Tree houses have come a long way from nasty splinters and childhood forts. These days, they are sought-after accommodations promising adventurous and sometimes even luxurious places for adults and families to stay. Whether you prefer rustic or regal, here are ten unique tree houses worth checking out when planning your next trip.
1.Collines de Niassam Lodge in Senegal (see reviews)
“Sleep in a baobab” sounds pretty inviting and very adventurous. Once you learn that they mean in a treehouse, perched in the branches of a magnificent, centuries old tree, you’ll be even more intrigued. Patrick Smith of Ask the Pilot, recommends the comfortably rustic accommodations which are located about three and a half hours drive from Dakar in the Sine Saloum delta. If you’re thinking “too rustic”, know that the rooms have a double bed, electric lighting, a fan as well as access to bathroom and shower facilities.
2. Inkaterra Canopy Tree House in Peru (see reviews)
The Tambopata National Reserve is a nature-lovers dream and is often called the Biodiversity Capital of Peru. The Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is adjacent to the reserve and staying way, way up in the authentic treehouse, accessed by their canopy walkway, will make birdwatchers and adventure seekers swoon. Caution: those afraid of heights may find themselves swaying instead.
Located on the most remote and highest platform of the Canopy Walkway and is attached to a bridge which leads to another tower, at 85 ft. (26 mt.) above the ground. The Tree House has 2 beds, lavatory, portable toilet, limited light, windows with removable mosquito netting (for better bird and nature observation) as well as a drop leaf table with wooden folding chairs. In keeping with the Reserva Amazonica´s style, the Canopy Tree House adopts the local Ese-Eja design of palm thatched roof and wooden floors.
All accommodations have a cool view and are located in such a way that you can enjoy your privacy. At night you will fall asleep with the sound of the crushing waves. In the morning the sound of birds and howler monkeys will welcome you to a new day!
5. Lion Sands Chlkley Treehouse in South Africa (see reviews)
If sand and surf isn’t your thing, maybe a night spent in a “bush bedroom”on a private game reserve in Africa would suit you. Built in a Leadwood Tree, this encampment is built at the site where Guy Aubrey Chalkley set up camp to escape hungry predators wandering below. Don’t let that scare you off, this is a secure and safe place to lay your head and ponder the stars and sounds around you.
Guests are taken to the treehouse at sunset, where drinks and a delicious picnic dinner await them. They then enjoy the hours of African dusk relaxing and absorbing the beauty and sounds of the bushveld as it transforms from day to night, before turning in for slumber beneath the stars. As dawn breaks, guests are collected by their ranger for a morning game drive, followed by a delicious bush breakfast at one of the many animal and bird hides
7. Golden Eagle Tree House at Primland Resort, Meadows of Dan, Virginia (see reviews)
Nestled in the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains, the recently completed Golden Eagle treehouse may be considered the pinnacle of treehouse luxury on this list. Where else will you enjoy a soaking tub, high-speed internet, flat plane TV and nightly turn-down service while staying in a tree? Extreme care was taken with it’s planning and building process as well.
Set in the strong limbs of one of the oldest and most beautiful oak trees on our property, it was designed and prefabricated in France by renowned tree house architectural firm La Cabane Perchée. La Cabane Perchée’s abiding love and respect for nature mirrors our own, and we are proud of the company’s dedication to sustainable building and the fact that they employ a special binding system that allowed them to situate the tree house without driving a single nail into the host tree.
8. The Hostel in the Forest in Brunswick, Georgia (see reviews)
This is the place to go to commune with nature and with other like-minded individuals in a low-tech, sustainable way. This nature-based hostel has nine treehouses to stay in as well as geodesic domes, all of which were built and are sustained by volunteers. Lifetime membership is $5, overnight costs are extremely reasonable and you’ll be expected to pack out your trash, do your part and adhere to some rules so that everyone enjoys their stay.
Inspired by the creativity found in the natural environment, we have transformed our ideas into actions by having an organic vegetable garden used in our dinners each night, recycling our wastes, having a cutting-edge gray-water system, watering plants with a solar powered irrigation system, and using a worm box that composts our table scraps into fertilizer for the garden. Hostel members sleep in tree houses, hike the T-trails through the 133 acre forest, swim and paddle canoes in the lake, take part in the healing process of walking our labyrinth, participate in the sweat lodges held on the nights of the full moon, eat a healthy vegetarian or vegan meal each night, and attend the many educational retreats and lectures designed to teach us how to move toward a wholesome and more sustainable future.
9. Cabin in Santa Cruz Mountains, California from Glamping Hub (see reviews)
With a tagline of “The ultimate guide to luxury camping and alternative accommodations” its no wonder that Glamping Hub has an entire page devoted to treehouses. One that is featured, a quaint cabin in Corralitos with two living trees growing through it, promises to get you “away from it all” while staying within easy reach of mountain forests, beaches, the famed Santa Cruz boardwalk and Monterey Bay area for cultural events. Not too fancy but not too rugged, this cabin strikes a nice balance.
The house is well equipped and incredibly designed. It has a comfortable high bed (all linens provided), a kitchen with stove, refrigerator, cooking tools and some basic items like spices, oil, vinegar, sugar and tea. Bathroom with shower and toilet. Also a hot tube under the trees at about 103 degrees will make a perfect soak before going to bed or anytime you wanna relax. There is a gas stove for heating. And finally, there is a TV and DVD player with a good movie collection.
10. Hawaiian Treehouse in Volcano, Hawaii from Flipkey (see reviews)
Flipkey is a vacation rental site affiliated with TripAdvisor and they also have a webpage dedicated to treehouses. The one that caught my eye is located on the Big Island, near Volcanoes National Park, and is a hand-built treehouse is perched 20 feet in the air, in five living ohia trees. With a description like this, is there any wonder why treehouses have become a popular way to travel?
Look down onto the reaching fronds of amazing hapu’us (giant tree ferns) from huge windows and lanais all around, providing 360-degree birds-eye views of this secure, private 4 acre paradise. Witness the thrills of nature’s interactions while nestled in homey comforts, including full-kitchen and bath, TV/DVD, music and more to modernize your Swiss Family Robinson experience. Fall asleep while star-viewing from your comfy bed perched high up in the spacious loft. Some nights, even the volcano’s red glow is visible.
