The luxury treehouse hotel business is a pretty good way of proving wrong the old saying that money doesn’t grow on trees. When it comes to tourism, adventure-hungry holidaymakers are always looking for something new and exciting. And what could be fresher and more inspiring than a high-end treehouse getaway? It’s the best of both worlds: a (frequently more eco-friendly) return to nature combined with all the modern conveniences you’d expect from a luxury vacation. And you get to sleep in a treehouse!
So sit back, relax and take a look at these 15 amazing luxury treehouse hotels…
15. Kanopi House, Jamaica
Located in a sandy cove on Jamaica’s Blue Lagoon, Kanopi House is an idyllic treehouse retreat ensconced among soaring, 100-foot-tall banyan trees. The hotel boasts eye-catching views of the magnificent Caribbean Sea and unspoilt coral reef.
These chic treehouses blend colonial and West Indian styles and offer visitors access to the amazing sights and sounds of the nearby rainforest. Hotel guests can enjoy water sports, swim to a nearby island, or simply relax to the gentle sounds of the surf. Kanopi House is exotic, delightful and well positioned to take full advantage of Jamaica’s US$2.49 billion annual tourism industry.
14. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Tanzania
If being up on stilts in an ancient mahogany forest in a secluded section of Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park doesn’t sound luxurious, the description of Lake Manyara Tree Lodge’s 10 stilted treehouses certainly does: each one is spacious yet snug, with huge windows, warm surroundings and bubble baths. This lodge is definitely deluxe! Also, the owners have tapped into a unique business opportunity, as the lodge is the only one within the National Park. An all-inclusive package stay can cost as much as US$1,205 a night during the lodge’s busiest seasons, but the price goes down to around US$755 during March and May.
13. Chewton Glen, England
Located a mere stroll from the sea and boasting 130 acres of delightful rolling gardens, Chewton Glen is well known as one of England’s most upmarket country hotels. And although the award-winning five-star business is already firmly established, when the owners chose to expand, they decided to try something a little different. Instead of just adding to the hotel, they spent the equivalent of roughly US$9.5 million building incredible treehouses to accommodate changing consumer trends - and to offer a more ecological outlook. The Treehouses at Chewton Glen are built on stilts and include hot tubs on the balcony, king-size beds and flat-screen TVs. Now that’s what you call moving with the times!
12. Treehotel, Sweden
Of the five unique, futuristic-looking “treerooms” at Sweden’s Treehotel, none catch our eye more than the Mirrorcube. Thanks to its shiny exterior, this fascinating designer treehouse seems almost invisible, adapting to its natural surroundings like no other treehouse in the world. With a lounge, double bed and rooftop terrace, The Mirrorcube is simple, elegant and offers delightful views from the treetops.
The hotel’s four other treerooms are The Bird’s Nest, The Blue Cone, The UFO and The Cabin; and the resort also includes a luxury Tree Sauna. This is an exciting and unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else. And with stunning views of the Lule Valley to boot, Treehotel is unparalleled.
11. Treehouse Hideaway, India
For starters, India’s Treehouse Hideaway is located in one of the best tiger reserves on Earth: Bandhavgarh National Park. The park has the highest concentration of tigers in India and also offers visitors a chance to see barking deer, sambar deer, spotted deer, jackals, wild boar, and a huge number of different birds. Taking full advantage of its surroundings, the hideaway is built on 21 acres of Indian jungle.
The site’s five stunning treehouses blend in beautifully with the scenery, affording rare views of the local wildlife. Dinner, meanwhile, is cooked over a fire and served in the two-level dining hall built in the arms of a mahua tree. Bon appétit.
10. Cabanes als Arbres, Spain
Although the Cabanes als Arbres treehouses don’t have electricity or running water - in order to preserve the unique arboreal environment - they’re sumptuous nevertheless. Accessed by suspended bridges and ladders, the treehouses are amazing, and each one is unique - specially designed to suit the tree in which it sits. A balcony affords incredible views of the Pyrenees mountains, and guests can enjoy warm continental breakfasts sent up to them in a basket.
Given its strong ecological outlook, this hotel fits in nicely with the movement towards eco-vacations, attracting green-conscious and adventurous guests alike. According to veteran treehouse builder Michael Garnier, building in trees is far better for the environment than building on the ground, which is something shrewd-thinking businesses can advertise to attract a wider clientele.
9. Treehouse Lodge, Costa Rica
According to a 2012 Trip Advisor survey, Costa Rica is recognized as the number one destination for eco-friendly trips. Not only that, but 71 percent of TripAdvisor members said they intended to take an eco-friendly vacation over the next year. This can only be good news for anyone in the green tourism industry. And treehouses, it seems, have a leg-up on the market…
A great case in point, Costa Rica Treehouse Lodge, in the province of Limón, is situated within a wildlife refuge and features 10 acres of beachfront property. Its treehouses, made from fallen hardwoods, are accessed by suspension bridges, surrounded by bird of paradise flowers, and seem to float in the treetops. Dreamy.
