Treehouse hotels: Bed down up in the air from Thailand to Lapland

Keemala, Thailand

Keemala, Thailand

Of all the rooms at Keemala, Phuket's newest resort which opened in December, the seven Tree Pool Houses are the ones to book. These futuristic-looking bosky dwellings are inspired by a mythological clan, the We-Ha (Sky) people, who are believed to have built their homes suspended from the ground. The two-storey villas are dotted amid lush vegetation, streams and fountains in the hotel grounds, and when you are not gazing at the views, one of the star attractions is the holistic spa.

10/88 Moo 6, Nakasud Road, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket, Thailand (00 66 763 587 77; keemala.com). Doubles from 30,000 Thai baht (£565), B&B.

Post Ranch Inn, United States

Post Ranch Inn, United States

Perched on a ridge 1,200ft above the ocean, Post Ranch Inn is the ultimate coastal wilderness getaway in Big Sur, just off California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway. So, it's no surprise that its seven treehouse rooms are luxurious. The triangular structures are buried in pine trees, set above the forest floor, with views of the mountains. Inside there are wood-burning stoves and a skylight so you can fall asleep watching the stars twinkle above your head.

47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, California, US (001 831 667 2200; postranchinn.com). Doubles from $1,175 (£784), B&B.

Lost Meadow Treepod, Cornwall

Lost Meadow Treepod, Cornwall

Offering the back-to-nature experience in style, this quirky room for two is set on a farm on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Suspended above the forest floor, it is built from recycled, sustainable materials with minimum environmental impact. There's a camp-style kitchen for rustling up fireside meals and a shed housing simple bathing with washbasin, shower and loo.

Brook Park Farm, Panters Bridge, Mount Bodmin, Cornwall. Book through Canopy & Stars (0117 204 7830; canopyandstars.co.uk). Doubles from £95, self-catering.

Châteaux dans les Arbres, France

Châteaux dans les Arbres, France

There's more than a touch of whimsy in these four treehouses scattered amid forestry in the Domaine de Puybéton estate. Fashioned to look like mini-châteaux, they sleep from two to six. The Cabane Spa Puybeton (sleeps two), is a study in rustic restraint, while everything in the two-bed Cabane Milandes is created from wood. Guests can hole up, wander the grounds or gaze at the Dordogne from the infinity pool.

Domaine de Puybeton, Nojais-et-Clotte, Dordogne, France (00 33 6 30 64 26 00; chateaux-dans-les-arbres.com). Doubles from €240 (£183), B&B.

Hapuku Lodge & Treehouses, New Zealand

Hapuku Lodge & Treehouses, New Zealand

Kaikoura, on South Island's east coast, is renowned for its marine life. With its views of the Pacific and the snow-dusted peaks of the Kaikoura Ranges, one of the most distinctive places to stay is Hapuku Lodge & Treehouses. Here, the treehouse takes a contemporary departure, poking up through the canopy of native Kanuka trees. Guests spend their days catching waves or spotting whales and dolphins.

Station Road, Hapuku, Kaikoura, New Zealand (00 64 3 319 6559; hapukulodge.com). Doubles from NZ$1,092.50 (£500) half board.

Treehotel, Sweden

Treehotel, Sweden

Some of the country's most highly regarded architects lent their talents to these treehouses set amid a pine forest near Lulea in Lapland – just south of the Arctic Circle. Of the six extraordinary structures suspended above the forest floor, the UFO, reached by a retractable staircase, is most outlandish, while the Bird's Nest and Mirror Cube blend ingeniously with their surroundings. Facilities include a restaurant, bar and sauna.

Edeforsväg 2 A, Harads, Sweden (00 46 928 10300; treehotel.se). Doubles from 4,700 Swedish krona (£376), B&B.