World's Top Tree-House Hotels
These aboveground dwellings are elevated in more ways than one.

Tree houses are pure nostalgia, evoking childhood memories of climbing up rope ladders and slumbering in sleeping bags. In recent years, a number of tree-house hotels have sprung up, combining a youthful yearning for adventure with a grown-up desire for comfort. They merge small spaces with immense views and manage to include all the amenities of a luxury hotel suite in the middle of nature.
Working within environmental limitations, designers are forced to find new and innovative ways to offer top-notch accommodations above ground. Small rooms give way to wraparound decks with panoramic views (and sometimes a pool). Floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light into rooms crafted of wood; staircases and bridges take the place of rope ladders. The lack of space for a kitchen leads to particularly ingenious solutions, like picnic baskets hauled upward by pulley systems.
From triangular dwellings of weathered wood at Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California, to minimal-impact tents hanging in the Welsh forest at Red Kite Tree Tent in Powys, Wales, creativity manifests itself in singular designs. While some edifices blend in with the natural surroundings, others like Monbazillac, a turreted château in the Dordogne in France, stand out unexpectedly against a forested backdrop. All, however, share one distinct characteristic: the ability to rise above the ordinary.

Treehotel, Harads, Sweden
The high-design “tree rooms” at Treehotel exist in the tiny Swedish village of Harads, population 600. Designed by leading Scandinavian architects, each tree house has an individual custom design (as do the furniture, lighting, and fabrics). The Dragonfly, the property’s second-largest suite, is perched 16 feet off the ground; its panoramic windows provide an especially stunning view of the nearby valley. The Dragonfly, from $845 per night for four people; Edeforsväg 2 A; 46-92/810-403; treehotel.se. —Nell McShane Wulfhart

Monbazillac, Dordogne, France
More of a tree castle than a tree house, Monbazillac is modeled after a traditional French château, right down to the turrets. Set in the lush hills and valleys of the Dordogne, this tree house offers superb views of the French countryside from its surrounding balcony and outdoor hot tub. When lit up at night, the exquisitely detailed wooden structure, which sleeps two adults, glows like something out of a fairy tale. Guests can descend from the trees to the ground-level swimming pool that looks out onto rolling fields, and breakfast can be delivered in a basket sent up by a pulley system. Rates start at $260 per night for two people; Domaine de Puybeton, Nojals-et-Clotte; 33-6/3064-2600; chateaux-dans-les-arbres.com. —NMW

Tree House Hideaway, India
Located in one of the best tiger reserves in the world, these five tree houses look directly out onto the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (request one facing a watering hole frequented by the local wildlife). The comfortable and private interiors are decorated in earth tones and have modern bathrooms and air-conditioning. The design of the wooden houses themselves utilizes the work of local craftspeople. Guests can relax on balconies while gazing out into the dense surrounding jungle, and two safaris (guided by English speaking in-house naturalists) are included with each booking. Rates start at $415 per night for two people; Bandhavgarh National Park, Village Vijarhia, Bandhavgarh District, Umaria, Madhya Pradesh; 91-95/4053-7711; treehousehideaway.com. —NMW

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
Post Ranch Inn sits 1,200 feet above the Pacific atop the cliffs of Big Sur. Its freestanding triangular tree houses, with exteriors of weathered wood, are situated nine feet off the forest floor and accessible by staircases. The rooms, decked out in slate, have woodburning fireplaces, private decks with spectacular mountain views, and indoor spa tubs. Beds sit under skylights so guests can watch the stars, and the award-winning Sierra Mar restaurant is worth descending (temporarily) for. Rates start at $1,175; 47900 Hwy. 1; 831-667-2200; postranchinn.com. —NMW

Red Kite Tree Tent, Powys, Wales
A glamping version of a tree house, Red Kite Tree Tent is a way to camp out without sleeping on cold, hard ground. Lightweight, with a hybrid aluminum and green-ash airframe, the minimal-impact tent hangs from trees in the Welsh forest via an elaborate rigging system. A log burner inside keeps things cozy; a fire pit and an outdoor shower are located near a stream. The tent is built for two, with a double bed that hangs from the tent’s frame (and converts to a sofa), perfectly illustrating the phrase “sleeping on air.” Rates start at $330 for a three-night stay, and $550 for a seven-night stay; Builth Wells; 44-1865/764-087; sheepskinlife.com. —NMW

Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa, Nicaragua
Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa’s 23 Bohios are tucked into the lush, wooded scenery of Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, each boasting floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing the neighboring maintains or Playa Manzanillo, located 300 feet below. The 621-square-foot standalone structures are built from sustainable materials (like native teak and pine), and feature an ensuite bathroom (with a dual head rain shower and double vanity), a walk-in closet, and a wooden deck with a private plunge pool. Rates start at $550; Carretera Tola–Las Salinas km. 10, Guacalito de la Isla; 800-390-8844; mukulresort.com. —Avery Stone

Chewton Glen, England
Located on the edge of the ancient New Forest Park in Hampshire, this 70-room Relais & Châteaux property has 12 tree-house suites. Each is suspended 35 feet above ground, and has large windows framing the canopy, plus a private terrace and hot tub. Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s wide array of luxe amenities, including its spa and recently opened cooking school, but those who would rather stick to their own space can request that exclusive treatments come to them. Rates start at $1,095; Christchurch Rd., New Milton BH25 6QS, United Kingdom; 44-14/2527-5341; chewtonglen.com. —AS

andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Tanzania
The only permanent luxury lodge in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park, this property boasts ten stilted, thatched roof tree-house suites nestled into a mahogany forest. After a game drive (park-dwellers include elephants, hippos, buffalos, lions, baboons, and over 400 species of birds), guests can unwind with a bath in their tree-house’s free-standing tub, or watch the sun set from their private veranda looking out at the forest. Rates start at $1,295; Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania; 27-11/809-4300; andbeyond.com. —AS

Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Philippines
Located on the remote and private Pamalican Island, this lush Aman resort has six tree-house-like structures (two have private plunge pools) set apart from the main resort. Each is perched in the forest canopy, but also has direct beach access via footpath, plus stunning views of the Sulu Sea from a private wood deck. Guests have full access to the resort’s Aman Spa, fitness pavilion (with daily classes), and four tennis courts, but exploring the island is a must—pro tip: you can spot baby sharks in the shallows at high tide on the island’s south side. Rates start at $1,100; Pamalican Island, Sulu Archipelago, Palawan, Philippines; 63-2/976-5200; aman.com. —AS

Banyan Tree Bintan, Indonesia
The only all-villa resort on the Indonesian island of Bintan, Banyan Tree Bintan is perched on a hillside overlooking the South China Sea. Though it has a variety of types of villas, its Rainforest Villas are elevated and nestled into the rainforest like tree houses (each features an outdoor private pool and veranda, a pillow menu, and a sunken bathtub). Guests can take themselves further into the trees with a guided tour of the surrounding mangrove forest (home to mangrove snakes, crabs, and other creatures), or explore the coastline by jet skiing, snorkeling, or planting coral with the resort’s Marine Conservation Lab. Rates start at $330; Jalan Teluk Berembang, Laguna Bintan Resort, Lagoi, Sebong Lagoi, Tlk. Sebong, Kabupaten Bintan, Kepulauan Riau 29155, Indonesia; 62-77/069-3100; banyantree.com. —AS

Primland, Virginia
This eco-conscious resort, located near the state’s Blue Ridge Mountains, offers a wide range of accommodations (from suites to standalone duplex cottages), but its three tree houses are the most intimate. Located a short drive from the property’s main lodge, the houses are built around the treetops at an elevation of nearly 2,700 feet. Each has a private deck that offers with sweeping views of Kibler Valley; inside, expect Frette sheets, Abyss & Habidecor robes and slippers, and a soaking tub. During their stay, guests can try their hand at an array of activities like hunting, golf, tree climbing, kayaking, fishing, shooting clays, archery, and more. Rates start at $875; 2000 Busted Rock Rd., Meadows of Dan, VA; 866-960-7746; primland.com. —AS
Become a DEPARTURES VIP
Join our Weekly Newsletter