Discover the restorative power of forests with the new generation of luxury treehouse escapes.
Think of treehouses, and you probably picture the idyllic image of a backyard creation for children to spend their days playing games and telling ghost stories. But thanks to a growing interest in exploring the great outdoors—accelerated by the pandemic and a focus on domestic travel experiences—treehouses are now becoming one of the luxury travel options to watch.
The growing attention treehouses are attracting, and the creative, beautiful designs that they have spurred on, could also be attributed to a deepening appreciation for the wellness benefits of spending time around trees. Peter James, assistant professor in Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental Health, has reported that spending time around trees can “translate into long-term changes in the incidence of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer.” In one study, they found that research participants that spent 15 minutes walking through a forest reported decreased negative feelings of depression, anxiety and fatigue, and increased “vigor.”
Findings like this have led to a growing interest in forest bathing, the Japanese-originated practice of spending dedicated time in woodland. Devotees report that forest bathing not only makes them feel more grounded and relaxed, but also improves their creativity and ability to combat stress. Sleeping and living amongst the trees can only emphasize these qualities. Plus, if you were lucky enough to have a childhood treehouse that you loved, the nostalgia of once again being in a wooden cabin with the smells and sounds of woodland around you could help conjure a happy mood and relax your nervous system.
For those looking for a UK escape, one of the best places to start is Canopy and Stars, a digital travel company focused on finding treehouses, cabins and unexpected spaces in the great outdoors. Combining beautiful design with unbeatable locations, each treehouse is selected for its combination of creativity and striking surroundings. Design options range from the Nordic style to more experimental creations—think fairytale-inspired treehouse castles or ultra modern masterpieces—and the company, which is a certified B Corp, also prides itself on promoting treehouses that prioritize sustainability and protecting the precious woodland they inhabit.
To go truly off-grid, consider the Puckshipton Treehouse in Wiltshire. Supremely secluded, the treehouse is hidden in the wilderness in an area where cars are banned (meaning you’ll have to be prepared for a six-mile walk or cycle from the nearest station.) The adventurer’s cabin is propped up amongst the trees, with an outdoor shower and cooking hut built around the roots. Here you’ll find no wi-fi or electricity, only candlelight and stars and the time to truly disconnect from the outside world.
But today’s treehouse hotels aren’t all quite so rustic. The romantic Cleave Treehouse in Devon offers luxury hotel-worthy furnishings as well as an outdoor bath to soak under the stars, all while overlooking a picturesque 11th century farm. Meanwhile the multilevel Nordic-style Silva Treehouse in Cumbria can host a bigger group, with three bedrooms—two with king-sized beds—and a games room complete with pool table and bar, which is accessible via a giant covered slide. Out on the deck, there’s a hot tub and pizza oven to make the most of the remote surroundings.
Further afield, treehouses are also an appealing alternative vacation choice in more exotic locations.
Over in Bali, the Grün group have made their mark with a series of treehouse escapes, from the Grün Ubud, a single treetop villa tucked behind an artist’s home, to the Uluwatu resort, where 34 properties gaze out over fields and the sea, and have use of a luxury restaurant and impressive pool. Sustainability has been a priority for the group—at Uluwatu, the buildings are all made from certified and reclaimed wood, have systems to harvest and recycle rainwater and are powered by solar energy.
The La Sultana Oualidia hotel in Morocco has a separate Treehouse Suite, where guests can sleep amidst the branches of a eucalyptus tree and take in the panoramic views over the lagoon from a freestanding bath tub. Meanwhile in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, you’ll find Tarangire Treetops, a treehouse hotel built around an ancient tree known as the Tree of Life. Resting on wooden platforms constructed at the highest branch level possible, the simple yet elegant suites look out over the incredible park and the surrounding marula and baobab trees.
Whether local or abroad, a treehouse hotel offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature, a loved one and yourself, all from a truly singular vantage point.