The best five treehouse hotels in the world

FORGET about staying grounded and take to the trees at these unique and luxurious leafy hideaways that will truly have your head in the clouds.

Chole Mjini in Tanzania.

1. CHATEAUX DANS LES ARBRES, FRANCE

The fairytale one

As if a secluded hideaway in the trees wasn't enough of a childhood dream come true, at Chateaux dans les Arbres in the Dordogne, the leafy abodes are also miniature castles. Housed around the former moat of a ruined stronghold, the three creations are the handiwork of veteran tree house-builder Remi, who modelled them on (and named them after) nearby chateaux. From "Monbazillac", with its steep turrets, to "Hautefort", which has wooden spires, a footbridge and even an inner courtyard, they're certainly deserving of their "chateau" moniker.

A stay here is at the more regal end of tree house experiences. Guests can survey the surrounding countryside in the hot tubs found on each terrace, while the erstwhile moat is now the site of an infinity pool. Other luxury services on offer include massages, gourmet meals prepared, and hampers - delivered, the way breakfast is, via a Rapunzel-esque rope-and-basket system.

Back at ground level are the classic attractions of the Dordogne, not least its wealth of full-sized chateaux. A distinctive way to travel is by gabare, or traditional wooden barge, down the Dordogne River, taking in white-stone villages, thick woodlands and rolling meadows as you go. The wine region of Bergerac is a good place to sample this area's famously fine food and drink.

Getting started

Prices start at $300, with cabins for two and six people. Chateaux dans les Arbres is a 30-minute drive from Bergerac airport.

Chole Mjini in Tanzania.

2. CHOLE MIJINI, TANZANIA

The castaway one

Chole Mjini, which means "Chole City", could hardly be a more ironic name for the cluster of seven tree houses cradled by the canopies of baobab trees on Chole, a tropical island-off-an-island east of the Tanzanian coast. Perched among vegetation and crumbling ruins - a legacy of the island's 19th-century heyday as a trading post - the log-framed, thatched huts look like the wildly inventive creations of marooned voyagers, and staying in one feels about as removed from urban life as it's possible to be. Beyond the reach of electricity, phone signal or even roads (though there is hot water for showers), they're perfectly placed to appreciate the peace of the island, from the sound of the waves lapping against the nearby shore to panoramic views of the sun setting over the ocean. Guests dine on the beach or among the ruins, with meals - which have a distinct Swahili influence - lit by candlelight, while the rooftop bar has a deck for observing the star-speckled sky. Beyond Chole Mjini is Chole village, where boat makers craft traditional dhows as they have done for centuries, and there are 13th-century ruins to explore on adjacent islands. Chole is part of the largest marine park in East Africa, and snorkelling here takes in some of the finest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. Guests can also swim with whale sharks, or observe hawksbill and green turtles hatching on the nearby Mafia Island.

Getting started

Rooms start at $400, including all meals and a daily dhow tour.

Bangkok Treehouse's 'View with a room'

3. BANGKOK TREE HOUSE, THAILAND

The urban one

The turbo-charged city of Bangkok makes an unexpectedly tranquil location for a tree house - or 12. In the city's southeast, just beyond the built-up neighbourhoods and busy roads of the centre, is Bang Krachao, a near-island carved by a loop of the Chao Phraya River. Known as the city's green lung, it's a place of mangrove, palm and fruit trees, threaded with waterways, semi-rural villages and centuries-old temples hidden in its midst.

Presiding over the river are the dozen mid-air hideaways that comprise the eco-conscious Bangkok Treehouse. Eleven of these are sleek cabins with living rooms and roof terraces, but the most minimalist - and magical - is the "View with a Room". Perched 7m high, its panoramic views over the river and jungle are untroubled by such traditional architectural trappings as walls or a ceiling. Instead, two bamboo platforms house a large, canopied double bed and an area for lounging and eating.

A fair bit of time up here is likely to be spent ogling the views: colourful dawns, sunsets flaming over a fringe of palms as boats drift by below, nights lit by the soft glow of fireflies - all accompanied by the singsong and chatter of cicadas and birds.

There are plenty of ways to take in Bang Krachao's unique surroundings, such as swimming in the hotel's natural pool or borrowing one of the guest bikes and cycling the maze of paths that crisscross the jungle and waterways. A floating market, botanical gardens and Buddhist temples are all a short ride away.

And, should you wish to escape the peace for an hour or two, the historic sights and lively streetlife and exuberant night-life of Bangkok proper are just across the river.

Getting started

Room prices at Bangkok Treehouse start at $200, with the "View with a Room" from $245. Price includes free bike rental, phone hire and ice cream.

A Free Spirit Sphere in Canada.

4. FREE SPIRIT SPHERES, CANADA

The modern one

The Free Spirit Spheres are suspended in the canopy by a spider's web of stretchy ropes, hanging like giant Christmas decorations in the temperate rainforest of Vancouver Island. The smooth, wooden pods are designed to coexist with their surroundings, and have minimum impact on the trees and wildlife. Creature comforts, including bathrooms and a sauna, are back on solid ground, while beyond the forest are the wineries and artisan eateries of the Cowichan Valley. Further afield are wilder thrills like the skiing of Mount Washington and whale-watching off the island's coast.

Getting started

Spheres start at $175. The Spheres are a 45-minute drive away in Qualicum Bay.

Bagthorpe Hall Treehouse in Norfolk, England.

5. BAGTHORPE HALL, ENGLAND

The stately one

The average tree house may be a lovably DIY affair cobbled together with nails and wood, but the humble hideaway has long appealed to luxurious tastes. Roman Emperor Caligula held lavish feasts in a plane tree, while the Medici family decked out tree-chambers with marble fountains. The tree house at Bagthorpe Hall in Norfolk takes its cue from this venerable tradition. Located within a shady copse of oaks in the grounds of a country house, it's a spacious mini-house with a kingsize four-poster bed and large copper bath, as well as a veranda with views over the parkland. Modern technology is also conspicuously absent . It's a short drive from the royal estate of Sandringham and the silky dunes, basking seals and picturesque harbour towns of the north Norfolk coast.

Getting started

Prices start at $300 a night, with a minimum two-night stay. Bagthorpe Hall is 2.5 hours from London via the A11 and A1065. It's a 30-minute taxi ride from King's Lynn train station with direct connections to London King's Cross.

Lonely Planet Traveller magazine

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