If you’re interested in booking a stargazing vacation without the hassle of setting up a tent, collecting wood for a fire and sleeping on the cold, hard ground, then CTVNews.ca has you covered… although covered might not be the most-accurate word in this case. From open-air treehouses in the African wilderness to hanging spheres in the British Columbian rainforest to romantic inflatable bubbles in France, there is an intriguing option for anyone looking to unwind beneath a starry nighttime sky in comfort and convenience.
The hotels and resorts below offer luxurious accommodations for the nature-lover who doesn’t love the whole “roughing it” part.
1. Tinyeleti Treehouse, South Africa
The palatial treehouse boasts a large bed complete with a canopy mosquito net and a private bathroom with running water. (Lion Sands Game Reserve)
If stars are what you’re after, this treehouse within the Kruger National Park in South Africa certainly has them. Tinyeleti appropriately translates to “many stars.” The luxurious, open-air treehouse is part of an overnight wilderness experience offered by the Lion Sands Game Reserve. According to the treehouse’s website, guests are treated to a sunset gourmet picnic dinner and drinks on the deck, which overlooks the African wildlife congregating at the Sabie River nearby.
For those who may have concerns about sleeping so close to wild dangerous animals, the owners assure prospective guests that their treehouses are securely constructed above the ground so that animals remain a “safe and comfortable” distance.
Some of the animals you might hear during your stay at the treehouse include hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas and impalas. (lLion Sands Game Reserve)
Price per night: Starts at C$351 per person
2. Pure Pods, New Zealand
The 20-square-metre pods have one floor and include a bed, kitchen, tiny washroom and sitting area. (Pure Pods)
With nothing but a glass ceiling separating you and the Southern Cross constellation, not to mention a billion other stars, New Zealand’s Pure Pods are a great option for those looking to stargaze in modern comfort. The eco-friendly, entirely glass pods are solar powered and the rainwater that falls on the roofs of the pods is returned under the floor to water the local plants. On the company’s website, the pods’ creators write that “conservation and reclamation of the natural environment” is at the heart of their business.
There are three pods which are all located within an hour’s drive from Christchurch, New Zealand. Each pod is equipped with everything you might need, including running water, a fully-stocked kitchen and even a star chart to tap into your astronomer side. A word of warning for the tech-obsessed, Pure Pods encourages “unplugging” during your stay, which means you won’t find WiFi, TV or even a phone signal in these isolated, glass houses.
With unobstructed views of the natural landscape below, beside and above you, New Zealand’s Pure Pods certainly give new meaning to the phrase “a room with a view”.
Price per night: Starts at C$470 for two people
3. Golden Crown Igloos, Finland
For optimal viewing, the windows are all insulated and electrically heated to keep them from frosting or fogging up. (Golden Crown Igloos)
If you’re interested in taking your stargazing to the next level, observing the Northern Lights is a great place to start. Dedicated spectators regularly brave chilly northern temperatures to take in the full array of colours emanating from one of nature’s most spectacular light shows. If standing out in the cold isn’t your thing, you can now enjoy them from the warmth and comfort of a glass igloo in Finland.
Golden Crown offers 14 igloos all located on the Utsuvaara fell, 10 kilometres from the resort town of Levi in the northern Lapland region of Finland. Each igloo includes a kitchenette, a shower and a toilet.
Finland’s tourism website boasts that the Aurora Borealis is visible approximately 200 nights out of the year so with a little planning, your chances of basking in the night sky’s glowing colours are pretty good.
Findland's tourism website says that late August to April are the best months to view the Northern Lights. (leviniglut.net)
Price per night: Dependent on season. Starts at approx. C$529 for two people
4. Bangkok Treehouse, Thailand
The “room” includes a luxurious king-sized bed, complimentary breakfast and free homemade ice cream available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Bangkok Treehouse)
The creators of the Bangkok Treehouse know their accommodations come second to the beautiful natural scenery that surrounds them. The View with a Room is perched seven metres above the ground with only the endless sky as your ceiling. For walls, there are only the mangrove palm trees. The Bangkok Treehouse is so secluded that it is only accessible by foot, bike or boat.
If you’re the minimalist type, the hotel also offers an accommodation called the River Nest, which is literally just a floating mattress on a nearby river. The website warns there is a high probability of getting wet during your stay on the river bed so if that’s not what you’re looking for, you may want to stick to the View with a Room and its drier offerings.
The website states that the River Nest is a unique concept where the "tides rock you to sleep and the morning sun rise is your alarm clock." (Bangkok Treehouse)
Price per night: Starts at C$235 for two people during off season
5. Free Spirit Spheres, B.C., Canada
To reach the elevated spheres, guests must clamber up picturesque spiral staircases and across drawbridges. (Free Spirit Spheres)
Treehouses certainly aren’t what they used to be on Vancouver Island, B.C. Now, you can sleep in a suspended spherical treehouse in a coastal rainforest just north of Qualicum Beach. Free Spirit Spheres offers three different wood and fibreglass spheres named Eve, Eryn and Melody. The unique orbs are suspended approximately 15 feet above the forest floor and weigh about a ton each.
Nestled among the spruce, fir and cedar trees, the treehouses include comfortable beds, dining areas, built-in speakers, electrical heating and circular windows to gaze at the nature beside you and the stars above. If you’re wondering what the washroom situation might be like in a hanging treehouse, fear not, a central-heated bathhouse and a cookhouse with a barbecue are separately located about 50 metres from the base of each sphere.
