7 stunning hotels where you鈥檒l sleep behind glass walls
May 29, 2020 鈥 3 min read
There are few better ways to soak up Iceland's midnight sun than in a glass cabin @ Courtesy of Panorama Glass Lodge
Hotels have long been designed like cocoons, shielding us from the elements of the outside world. However, a number of rural properties across the globe have recently thrown that model on its head, designing their rooms for optimum connection with nature. Here are seven places that pair the wonder of camping with the comfort of sleeping indoors 鈥 all by setting their beds behind glass walls.
1. Panorama Glass Lodge 鈥 Iceland
Tucked into the rugged wilderness of West Iceland and South Iceland are three transparent cabins collectively known as the . All lie less than two hours from Reykjavik but feel a world away with wrap-around glass panels revealing either fjord or volcano views. Your biggest decision will be whether to chase the midnight sun from the bed or in the private hot tub nearby.
2. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort 鈥 Finland
Everybody wants to see the Northern Lights, but nobody wants to suffer through hours of subzero temperatures to make it happen. in Finnish Lapland offers a solution: glass igloos. Lay back under your blanket and watch as the chartreuse glow of the aurora borealis dances across an untainted sky. By day, you can strip naked for a smoke sauna, taste-test the products of the on-site brewery or commune with the indigenous Sami reindeer herders who call this region home.
3. PurePods 鈥 New Zealand
The six scattered across the rugged wilds of New Zealand鈥檚 South Island are built 鈥 from the see-through floors up to the transparent roofs 鈥 almost entirely of glass. Reaching each cabin requires a quick stroll through the bush (typically 10鈥15 minutes) to ensure maximum privacy as you shower behind glass walls and sleep under a sea of stars. All come with the same promise: complete immersion in Frodo鈥檚 legendary wilderness.
4. Skylodge Adventure Suites 鈥 Peru
A little bit of hardship makes the prize at the end all the more rewarding. At least, that seems to be the motto behind , a vertigo-inducing complex of transparent capsules dangling from a cliff in Peru鈥檚 Sacred Valley. To reach these souped-up portaledges 鈥 and enjoy the condor鈥檚-eye view 鈥 you must first climb a challenging 400m (1312ft) via ferrata route up to the top. The way back? Either zipline or rappel down!
5. Treehotel 鈥 Sweden
You don鈥檛 need to go to Japan to appreciate the art of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). Sweden鈥檚 dreamlike sets you right in the middle of a pine grove, where you can meditate on the restorative power of nature without leaving your room. This imaginative resort near the regional capital of 尝耻濒别氓 boasts distinctive cabins like Mirrorcube, a slick treehouse that disappears into its environment thanks to its reflective walls. Another, called 7th Room, offers floor-to-ceiling windows and a central terrace replete with net flooring.
6. Puro Vik 鈥 Chile
Named one of the World鈥檚 50 Best Vineyards in 2019, combines extravagant architecture, gallery-quality art, prizewinning wine and challenging hiking trails in one epic experience. Sleep on-site at , a collection of seven glass villas that hang from a hill in Chile鈥檚 Coastal Mountain Range. Each of these Miesian casas has transparent walls and al fresco bathtubs that overlook the sun-drenched wilds of the Millahue Valley.
7. The Muraka 鈥 Maldives
You usually have to strap on scuba gear to get the kind of prismatic underwater views offered at , a cutting-edge suite at . That鈥檚 because its bedroom lies beneath a curved acrylic dome 5m (16ft) beneath the Indian Ocean. You can also dine nearby at the world鈥檚 first undersea restaurant, , where a panoramic backdrop of swaying coral awaits.
You might also like:
Europe's most unusual hotels
Starry night: top five art hotels
Why these 5 hotels are considered the healthiest in the world
This article was originally published in November 2019 and updated in May 2020.
This article was first published Nov 6, 2019 and updated May 29, 2020.
Explore related stories
- Wildlife & NatureHow can I increase my chances of seeing the northern lights on a trip to the Arctic?
Oct 3, 2024 鈥 5 min read
ActivitiesNorth Island vs South Island: Which of New Zealand鈥檚 islands is better?Sep 25, 2024 鈥 9 min read