18 Magical Tree Houses to Stay in on Your Next Trip

© Courtesy of Johan Jansson/Treehotel
18 Magical Tree Houses to Stay in on Your Next Trip

Though COVID-19 has stalled many travel plans, AFAR continues to cover the world; there’s always room for inspiration.

Lofty, leafy accommodations have been popular for a while, but they’ve generally carried an element of “roughing it.” Now, a new generation of resorts and vacation rentals are taking tree houses to luxurious new heights. From Tulum to Tanzania to Texas, lavish villas, honeymoon suites, suspended dining pods, and spa treatment pavilions are being built among the branches. Here are 18 tree house hotels and Airbnbs to get your greenery fix up close.

Treehotel

Harads, Sweden 

Book Now: expedia.com

The Treehotel’s 7th Room (pictured above) is by far the most lavish aerie at this design-forward Lapland retreat, which opened in 2016. Built around pine trunks some 33 feet above the ground, the suite sleeps five people. The two bedrooms, living area with sofa bed, bathroom, and shower are all adorned with Scandinavian wood, warm textiles, and organic materials. Large windows throughout and skylights in the bedroom are designed for viewing the northern lights, as well as the panorama of the surrounding forest and the Lule River. The mesh floor of the patio allows for nighttime stargazing (or sleeping) and daytime admiration of the treetops below.

The Carolina Tree House Airbnb

Charlotte, North Carolina

Book Now: airbnb.com

This charming one-bedroom Airbnb rental is an ideal getaway for two that feels more remote than its location—just five miles northeast of downtown Charlotte—really is. In the morning, take your cup of coffee down to the private pond the property is situated on, or curl up with a book on the swing bed located underneath the tree house. As the sun goes down, fire up the grill on the upstairs deck and enjoy the views among the trees.

Secret Bay

Portsmouth, Dominica

Book Now: expedia.com

Secret Bay, an intimate Caribbean hideaway, calls its tree house villas “bowers of bliss,” because they have privacy galore. Stretching over nearly 1,600 square feet, each Ylang-Ylang Villa—so-called because their exterior shape is inspired by that flower—encompasses a bedroom (which can be air-conditioned) and bathroom, two decks, an outdoor shower, an open-air kitchen, a barbecue, a dining area, and a private plunge pool. Standing on a single “stem,” each is an architectural feat and a dreamy setting for a romantic retreat. 

Atlanta Tree House Airbnb

Atlanta, Georgia

Book Now: airbnb.com

Even though this three-room tree house connected by rope bridges is just minutes from downtown Atlanta, it feels secluded thanks to its location tucked into the trees. According to Airbnb, this vacation rental is its most wish-listed property in the world and its high ratings from guests prove that it’s worth visiting. While you won’t find air-conditioning or an en suite bathroom here, little luxuries like bedding from upscale linen brand Parachute and a dedicated hammock deck mean you’re not exactly roughing it.

Acre Treehouse Hotel

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Book Now: expedia.com

Acre, the 25-acre spot that began as a restaurant highlighting Baja’s bounty and a bar with killer craft cocktails has evolved into a hotel with the addition of 12 tree houses. Stays at the adults-only property include a breakfast, morning yoga, and access to the pool and surrounding grounds (where there are bocce and badminton courts, too). 

Crystal Peak Lookout Tree House Airbnb

Fernwood, Idaho

Book Now: airbnb.com

If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson’s 2012 Boy Scout adventure movie Moonrise Kingdom, you’ll love the vibe of this vintage fire lookout that dates back to 1959. Relocated to northern Idaho from Washington State in 1983, it was renovated in 2018 and includes a woodfire stove, a queen-size bed, and a small kitchen. This property definitely has more of a rustic glamping vibe, with a log cabin outhouse (yes, that kind of outhouse) and a cozy sauna located down below. The lookout’s remote location on 13 wooded acres also means you’ll need a car with 4WD to access it. In the winter, for a $100 fee, you can arrange for the property’s caretaker to bring you to the property via Snowcat.

Hoshinoya Bali

Bali, Indonesia

Book Now: expedia.com

The all-villa Hoshinoya Bali was the company’s first resort outside Japan (in addition to six Hoshinoya properties throughout Japan, you’ll find the Hoshinoya Guguan in Taiwan now, too). The property’s Cafe Gazebo includes three teahouses made for quiet afternooons sipping green tea and contemplating the landscape. The structures, which are made largely of metal and cantilevered out over the jungle, are situated along a river gorge near Ubud, meaning there’s green forest extending as far as the eye can see.

