For those with a love of nature and a desire to rediscover their inner child, spending the night among the treetops is sure to rekindle fond childhood memories of imagination, exploration and adventure. With sustainable travel high on the agenda this year, with over three quarters (64%) wanting to make a conscious effort to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months, what better way for travellers to connect to nature than in a unique sustainable treehouse with the entire forest at their feet.
With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com has delved into its more than 28 million listings, including homes, apartments and other unique places to stay, to present seven incredible treehouses all of which feature Booking.com’s Travel Sustainable badge to help contribute to a more sustainable stay.
Under Canvas Glacier, Montana, United States
Where to stay: With treehouses and luxurious safari tents that will appeal to a wide range of travellers, this gorgeous glamping getaway is located near Glacier National Park in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, known for its breathtaking glacier-carved peaks and more than 700 miles (1,126 km) of hiking trails. Surrounded by dramatic vistas and pristine natural beauty, this part of northwestern Montana is still a bit off the beaten track and ideal for those in the mood for an aspirational travel adventure. The campground provides the necessary essentials to ensure an authentic and comfortable experience in the forest, including camp cots, sleeping bags, safari chairs and even lanterns, and each treehouse features a wood-burning stove.
What to do: With more than four in five (80%) travellers wanting to visit a destination based on its beautiful natural scenery, just a short drive away the Hungry Horse Reservoir is a hidden gem with stunning views of the rugged terrain in summer and the snow-capped peaks to the east in winter, and perfect for recreational water activities. What’s more, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable property offers guided tours and white-water rafting trips organised by local guides and bike rentals to explore the surrounding area. Guests can enjoy locally sourced, seasonal dishes at the onsite cafe and nightly campfires with complimentary s’mores underneath the stars.
Teniqua Treetops, Western Cape, South Africa
Where to stay: This tented treetop resort near Seven Passes Road, the oldest mountain pass in South Africa’s Western Cape, is not only sustainable but also quite literally surrounded by greenery. Nestled among 86 acres (35 hectares) of pristine indigenous forest along the Garden Route between Knysna and Sedgefield, the property takes their environmental impact seriously, seeking to minimise their energy usage and impact by employing a number of sustainable practices, including dry compost toilets and by using biodegradable, eco-friendly detergents. Family-friendly amenities include a jungle playground, games room and an outdoor pool complex made from converted dams with a solar-heated hot tub.
What to do: Guests can walk through the forest to the gorge and swim in the rock pools, or take part in stargazing activities at night. If travellers can tear themselves away, the Wild Oats farmers market and the Sedgefield Craft Brewery are just a short drive away, or head to Knysna for a whale-watching tour. For those planning on renting a hybrid car from Cape Town to explore South Africa’s iconic Garden Route, these treetop suites make for a relaxing and whimsical road trip pitstop. Stretching from the Western to the Eastern Cape, it’s one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world, with stunning mountain vistas and sparkling lagoons to discover around every turn.
TreeHouse Villas, Ko Yao Noi, Thailand
Where to stay: Surrounded by lush tropical forest, with dramatic cliffs as a backdrop and a nearby private beach, the treehouse villas at this exclusive, adults-only resort on the island of Ko Yao Noi in Thailand are anything but rustic. With a secluded location between the popular destinations of Phuket and Krabi, it’s all about attention to detail and pampering, as each villa comes with its own private plunge pool and exclusive hammock-shaped bathtub. Regardless of whether travellers want to indulge in a soothing massage, practice yoga or trek through the surrounding rainforest, they can personalise their treehouse experience at this island escape for maximum relaxation and rejuvenation – perfect for the vast majority (80%)* of travellers who said giving themselves time to relax is a key motivation to travel. Making huge efforts towards sustainability, this resort provides organic, locally sourced food, bans single-use plastic and uses 100% renewable electricity, while each treehouse villa is decorated in a luxe modern vintage style using upcycled and recycled materials.
What to do: For travellers seeking to explore the surrounding area, a Krabi Jungle Guided Tour offers an excursion to discover the hidden gems of the jungle, while over on Phuket island travellers can immerse in an Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Experience to spend time with these gentle giants and learn about their behavior patterns, habitats and history – both just a short boat ride away.
