If you鈥檙e 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鈥� 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鈥檛 love the whole 鈥渞oughing it鈥� 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鈥檙e after, in South Africa certainly has them. Tinyeleti appropriately translates to 鈥渕any stars.鈥� The luxurious, open-air treehouse is part of an overnight wilderness experience offered by the Lion Sands Game Reserve. According to the treehouse鈥檚 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 鈥渟afe and comfortable鈥� 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)
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, 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鈥檚 website, the pods鈥� creators write that 鈥渃onservation and reclamation of the natural environment鈥� is at the heart of their business.
There are three pods which are all located within an hour鈥檚 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 鈥渦nplugging鈥� during your stay, which means you won鈥檛 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鈥檚 Pure Pods certainly give new meaning to the phrase 鈥渁 room with a view鈥�.
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鈥檙e 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鈥檚 most spectacular light shows. If standing out in the cold isn鈥檛 your thing, you can now enjoy them from the warmth and comfort of a .
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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)
4. Bangkok Treehouse, Thailand
The 鈥渞oom鈥� 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 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鈥檙e 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鈥檚 not what you鈥檙e 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)
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鈥檛 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. 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鈥檙e 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.
6. L鈥橝nd 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 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鈥檙e in the mood for starry skies.
You won鈥檛 have to worry about 鈥渞oughing it鈥� during a visit to L鈥橝nd 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)
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 鈥淟ake of Stars鈥� as it鈥檚 often called, 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鈥檚 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.
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鈥檚 for sure. The situated on the Kingston Peninsula offers a glamorous or 鈥済lamping鈥� 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.
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鈥檙e afraid of heights, the is not for you. Frequently described as 鈥渆xtreme camping鈥� 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 鈥減ortaledge,鈥� which is suspended on the face of a rock cliff.
The platforms range in height, but the Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht鈥檚 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鈥檙e 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.
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, 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)
