If you weren’t lucky enough to have a treehouse as a kid, it’s a safe bet that you daydreamed about having one. There’s something both soothing and exciting about a treehouse, a secret hideaway from the prying eyes of parents or younger siblings and the perfect place to eat smuggled cookies or come up with obscure rules for your club. Maybe that’s also why treehouses feature so prominently in classic movies and series, from ‘Stand by Me’ to ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Not to mention the Ewok Village… Don’t worry if you missed out all those years ago – arboreal adventures are now possible in luxury treehouses in stunning locations around the world. Here’s our list of the world’s top luxury treehouses – just don’t tell the kids!
Chewton Glen, England
Situated in the New Forest in southern England (once a royal hunting reserve, and the scene of the murder of a Norman king), Chewton Glen makes the most of being in one of the largest surviving tracts of deciduous forest in the country. The selection of treehouses is billed as ‘the height of luxury’ and lets you choose from treehouse studio suites or loft suites (for family fun among the foliage). You can take your romance to the next level in the treehouse hideaway suite or combine suites to create a private treehouse that sleeps eight. With luxurious features like hot tubs, all suspended 35 feet above the ground, Chewton Glen is the perfect place to hang out either as a couple or family.
Tarangire Treetops, Tanzania
Tarangire, with its populations of elephant and bulbous baobab trees, is a true African land of giants. Avoid that shrinking feeling by sleeping at Tarangire Treetops, with magnificent views over the plains, and down to the waterhole in front of the lodge which is a magnet for wildlife. Tarangire Treetops offers a potent blend of childhood fantasy come true and the chance to explore (and encounter elephant and more) on walking safaris, game drives, and night drives. With the chants of Maasai warriors around the fire in the evening and the trumpeting of the park’s most famous residents, this experience is sure to bring a sparkle of nostalgia to the eyes of everyone who was ever a child.
Silky Oaks Lodge, Australia
To the north of Cairns, in the far north of Queensland, is a pristine rainforest environment quite different to much of the rest of this dry continent. Silky Oaks Lodge offers the sort of tranquility that comes from unspoiled nature and flowing water. This eco-lodge sits high up above the crystal-clear Mossman River and is the ideal base from which to explore the Daintree Rainforest and iconic Great Barrier Reef. Or you can simply relax in the Healing Waters Spa, enjoying the tropical forest sounds and the views of the forest canopy from your deck. Polished wooden floors provide a luxurious counterpoint to the flourishing plant life, and the lodge’s light footprint ensures minimum impact on this precious environment.
Tongabezi, Zambia
Privately-owned and delightfully quirky, Tongabezi is the perfect reflection not just of its location on the banks of the mighty Zambezi river, but also of a genuine and lasting passion for the country and people of Zambia. The secluded Tree House has been sensitively constructed to rest on the spreading branches of three ancient ebony trees, and the open frontage gives unimpeded views of the Zambezi as it flows past on its hurried way to ‘the smoke that thunders’ – the incredible natural spectacle of Victoria Falls is not far downstream. Relax with a traditional safari gin & tonic as flights of white egrets fly by, and chuckle along with the pods of hippo in the river. This is a place to really immerse yourself in!
Abu Camp, Botswana
Abu Camp is renowned for offering Africa’s premier elephant interaction experience and gives you a unique opportunity to see Africa through the eyes of the resident Abu Herd, from wise old matriarch Cathy to mischievous orphan Naledi. The elephants return of their own accord to the boma each evening, and a night in the Abu Star Bed (a luxury sleeping platform overlooking the boma) means you can be serenaded by the contented rumblings of snoozing pachyderms. Above you, only stars – Botswana’s night skies have to be seen to be believed, and you won’t at all mind waking early as the sunrise lights up the Okavango Delta and the Abu Herd stirs for another day of bush adventures.
Aqua Wellness Resort, Nicaragua
Nicaragua didn’t sign the Paris Climate Agreement – because this Central American nation felt that the accord doesn’t go far enough. That gives you an idea of how committed Nicaragua is to preserving its environment, and helps explain why this resort is one of the ultimate unplugged, tranquil getaways. It peeks out of a lush tropical forest and overlooks a private cove on Nicaragua’s ‘Emerald Coast’. The emphasis is on relaxation and healing, with guided yoga, meditation and spa treatments that will leave you feeling revitalized and invigorated. The best moment of each day could just be sitting on your private deck – or in your plunge pool – as the setting sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean. In the morning, your breakfast could be preceded by the sounds of howler monkeys enjoying theirs in the treetops.
Matangi Island, Fiji
Treehouses are one of our favorite types of accommodation – they’re pretty much perfect all around. The only improvement might be to have a pristine tropical beach just a few steps away. That’s where Matangi Island comes in – their split-level treehouses are right by the shore, and yet completely hidden away amongst lush tropical foliage. All of which makes them perfect for honeymooners and anyone else looking to get away from it all and spend some genuine quality time together. The views from your verandah range from the peaceful to the spectacular, depending on the time of day, with the sunsets being particularly memorable.
If you’re ready to branch out and include a luxury treehouse stay in your next vacation, contact us today.