8. Post Ranch Inn, USA
With fireplaces, king-size beds, digital music systems and skylights offering gorgeous views of the great outdoors, these treehouses are the perfect choice for anyone wanting to sleep high off the ground. Located in Big Sur, California, Post Ranch Inn is famous for mixing luxury with a rustic, getaway charm. Opened in 1992, the Inn preserves the history of Big Sur pioneers and tips its (cowboy) hat to the land’s ranching days. In 2013, the Inn made Condé Nast Traveler’s Platinum Circle and Gold lists. So it must be doing something right.
7. Primland, USA
Primland lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia opened its Golden Eagle treehouse in 2011. Made of red cedar, the treehouse features a king-size bed, a flat-screen TV, and a 2,700-foot-high view of the Dan River. On weekends, a stay in this lovely locale can cost up to US$656 a night. It’s a hotel that’s perfect for those who enjoy being outside, and activities on offer include mountain biking, fishing, golf, tree-climbing, or simply relaxing and staring at the stars.
6. Ariau Towers, Brazil
Ariau Towers is a huge treehouse hotel nestled in the canopy of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. Its construction was inspired by Jacques Cousteau, who promised that the Amazon would become the destination of the future for politicians, artists and scientists.
Dr. Francisco Ritta Bernardino took Cousteau’s words as prime business advice and opened his eco-friendly resort in 1987. Since then, it has grown exponentially, becoming the most extensive treetop hotel on Earth. Complete with swimming pools, elevated catwalks, gourmet Brazilian food, and opportunities to swim with pink river dolphins, Ariau Towers has definitely carved out a niche for itself. And it seems this has made for good business.
5. Ngong House, Kenya
Ngong House’s sumptuous rooms inspire yearnings for gorgeous African landscapes, safaris, and the quickest flight to Kenya! The exclusive Ngong House hotel is located in the Karen/Langata region of Nairobi and boasts scenic views of the Ngong Hills. But the hotel’s most delightful features are its six uniquely designed luxury treehouses.
The treehouses are made entirely from wood with traditional thatched grass roofs, and each one stands 15 feet off the ground. Ngong House also offers luxurious food and ample opportunities to enjoy Africa’s best - including seeing endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at the nearby Giraffe Centre, visiting the Karen Blixen Museum, and of course experiencing the Nairobi National Park. Providing room for only 24 guests, Belgian-owner Paul Verleysen has created a first-class boutique hotel out of 10 acres of African bush and a hunter’s cabin.
4. Hapuku, New Zealand
Located in Kaikoura, New Zealand, Hapaku’s treehouses are perched a lofty 30 feet above the ground, affording guests magnificent and uninterrupted views of the Kaikoura mountains and the Pacific coast. Each one is built from native wood and designed to exist in harmony with its surroundings. And the surroundings are a huge draw for ocean-loving tourists, who come to see what New Zealand Geographic has dubbed “a Sea World without walls.” Not only that, but Hapuku is only the second community in the world to achieve global tourism environmental certification (Green Globe Benchmark Status).
3. Treehouse Hideaway, England
The stunning Treehouse Hideaway in Kent, England [more here] is even more impressive when you discover the fact that it was built almost entirely from driftwood and recycled building scraps - in just seven months! Owner Chris Whalley constructed the treehouse himself, which sits 20 feet above ground in a red cedar and is furnished with a large plasma TV, a log burner and a kitchenette. And if that weren’t enough, there’s a Jacuzzi at the base of the tree as well!
The treehouse - the tallest habitable structure of its kind in Britain - cost about US$95,000 to build. And to back up its luxury credentials, it was awarded a five-star rating by TripAdvisor and has received reservations from as far afield as Australia.
2. Xinalani Retreat, Mexico
The Xinalani Retreat eco-resort is customized for yoga retreats and aims to reduce its impact on the environment. Xinalani’s accommodations, though not actually built into trees, are on stilts among them, and they were designed without modifying the terrain or using concrete. Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the resort can only be reached by boat and sits on the immaculate shores of Banderas Bay.
While the location and facilities have plenty to offer on their own, the fact that the hotel emphasizes yoga may well be a big factor in its success. According to yoga consultant Tamara Machavariani, yoga is a growing wellness trend, with 20-25 percent more people practicing it every year. Did we mention that they’re spending money on it? That too.
1. Chalkley Treehouse, South Africa
Set in the glorious Lion Sands private game reserve, this breathtaking Chalkley Treehouse hotel [more here] has been described as the “ultimate bush bedroom.” Once you’re perched in the trees with the sky for a roof, the African landscape stretches as far as the eye can see. The treehouse offers guests a feeling of untouched freedom from a secure setting with all the comforts of a five-star safari lodge.
Guests are driven to the treehouse at sunset for drinks and dinner, and then they’re left to enjoy the African dusk as it transforms into night and the stars shine above. Watching the sunset from your luxurious four-poster bed must be a quite amazing experience! When the resort (which also includes the award-winning Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and the River Lodge) added the treehouse, the owners tapped into a unique business opportunity that’s sure to entice adventurous holidaymakers.
Why not branch out on your next vacation and give a treehouse hotel a try?
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these are just wonderfull..
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