10 treetop hotels to take you to new heights

This article was originally published on the global travel search engine Skyscanner.

Eco-friendly luxury has been taken to new heights with these gorgeous re-imaginings of a very simple concept: The treehouse. Join Skyscanner as we take a tour of some of the world's best treehouse hotels.

1. Treehotel, Sweden

Designed by some of the most innovative architects in Scandinavia, this gorgeous hotel consists of several ultra-modern 'treerooms' floating seemingly unmoored in the midst of a pristine Scandinavian forest.

The rooms provide stunning views of the surrounding valley, with its endless tracts of forest stretching off to the horizon.

If you visit during the right time of year, you may even catch a glimpse of the ethereal northern lights.

2. Playa Viva, Mexico

Doubling as a nature preserve, Mexican luxury resort Playa Viva is a guilt-free hotel on the Pacific coast where you and your family can experience Mexico's unique natural beauty.

This beachfront eco-retreat is completely sustainable, and you won't have to sacrifice any comforts as you escape the grid.

The resorts' grounds encompass a number of remarkable features, such as an Aztec archaeological site, a volunteer-run turtle sanctuary, and a mangrove forest.

Rooms are scarce, so you know your stay will be secluded; the five bamboo tree houses, or casitas, contain just eight rooms, each with gorgeous canopy beds, lovingly handcrafted furniture, and million-peso views of the ocean.

3. Tree House Lodge, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has long been a leader in eco-friendly tourism, and remains a fantastic destination for those seeking pristine beaches, teeming jungles, and cutting-edge eco-design.

This particular eco-lodge is built around the trunk of a massive Sangrillo tree, and while the open concept means occasionally you'll be sharing your quarters with some of the nocturnal denizens of the jungle, like bats.

The treehouse can accommodate up to six, and activities include guided canoe tours of the wilderness led by indigenous guides. All building materials used here are sustainable, right down to the paints made from natural oils, and electricity is generated by solar panels.

4. Chewton Glen, UK

Chewton Glen offers a quintessential English country stay with one key difference: you're in a tree.

This tree house, set in the bucolic countryside of the south of England in the New Forest of Hampshire, provides comfortable accommodation for the perfect family holiday.

Enjoy hiking in the forest on the 130 acre grounds, or mosey on down to the beach for some bracing briny breezes. But don't assume that rustic means rough around the edges.

The hotel, which was built in 2012, has a variety of top-end rooms and suites to please even the most demanding of travellers.

5. La Cabane en L'air, France

Spreading across France, from Normandy all the way down to Provence, La Cabane en L'Air offers over a hundred treehouse cabins that are perfect for experiencing the charms of the French countryside.

The cabins they offer vary in height, and even those with acrophobia will find something to suit them, These "huts" may appear rustic, even primitive, but are actually luxuriously comfortable.

The cabins are elegantly designed, and offer wonderful escapes from the more urban areas of the country. When the bright lights of Paris start to hurt your eyes, make for the countryside and check in to one of these lovely tree homes.

6. Tongabezi, Zambia

Tongabezi, a luxury lodge near Victoria Falls, is one of southern Africa's most romantic vacation resorts.

Founded in 1990, Tongabezi has been in the game for a long time, and provides the perfect base of operations for excursions to Victoria Falls, which can at times overwhelm with its crowds of tourists.

Far removed from the hordes of vacationers, this lodge offers an exclusive and romantic haven in the savannahs of Africa. Travellers craving flexibility will appreciate Tongabezi and its lack of set itineraries, allowing them to explore the environs at their own leisure.

7. Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel, Brazil

This hotel is actually a cluster of tree houses in the Amazon Rainforest, the largest hotel of this type in the whole area. This unique site sits in a nature park, where parrots and other jungle animals will be your companions for the stay.

The buildings are modelled after the houses of the indigenous tribes in the area, and are built at canopy level, giving guests incredible views of the forest stretching off into the horizon.

Each tower is linked together with catwalks, and the whole complex is connected with over six kilometres of these hanging paths.

For an additional charge, Ariau will escort you around in the conveyance of your choice, including golf carts, helicopters, canoes or yachts.

8. Tranquil Resort, India

Tranquil Resort is a private plantation in northern Kerala, growing coffee and vanilla on 400 acres of land amidst the lush rain forest of Wayanad.

The main bungalow was first built in the 1930s, but these days guests also have the option of staying in one of the two treehouse accommodations, "tranquilitree" or "serenetree", the larger of which can easily accommodate a family of four and come equipped with modern amenities such as a refrigerator and satellite TV.

Your stay here will feel more like a warm home-stay than a resort, and guests can hike in the forest, learn how the coffee is produced, or simply spend some quiet time down by the pool.

9. Cedar Creek Treehouse, WA, USA

In the rugged forests that ring the base of Washington State's Mount Rainier, a unique hotel rises 50 feet from the ground providing commanding views of the surrounding countryside, clinging to the side of a massive, ancient cedar tree.

This earth-friendly mountain retreat, a reasonable drive from Seattle and just 16 kilometres from the base of the towering (and occasionally smoking) volcano, features an octagonal cabin with Solar-powered lights, kitchen, dining room, living room, bedroom, and sunroom.

Those who ascend the 77 steps will be rewarded with an amazing hotel experience in the verdant back woods of the Pacific Northwest.

10. Bangkok Tree House, Thailand

This treehouse offers a secluded rural oasis in the midst of one the world's most exciting cities.

Bangkok Tree House, in Phra Padaeng, greater Bangkok, provides fabulous three-story units that push the boundaries of eco-friendliness without sacrificing any comfort or luxury.

The treehouse is committed to the environmentalist cause. Completely carbon neutral, it also promises to collect a kilogram of litter for every new booking.

Presenting an island of rural calm amidst the bustling metropolis around it, the hotel presents plenty of opportunities for cycling, hiking or just enjoying the natural surroundings.

In this way, Bangkok Tree House really does let you have your cake and eat it too.

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