Meadowlark Tree House at Montana Treehouse Retreat

Columbia Falls, Montana

Book Now: airbnb.com

Planning a winter retreat? The Montana Treehouse Retreat is just minutes from Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, a 30-minute drive to Glacier National Park, and is open year-round. There are two tree houses—including a lofted A-frame cabin called the Raven’s Nest Tree House—at this five-acre property, but we’re partial to the fairy-tale-like Meadowlark Tree House. To access this two-story tree house, you’ll need to climb up a spiral staircase built around the trunk of a giant Douglas fir tree. Once inside, you’ll find a full kitchen and bathroom on the main level, as well as an additional deck and half bathroom upstairs in the main bedroom loft.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi, Finland

Book Now: expedia.com

Located in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and the gateway to the Arctic Circle, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel has three different styles of suites that all have panoramic windows from which to enjoy the surrounding scenery. We’re fans of the cozy Arctic TreeHouse Suites with an additional “nest bed” tucked away up a small ladder that is ideal for families traveling with kids.

Coastal California Tree House Airbnb

Aptos, California

Book Now: airbnb.com

This three-bedroom tree house with room for six guests is located in the hills above Santa Cruz near Nicene Marks Redwood Forest State Park. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of sunlight and views of the surrounding forest and nearby ocean, while sliding doors inspired by Japanese screens and natural wooden details add to the serene vibe. Feel the need to relax even more? There’s a hammock on the patio perfect for midafternoon naps.

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Dorado, Puerto Rico

Book Now: expedia.com

Built on five acres of pineapple gardens and verdant natural landscaping, the spa at Dorado Beach features two tree house pavilions that let guests hear the rustling leaves and enjoy the scent of bay rum leaves and lemongrass. Those who want to sway along with the island breezes can book a hammock massage, in which spagoers are suspended in a cloth hammock while a therapist works on their pressure points from beneath.

The Klickitat Tree House Airbnb

White Salmon, Washington

Book Now: airbnb.com

Located in the Columbia River Gorge about an hour’s drive east of Portland, Oregon, this midcentury modern–inspired Airbnb is lofted 20 feet above the ground in a canopy of Douglas firs. With room for up to six to sleep, you’ll also find a full kitchen and bathroom indoors as well as an outdoor shower on the deck.

One&Only Reethi Rah

Reethi Rah, Maldives

Book Now: expedia.com

Like most luxury resorts in the Maldives, One&Only Reethi Rah has overwater villas where guests can spend the night. But it has also built a private dining room in a timber tree house where patrons can enjoy a romantic dinner with a seven-course menu designed specifically for their tastes.

Soneva Kiri 

Ko Kut, Thailand

Book Now: expedia.com

Soneva Kiri Resort’s Treepod Dining experience elevates fine dining in more ways than one. Four diners share a bamboo pod that is gently hoisted high into the branches of a century-old massang tree in Koh Kood’s ancient rain forest, giving them views of the sea. Once aloft, they dine on the resort’s signature gourmet fare (watermelon salad and galangal-baked fish in banana leaves), all delivered by a waiter who flies in on a zip line.

Canyon Ranch Woodside

Woodside, California

Book Now: canyonranch.com

Less than an hour’s drive south of San Francisco but a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, this wellness retreat has 24 tree houses lofted 35 to 50 feet above the ground. In addition to private decks, floor-to-ceiling windows allow guests to immerse themselves in nature when they’re not hiking the 16 acres of redwood forest surrounding the property.

Treehouse Utopia

Utopia, Texas

Book Now: treehouseutopia.com

A must-stay on any Texas Hill Country road trip, Treehouse Utopia consists of four luxury tree houses built in ancient Bald Cypress trees overlooking the Sabinal River. Each tree house can accommodate up to two guests and includes an en suite bathroom and air-conditioning. We’re partial to Chapelle, which is decorated with French antiques and stained glass and features a 25-foot steeple.

andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

Book Now: andbeyond.com

This andBeyond tree house hotel emphasizes the mahogany forest where it is located in Lake Manyara National Park. The original nine suites of the Lake Manyara Tree Lodge are all built on stilts with large decks suspended above the forest floor crafted from local timber and makuti palm fronds. A family suite takes that model and supersizes it, creating a second bedroom for the kids.

Post Ranch Inn

Big Sur, California

Book Now: postranchinn.com

This luxurious hotel high on the cliffs of Big Sur might be most famous for its Pacific Ocean views, but Post Ranch Inn also has a collection of tree house suites that shouldn’t be overlooked. Perched on stilts nine feet off the ground, each of these rooms features a wood-burning fireplace and a large skylight positioned above the king-sized bed angled perfectly for stargazing.

This article originally appeared online in February 2017; it was updated on September 11, 2020, to include current information. Products we write about are independently vetted and recommended by our editors. AFAR may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which helps support our independent publication.

>>Next: 13 Isolated Airbnb Cabins Where You Can Escape From the World

Gallery: 8 Adorable Vintage Airstreams and Campers You Can Rent for Your Next Glamping Getaway (Southern Living)