnight in this bamboo hotel room, located on 30 acres of tropical rain forest. How they can obtain a functioning ceramic-tiled bathroom with running water up there, we will never know.
Price: Contact for rates
Photo courtesy of Tourindia
8. Tsala Treetop Lodge, South Africa
Nestled in the boughs of a native African woods, the homes of Tsala Treetop Lodge are far from your typical tree house layout. Guests enjoy a large lounge area with a fireplace and a grand private deck with an infinity pool.
The design and architecture were performed by Bruce Stafford along with the Hunter family, who have Hunter Hotels, which operates the Tsala.
Guests enjoy dinner on a deck hung above the forest floor.
Price: Contact for rates
Photos courtesy of Hunter Hotels
9. Vertical Horizons, Oregon
This cozy bed-and-breakfast can be found near a redwood forest in southern Oregon. Guests have access to caves, the Pacific coast and much more.
Each tree house features its own theme. This one, called the Shiitake, embodies an Asian aesthetic.
Price: Contact for rates
Photos courtesy of Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise
10. Treehouse Cottages, Arkansas
Originally from Miami, owners Terry and Patsy Miller moved to Eureka Springs in 1976. Fifteen decades later, they found Treehouse Cottages. Terry custom designed and hand built each tree house; they’re suspended on wooden rods about 25 feet off the ground.
But if they exude a certain rustic vibe on the outside, inside they’re packed with luxury handmade upgrades. In reality, what’s handmade: the cedar railings, the cabinets and even the doors.
Patsy created the wheel-thrown-pottery kitchen dishes.
And her handmade tile is featured throughout the tree homes, such as around this heart-shaped tub.
Price: From $149 per night for two guests
Photos courtesy of Treehouse Cottages
11. Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize
Take into the trees along the coast of Belize, where Luxurious tree homes have wraparound porches, outdoor hot tubs, kitchenettes and separate living rooms. The tree houses are created from all Belizean forests — mahogany, barba p holote, rosewood, Santa Maria and much more — and most of the furniture has been created on the property. Plus, the bird-rich woods surrounded you and near the second-largest barrier reef on earth.
Price: From $369 per night for two guests; minimum of three nights
Have you stayed in a tree house? We would really like to see a picture below.
More: Tour a shrub home-away-from-home in California