Price per night: Starts at C$175 for the smallest sphere (single bed)
6. L’And Sky Suite, Portugal
The Alentejo night sky is one of the best areas in Europe for stargazing because of the lack of light pollution there. (L'And Vineyards)
Convenience and luxury characterize a stay in one of the L’And Vineyards hotel’s Sky Suites located in the Alentejo about 45 minutes from Lisbon, Portugal. With the touch of a button, guests can open or close the roof above them when they’re in the mood for starry skies.
You won’t have to worry about “roughing it” during a visit to L’And Vineyards. Each Sky Suite is decked out with a king-sized bed, private interior garden with a plunge pool, a terrace with a fireplace, heated floors, a Bose sound system and a view of the lake and nearby Montemor Castle. The posh resort has a winery, luxury spa, courtyard restaurant and only 22 suites.
The posh resort has a winery, luxury spa, courtyard restaurant and only 22 suites. (L'And Vineyards)
Price per night: Dependent on season. Starts at approx. C$347 for two people
7. Star-Bed, Mozambique
The Nkwichi Lodge is located on the Mozambican side of Lake Malawi. (Nkwichi Lodge)
Set on a deserted beach or a private rock island on Lake Malawi or “Lake of Stars” as it’s often called, Nkwichi Lodge’s Star-Beds provide the ultimate stargazing experience. The rustic Star-Bed has nothing but a mosquito net canopy and romantic lanterns obstructing the view of the spectacular African night sky. Guests staying at the Lodge’s natural chalets or larger private houses can book a night in one of the Star-Beds for an unforgettable overnight experience in a remote piece of paradise.
The Nkwichi Lodge is located on the Mozambican side of Lake Malawi. The resort lays claim to eight secluded beaches set on four kilometres of Rift Valley coastline. For the adventurous type, the lodge offers a variety of activities including snorkeling, stand-up paddling, kayaking, hiking and fishing.
Price per night: Must make an inquiry on the website for specific rates
8. Stargazer Domes, New Brunswick, Canada
Each dome has an indoor sitting area and an adjacent private deck. (Instagram / ridgeback_lodge)
Who said tents have to be triangular? Not Ridgeback Lodge, that’s for sure. The New Brunswick resort situated on the Kingston Peninsula offers a glamorous or “glamping” experience with domed tents and deluxe cabins. The three stargazer domes illuminate natural light with a transparent roof situated directly above a queen-sized bed so guests can lay back and watch the night sky in relaxed comfort.
As for cooking and other necessities, the domes are booked in conjunction with a luxurious cabin that is 20 metres away from the tents. The cabin comes complete with a dining area, wood stove, walk-in shower and a modern kitchen with high-end appliances.
Another perfect way to enjoy a dramatic sunset or a star-filled sky at the Ridgeback Lodge is to grab a bottle of wine and soak up the views in your private wood-fired hot tub.
Price per night: Starts at C$160 for max. 6 people (must stay a minimum 2 nights)
9. Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht, Germany
If you decide on this thrilling sleeping arrangement, be warned that you can only travel to and from the tent using a rope. (Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht)
If you’re afraid of heights, the Walseilgarten Höllschlucht in Bavaria is not for you. Frequently described as “extreme camping” the adventure resort offers three breathtaking (and heart-racing) overnight experiences not designed for the faint of heart.
The first and most solid choice is a simple wooden platform secured seven metres above the ground. Guests spend the night on an open-air platform suspended in the trees with an unobstructed view of the skies above. The second, more dizzying option is to sleep in a small see-through tent, which hangs from a large tree branch.
Lastly, the most intense overnight adventure involves sleeping on a tiny platform called a “portaledge,” which is suspended on the face of a rock cliff.
The platforms range in height, but the Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht’s website says they can be as high as 2,000 metres above ground. (Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht)
Looking down is probably not recommended if you want to keep a cool head during any of these overnight trips but looking up most certainly is. Once you’re securely in place, you can enjoy the sweeping beauty of the Pfronten mountains in the German Alps and fall asleep under a sky filled with twinkling stars.
Price per night: Starts at C$184 per adult for the first wooden platform option
10. Attrap' Rêves Bubble Suites, France
Each state-of-the-art bubble has a 4-metre diameter and a 3-metre ceiling height. (Atrrap' Rêves)
When you think of romantic destinations, France is often one of the first places that come to mind. You might imagine picturesque sidewalk cafes or picnics with a bottle of wine and a charcuterie board; an inflatable, transparent bubble hotel is perhaps, less obvious. Attrap' Rêves offers five different bubbles with unique decor themes such as zen, glamour and love nature.
They are constructed from recyclable materials and are hooked up to a silent blower, which keeps them continuously inflated. The bubble rooms are furnished with a king-sized bed, sitting area, outdoor patio and a telescope. Additionally, they all have electricity and washrooms with running water. Whether you decide on a completely-transparent or a partially-transparent bubble, all of them have a clear ceiling so you can enjoy the Provencal night sky.
You can find the bubble domes in southeastern France in Allauch, Puget Ville, La Bouilladisse, Forcalquier and Montagnac Montpezat communes. (Atrrap' Rêves)
Price per night: Starts at C$160 for two people during low season
