Nature Hotels

Celebrating all that best about the fresh English countryside and its traditional estates, Cowley Manor is a vanguard of English finery. Indeed, it was a favorite of Lewis Carroll who authored Alice in Wonderland and other delightfully surreal works. Located on an estate that was assigned by William the Conqueror …

This hotel was a frequent haunt of famous author Agatha Christie who set her novel, And Then There Were None, on a fictionalized version of the archipelago. The hotel was finished in 1929, and throughout the 1930s, it played host to glamorous guests. In World War 2, it served as …

This is a game lodge where you can stay in a treehouse. The location is very near to the famous Kruger National Park. The main building is built around a giant Marula tree. There, you can chill in the lounge, eat at the restaurant, check out the curio shop, or …

We all dreamed of hidden castles in trees when we were whippersnappers, and here is the dream realized: a mini castle in a tree can be yours. There are several intricate designs to choose from, each lovingly crafted by master treehouse builder Remi. They drew inspiration from nearby chateaus' fairy-tale …

Located overlooking the Piton World Heritage site and the Caribbean Sea, Jade Mountain is a web of linked rooms, green sanctuaries, and infinity pools. Your room has no fourth wall and opens stage-like to encompass the grand vista and sea - the room all but drops off into the gorgeous …

Located on a 750-hectare property a few hours from Sao Paulo, this hotel seeks to recreate the glamour of the 50s and 60s. The two wings of the hotel sit on the highest point in the property, overlooking a lake where the sun appears to submerge every evening. On the …

In Tuscany, there is a beautiful villa that has been restored. With only seven rooms, this exclusive hotel has married modern furnishings with the traditional style. The half-ancient wooden beams hold up the ceiling as you sit in front of a 200-year-old fireplace next to a stone wall that was …

This hotel is eco all over. Set in the thrall of a rocky volcano, the hotel harnesses the sulfuric heat generated below the soil to create geothermal power. It also captures the flow of fast streams and rivers to create hydroelectricity. Unique “onsen” (Japanese hot springs) are available to rejuvenate …

SwissTubes and the attached campsite are located on the shores of Lake Thun surrounded by snow-capped mountains. A nearby nature reserve will convince you that all those writers and philosophers who came to this location over the centuries were right – it really is a place of inspiration. The tubes …

This hotel loves nature. They like to make olive oil from their own trees - in fact; you can get involved and learn the ancient art of extracting the rejuvenating and delicious oil yourself. Then you can bake your own bread using the special herbs that grow nearby and learn …

These futuristic eco pods nestle in the Alps creating a little igloo village. Your pod is made out of insulating fiber and has a wood-burner for comfort. There is an en-suite bathroom and super luxurious bedding. Whitepod is part of the eco-tourism movement and aims to be carbon neutral. Each …

The bright chalk cliffs of Beachy Head rise 162 meters above sea level and create a dramatic setting for this hotel with a difference. Petitions were first made to build a lighthouse in the location in 1691 due to a large number of shipwrecks on this dramatic coastline. The Belle …

This fortified village on the Spanish/Portugal border has seen its fair share of action over the last millennium. Conquered and occupied by everyone from the Romans to the Moors the castle lies in ruins. The old village remains in good condition and is an amazing place to visit. When you …

Created in the 1960s as a vision of future living, these quirky concrete cottages are certainly unusual. The buildings are examples of the “concrete veil” style of architecture that sought to create cheap, functional, and aesthetic houses. The idea was to build a future utopian society. Today the area is …

Self-catering holidays in England. Not the most attractive proposition is it? You’re probably thinking of rainy campsites and the horrors to be endured in the communal shower block. But there are some amazing experiences to be had if you know where to look. Take, for example, “Quirky Holidays” in Cornwall, …

It’s not the adorable fairy houses nor the fact that this self-catering accommodation has been carved out of a hillside; the attention to detail makes this secluded getaway so impressive. Set on acres of private land in the expansive Montana wilderness, you find yourself completely immersed in Tolkien’s world. Every …

Cambodia has some tropical islands scattered off the coast in the Indian Ocean. They remain largely undeveloped – a rarity in South East Asia. Song Saa is one of the first luxury resorts to take one of these islands as its home. It is run in partnership with the local …

Safari holidays first started in the early 20th Century. It was a time when Africa captured the imagination of people in Western Europe and the adventurous elite made their way to the grasslands and rivulets of Kenya. The Cottar family have been offering guided expeditions in Kenya since 1919. Today, …

This hotel was designed to combine the best hospitality with traditional structures built from locally-sourced materials that blend into the local landscape of rice fields and palm leaves. The hotel has been a boon to the local community. It helps to fund the nearby high school and employs local women …

Alaska is one of the few frontiers left in the world. Its thick forests are home to moose, bears, and the occasional flinty-eyed huntsman. Your Alaskan lodge is a traditional log cabin built in the old bushman style. The furniture is all hand-carved and made locally. The five cabins are …