Les Cabanes De Pyrene, Cazarilh, France
Where to stay: Perched high in the heart of the Pyrenean mountains halfway between Pau and Toulouse in southwest France, these secluded treehouses are surrounded by wild deer, babbling brooks and two-hundred-year-old oaks. Romantic touches are plentiful with four poster beds, terraces connected by suspension bridges and a Nordic bath that heats to a blissful 39 degrees and the option to upgrade with a bottle of champagne. Each morning, guests can hoist a breakfast basket full of freshly baked croissants up to their terrace, and have the option to dine at onsite Kota Grill in the evening – a small hexagonal chalet that offers an all-inclusive menu from aperitif to dessert based on local products. This Travel Sustainable property offers a wide range of activities from hiking and skiing to canyoning and stargazing, all organised by local guides.
What to do: For a day trip out of the woods, visitors can rent a car and head to the pilgrim town of Lourdes, an hour’s drive away from the property, to explore the history of Saint Bernadette on an Our Lady of Lourdes Guided Tour including a visit to the underground Basilica and the healing waters.
The Canopy Rainforest Treehuses & Wildlife Sanctuary, Tarzali, Australia
Where to stay: Travellers are guaranteed to reconnect with nature at this boutique treehouse accommodation in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area that stretches along the north-east Queensland coast of Australia, one of the world’s oldest surviving tropical rainforests so diverse travellers will find flora and fauna there over 100 million years in the making. On the banks of the Ithaca River and surrounded by 100 acres of protected rainforest populated by indigenous wildlife, these light and airy treehouse cabins offer huge windows and elevated balconies with uninterrupted views over the Atherton Tablelands, and all come with whirlpool baths, fully equipped kitchens, wood-burning stoves and hammocks. Guests can mosey along the forest tracks and spot different species of animals from the colourful cassowary to tree kangaroos and platypus, while this Travel Sustainable property promotes bird and wildlife tours organised by local guides and even invests a percentage of its revenue into sustainable community projects to protect the surrounding area.
What to do: Renowned for its lush waterfalls and spectacular national parks, travellers can explore the area on a Waterfall and Wildlife Viewing Tour in the Atherton Highlands. Just a short drive from the property, swim in a volcanic crater at Lake Eacham or kayak around Lake Barrine, getting up close to sunken fig trees.
Tree House Lodge, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
What to do: Nestled near Puerto Viejo in the Limón region of Costa Rica, this oceanfront eco-lodge is set on forested tropical grounds along a beach on the Caribbean Sea. Travellers will be sure to reawaken their sense of adventure at this bohemian playground that features minigolf, ziplining and quirky imaginative lodges built from recycled, natural and sustainable materials – including fallen loquat trees. A great base for the seaside, the resort grants direct access to the soft white sands of Punta Uva Beach and is a surfer’s paradise for those who want to ride the waves.
What to do: Visitors can trek through the jungle of the neighboring Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife refuge that holds the only intact mangrove swamp in the Atlantic and which is the nesting area for manatees, dolphins and several species of turtles – or head to the Cahuita National Park with its 1,500 acres of coral reefs and colourful marine life. Sustainability to protect its surrounding environment is extremely important to this resort, with all water heated by solar panels and wastewater cleaned by water lilies.
For travellers inspired to stay in a unique treehouse, Booking.com is sharing Getaway Deals. Discounts start at 15 percent at participating properties indicated by the “Getaway Deal” badge and are valid for stays with check-out on or before 28 September 2023. In addition, Booking.com is making it easier for travellers to level up their trip with Genius. Designed to make every trip a better experience, Booking.com’s loyalty program is completely free, easily accessible and membership lasts a lifetime. As travellers continue to book on the platform – whether it’s a car rental for a family road trip or a coastal cottage for a beach getaway – Genius helps travellers to earn more rewards as they go for a lifetime of discounts that never expire. Travellers simply need to create a free Booking.com account or log into an existing one to earn more and more rewards that will help level-up their travel experience – from free breakfast to free room upgrades, and with discounts starting from 10% on selected car rental and places to stay.
